Finally bought a road bike
 

Well after 3 years on my Trek FX 7.2 Hybrid I broke down today and bought a new Specialized Secteur Elite. After my 130 mile ride from Boston to Provincetown I decided that a Hybrid was the wrong bike for the job. I will use the hybrid as my winter commuter and as a loner bike. There is quite a difference between the 2 bikes

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New bike is always sweet. Although I don't like road bikes that much, congratulations on your new ride!

Timber, did you catch the speed bug? Once it gets in your system, it's hard to kick. ;)

Enjoy the new bike. Ride fast, ride far, ride safe! Most importantly, have fun!

Road bikes are so much faster and definitely more fun than a hybrid. I made that transition about 2 years ago and I sold my Mtn. bike about 1.5 years ago. You might have slightly stiff neck early on due to the riding position which you have to stick your head up to see the road but it'll go away soon. Also, it takes more time to find a truly comfort riding position and you might even need to change a few parts. Personally, I have to change the handlebar, stem, and saddle (optional) to make the bike truly comfortable to ride.

However, as someone said here earlier, do enjoy the speed, and have fun passing other cyclists :)

Hybrids are for puttin and upright commuting in town. I like them for that. They're also good for waving at the neighbors as you pass, or picking up chicks around campus, too.

If you want to get somewhere in a timely fashion, though, and do it in style, get a road bike.

Road bikes are fun. They're fast, and they take sharp turns like it's nothing. Soon you'll be climbing hills just to zig and zag down the other side.

Plus, now that you have a sleek road bike, you can put all kinds of fred stuff on the hybrid, like fenders, racks, panniers, and a boom box with '80s music.

i have a redline metro disc that i put drop bars and tiagra shifters on and it rides like a road. there are a lot more in between bikes than there used to be, bikes with racing lines, slim tires, and carbon forks all with flat bars on top.

My hybrid commuter is like my Volvo station wagon, very pratical for commuting, but not exactly what you'd take to the track to have a good time.
My road bike is like a sports car. Not very pratical for carrying anything other than myself... but is accelerates with much greater ease and I have tons of fun on club rides.

This is why so many of us have multiple bikes. I would not take my road bike out in bad weather, but my commuters is working fine after 3.5 years of year round commuting in the Buffalo NY area. Congratulations and enjoy the greater speed and efficiency of a road bike. It may not make a good commuter, but those longer rides are infinitely more fun on a faster bike.

Happy riding,
André

i made the switch from old mountain bike to road bike this spring. the difference is tremendous. now, whenever the weather is nice, i'm commuting on the road bike. it's so much faster and more fun!

Timber's hybrid is very well equipped.

Congrats Timber. I came to a similar conclusion a while ago. Flat-bar bikes have their place, but at this point of my life, I need the drop bars.

That's what I was thinking. I seem to remember him having all that and more on there.

Timber, congrats on the new bike!

A kickstand! I thought those were outlawed by the UCI? :D

Enjoy the new bike Timber_8. Will you be getting new gear or simply exchanging them from one bike to another? Also, my road bike is my primary commuter.

I will equip the new bike independent of my Hybrid. I don't want to strip parts of the hybrid, I have always known I would buy another bicycle. I will most likely move the aero bars and 1 of the bar bags to the road bike as they are more appropriate to that bike but that is it. I did order a new Topeak Super Tourist DX Tubular Rack so I can use my trunk bag but thats it. I really want to keep the bike light.

One of the things I had to buy because I didn't realize till I got home was that the Tubes are very different on this bike over the Hybrid and I had no way of maintaining air pressure in the new tires. I have a nice shop and use a compressor most of the time but I decided to pick up a nice hand pump At my LBS. and another tube. I am trying not to put much on this bike But I use my trunk bag all the time and because it is a Topeak the rack will act as a rear fender. I think I will also rob the computer off the hybrid as well but I really want to keep the trek as intact as I can.

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Congrats on the new bike!

So the hybrid is now a loner? Or a loaner?

That is wise. Loading down a road bike will take all the joy out of riding it (in my humble, but accurate, opinion).

Go to ebay and get you a computer for $10. Ive been using mine for some time now - works good, lasts long time.

I love that! - -


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I like the smooth welds. Hope you enjoy your ride.

The only thing I am waiting on now is my new Topeak rack. I will probably loose the seat bag when that comes but I am doing a ride tomorrow and need my tool kit. The hybrid is not done by a long shot. I still ride year round and still want to do some touring. It is a killer bike for what I have been using it for and it has been a very reliable commuter. It has SPD peddles on it so it is not that simple to loane it out to just anyone but it is my B bicycle now and it is fall so the road bik will be in a lot more than out till next spring. This is the rack I am waiting on. It will carry my trunk bag mostly but can also carry my computer bag if needed. http://www.topeak.com/products/Racks...tDXTubularRack



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I have that same bike. Only 2011, and the sport. I'm not sure what the elite's add beside full 105.

You have all kinds of crazy stuff on your bikes :). I have only added a water bottle holder, boomer front light and superflash for the back. And spd-sl 105 pedals.

Had had it a couple months now. Like it a lot, but looking into getting more of an off-road road bike.

Dude, it's not a hybrid, spin the aerobars down level like they're designed for :P You're giving up a ton of aerodynamics you gained!

Curious tho, where did you get the mount for the Blackberry?

Congrats on the road bike. I'm seeing some black parts on the group, meaning Shimano 105?

Sweet ride. When you get back from your awsome ride....mow the lawn :)