“It’s not about the bike,” Lance Armstrong proclaimed in the title to his 2000 autobiography. Easy for him to say: The bicycles ridden by Tour de France competitors bear about as much resemblance to the bike in your garage as a NASCAR “Ford” does to your car. Unlike NASCAR vehicles, though, bikes similar to Tour models are available to anyone willing to spend absurd sums. Does all that money really make a difference? As a weekend road rider, I wanted to find out. So I tried three models, from bargain basement to high-end exotic, and measured my times over a 10-mile loop. >Discount SpecialHuffy Lakota | $60Media Platforms Design Team>Gears 15Weight 42 lb.Average speed, 10-mile loop 13 mphHighest level speed 17 mphBottom line Hey, it’s better than walking.Manufacturer websitehuffybikes.com>Casual CruiserRaleigh Passage 4.0 | $375Media Platforms Design Team>Gears 24Weight 34 lb.Average speed, 10-mile loop 14 mphHighest level speed 17 mphBottom line Enjoy the view – from the slow lane.Manufacturer websiteraleighusa.com>Dream MachineGuru Geneo | $6995Media Platforms Design Team>Gears 20Weight 16.2 lb.Average speed, 10-mile loop 20 mphHighest level speed 24 mphBottom line Built by obsessives for obsessives.Manufacturer websitegurubikes.com
