Are professional road bikes harder or easier to pedal than low end bikes from chain stores?

Obviously there is a huge difference in quality but I am curious about how they are geared. I read on a message board once that professional road bikes (like on the Tour) are harder to pedal on their easiest gear than a cheap bicycle is to pedal on its hardest gear. Is this true? I simply cant imagine being able to finish a mountain stage if that is the case. Pretty impressive stuff.Are professional road bikes harder or easier to pedal than low end bikes from chain stores?
Chad



No. They use the same gearing that we mere mortals use. What's really amazing is that they can hit those mountain stages running a 53x39 chain rings just like we run on the flats! If you ever get to see a professional race, especially on a closed circuit... they go up hills like we go on the flats!



SoccerrefAre professional road bikes harder or easier to pedal than low end bikes from chain stores?
Yes, It would be harder for me but then these guys are in incredible shape. You can buy the same cassette that they are using on the Tour. You can buy the same bikes. I think the gears are likely more challenging that the ones you would find on a Kmart. There will be more gears on a cheap bike than a tour bike to save time but most of the gears are the same. Most commercial bikes have granny gears or three chain rings in the crank while most bikes on tour will have only two.Are professional road bikes harder or easier to pedal than low end bikes from chain stores?
i would guess any cheap geared bike would have a substantial overlap in gear ratios with any geared racing bike



i;d guess 50% of the ratios overlap if not more





though a walmart mt bike will have much lower gears than a racing road bike



also when racing in mtns for a day, the crew will typicall install lower gearing for that day



so that varies a good bit





wle
Um. No. It's the exact opposite.

Unless they're referring to the gearing which even then is not really that much more than that of heavier bikes. They are lighter, more aerodynamic, and stiffer. All of which results in you spending less overall energy to move the same distance at the same speed. Therefore, it will be easier on a pro bike than any other kind of bike.