Road Cycling - My new Specialized Sirrus...evolving from the fat tires...

I picked up my new Specialized Sirrus Sport last night. It's the first time I've ever riden a bike with roadbike tires, so it is a completely new feel to me. I've only ever riden a mountain bike before, even when working as a courier I booted around the city on my fat nubby tires.

I like the hybrid style of this bike, but I've been told by many that now that I'm experiencing a more roadbike feel, I'll soon want a true roadbike.

So I'm wondering...I really like the feel of the bike in terms of speed, manouverability, etc, but it seems very hard. Cracks in the road feel like potholes. Is this a the normal feel for a road bike? Or is the Sirrus and especially hard ride. I suppose it's just a feeling i have to get used to.

I don't imagine it has anything to do with the small roadbike tires/rim does it? Does the style of the frame have much to do with it?

Haha, I'm so obviously a roadbike noob.

Loved the Sirrus when I worked at a LBS.

the rough feel compared to the MTB you are used to has everything to do with tires and pressures. Your MTB has big, fat tires at 30-50 psi that give you a lot of cushion. Those tires, while comfortable, will have a larger rolling friction and will not be as fast as your road tires. Your road tires are substantially smaller and run at pressures three to four times higher than your MTB tires. Road tires feel like rocks, but you will be monumentally faster on them due to the low rolling resistance.

Fly, my man! Fly!

Loved the Sirrus when I worked at a LBS.

the rough feel compared to the MTB you are used to has everything to do with tires and pressures. Your MTB has big, fat tires at 30-50 psi that give you a lot of cushion. Those tires, while comfortable, will have a larger rolling friction and will not be as fast as your road tires. Your road tires are substantially smaller and run at pressures three to four times higher than your MTB tires. Road tires feel like rocks, but you will be monumentally faster on them due to the low rolling resistance.

Fly, my man! Fly!

True, but there is more to the story in my opinion.

I have an 01 Sirrus Comp and I found that the harsh ride was not just the tires! It is an aluminium bike! I am not sure about the new ones, but the fork on mine is Cromo too. If you are running the Armadillo tires (mine were 700x26) that IS adding harshness to the ride too. The tires call for 115-125 lbs. I used to run at the high end and now I run at the lower end. I also switched to 700x23 Flack Jacket tires. They are basically the same as the Armadillo, but do not have the kevlar belt in the sidewalls as the Armadillo does. I am faster and the ride is a bit less harsh.

The bike is essentially a commutor hybride for those who want to sit up more on ty streets. Yes, you will want to trade up to a real road bike!! I started modifying mine within six months and ended up with a drop bar and STI shifters. When I reolized I was not going to turn it into a road bike I went out and bought a Lemond (a REAL road bike).

Enjoy the Sirrus. It is a great bike!

Bill

the tires on my bike are:
Specialized All Condition 700x28C, 60TPI, Flak Jacket

the number after 700x..what does it refer to? And what then is the difference between 700x28, 700x26, and 700x23?

BTW, thanks for the helpful responses.

You already have the lighter tire.

The # after the 700x refers to the width of the tire (i think in mm). The smaller the # the narower the tire. Your 28's are FAT for a road tire. Most folks ride 23 and some 25. Keep in mind that the skinny tires are NOT suitable for riding off road and are really not good on "Rail Trails"

The Sirrus has a hard ride, but you'll get used to it in about a thousand miles, if you make it that long before you buy a full road bike. Speaking from experience, not being a smartass. I still commute on my Sirrus though and have had no mechanical issues.