KonaRider125

Howdy, new member here and new to the sport of cycling. I bought a Kona Splice hybrid bike about 6 months ago and I am really enjoying it and have caught the cycling bug. I've been getting in better shape and going for longer and longer rides, all on paved roads. I am thinking I made a wrong choice getting a hybrid and should have bought a full on road bike. My question is this, will I get a significant advantage in cycling efficiency going to a mid range quality road bike? My primary uses are 20-40 mile rides a couple times a week, and more if I have the time.

As I said, very new to this sport and I would like to get more into it and have the best bike for me.

Thoughts, opinions, and advice greatly appreciated.

BruceHankins

I think your Kona will do the job very well for you. I would get some smaller tires, 700x28 or 700x32s and lock out the forks. Or get a new/used road bike also and have 2 bikes. A good steel frame road bike with down tube shifters or sti shifting can be had for $200-$500 on CL. Plus you'll also get a bigger crank ring. Usually a 52-40 or 50-39. It would help with higher speeds. I think the kona is more than capable though, very nice bike.

AdelaaR

The bike you have now is a great cross bike for doing everything.
Keep it for when things get a little rough or for doing adventurous rides where you don't know where you will be going and need something that can handle it all.
For doing long distances on roads, an actual road bike will indeed be faster and more comfortable.
The difference will be very small, though ... getting fast isn't about the bike.
The most important things when doing long distances are:
-Clothing
-Nutrition
-Position
-Multiple usable hand positions to be able to switch around from time to time.
A road(race)bike will give you a more aggressive position, resulting in faster riding, but also resulting in more stress on your body and it will give you more hand positions to choose from.

To give you an idea of the marginal speed gains between bikes, I present you my best average speeds over the same 10k:
On my cross hybrid, which is similar to your bike, but with an aerobar: 37 km/h.
On my road race bike, with short tri aerobar: 39 km/h
On my TT bike, with aerobar, full TT kit and TT wheels: 42 km/h
I once did 40 km/h on that same stretch with my hybrid, too, but that was with the handlebar way down low in a TT position and with race wheels.
So you see: it isn't simply about the type of bike

giantcfr1

You will love the next step into road bikes. If funds permit I believe a road, a hybrid, and an MTB in your collection is perfect to cover almost everything. Life is short so enjoy the variety.

cbr9927

I agree with Giantcrf 1 that a hybrid and a road bike is nice but for my taste a third bike should be something truly unique. I am eyeing a Cannondale Hooligan.
https://www.cannondale.com/catalog/pr.../category/935/

I was going to get one but cancelled my order due the ugly paint scheme. I do have hopes for the 2015 model to be much better looking.

KonaRider125

Thank you all for the advise. If I do upgrade to a road bike, I will keep the Kona as I do really like the bike. The bottom line is I want a new bike that I can go farther, faster, and with less effort.

I would also like some suggestions for quality road bikes to look into, in the $1000, $1500 range. Are there any particular makes and models where you are really getting a lot for your money?

AdelaaR

A slightly bent carbon fork is great for absorbing road buzz ... less buzz means more comfort and more comfort means more power over more distance

loimpact

And by "slightly bent", I'm sure AdelaaR means a fork "DESIGNED" with a bend in it. You certainly don't want to pick up a "slightly bent from a crash" carbon fork. That would certainly result in some exciting, but otherwise painful face-planting crashes in your future.

As for recommendations, I'd suggest the Cannondale Synapse or the Specialized Roubaix. They are both roadies but with a more relaxed geometry. Price tag will follow models within the series, of course. How high you want to go is entirely up to you. (oh, to win the lottery, eh?)

RPK79

I started on a cheap mountain bike and as my miles got up to around 5 I knew it just wasn't going to cut it. I bought a slightly less cheap hybrid and was happy with that and going on 40+ mile rides, but wanted more handlebar positions so picked up a used road bike. It was like night and day. I gained a few average MPH and was more comfortable. I still have the bug to upgrade, but I'm sticking with road bikes.

giantcfr1

What colour was it? (cannondale blocks the link to Japan so I can't see your pic)

I've seen some hot looking Hooligans here in "Mate Black" with red anodized accents.

AdelaaR

I always buy the cheaper straight ones and hammer a little bend in them

AdelaaR

Cool bike!
(for a hooligan )

RPK79

Works best to hit them with the torch first to soften the carbon fibers.

BruceHankins

Throw some dirt drops on the Kona!

cderalow

synapse alloy is available in his price range, cheapest current model roubaix is $1800. the equivalent alloy secteur goes lower.

check into the alloy versions of the following:

trek domane, cannondale synapse, specialized secteur, giant defy, felt Z series

in the $1000-$1500 range you should be able to get a decent aluminum frame with shimano 105 level components with no issues.

rumrunn6

my answer = yes

happy shopping!

cbr9927

Giantcfr1

Here is the 14 Hooligan is being sold in the States. I tried one of the Dahon folding bikes a few weeks ago and it was super fun.

dynaryder

That's the same one I have. Those were the first run;the current ones have a slightly different fork,the IGH and brakes are Shimano now,and the colors are completely different.

fietsbob

Road bike is 24 years old, an RB1,, Bike FridayPocketLlama Is the new one , 3rd year..

though the snowfall has me breaking out the even older stumpie .. with the studded tires ..

badger1

If you want a "road bike", by all means get one. Two points: first, you will not go "further, faster, and with less effort". For the same effort, you will go very slightly faster, and therefore very slightly further, or the same speed/distance for very slightly less effort. There is a tendency on these forums and elsewhere to over-estimate the differences, as AdelaaR tacitly points out elsewhere.

Second point (not unrelated), purchasing a 'road bike' is not in and of itself an "upgrade" relative to what you already have; you are simply purchasing a different style of bicycle. The notion that one "upgrades" or "graduates" from a "hybrid" to a "road bike" (i.e. a bicycle patterned after road racing bikes, with drop bars) is ridiculous.

KonaRider125

badger1- Like I said I am new to cycling so I know very little beyond how to fill my tires and clean/lube my chain. I decided that I am going to get some clip less pedals and cycling shoes to help with efficiency and ride my Kona a bit more. I'll save money and research a good road bike to get at some point.

Thanks all who posted and I look forward to learning more here.

giantcfr1

My gosh, that is sad looking. It's like a sad attempt to be a Paul Smith colour scheme.

I see the chain stays are different too. I think you are lucky to pick the original model.

AdelaaR

I Couldn't agree more and I was just about to type almost the same thing.
Just like buying a Ferrari isn't an upgrade when you mainly ride dirt and rocks, a roadbike or any other bike must be seen relative to what you use it for.

Once a year, I go on a long weekend away with my wife and two small kids to my father's cabin in the woods.
I always take my bike since there are many great roads and tracks through nature in the south and much less cars.
I always take my hybrid and there is no way I would take my roadbike.
Why?
Because with my hybrid I'm sure I can just ride out and take it as it comes.
Some rocky trail?
An old railroad tunnel under a mountain that's full of puddles?
Tracks through fields?
No problemo
And then later ... when I want to do some high intensity time trial training ...
I go to the old railroad that has been converted to bike path and ride full speed straight ahead for as long as I want.
A roadbike would make me a few percents faster on that last bit but couldn't handle those first fun things.

If I would have only one bike, it would be a hybrid ... but luckily for me there's more room in my budget and garage

AdelaaR

Good choice!
Make sure to practice some before actually getting in traffic.

BruceHankins

Unclip a while before you come to a full stop. And try not to be too embarrassed when you don't make it and fall over. Everybody does it. I was lucky and nobody was around to see the 2 times I did it.