Road Cycling - Beginner ? about new roadbike handlebars

I really am interested in getting into the sport. The first thing I noticed when going to look at bikes was that some road bikes are being sold with flatbar handlebars. I like the idea of it but I am sure there must be drawbacks since their weren't many of them.
My question is what are the pros and cons of this setup. What do you guys recommend. I have been looking at something in the range of the Giant OCR1 or comparable.

The main compelling reason behind a flatbar roadbike IMHO is that while the geometry of the frame is exactly the same (which cannot really be said of say hybrids) as a pure roadbike, the flatbar allows those just getting into the sport or transitioning from hybrids and MTBs who are used to a more upright riding position to start riding the roadbike more comfortably and with more confidence (controls are similar to MTBs and hybrids, etc...). This makes the bike a nice upgrade bike that can either be left as-is if the rider decides that a pure roadbike really isn't for them but doesn't want to regret having bought a new bike or if they take a liking to it and want to transition further into dropbars, they can do so at an incremental cost that would only require changing out the handlebar (possibly also stem) and associated furniture (shifters, brake levers). So converting a flatbar roadbike to a dropbar roadbike will probably run about US$200 for the lower end models.

That said, the flatbar roadbike, IMHO is for the hesistant people who sit on the fence between hybrid and roadbike for a few years. My advice is that if you have even the slightest motivation to go full roadbike positioning then don't waste your time and money with flatbar roadbikes and get a dropbar bike. If you're not used to the position at first then you can always play handlebar height tricks with an adjustable stem (US$50) or cheaper stems until you work your way to a more aero position. The more you ride, the more accustomed you will become with dropbars.

The biggest issue to me about this is that because drop bars give you so many different riding positions, it much more comfortable -- especially for long rides. You'd be surprised at how often you will change positions on the bars during a ride. It's natural to do so and the variety makes things very comfortable. With a straight bar, you have limited options for riding positions, which I find to be very fatiguing.

My advice is to go with a drop bar and give it a good trial. You can always swap it out later for a straight bar if you find that you have difficulty making the transition -- but I'll bet you won't want to!

Yes... you get the tops of the dropbars that work just like flatbars for as long, and as often as you want them. I understand that you can even add brakes to that area if you like.

I am a fairly new rodie and the transition to dropbars was easy! In fact I wouldn't do it another way. Gustav is right you get to move around on the ride.... not only your hands and arms but your back angle and total body position. A long ride in one position would be a tough thing to do.

I too vote for the drop bars. ;)

cAPS

I was also a little put off by drop bars. But to me a road bike, just isn't a road bike without them. I like my drop bars now. Lots of room to move around on and they didn't take that much getting used to.

Thanks for all the repies, I will just go for dropbars right off the bat. I think Khuon hit the nail on the head about the comfort factor transitioning over. If I want a road bike which I do, then the dropbars are the way to go.

Originally posted by cAPSLOCK
I understand that you can even add brakes to that area if you like.
I too vote for the drop bars. ;)

cAPS

Good point! Those are called cyclocross brake levers, and offer decent braking from the 'upright' position.
DougW, had you gone for the straight bar, the conversion would have been more expensive in the long run; shifters, brake levers, grips, new cables & housing, etc.

Some people like to think that drop bars mean a low stretched out position, and flat bars put you higher and nearer, but its not neccessarily so. Many city bike couriers use flar bars in a very low stretched outn position, and it is quite usual for tourists to set their bars higher and nearer than racing riders.

Drop bars give you a variety of positions, brake hoods for cruising, tops for relaxing and drops for fighting headwinds and decents. There is no real advantage to flat bars, when it is in the equiv position to a drop bar.

Hi,
I have 2 sets of brakes. The Mtn bike style brakes are Paul's Love Levers. I also built the bar up with a layer of sheet foam, and then Off the Front handlebar tape to get a bar thickness like a Mtn bike, and a little shock absorbtion.