Dear Coach- “I recently looked at two different bicycles from the same manufacturer; one at the top of their line and one at the bottom. Both bicycles have same frame set and the main differences between them is in components, weight, and of course price. What sort of advantage can I expect from the more expensive bike in performance and durability?”

Dear athlete,

First of all durability is generally not an issue. Even with base level components most bicycles are very reliable and durable these days. There is a difference in performance however it will depend on how fast you are on the bike. The two main considerations are weight and aerodynamics. If you are averaging 17-18 mph a bike with the same frame set will offer very little advantage in aerodynamics over the more expensive model. As you become faster aerodynamics becomes a greater consideration, but you are still likely only shaving seconds in an Olympic distance race. Weight will affect your speed, mainly on the climbs, but a difference of a few pounds will not make a radical difference in speed. In my experience most athletes can find that two pounds in left over holiday weight and perhaps save themselves a lot of money on a bicycle.

Matt Russ