NothingTooFancy

I personally started with a hybrid, rode that for a few months before I realized I truly wanted a road bike and then put drop bars on it. This was kind of costly and I would have been better off in the first place getting a true road bike (but I was slightly intimidated at the prospect of jumping straight in to "road biking"). I have since moved on from that bike to a "true road bike". The converted hybrid never quite satisfied my needs.

It should be pointed out that a hybrid with drop bars is NOT the same as a road bike. The geometry is completely different. The hybrid has a longer wheel base, higher bottom bracket and different tube angles. While I sure had fun with the converted hybrid (and still use it for bad weather and communting), the road bike has a completely different attitude. A road bike is more stable in turns and at speed.

Another thing I want to stress is to not be intimidated by a road bike and the position it puts you in. If you have no experience in that position it will be intimidating, uncomfortable and strange at first, but trust me, your body will acclimate to the position over time. There are of course road bikes with relaxed geometries, but they still will have a different feel than a hybrid. And some road frames have all the mounts for racks and such (so versatility is still an option). If you want space for nice thick tires consider a cyclocross bike.

A road bike may the not be the answer for you, however, do not discount it for the wrong reasons. Such as feeling uncomfortable in the position when you first test ride, or the fact that intro road bikes tend to cost more than low to mid level hybrids. If you decide a hybrid isn't for you then you will be spending more money anyway.

RJM

I picked a Hybrid, Trek 7.5 FX, because of what the hybrid offered over a road bike. It offers me the ability to use a rear rack and tires in the 32-35 range. The road bikes that I looked at did not have these options. I might possibly put a trekking bar on the new bike, but will give it a month or so before I decide. With a trekking bar, you get quite a few different hand positions, which will help with long rides.

I will probably buy a road bike in the future and use it on long rides where I really want to improve my times or want to start racing. I don't race now, just ride for fun and fitness. The trek is faster than I thought it was going to be, so perfomance-wise it impresses me.

Really OP, it depends on what features you value more than others, that will choose the bike for you. Do you ever see yourself sticking a rack on the bike, or putting fatter tires on so you can go on dirt trails or are you purely looking at a bike for road riding? I never found riding in the drops of my Jamis Aurora to be all that difficult and actually like the different hand positions drop bars add to a bike, so the flat handlebar is not what sold me on a hybrid.

matttheknife

Big Heineken, I went the other direction. I got a 29" mtb (an 09 Jamis Durango 29). After riding my old trek around, I found that I would be doing a little more off-roading than I originally thought. It actually goes ok for short distances on the road too. I want to thank everyone for giving their 2 cents on this thread. As some of the posters suggested, I may eventually get a more road oriented bike too.... But that's a post for another day

wunderkind

If you want to be a 1 bike person, then I suggest you get a touring or cx bike. Best of both worlds. You can get on the drops for speed and yet still able to use rear racks and largish tires.

JimT

Now that you've got a new mtb you might consider putting some road tires and maybe a rack on your Trek and use it for road riding. I did that with my first mtb, a Bridgestone MB2 and it worked great......................even rode it in the first week long Cycle Oregon bike tour I did back in 1094.

Jim

matttheknife

Good suggestion Jim. I'll probably do that eventually.

wunderkind

I call BS. Bicycles as we know it didn't really come into existence until the late 19th century.

qmsdc15

If you like drop bars or you like flat bars, select.

rumrunn6

get both! :-)

JimT

Oh know......................you're wrong. I invented the bike back then............................I just couldn't get the patent on it! Oh wait! Maybe it was the internet I invented.

Jim

Loose Chain

If you can have only one bike get a cyclecross bike outfitted with 28 to 32mm smooth(er) center tires. Fast on road, fast on dirt. Drop bar position is similar to a road machine. A cross bike is generally a little more relaxed than a full out road bike but some can be very aggressive or very tourish but all are way faster than a mtb on the road and will let you get into a proper tuck on the drops, something a flat bar hybrid cannot.

I don't understand why people think they need to sit upright, you are supposed to be leaned over on a real bicycle to reduce wind, to better utilize your full body and to provide better balance and to distribute the weight of your body to your hands/arms, legs/rear.

My typical cruising speeds compared, not scientific, just an observation of my typical speeds on smooth, level pavement;

My Rcokhopper with mtb tires -- 10-12 MPH
My Stumpjumper fitted with Armadillo 1.5 inch multi purpose tires --12-14 MPH
My Surly Cross Check with 32mm smooth center tires -- 15-17 MPH
My steel Pinerello with Conti 23mm GP4000 tires -- 16-19 MPH

My typical cruising speed on sand/gravel road:

My Rockhopper with mtb tires as above -- 8-12 MPH
My Stumpjumper as above -- 8-12 MPH
My Surly Cross Check as above -- 12-15 MPH
My Pinarello as above -- 0 MPH (no go)

YRMV considerably

Edit to add this, before y'all jump and scream, I am not saying my power output is the same effort etc, so, why are the Pinarello and the CC faster, because I am leaned over on the drops, because I am more comfortable than sitting bolt upright, because I have better aerodynamics, because I can more effectively use my muscles, because they have SPD peddles and the others are caged or none, because they inspire confidence at speed etc.

Wanderer

What works for your body, does not necessarily work for someone else. Could be conditioning, age, physical limitations, need to view while upright, etc.

fadi

I would have personally gone for a touring bike!
The most versatile do it all models in my opinion... Of course not to go down a steep rocky forest, or win an international race: but for anything else in between

just my 0.02

nymtber

I bought a road bike in 2006 (Specialized Allez Triple) and rode it for almost 2 years before I just got sick of being so bent over that I had to look UP to see where I was going. I sold it in 2008, thinking I would just use my spare wheelset on my MTB and get my exercise that way...

Then last Sept (2009) I decided that since I hardly rode my bike on the road, I needed a skinny tire bike once again so that I could enjoy my favorite sport. I ended up picking up a Specialized Sirrus (base model) and I LOVE the bike It is about 3mph slower than the Allez, but I see more, I am more upright so my neck doesn't hurt, and I feel it handles better than the Allez, though I attribute that to the drop bars, I have had flat bars all my life. I also feel safer because I KNOW the v-brakes on the Sirrus will stop me on a dime...those road calipers gave me worries I would end up wrecking someday because they were terrible at stopping.

It all boils down to personal preference. I might own a drop bar bike again, but not likely. My Sirrus has become a base for me to build on. I miss the speed of my Allez, but I am so much more comfortable on my bike now that I don't want to go back Cycling is supposed to be fun, comfort = fun!

meanstreak

I have both a road bike and a Trek FX 7.2. Truthfully I enjoy the Trek FX more and I don't consider it to be a true upright positon like most hybrid. True it's not as agressive a stance as a road bike, but it suits me just fine and I plan to add Ergon grips which will allow me to adjust the ends bars so I have a second riding position... works for me.

idiotekniQues

after being on these forums for just a few weeks, i sense already a strong bit of drop bar stance elitism. while i am sure some folks that fall in this camp actually go out and bang out crazy fast and long rides and practice what they preach, i suspect a hell of a lot of them are just spandex fanboys or posers as well.

a lot of people ask for urban/around town bikes for some trail riding, and maybe touring as well and it almost always goes to cyclocross and hybrids rarely get mentioned for example. people dismiss any form of upright stance as amateurish, etc...

also there are a variety of hybrids from when i shopped around. some are a very relaxed flat bar stance, while others have more aggressive geometry as well. so there is a variety. and you can do things like flip stems, get bar ends or another handlebar to adjust this also.

fadi

I truly believe that on long trips, the drop bar is much more comfortable as it allows you different hand positions compared to a flat bar model.
But on the other hand, the flat bar will give you more leverage for maneuvering and it improves your stability and handling: the reason in fact why you virtually never see mountain bikes released with a drop bar

It is just a matter of preferences in the end; obviously when one ask for advice on such forums, people will tend to recommend what works or has worked best for them.
We get to realize that indeed drop bars are what most regular and intensive bikers use...

RJM

Count me in as one who has flipped his stem on his hybird and will be adding bar ends soon. You just cannot beat extra hand positions and there certainly is an advantage to being able to get more aerodynamic (its also a bit more comfortable for me). I have a Jamis Aurora too which I ride on the hoods 85% of the time, 10% on the top of the bar and sometimes get into the drops, but they are too low to be comfortable after 10 miles or so. What bar really is just personal preference, but I believe the advantages of a hybrid outweigh the disadvantages of not having the drop bar. I really like the v brakes, ability to add a rear rack, and fatter tires now, but once I get in better shape and start putting quite a few miles on each ride, the drop bars look like a better solution than a flat bar.

Loose Chain

it is not elitism to point out facts, drop bars have more hand positions and sitting up right for many of us is extremely painful on both our posteriors but also lower back. Despite what some think, a "road bike" position is not uncomfortable as long as it is not taken to an extreme and of course that goes both ways, an upright bike does not have to hold the rider at a 90 degree straight up position, again, that is extreme.

Wanderer

While this may not hold true for everyone You may also realize that drop bars are not comfortable for all people, whether for physical limitations/problems, or other reasons. And, some just like the much better visibility that the upright posture affords them (whether totally upright, or slanted forward at any number of angles.

There, fixed that for ya....... LOL

MorganRaider

Try a fast flat bar, say a TREK 7.7FX, (700x28's) add some Ergon grips (GC3's) for multiple hand positions and you will probably be within 2-3 mph avg speed and able to handle 75-80 % distance vs. a road bike.

I have this combo and find it very comfortable and plenty fast. The Ergon grips give me 3 "stable" hand positions and I can tuck down out of the wind as if I was riding on the drops of a road bike and pick up some glute power to boot.

snafu21

does anyone have experience with Scott bikes?


Yeah, me. 24 lbs. :-)


You have mail



Oh! Too late!

fadi

I guess he already did his choice and bought the model he wants
If not, I could probably help on the Scott thing too...

JOE.SBG

If the world is going to end on 21 December 2012, does that mean I won't be able to retire in 2013?



cyber hawke
yes, you will be able to retire. The more important question is will it be the good retirement or the bad retirement. I hope you're prepared for the good retirement.

Joe

kaliayev

Personally I like flat bars and a more upright position for city riding or using the bike for shopping errands. For riding fast, touring, or other long distance riding then drops and a more stretched out position are hands down my choice.