New Bars, New Stem, New levers.. so why does my bike feel faster?

it's an odd thing. replaced all of the above with better stuff, admittedly, and now the bike feels much more responsive and nippier.
could it be stiffness? i had to add a 5mm spacer, as the new stem didn't have as high a collar as the old one and a bit of steerer tube poked out, but that should have just brought it back to the same level as the old one.

have you been riding with a tailwind or downhill?

Psycholomologics.

feels different, i'm telling you..

the bars feel a bit wider than the old ones, but i'm positive that they're not -

JOL Psycholomologics.

Psychomokoloko-what?

A different riding position always makes the bike feel different, maybe you were just riding akwardly all this time?

well i once changed a stem form 3t shit one to thomson elite and it was way more stiffer and more responsive....
and also the height of the handlebars and the rise and sweep makes mucho difference.....

renewed enthusiasm = energy

broken_77 well i once changed a stem form 3t shit one to thomson elite and it was way more stiffer and more responsive....
and also the height of the handlebars and the rise and sweep makes mucho difference.....

yeah.. it is much better stuff ( deda newton stem and bars as opposed to basic deda quattro and big peiga), so i think it must be a bit stiffer, lighter and a slightly different postion.

bonus!

Maybe it's all the weight you saved by emptying yer wallet.

Stiffer. Makes quite a difference.

Rockin' good news

James, if you can tell the difference in stiffness of deda's oversize stem and bar combos between each other, then I'm Dutch and black.

your riding position has doubtless changed, hence the bike handing differently.

pictures then, what levers have you got now then?

...

I'd be thinking of outside factors before putting it down to bar and stem change. Time off bike? Good day? Good mood? Shag last night? Tail wind? Higher pressure in tyres? Psychological aspect of having NEW kit?
I notice position differences when I change stuff but not a performance difference. It's always the legs that dictate performance.. new kit + stuffed body = shit ride. For me. ymmv

those bars are nice though quite light triple butted and not flexy.

RPM James, if you can tell the difference in stiffness of deda's oversize stem and bar combos between each other, then I'm Dutch and black.

your riding position has doubtless changed, hence the bike handing differently.

pictures then, what levers have you got now then?

A. you do claim to have black heritage

B. if you use my name in public again, i'll hunt you down and kill you.

c. Pictures? i dunno, i think it looks a bit iffy. got the cane creek 'gum' coloured levers. knew i should have gone for the carbon campags..

d. it * is* the difference between their very cheap stuff and their 'Pro' line. if there's no difference, then why bother ?

e. You're a cunt

f. See 'e'

hippy I'd be thinking of outside factors before putting it down to bar and stem change. Time off bike? Good day? Good mood? Shag last night? Tail wind? Higher pressure in tyres? Psychological aspect of having NEW kit?
I notice position differences when I change stuff but not a performance difference. It's always the legs that dictate performance.. new kit + stuffed body = shit ride. For me. ymmv

yeah, but they feel wider, and higher. i did add the 5mm spacer, that could be it. but, it feels cleaner, tighter -and i wasn't even expecting any change, so i don't put it down to my imagination. I am very highly atuned to these things though...

A. true, but no Dutch, you should have seen the trick right there.
B. everyone knows your name already, plus you wouldn't be able to kill me, even if you had any hunting skills, this isn't a sunday afternoon in the countryside, dressed in red on horseback. this is the urban jungle, and I am king.
C. really want to see it now, sounds interesting

[cite]
C. really want to see it now, sounds interesting

it's not interesting at all, to be honest.
i'll post a pic tomorrow.
dark brown brooks tape, makes the bars feel like an old mans rugger boots. light levers, thought it would be cool but to be honest i think i'm overdoing it.

still needs a decent saddle.

i will kill you.

no, I like the sound of it.

interested in the brooks tape, but the amount of wet weather my bike exists in it might not be a good idea, and the fact that I am a serial stem/bar changer and the brooks tape costs £1,000.

You and who's army?

James Erasmus Thompson, can you tell me where you got the gum coloured levers from?

http://www.bikeshop.uk.com do them, but I'm not sure if James Erasmus Decimus Thompson III got his ones from there..

Gareth Smith, i got them at allterraincycles.co.uk

Richard 'Pussywillow' Mountford - the brooks tape is nice, if a little fruity : it feels a bit over-dressed, janart? plus, it's my first ever atempt at bar taping, so i didn't do a 100 percent perfect job.

I might change the levers, i'll see how i get on . if i do, i'll put them up for grabs on here.

nimhbus Gareth Smith, i got them at allterraincycles.co.uk

Richard 'Pussywillow' Mountford - the brooks tape is nice, if a little fruity : it feels a bit over-dressed, janart? plus, it's my first ever atempt at bar taping, so i didn't do a 100 percent perfect job.

I might change the levers, i'll see how i get on . if i do, i'll put them up for grabs on here.

first dibs on levers!

i've got some old condor branded tektros going begging, maybe