Noob from North Texas
#1
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Join Date: May 2014
Location: Lewisville, TX
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Bikes: 1976 Motobecane Grand Touring, 2013 Fuji Absolute 2.1 hybrid, 2000 Mongoose S2000 MTB, 2009 Schwinn Jaguar beach cruiser
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Noob from North Texas
Well, like so many others that found this forum for the first time, I'm getting back in the saddle after a number of years. I rode around 80 miles per week in college on an old Centurian road bike in the late 80's, and haven't done much since. Fast forward to just turning 47 and reaching a very clydesdalesque 220 pounds, I pulled down my old hardtail Mongoose MTB and started doing 10k paved greenbelt rides about a month ago. That has been long enough to know I need a new ride. I'm nearly 100% sure I'm going to go with a hybrid/flat bar road bike rather than a drop bar as a concession to my age and weight. Looking at the Fuji Absolute 2.1 and Diamondback Insight 1 to get started - both are plentiful in the area to test ride after being properly fit (I'm 5'9" with a 30" inseam).
I've been lurking for a while, but am excited to learn more and get back into shape.
Cheers!
I've been lurking for a while, but am excited to learn more and get back into shape.
Cheers!
#2
Galveston County Texas
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: In The Wind
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Welcome to Bike Forums.
Road bars will give you many more hand positions.
Road bars will give you many more hand positions.
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Fred "The Real Fred"
Fred "The Real Fred"
#4
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Cheers and welcome!
--J
--J
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To err is human. To moo is bovine.
Who is this General Failure anyway, and why is he reading my drive?
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#5
Newbie
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Fairfax, VA USA
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Bikes: Trek 7.3 fx, Domane 4.7
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Welcome from another newbie! I too just got back into riding, and bought a flat bar Trek 7.3 fx just for the exercise. It's a great bike, but as I quickly got into shape, I kinda out grew the posture this type bike has me in. It's just not that much fun after 20 miles to continue in that same position. I plan to do longer rides, and this bike won't be a good fit for them. I picked up a drop bar endurance bike (Trek Domane 4.7), and coulda saved if I had listened to the bike shop guy who knew better than me.
If you are going to go out for light action, 10-15 mile rides then the flat bar is a good bike - especially if you also want to try commuting (putting bags and racks on this type would be a tad easier, at least between mine, and how I will be purposing the 7.3 from now on). If you want to do longer distances or think you will be riding with others that might have endurance type bikes with drop bars, look at that as your best option.
The drop bars give you several options to reposition yourself where the flat bar offers but one really. That's a big thing on longer rides. You will appreciate a strong upper body and core muscle groups with either style bike, or prepare for some numbness in your hands (you'll be resting too much weight on them holding up your body). When you have a strong core, the lean you have with the drop bar isn't going to hurt, and maintaining that position is positive for strength in itself - win/win!
If you are going to go out for light action, 10-15 mile rides then the flat bar is a good bike - especially if you also want to try commuting (putting bags and racks on this type would be a tad easier, at least between mine, and how I will be purposing the 7.3 from now on). If you want to do longer distances or think you will be riding with others that might have endurance type bikes with drop bars, look at that as your best option.
The drop bars give you several options to reposition yourself where the flat bar offers but one really. That's a big thing on longer rides. You will appreciate a strong upper body and core muscle groups with either style bike, or prepare for some numbness in your hands (you'll be resting too much weight on them holding up your body). When you have a strong core, the lean you have with the drop bar isn't going to hurt, and maintaining that position is positive for strength in itself - win/win!