Help Me Please!!!!
 

I am looking to revert back to a hybrid from a racer due to difficulties riding and changing gears (amputated fingers and half of both my feet). I had a hybrid which turns out to be the best compromise for me. I have a mountain bike but just can't get the speed (poor pedal power due to said amputations).

My question is which hybrid? I can stretch to a a £1000 (obviously the cheaper the better!) The 2013 Ridgeback 04 flight looks nice, as does the Cannondale quick 2012. I was made aware that the flight is not as comfortable as say, a Sirrus.

Can someone recommend a comfortable hybrid, good components on it, geared toward speed?

I'd suggest a Jamis Allegro Comp http://www.myjamis.com/SSP%20Applica...cat_grp=strt_3 Alum. frame/carbon fibre fork and set up more as a flat bar road machine so it's "quicker" than many hybrids. Also, The KHS Vitamin C http://khsbicycles.com/bikes/2013-khs-models/vitamin-c/ seems like a lot of bike for the money and has more lower gearing for hills but still quicker than many more utiliterian type hybrids. What ever you end up, ENJOY! :)

I'd suggest you go for some test rides- comfort can't be judged from the spec sheet.

Possibly? you could change your "racer" to a flat bar bike?
New bar, brake/shifters & stem.

I have a Beone. How hard would it be (cost?) to change over? Are the components you mentioned the only things needing changed?
What shifters would you recommend?

Maybe if you provide a link to your specific model?

Saying Beone is like saying I have a Chevy. It could be a truck.

You might have to add a FDER to the parts I mentioned.

so an Ultegra 2x10 setup, with 53-39 front and 11-28 rear (wow, thats an insanely high top gear)

what kind of flat-bar shifters can you work with your missing fingers? flatbar trigger shifters generally require an index finger AND thumb on both hands.

thats a really nice 'race' bike, seems a shame to chop it up like this. if its a 2012 like your ink, it must be nearly brand new?

I'm not sure I understand the mountain bike + speed part. a hybrid is not that different than a cheaper light duty hard tail mountain bike, with street tires. putting smaller slick/semislick tires on your mountain bike will get you more than halfway there, unless its a full suspension downhill bike or something.

I'm missing middle and ring on left hand and ring on right. It's really hard to change gears on it. I also have a condition called Reynauds which means I have to wear gloves. All this adds to a not so fun ride.

I love the bike, very pissed off I have to get rid of it. Yes its a 2012 model I'm sure.

I have a Specialized rock hopper(I think) hard tail. Would it be easier just to buy some really light rims for that. I just thought it was quite a heavy bike and weight for me is an issue.

Basically I need a comfortable bike (which the Specialized is) that is geared for speed but rides like a mountain bike.

I'm such a noob.

Personally, I'd take your road bike into a good LBS, (if the Pro shops give you grief, find a Good FAMILY bike shop) and see what it would cost to have it "converted" to flat bar so you can keep the largest part of the, "performance level" your use to, jmho. You'd need flat bar, brake levers, shifters, (IF, the normal "trigger" shifters won't work for you, have them use, high end, "CLICK SHIFTERS"), with click shifters you really only need the "index finger and thumb to shift". Putting "slick tires" on the MTB really won't cut it if you still want decent performance out of your ride.

NO, it will not be just as good as your current road bike set up BUT, it will work better for you and I really think you'd be happier than using the MTB with slick tires. I've done that myself and ended up selling the MTB and getting a more "road" worthy hybrid, which at least to me seems "BETTER". YMMV.

If you really like your road bike,a quick fix might be barcon shifters. They plug into the ends of the bars. You'd just need the shifters(they should come with cables,but you might need to redo the housings). You'll have to move your hands around the bars to shift,but there's scores of curmudgeons over in the touring forum who wouldn't ride anything else.

edit: you could also then swap your Ultegra brifters for some regular brake levers,and prolly sell the brifters on eBay for enough to pay for the conversion.

i'm guessing that drop bar brake levers aren't that easy to use without fingers, either. edit: just read where he enumerated the missing fingers. I guess index-finger-only braking is adequate with good brakes.

do they make 10 speed barcon shifters ? ahhh, i see DuraAce 2/3 x 10 barcons, but I'm not sure duraace front shifters can be used with ultegra FD's... (we're out of my comfort zone here).

My "grocery getter" is an 86 RockHopper that I've pretty much commuterized with a rack, rear baskets & fenders.
12-21 9 speed cassette and 26x1.25" tires.
It's only about .5MPH slower than my Hybrid. It just takes a bit longer to get there.

Ultegra,DA,Deore,Red,X-7...whatever. As long as they're set to friction,they'll work any front derailleur(or rear for that matter). The number of gears only matters for indexed shifting.

I agree that converting the road bike to a flat bar is the best alternative if the clipless pedals work for you. Adding seperate barends or integrated ones like Ergon GP5's can give a variety of hand positions similar to a road bike minus the drops, but with easier shifting.

My respect for keeping on going. Keep your core temperature up - it encourages circulation to the extremities. I have Reynauds myself and believe me - its better to sweat a little bit than to have to deal with other consequences.