Century on a flat bar
 

I have a trek xo cyclocross bike set up w/ triple ring, flat carbon bars and 9 sp xt trigger shifters. I have been doing 25-30 mile rides but feel I am at limit of my bike capabilities. I really don't like drop bars and brifters tho. I am thinking of a new bike, I want a carbon frame,maybe a comax 1 or a sirrus carbon . Do u think if itt fits correctly that I can do a 100 miles on it ? Or should I just try to get used to drop bars ? I really like the BMC Grandfondo and the roubaix, what do you think ?

You can do it. One can do it. A lot of people have done it.

Which doesn't mean if you're buying a bike to eventually do a century on I'd recommend flat bars to you. But that depends on why you don't like brifters and drop bars. (And why you like the bikes you mentioned if you don't like their brifters or drop bars.)

The idea of riding 100 miles without being able to switch up hand positions makes my shoulders hurt just thinking about it.

I've done it. No problem. And you can too.

I agree with the others, but I do think it might be worth getting comfortable with drop bars. I came to road from mountain biking, so I didn't think I'd like drops... but after a bit, there was no going back. So many more hand positions, including those that are close to what you've got on a flat bar.

My bet is that you'd get used to it pretty quickly.

+1

Great advice. I mean, if you ask me which I prefer, it is drop bars hands down. But, riding 100 miles using a flat bar is perfectly doable.

Been there, done that, on a flat bar. I do have bar ends though that give me an option to change hand positions.

Done it on a flat bar many times.
But once you get fitted on the drop bars, there is no going back. Plus your abs get really strong.

Don't expect that going to a carbon frame will magically improve your abilities;
you'll still have to train regrdless of bike.

100 miles on a 6 speed, flat bar, 16 inch wheels folding bike:
https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5552/1...32e1ecf7b1.jpg100 Miles(160 Km.) on a Brompton by 1nterceptor, on Flickr

I mean, you could do a century backwards on a unicycle if you put your mind to it. But I think people are losing sight of the fact that he's thinking of getting a bike specifically to do centuries with. To that end the Roubaix is a great choice.

You could go with a touring/distance handlebar like North Road bars and keep your trigger shifters. They would give you multiple hand positions also.

I've done many dirt centuries on my MTB with "interior" bar ends (something like in the photo but straighter). They give me another hand position. But for paved roads I'd choose my road bike with drop bars any day.

http://www.bikeforums.net/data:image...2w6ZjS0Af/2Q==https://gzmyu4ma9b-flywheel.netdna-s...Handlebars.jpg
http://www.bikeforums.net/data:image...2w6ZjS0Af/2Q==

Don't forget about moustache bars. They might be what you are looking for.

http://store.somafab.com/moustachebars.html

Take a look at what level your flat bars are in relation to your saddle. You would want to duplicate that with top of the drop bars.

Many people dislike drop bars not realizing it's not the shape of the bars that's the problem but it's the bike geometry with the top of drop bars many inches below the level of the saddle that's causing the discomfort.

I have aero bars and bar ends on my flatbar, just for the additional hand position and you can lean over and stretch out on flatter sections of the road.

I've done a few centuries and a metric double on flat bar.

I've done quite a few centurys on mountain bikes.

ride what you have & are used to, maybe change out the tires to keep it interesting

that said, brifters changed my life & I wouldn't dream of doing a century on a flat bar bike. for me there'd be too many dozens of miles where I'd just want to skooch back, get lower & stroke w my head down. the last 10-20 miles are the worst

Why do you feel you're at the limit of the bike? The Comax 1 or Sirrus carbon are similar to what you have now. Carbon doesn't make that big a difference. Fit matters much more.

If it's a flat century, it's definitely doable.


If the century involves some climbing (>3000 ft) and cross/headwinds, I would like to be able to change hand positions.

I hear this a lot from people who don't ride a flat bar. I DO ride a flat bar and I do ride a drop bar. In other words, I have both kinds of bikes and ride each of them regularly. The flat bar is better on long rides. You can find subtle ways to change the placement of hands when they get tired. The ergo grips will reduce A LOT of hand fatigue since most of that comes from road vibrations. I have a flat bar on a Specialized road bike so for both bikes, I have riding a road bike. I have used the flat bar on two centuries and didn't have hand issues. So go for it!

I rode a flat bar for five years. I didn't have ergo bars, though, so fair enough.

There is a whole thread about "Century Bikes".

http://www.bikeforums.net/long-dista...bicycle-s.html

I'll have to update it soon, as I just hit another Century ride on a different bike :)

What is pretty obvious about browsing the thread is that there is no single style of century bike. Oddly enough, not everyone is riding a Roubaix.

There are a few Hybrids, MTBs, Fat bikes, and Flat bar bikes mixed in. :)

For the OP, it is probably not your Trek XO that is holding you back from completing a Century ride. You really just need to do time on the bike. Whatever bike you use. Do some 50 mile rides. 60 mile rides... etc. Then the Century ride will be just another ride :)

Of the bikes I'm currently riding, I think the only one I haven't done a century ride on is my cargo bike, and that has done at least a half century ride.

Perhaps the most important thing about bike choice is reliability. You need a bike to get you to the end. Even so, a well prepared rider should be able to deal with different issues that crop up. Most of my century rides are solo rides, and on my last two trips (4 century+ rides), I've broken one spoke and had a blowout (with tire damage). The issues slowed me down, but weren't enough to stop me.

OP, you are nowhere near the limits of your bike's capabilities. Many riders have toured the country on lesser bikes. I have a 1993 Trek 720 set up with a flatbar with a slight sweep and rise and Ergon GP2 bar ends. I've ridden a good number of centuries on it and find it very comfortable. Your cyclocross bike should easily match its performance. If you want a new bike, go for it, but your current bike is no hindrance to doing 100 miles.