Originally Posted by
Heifzilla
My SC200 is a good all around for riding groomed trails, or having to ride through a field (which I have done on my old commute), but it's just kind of a dog on the pavement.
This?
http://www.bikepedia.com/QUICKBIKE/B...C200&Type=bike
Originally Posted by
Heifzilla
I haven't ever really totally loaded my bike up except for some very small rear panniers and a large handlebar bag. The bag just adds to the tank-like feel of the bike and makes the steering kind of skittish. And not in a responsive way.
Lots of weight on the handle bar tends to increase steering sensitivity. There are some kinds of bikes that are designed for this but they aren't common. Weight on panniers on a front "low rider" rack decreases steering sensitivity.
Originally Posted by
Heifzilla
I'm used to it, but...eh. Also, the bike rides hard. It's a very stiff, unforgiving ride, and after awhile it gets really uncomfortable to feel every single jarring impact of the road surface. I have 26 x 1.95 tires on it, and still it's jarring. The good part is that the rims and spokes seem to be bullet proof, and I swear I could ride the bike through just about any terrain and it would be fine.
It's hard to imagine what you are expecting regarding comfort from a road bike. What pressure are you running the tires at?
Wider tires run at lower pressures is going to make the ride less jarring. Road bikes (with narrower/higher-pressure tires) require riders to be more active in dealing with bumps/etc.
One difference is that, on a road bike, you are sitting lighter on the seat (and can use your arms to absorb shocks more easily).
Originally Posted by
Heifzilla
I have recently ridden a Kona Sutra, and it was ok. I don't care for being in the drops much, I really preferred being on the hoods,
Most people ride dropped bar bikes on the hoods. Otherwise, how comfortable was the Sutra?
In my opinion, people don't work enough to get used to riding in the drops. For a racing bike setup (better aerodynamics than a typical touring bike), you'd go 16 mph riding on the hoods compared to 18 mph riding in the drops for the same effort.
Originally Posted by
Heifzilla
but the way this particular bike was spec'd in the shifters and brakes was not something I liked. I have smallish hands, and the Sutra's brakes and bar end shifters were impossible for me (I know this is fixable, but I don't want to drop $1200 on a bike and have to change out expensive components immediately), and I don't know.
The small-hand thing is going to make things harder. That makes you on the fringes of things "out of the box" working for you. That is, it might be reasonable to change things out in your situation.
I can see a small hand size being a problem with the brakes but I don't quite get how that would be an issue with the bar end shifters. Some brakes have shims that make them work better for people with smaller hands.
Originally Posted by
Heifzilla
It's hard for me to try out a lot of bikes, too, because bike shops in general don't usually have smaller bikes in stock, on display (that's been my experience, anyway). I wanted to try a Salsa, but nothing was in my size. Same for a LHT. I wanted to try a Jamis Aurora, but again, nothing in a size I could ride. My husband, however, was able to try out all the bikes I wanted to try out, since they had them all in his size. Very frustrating.
Growth hormone!! It's understandable that it's frustrating. You are stuck having to be more patient. Touring bikes are hard enough to find in a normal size. (I bought my Sherpa without trying one.)
Originally Posted by
Heifzilla
Anyhow, as for a bike, I don't want a Thoroughbred. But I don't want a pack mule, either, if that makes sense. Maybe a slightly high-strung Quarterhorse?
The horsey references are a bit obscure to me but I think what you are saying makes sense. I ride a touring bike for everything (outside of rough trail riding) and I think it works quite well.
You should try a cross bike.