Finally bought a road bike
#1
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


Last edited by Timber_8; 09-17-10 at 07:33 AM.
#3
Tawp Dawg
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,221
Likes: 0
From: Anchorage, AK
Bikes: '06 Surly Pugsley, '14 Surly Straggler, '88 Kuwahara Xtracycle, '10 Motobecane Outcast 29er, '?? Surly Cross Check (wife's), '00 Trek 4500 (wife's), '12 Windsor Oxford 3-speed (dogs')
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!

Enjoy the new bike. Ride fast, ride far, ride safe! Most importantly, have fun!
#4
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
From: Kingsport, TN
Bikes: 2007 Schwinn Le Tour
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
However, as someone said here earlier, do enjoy the speed, and have fun passing other cyclists
#5
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.
If you want to get somewhere in a timely fashion, though, and do it in style, get a road bike.
#6
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.
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.
#7
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 182
Likes: 0
From: Sandy, OR
Bikes: 96' lemond tourmalet, 11' leader 725tr
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.
#8
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,035
Likes: 0
From: Buffalo NY
Bikes: Gerry Fisher Nirvana, LeMond Buenos Aires
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
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
#9
born again cyclist
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,412
Likes: 88
From: Chicago
Bikes: I have five of brikes
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!
#10
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.
Last edited by groovestew; 09-16-10 at 11:32 AM.
#11
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,053
Likes: 0
From: Alexandria, VA
Bikes: Trek 830 Mountain Track Drop bar conversion
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.
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.
Timber, congrats on the new bike!
#13
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,896
Likes: 6
From: Binghamton, NY
Bikes: Workcycles FR8, 2016 Jamis Coda Comp, 2008 Surly Long Haul Trucker
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.
#14
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.
#15
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.
#16
Steel is real, baby!
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,532
Likes: 8
From: Boise, ID
Bikes: 1984 Pinarello, 1986 Bianchi Portofino, 1988 Bianchi Trofeo, 1989 Specialized Allez, 1989 Specialized Hard Rock, 2001 Litespeed Tuscany
Congrats on the new bike!
So the hybrid is now a loner? Or a loaner?
So the hybrid is now a loner? Or a loaner?
#18
#21
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. https://www.topeak.com/products/Racks...tDXTubularRack


#22
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 535
Likes: 5
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.
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.
#23
Older than dirt
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,342
Likes: 3
From: Winchester, VA
Bikes: Too darn many.. latest count is 11
Dude, it's not a hybrid, spin the aerobars down level like they're designed for
You're giving up a ton of aerodynamics you gained!
Curious tho, where did you get the mount for the Blackberry?
You're giving up a ton of aerodynamics you gained!Curious tho, where did you get the mount for the Blackberry?





