dabac

You're the one complaining about not being able to keep up.
You really expect me to offer any more help after that comeback?

kokol

You expect me to respect you after you disrespected me 1st?

Maybe it wasnt an insult after all. Maybe I misinterpreted what you said. If thats the case I do apologize to you.

dabac

No insult.
Maybe a bit blunt.
You seem to be doing the rookie rider thing - not seeing what comes of maybe years of sweat and grind.
Casual riding is not sufficient preparation for dedicated riding.
Not realizing this, you look to the bike to explain why you're overtaken/not able to keep up/tire sooner than you expect.
And it's rarely due to the bike.
Unless your bike is very wrong one way or another, the faster rider is the fitter rider. You could trade bikes and the other guy would still be faster.

Check out this video: as an example
We see this often. People who start riding, and very soon determine that its the bike keeping them back. Asking for taller gears is a very common thing. And very rarely needed.

coominya

You could wrap it in that carbon fiber look-a-like tape, that would make it acceptable.

Retro Grouch 

There's your answer:

If you like the bike, buy the bike. Ride the hell out of it. If, at some point, you decide that you don't like it anymore, get a different one.

deapee

I'd cruise that trek alpha around a city no problems.

I've heard that flat bar vs road geometry is different - swapping just to a flat bar in the front may not give you a good position. If you want flat bars, you may want to buy a flat bar bike. That's my understanding of it, as a person who won't ride flat bar and never put any research into it at all...just from things I've read along the way.

one4smoke

Defensive little devil, isn't he?

Stucky

My first experience riding a lightweight (<20 lb.) skinny-tire stiff-frame road bike threough the streets of Manhattan is what got my love for road biking started!

If you want to nimbly glide around; go fast; and cover long distances without killing yourself, that is what you need. (a lightweight skinny-tired stiff-framed road bike- not a mountain bike!)

Your physical condition and strength largely determine how fast you go- but whether you're weak or strong, you'll go faster and be less tired on the road bike- especially over longer distances.

Mountain bikes are for the woods/trails/riding around the black. You may see a lot of 'em in Manhattan...but then again, you see a lot of skinny jeans, too!

Find a rental place that rents real road bikes, and rent one for an hour or two....you'll see what I mean.

DMC707

The Pacific mountain bike is aroyal piece of crap -- you seem to have it all figured out though so go ahead and buy it anyway -- to go far and fast

Stucky

Maybe he'll buy it, and then realize why his "friend" [sounds more like an enemy!] couldn't sell the POS child's toy for $75 to anyone else..... Even if it were a REAL mountain bike, it would not be suitable for his purposes.

kokol

You don’t get out much do you, troll?

I think youre right. I’ll leave mountain bikes for the mountains only. I’ll try to get something around 19 – 24 lbs if my budget allows it. I think I can something lightweight for relatively cheap.

And it’s a good idea of yours to suggest that I go to a rental bike shop and rent out a light weight road bike for a spin. I actually picked up a light weight bike that weighed 16 lbs. I was very impressive!

Thanks man!

Heres an example of a troll who cant get laid.

Yeah.. like you know my friend personally. Troll on!

Youre describing me like I’m wanting to enter a race. Not the case. Just want a bike that'll get me to places fast. I’m looking at serious road bikes. Got a couple in mind but got to keep it within budget.

BillyD

Alright that's enough of this. You guys go find something peaceful and pleasant to do.