cvcman

I put 2300 miles on my hybrid this year, mostly 20-40 mile rides, lots of hills etc I avg 16.7 mph...The only road bike i tried was my wifes Trek and it felt real weird, I assume because its too small and the bending over put lot of pressure on my, well you get the idea....
So if I had the right bike would it bother me being bent over ? I assume I would be faster right ? Do you need to go with the clipless pedels etc ?? WHats a good entry level bike ?

garage sale GT

You'd love one that fits. You can always ride the hoods (hold on to the brake lever bases); in fact, this is probably what most riders do most often, and it's not much lower than a hybrid, and you can still operate the brake levers easily.

If you really think you may need wider tires you can buy a cyclocross bike which is like a road bike with slightly wider tires, cantilever or disc brakes, and a slightly higher bar which is a bit nearer to you.

Once you adjust your seat properly, you'll find you're taking a lot of pressure off your back.

I can feel a small but definite difference in speed with a modern aero wheelset vs an old school 36 spoke wheelset with 32mm tires.

Clipless pedals are nice but you definitely don't need them. My older road bike has platform pedals and it's fine. You can max out your heart and lungs with just the muscle groups used by ordinary platform pedals, so all you lose is sprinting and short term climbing ability, as well as making it easier to get knocked off the bike by sharp bumps at high speed.

The narrow tires are not as uncomfortable as you may think. It takes less road pressure to deform them because they are narrow. Also, carbon forks and seatstays from reputable frame makers seem to cushion the ride a bit. However, you will have to steer around bigger bumps.

dpeters11

There's a place for both. I'd give one (your size) or a few a try, there are different geometries. Some more aggressive, some more upright. I wouldn't get clipless right away, get used to the bike first. They aren't a requirement though.

cvcman

my hybrid is a Fuji crosstown so it really upright like a comfort bike..A road bike would be a huge change, I worry about "soft tissue" discomfort...Im 52 yrs old about 5'9" tall and about 154 pounds
Again I ride ahead of my wfe most times when she is on her Trek road bike, I avg about 16..faster on the flats
What would be a good brand to start with without breaking the bank

CbadRider

There are a lot of good entry-level road bikes. Go to your local bike shop with a budget in mind and ask what they have in your price range, then test ride a couple of different models.

The right saddle will prevent any soft tissue discomfort; you might have to try a few to find the right one.

And you will will be a bit faster on the road bike. I started with a hybrid and when I got my road bike I was amazed how much easier it was to go up hills.

SlimRider

Go to your nearest Jamis dealer and try a Satellite Comp.

- Slim

PS.

The Bosanova would be even better!

TrekmanDan

I was in a similar situation last year. I've always ridden a mtn bike, but ever since my wife and i moved to Houston back in 2007, I've never been on any trails. That's part of the reason why I decided to get a road bike. The second reason is because I couldn't keep up with a buddy of mine who has a 29'er. I must admit, it did take some getting used to at first. The road bike obviously had a bumpier ride (alum frame, carbon fork), different shifting, etc. But despite that, overall, it was just a lot more fun to ride. I could accelerate a lot quicker, go faster, and travel farther, a whole lot easier compared to my mtn bike. So, if you're considering a road bike, i say go for it, but be sure to get one with at least a carbon fork. When I bought my 2011 Trek 1.2, i was comparing it to a Specialized Allez and a Jamis Ventura Comp. When I rode all of them, it came down to the Trek and the Jamis. Both had a more stable, upright position compared to the Specialized, which I was looking for, but at the same time, they were still a lot of fun to ride. They both had identical components, so i just ended up getting the Trek, since I thought it looked better.

PaulRivers

Yeah, honestly, some people never seem to have a problem with this, but other people like myself do. It's really annoying. A friend of mine doesn't ride his expensive road bike for this reason. But then other people never have an issue. *sigh*

Mobile 155

There are several saddles designed with soft tissue issues in mind.

Orca

Went from a Hybrid to a Road bike myself, didn't take long for me to get hooked Take a test ride on one at your LBS and see how you feel too!

horus11B

Same thing here... it went from a cheap mongoose mountain bike, to a borrowed hybrid, to a Giant SCR. I honestly reccomend the giant SCR series from personal experience. You can pick up the SCR 2 for roughly 500 bucks if you shop around, and it has a relatively relaxed geometry for a road bike. The componets are sora, but if its a starter bike, I wouldnt worry about that. Mine shift just fine after a good adjustment.

I also spent about a week on platforms, learning how to steer from the hoods/drops... before I went to clipless. It can be a little disconcerting at first.

SlimRider

It just so happens, that I took the reverse route. I've always owned road bikes. I bought a Trek 7.5FX and it just didn't fulfill my expectations. I still ride it occasionally, but I much prefer either my Raleigh or Nishiki road bikes.

- Slim

Jimi77

The crosstown is really a comfort bike (vs a 'true' hybrid). I'd try some more agressive hybrids and some road bikes see which you like better.

tagaproject6

A proper fit, saddle position will remedy this. Testing a bike that is of poor fit will give all the wrong impressions and conclusions.

No, it shouldn’t.
Depends on how much faster you can pedal
No.
There are plenty of great “entry level” bikes and it also depends on what you consider “entry level”, which in turn is also dependent on the amount of money you are willing to spend. Visit your local bike shop and evaluate what they have in proportion to the amount of money in your wallet. Chances are, you will find plenty that will suit your needs and one that will tug at your bike lust. Know the difference and act accordingly. Good luck!

Pistard

+ 1 on the Satellite

PaulRivers

It's true about testing a bike that's the wrong size and fit.

However, a proper fit and saddle position has not remedied this for me. I've been to two pro fitters (both of whom were recommended and make their living off just doing fittings) and neither one was able to completely solved my problem. I've tried several saddles. My doctor says it's just a "pain" problem with no real effects, but it's annoying and hasn't been as simple as a bike fitting or something to fix it for me.

RedC

I too had a comfort bike and went to a road bike at 66 yro and every time I rode over 30 miles I had pain. I tried 5 different saddles but one of my friends kept saying "How many miles do you have?" " It's not your saddle it's your ass" Sure enough after about 1500 miles the pain went away and now at 12,000 miles I'm pretty comfortable on the road bike and I average about 150 miles a week. By the way I'm 6'4" and I'm down to 260lbs.

Antaresia

I went from an old mixte (that is too small for me) to a road bike. There was a bit of a learning curve, I almost dumped it a few time just trying to stop - I think that might have had more to do with the size difference. I wouldn't get clipless until you're used to the bike.

I don't think you need a carbon fork, both of my bikes are steel and I like it that way.

I think you'll like it, especially if you keep your old bike. I still love my old mixte, and ride both regularly; it's nice to have variety and be able to set up each bike for it's intended purpose. I have my new bike set up for commuting, and my mixte for grocery getting/errands that require leaving the bike for a while (I'm not letting my new bike out of my sight).

idc

I went from a hybrid that I'd had for 6 years (basically a flat bar road bike) to a road bike this year. I love it - mostly being able to shift+brake from two positions, better aero, easier climbing (lighter bike), increased acceleration and better fit (my hybrid was a little big for me) and smoother shifting/better components (granted, my road bike cost about 4x more than my hybrid did). My only regret since is that I perhaps should've considered a cyclocross bike, so that I could mount different tires and go off-road a bit, or mount wider tires for winter conditions.

If your saddle is comfortable now, why not move it across to your road bike (if you end up getting one). I'm still on my hybrid's saddle even though it's a lot heavier than the one that came with my road bike. I've tried getting used to the road bike's one and it's a definite no-go. I need more padding than that.

As for clipless pedals, you can try those now on your hybrid. I've been riding clipless for over 10 years, starting during my MTB days. I think they're a great way to improve efficiency.

The Chemist

Personally I don't like drop bars, so I ride a hybrid which is basically a flat bar road bike. I've got clipless pedals on it too, and I've ridden it over 4000km in the 6 months since I bought it. Wouldn't ever think to replace it with a true road bike.

Garfield Cat

cvcman, you might be in transition. You're riding faster and probably enjoying that speed rush. You would definitely enjoy a road bike.

There is no need to get an entry level road bike, unless you have a budget issue. Some justify an entry level road bike just in case you don't like it and want to bail out.

The thing is the fit setup. At first, the fit setup is going to be just at the beginner's stage. Then when you get more physically fit with more riding and advanced in conditioning, you will automatically want a change in the setup, a more aggressive position.

Road bikes are designed for speed, agility, and distance riding.

Captain Blight

The more you ride, the less your ass hurts. Get a quality saddle (I like the San Marco Regal and the Brooks B-17) and put a Surly Crosscheck under it. Watch the sales and you shouldn't spend more than about 1100 bucks.

If you've got a knowledgeable friend, there are some screaming deals to be had in vintage steel. Nothing rides like a double-butted Reynolds 531 frame.

fietsbob

a 700c wheel hybrid and you can fit thinner tires, but if you want the road bar
and the resultant, racer's tuck aero position, go for it.