shokhead
12-28-02, 10:41 AM
So some roadbikes have dropbars,risers,flatbars,barends,aero bars.What does it all mean.I guess dropbars for the longer rides but what about the rest?
Road Cycling - shed some light
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MikeOK
12-28-02, 10:49 AM
All you really need is drop bars, unless you are planning on doing some road racing or tri's, then you would want to add something aero. Most aero bars clip on to your drop bars. What kind of riding do you plan to do? That answer will help us to give you more information.
RegularGuy
12-28-02, 10:51 AM
Originally posted by shokhead
So some roadbikes have dropbars,risers,flatbars,barends,aero bars.What does it all mean.I guess dropbars for the longer rides but what about the rest?
Roadbikes typically have drop handlebars. These bars give plenty of hand positions: on the tops for climbing, hoods for most riding, drops and hooks for speed. Changing hand positions helps prevent the repetitive stress injury called "handlebar palsy."
Flat bars are common on cross country mountain bikes. Adding barends gives another hand position and aids climbing.
Risers come from the downhill/freeride crowd but are making inroads among cross-country riders. They can provide a slightly more upright position than flat bars and are somewhat more adjustable.
Aero bars are basically made for speed on road bikes. They are useful for triathlon and time trialing.
These are generalizations, and like all generalizations they admit of many exceptions. Hope that helps.
So some roadbikes have dropbars,risers,flatbars,barends,aero bars.What does it all mean.I guess dropbars for the longer rides but what about the rest?
Roadbikes typically have drop handlebars. These bars give plenty of hand positions: on the tops for climbing, hoods for most riding, drops and hooks for speed. Changing hand positions helps prevent the repetitive stress injury called "handlebar palsy."
Flat bars are common on cross country mountain bikes. Adding barends gives another hand position and aids climbing.
Risers come from the downhill/freeride crowd but are making inroads among cross-country riders. They can provide a slightly more upright position than flat bars and are somewhat more adjustable.
Aero bars are basically made for speed on road bikes. They are useful for triathlon and time trialing.
These are generalizations, and like all generalizations they admit of many exceptions. Hope that helps.
shokhead
12-28-02, 11:47 AM
Mikeok,i ride 15-20 miles a day,5 days a week on asphalt bike paths.I try to ride ,not fast,maybe 13-17 mph but at a high cadence,100-115.Looking at two bikes,specialized sequoia and the felt SR71.I like the felt,just not sure about the flat bars.Right now i am on risers.
John E
12-28-02, 12:42 PM
I have 3 road bikes with conventional drop bars, and one mountain bike with flat bars and straight extensions. My project bike is a cycle-cross machine with drops and barcons.
MikeOK
12-28-02, 01:10 PM
Originally posted by shokhead
Mikeok,i ride 15-20 miles a day,5 days a week on asphalt bike paths.I try to ride ,not fast,maybe 13-17 mph but at a high cadence,100-115.Looking at two bikes,specialized sequoia and the felt SR71.I like the felt,just not sure about the flat bars.Right now i am on risers.
100-115 cadence man that is smoking! You should never have any knee problems at that rate.
I really don't like flat bars like are on most mountain bikes, my hands tend to go to sleep if I can't change positions. One thing that helps me is to use bar ends, this is almost as good as drop bars for changing position and it helps in climbs too. I also rode in a mtn bike ride up in Kansas a few years ago, the locals never see hills and alot of them were running drop bars on their mtn bikes. Looked kinda goofy but I bet it was functional. From your first post I assumed you were riding a road bike. Almost all road bikes have drop bars, including the Specialized you mentioned.
Mikeok,i ride 15-20 miles a day,5 days a week on asphalt bike paths.I try to ride ,not fast,maybe 13-17 mph but at a high cadence,100-115.Looking at two bikes,specialized sequoia and the felt SR71.I like the felt,just not sure about the flat bars.Right now i am on risers.
100-115 cadence man that is smoking! You should never have any knee problems at that rate.
I really don't like flat bars like are on most mountain bikes, my hands tend to go to sleep if I can't change positions. One thing that helps me is to use bar ends, this is almost as good as drop bars for changing position and it helps in climbs too. I also rode in a mtn bike ride up in Kansas a few years ago, the locals never see hills and alot of them were running drop bars on their mtn bikes. Looked kinda goofy but I bet it was functional. From your first post I assumed you were riding a road bike. Almost all road bikes have drop bars, including the Specialized you mentioned.
MichaelW
12-31-02, 05:12 AM
In the UK it has been quite usual for older riders of touring bikes to swap their drop bars for flats. The result is a fast, light, flatbar road bike. Flatbar brake levers work better with cantelevers and esp V brakes. Orbit cycles offer flat bars as an option on their touring bikes.
You can get drop-bar expedition touring bikes with 26" MTB wheels. Thorn cycles even make fast light city bikes in this fashion. You can even chose from a variety of transmissions (derailleurs, singlespeed, fixed, internal hub gears).
The latest marketing fad for flat-bar sport bikes is a recognition that hybrids are too sluggish, and road bikes too specialised for the average rider. The obvious solution, a light-touring bike, just doesnt cut it at those marketing meetings.
You can get drop-bar expedition touring bikes with 26" MTB wheels. Thorn cycles even make fast light city bikes in this fashion. You can even chose from a variety of transmissions (derailleurs, singlespeed, fixed, internal hub gears).
The latest marketing fad for flat-bar sport bikes is a recognition that hybrids are too sluggish, and road bikes too specialised for the average rider. The obvious solution, a light-touring bike, just doesnt cut it at those marketing meetings.
shokhead
12-31-02, 03:11 PM
Yep,just picked up my new bike,felt SR71.700X23 tires,21.3 pounds,areo rims,105 components and flat bars.I am very happy with it over my cannondale hybrid and it was 100 bucks less than i paid for the cannondaledale 2 and ahalf years ago.
apaphoenix
01-09-03, 12:29 AM
Originally posted by shokhead
Yep,just picked up my new bike,felt SR71.700X23 tires,21.3 pounds,areo rims,105 components and flat bars.I am very happy with it over my cannondale hybrid and it was 100 bucks less than i paid for the cannondaledale 2 and ahalf years ago.
Just wanted to ask for a price on the SR71. Is it about the equivalent of a Sequoia (y'know---"comfort" bike)? And speaking of comfort bikes, can they really keep up with the speeds of true racing bikes?
Just questions from a rookie!!
Phoenix
Yep,just picked up my new bike,felt SR71.700X23 tires,21.3 pounds,areo rims,105 components and flat bars.I am very happy with it over my cannondale hybrid and it was 100 bucks less than i paid for the cannondaledale 2 and ahalf years ago.
Just wanted to ask for a price on the SR71. Is it about the equivalent of a Sequoia (y'know---"comfort" bike)? And speaking of comfort bikes, can they really keep up with the speeds of true racing bikes?
Just questions from a rookie!!
Phoenix