>>1567471>the majority of the world (not just /n/) believe you can buy speed on a bikeUltimate, race-winning speed? No.
*Better overall efficiency*? Yes.
Stiffer rear triangle wasting less pedal power.
Better frame geometry for faster cornering and higher speed curves.
Less aerodynamic drag due to frame design and wheel design.
A $1000 endurance-geometry bike might keep up okay on a flat and straight course versus a $3000 to $5000 race bike. It might even do okay on a sustained climb, if not out-climbing everyone else. But when it comes to fast corners, high-speed technical descents, and quick accelerations, the bike designed for racing is going to have an edge.
Also having had a few aluminum endurance bikes (that I raced anyway because that's all I had) and now having a high-end full CF race bike, the difference is like night and day.
I am NOT SAYING that you can take some untrained clod of a newbie rider, put them on a $5000 race bike, and have them coming home with pics of them at the top of the podium every weekend, no bike is *magic*. But there is a difference whether anyone wants to believe it or not, and it has to do with specificity of purpose.