Originally Posted by
mixer440
There are some very good points here.........especially whether or not the fit will work if you changed from a geometry drop bar, to flat. That is my main concern !
I test rode this Kona Sutra LTD awhile ago and it's a great bike. But, there is no way that I could get used to the drop bars with the style and type of riding I do. Riding on top of the bars is strange because of the cabling that goes behind and under the tape. Riding on the "hood" might work, but I'd be doing that 80% of the time.
Coming from a flat bar and liking this bike and wanting flat bars seemed logical at the time.
Perhaps this is just a matter of getting the right size frame **********
Appreciate all the input.
I spend a lot of time riding road bikes with drop bars and most road bike riders spend the majority of their time on the hoods. Having drop bars is about more than just aerodynamics, it's also about having different places to put your hands so they don't get numb from using the same position for a long time. My Jamis Quest has the bars up pretty high, compared to a racier bike, so the drops are as high as some people's flat bars. Stand a flat bar road bike next to an endurance geometry road bike and you'll see what I mean.
I'm not trying to convince you to go with drop bars, but if you look at one that is fitted properly for your type of riding you might be surprised. Not everyone wants to race, and some shops have a hard time dealing with that. If you are buying a new bike, you should get one that fits and has the equipment you want, and not have to pay to swap a bunch of things right off the bat. Stems are pretty inexpensive, though, and swapping to a more upright stem on the Kona may be just what you need to make the drop bars work for you. If you decide you want flat bars, then get a bike that already has them.