$100 vs $1,000 vs $7,000 road bike TEST (WHATS THE DIFFERENCE???)

$100 vs $1,000 vs $7,000 road bike TEST (WHATS THE DIFFERENCE???)

I took a $129 Walmart road bike, and put it through a series of tests against a $1,399 Schwinn Carbon Fastback, and my $7,000 Canyon SLX 9 with Princeton Carbonworks wheels.

I used power pedals from Assioma so the power was consistent for all of the tests. I wanted to see what the difference was between a Walmart road bike, an entry level road bike, and a full on race machine.

I talk through the tests and the results but I also go into the overall experience of each bike. Cycling is not just about speed, it’s about the whole experience. So does a $7,000 road bike actually make that big of a difference? Watch the video for my thoughts.

Also, of course there are variables that I cant control for. IM NOT PUBLISHING A PIER REVIEWED PAPER HERE DUDE. This is more for entertainment than actual science. But the bikes have enough of a difference between them that 100% of the time the results will show the same conclusion, just not down to the second.

TEST RESULTS

Flat (5.41mi)
Walmart 16:18
Schwinn 14:34 (-1:44)
Canyon 14:01 (-33s / -2:17)
Car 11:18 (-2:43)

Rollers (4.7 mi -1,782 ft 2.4%)
Walmart 15:59
Schwinn 13:51 (-2:08)
Canyon 12:41 (-1:10 / -3:18)
Car 7:33 (-5:08)

Climb (4.7 mi 3,455 ft 4.2%)
Walmart 25:03
Schwinn 23:10 (-1:53)
Canyon 20:54 ( -2:16 / -4:09 )

Descent (2.2 mi -1,660 ft 4.3%)
Walmart 6:34
Schwinn 6:07 (-27)
Canyon 5:27 ( -40 / -1:07 )

Spin to sprint
Walmart 7:22
Schwinn 6:32 (-50)
Canyon 5:12 ( -1:20 / -2:10 )

Shot climb (0.1 mi 217 ft 9.9%
Walmart .59
Schwinn .52 ( -7 )
Canyon 48 ( -4 / -11 )

Overal Loop (18.8 mi -)
Walmart 1:11:14
Schwinn 1:03:56 ( – 7:18 )
Canyon 57:58 ( -5:58 / -13:16 )

The link to buy the Schwinn Carbon :
https://www.amazon.com/Schwinn-Fastback-Carbon-Frame-Matte/dp/B01M7SMB3R/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1548282723&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=schwinn+fastback&psc=1

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50 Comments

  1. livin' in chains on July 11, 2019 at 9:15 pm

    Almost 16 kg??? 😲 Wtf



  2. Timothy Follis on July 11, 2019 at 9:16 pm

    Walmart 16 mph avg, Schwinn 17.8 mph and the Canyon 19.6 mph avg for the loop. So roughly a 2 mph bump for each bike.



  3. John O RA on July 11, 2019 at 9:18 pm

    Crazy how much fastet the Canyon is than the schwinn



  4. Squishy Awesome on July 11, 2019 at 9:18 pm

    No disc brakes?



  5. Jose on July 11, 2019 at 9:18 pm

    Should have been called $100 vs $1400 vs $7000



  6. JohnRamirez007 on July 11, 2019 at 9:20 pm

    FANTASTIC work! Thank you. Your presentation has answered a lot of questions for me! GREAT WORK



  7. Corey C on July 11, 2019 at 9:21 pm

    You did an amazing review!!!



  8. Practice Practice on July 11, 2019 at 9:22 pm

    The 1000$ bike has skinny wheels, but you didn’t say what specific width they are (23mm, 25mm). It will say it on the rubber. Not too scientific. 😊👍



  9. Keiran Marley on July 11, 2019 at 9:22 pm

    3:48 oof that bartape gives me nightmares lol



  10. Iqbol Ash on July 11, 2019 at 9:22 pm

    Thank you for science experiments !



  11. John Murray on July 11, 2019 at 9:23 pm

    Too many numbers tell us in percentage difference next time – easier to compare and extrapolate. Also do a century test with some beastly climbs and shitty surfaces and tell us about how your body feels at the end on each bike and your mind body and soul too.



  12. Stuart Perry on July 11, 2019 at 9:23 pm

    where do these people live where they can ride on the streets and you never see anybody else on the road.



  13. Kasimir den Hertog on July 11, 2019 at 9:24 pm

    Would be interesting to know what part(s) of the bike make the big difference. My guess would be the wheels. So what if you would put the wheels from the Canyon in the Schwinn bike? If it does make a big difference, it would mean that instead of investing in a new bike, you could consider upgrading the wheels.



  14. Alex Miles on July 11, 2019 at 9:25 pm

    a pretty meaningless test. Of course the heavier bike will be slower given the same wattage. There is nothing needs to be tested about that. It should be more about ride quality, comfort, enjoyment, position on the bike, long rides, short rides, standing, seated, handling, agility…etc, that should be the focus of the video, so we can compare. Everyone knows the heavier bike is slower overall



  15. Francis Colvais on July 11, 2019 at 9:26 pm

    very nice test video! well done Dude. gives a good perspective no matter what your skill level or your intent.



  16. Jan S. on July 11, 2019 at 9:26 pm

    Great video! recommendation for next comparison: express the time differences in % instead min and sec… Then it would be better comparable between the different bikes and also the different distances of the sectors.



  17. Ty Wert on July 11, 2019 at 9:28 pm

    You look malnourished but at least you’re “enlightened”



  18. A Proud on July 11, 2019 at 9:29 pm

    Thanks for the informative video! Obviously, the more expensive the bike gets the more quality it gets too but don’t trash the Walmart bike. If you are into cycling as a hobby or sport than an expensive bike might make more sense. I had a 700c Denali Road bike from Walmart and I used it for commute to work and sometimes fun rides on my off days for 2.5 years, 5 to 6 times a week, 10 to 15 miles ride each day. Sun or rain I still ride. The only maintenance and repair I did was clean & oil once a month or so, and changed break pads, tubes, and tires as they wear out. Sadly, the bike was stolen outside my work place. Though it was stolen it served its purpose for a long time duration and usages. I probably would still be able to use it at least a year before it’s life ends if it wasn’t stolen.



  19. Myodots on July 11, 2019 at 9:30 pm

    Body position makes a significant difference in drag and therefore the times on some of the faster segments. The test would have been a lot more interesting if you were able to create that Canyon bike position on the other two bikes. Either way, pretty entertaining video!



  20. Peanut Butter on July 11, 2019 at 9:31 pm

    I’m a new bike person who just needs a bike to go a few blocks daily. I got a $100 Walmart bike. Can you talk about what to look out for in terms of safety and how to use the shitty gears and settings? And how do I know when it will fall apart? And how to check if the cheap brakes are any good??? Thanks



  21. Jose on July 11, 2019 at 9:32 pm

    My bike cost £500 and weighs 11kg it’s pretty solid



  22. Andrew Mack on July 11, 2019 at 9:32 pm

    so on the climb the 7000 dollar bike did it five minutes faster than the 100 dollar bike. 1380 dollars per minute faster ??? get the cheap one every day



  23. SWITCHFliP on July 11, 2019 at 9:34 pm

    7:53 its called the law of diminishing return



  24. Joe Colletti on July 11, 2019 at 9:36 pm

    Hey, thanks for making this video. Nothing really surprising in there on performance and experience– marginal gains as you move, big fall off w Walmart. You were surprised the Walmart wasn’t faster on the downhill since it was heavy. I’m wondering how much of that was caution? As shitty as those brakes looked, I wouldn’t want to go balls out!
    Would be fun to put Chris Froome on the Walmart and see what he could do on it! You might need to point a gun at him to get him to ride it though….



  25. Stuart Perry on July 11, 2019 at 9:37 pm

    If I was competitively racing and getting paid for it , I would look at the cost and time spent. But if I continue to ride fo exercise and transportation I would never let a few minutes make my decision in buying a bike.



  26. quetzal coatl on July 11, 2019 at 9:38 pm

    There is no $100 bike, not even Walmart has it



  27. Jesse Shotland on July 11, 2019 at 9:42 pm

    why do you have a setback post with your saddle slammed forward?



  28. E on July 11, 2019 at 9:43 pm

    Oh yeah? Well, I raced professionally on that Walmart bike in the Alps. You are just too weak dude!



  29. Rob D on July 11, 2019 at 9:44 pm

    "Time doesn’t work like that, right, it’s not like it’s this linear thing" I had a Doctor Who flashback to "Blink".
    https://youtu.be/q2nNzNo_Xps



  30. slug cereal on July 11, 2019 at 9:44 pm

    my bike cost 15 bucks and i made it from a frame i found on the side of the road. it moves forward. sure it ways 30 pounds. do i care. no



  31. Adela Covarrubias A. on July 11, 2019 at 9:46 pm

    for the price range of the schwin I think it’s better to buy an alloy bike with better components



  32. TannerTeevs b on July 11, 2019 at 9:47 pm

    I have a mongoose hotshot 700cc….



  33. Caranthir Ar-Feiniel on July 11, 2019 at 9:47 pm

    holy… im live i ukraine. bike like this walmart cost 300+ in my country, and beginers level start cost at 600 and more.



  34. Leafiana _ on July 11, 2019 at 9:50 pm

    Vegans are gay



  35. Carolina MiC on July 11, 2019 at 9:53 pm

    If you get a $20,000.00 bike could you hit 1.2 gigawatts?



  36. Sam on July 11, 2019 at 9:54 pm

    I got mine for £275 and it’s perfect



  37. Chase on July 11, 2019 at 9:58 pm

    Thanks for the vid. Helpful.



  38. Jax Rhapsody on July 11, 2019 at 9:58 pm

    CST Corre tires
    Alexis wheels
    Lizardskin tape
    Custom seatpost
    Bontrager saddle
    Schwinn LeTour crank
    MTB Sealed BB
    Deore r/d
    Shimano numbers f/d
    BMX pedals
    ? satin silver brake levers

    Factory(stolen before could be changed) stem, bars, calipers, shifters, fork, interrupter levers.

    2014 Genesis Roadtech.

    Ended up lighter than a friends 1990 Schwinn World Sport. The frame is beautiful and tough as nails. Traditional triangle frame, aero tubing. Everything AROUND the frame is shit. I loved that bike, it was a great bike built. I now have a Denali to replace it. The newer roadtechs are actually heavier and use round steel tubing. It’s pretty nimble too. At the time I also had a Nishiki Prestige.

    The older Denalis and Roadtechs are fine if you want to build them. I garantee if you rode my built roadtech vs the stock one you have, they’d be worlds apart.



  39. yeral on July 11, 2019 at 10:01 pm

    I’m having anxiety with these choices.



  40. mehdi jbuji on July 11, 2019 at 10:03 pm

    Put playback speed 1.25
    thank me later



  41. dash3dot on July 11, 2019 at 10:03 pm

    Stop ruining this planet by eating plants based food only!!! >:[



  42. Solo Tra la folla on July 11, 2019 at 10:05 pm

    In the end better buy a good bike, mate,,



  43. Timothy Lee on July 11, 2019 at 10:07 pm

    Thanks for the comparisons. No surprises. When you do your analysis, do it in percentages. Telling us the raw data is almost (not quite) unless. You should know this?



  44. Drank der Nachtzicht on July 11, 2019 at 10:09 pm

    Pay to win



  45. Cyber Suave on July 11, 2019 at 10:11 pm

    I recently got a bike a have no clue what it is or the value. Is there anyway you could tell me



  46. Joe Gatt on July 11, 2019 at 10:12 pm

    That mini bike your daughter was playing with at the end is begging for the chain to be tightened 🙂



  47. Jake Thompson on July 11, 2019 at 10:12 pm

    I have the Walmart bike and it is so terrible. Brakes started to fail on me going downhill, almost had to ride out into traffic. Gears constantly get stuck, the seat is horrendous. I’ve never riden road bikes though so I didn’t want to get a very expensive bike.



  48. Hans S on July 11, 2019 at 10:12 pm

    Really really really loved this episode!!



  49. Alex Miles on July 11, 2019 at 10:14 pm

    it’s like you compare a honda to a lambo just over how fast they can go, of course the lambo is faster !



  50. Jake Jax on July 11, 2019 at 10:14 pm

    Bruh aren’t cheaper bikes a better workout can u gotta push more on them and work harder?