Latrarian

I got into biking about 2 years ago with a Specialized Hardrock mountain bike and have been hitting the trails (paved and offroad) ever since. Obviously, I'm a huge fan.

One of my friends rides with us on pavement and he uses an entry level road bike (aluminum frame, $700ish) and he smokes us on our mountain bikes. This is particularly interesting considering I smoke him when we're both on mountain bikes, so naturally, it got me wanting a road bike for the road.

My dilemma is that I REALLY do not like the curved handlebars on a road bike and the brakes/shifters positioning that comes with it. I base this dislike on 4 different test rides of 4 different bikes. Sprinters and Endurance.

I get that pros and advanced riders use them, and that the general consensus seems to be for their utility in terms of getting to shift positions etc, I simply do not like how they feel compared to a standard flat bar, which I'm clearly biased towards.

I could get a flat bar fitness bike, and like some of those as well, but I do like everything else that comes with a road bike and have therefore been considering getting a full carbon road bike (under $2000) and having a flat bar put on it. According to the guys @ the store (Performance Bicycles) it can be done and is not a big deal.

Honest inquiry, is this sacrilege? If we've already crossed the bridge of not liking road bike curved bars, does this make sense to do or are there some significant drawbacks?
I do not plan on making ultra long rides frequently, but even on the mountain bikes we average 25 miles per ride (on pavement).

Thanks for the info

datlas 

There is no law that says you must use drop bars on a road bike. But the lower positions they offer will make you more efficient so you may wish to reconsider. Once you are used to the hand positions you might like them.

But last I checked, it's still a free country.

tekhna

Part of the reason he's smoking you is because of those curved bars.

This isn't perfect but it's a good way to understand how effective the drops are at reducing drag.
kreuzotter.de/english/espeed.htm

obed7

specialized and trek already make a carbon bike with flat bars on it...
the trek fx7.7 is the domane 4 series frame with a flat bar on it.
I forget what spec calls theirs... sirrus or something like that.
They would both be less than buying a road bike and converting to flat bars, the advantage to buying a road bike and changing to flat bars is that you would have the stuff to put it back if you did not think the flat bar thing was working for you.

Elvo

Specialized Bicycle Components

Wanderer

Even Performance has flat bar road bikes....... a sk to see their catalog.

CliffordK

I'd encourage you to give the drop bars a full shake-down... Ride it for a few weeks and see if you like it. Unfortunately it is hard to do so without a big investment. Perhaps a Craigslist Special $200 bike that you can ride for a few weeks, then dump (for a profit?) if you don't like it.

Converting from drops to flat bars is easy enough, but with integrated shifters, you need to replace the brakes and shifters so the expense can add up (but you may be able to recover some by selling the unused parts).

However, as mentioned, there are several flat bar road bikes available, generally entry level, but worth considering.

MikeyBoyAz

if the bike has an upright enough geometry then the flat bar will be fine, I appreciate the drop bars because the different hand positions allow for more variety with the aggressive geometries.

TrojanHorse

I predict in two years you'll be back saying "two years ago I bought a flat bar road bike and now.... "

But that's fine - get whatever makes you happy.

johnny99

There are "flat bar road bikes" on the market from Trek and other brands. These are essentially high-end hybrid bikes with skinny tires. For 25 mile moderate-pace rides, these are more than adequate.

Converting a road bike to flat bars can be expensive because of all the parts you have to replace, plus labor.

nemeseri

I'm in the group to make you consider try the drops again. When I first tried it I didn't like them either, it took 1-2 weeks and I'd never ever buy a flat bar bike again.

I noticed that people tend not like them because of the following problems:
1., They buy a too big bike with too much reach and they feel stretched out even on the hoods. This can be easily solved by getting the right size / using a shorter stem.
2., A lot of people ride modern road bikes down in the drops 100% of the time and with a huge stack of spacers. It was ok with classic road geometries with threaded stems back in the 80-90s. Now with the modern brifters the most common is to ride on the hoods and moving down to the drops only when needed.

Latrarian

I find the full carbon flat bar bikes beautiful and I'm sure they ride fantastic, especially considering I'd be coming off of an aluminum frame mountain bike. So far, every full carbon flat bar bike I've seen was more $ than a lower end full carbon road bike. Granted, I haven't done THAT much reasearch on it.

We added the parts and labor @ the store with the Performance guys and it would be about $250-300 to put a flat bar on. (parts and labor). As it stands, I think I'll give the drop bar a legitimate shot first and ride with it for a couple of weeks.

Wanderer

The bring back guarantee at Performance, will allow you to try many bikes, until you find yours......

rms13

Give drop bars a shot. At least test ride a few. There really are not disadvantages to drops over flat bar. Drop bars will generally give you the same hand positions as flat but more options that flat won't give you. The only time I think drop/brifters are a disadvantage is if you are very petite and have very small hands like my wife. When she tried drops she could not get enough leverage on the brakes from the hood position to confidently stop the bike. After trying many things to make it easier for her, converting to flat bars was the best option for her. But with most people drops/brifters are great

caloso

So you're proposing to buy a bike and then spend extra to eliminate a number of hand positions? Okay....

lopek77

It looks ugly...the big mtb handlebar vs the rest of a skinny road bike. As others suggested - buy a flat bar "road bike" aka hybrid. Some of them are as fast as road bikes, but offers better position, and are ready to go.

Specialized Sirrus, or any similar offering from Giant, Trek ... will work well for you.
Here is picture of Specialized Allez road bike with Flat bar conversion...funny looking is not the right way to describe it lol

Oh...one more thing...don't forget that gearing difference between typical mtb and road bike is huge. My simple hybrid is almost as fast as road bike on flat, but much faster on hilly rides. It's also much faster than typical mtb. Again...hybrid is an awesome choice.

fietsbob

Europe has a Better market for the Road bike with flat bars so Shimano makes a group they ship there but Not the US

& Campagnolo makes a flat bar component Mix Too..

so you Import those things from EU sellers ..

datlas 

Does that mean that drop-bars are the FUTURE of road bicycles??

dtrain

Yup - 55 on their website, just click on...'flat bar road bikes'.

Bikesdirect has several options as well, even full carbon for less than a grand.

kingston 

I have my Rivendell set up so I can swap between noodles and albatross bars in just a few minutes.

badger1

OP,
There is nothing 'wrong' with converting a drop-bar bike to flat bars, but I too am going to suggest you don't do this/not bother. Caveat: I'm a "flat-bar" road cyclist.
So, why?

In my opinion, to do so is silly for two main reasons. First, drop bar bikes are designed for drop-bars; proper flat-bar road bikes (and they are now available more widely in N.A. than previously) are designed for flat bars. The main difference: a proper flat-bar road bike has a longer front-centre (i.e. -- more or less -- effective top tube) than a drop-bar bike of equivalent size. Reason: to compensate to some extent for the forward extension one gets riding on the hoods on drop bars, which is pretty much the default position. That's one of the reasons (though not the only reason) a typical cross-country mtb has a much longer front centre than an equivalently-sized drop bar road bike.

The second reason is the cost of the conversion: why bother? Buy the bike you want from the get-go.

My advice: test ride/ride both types as much as you can before buying, then buy what you want/prefer. You'll figure it out soon enough. I think that the 'speed' differences -- assuming overall quality is more or less equal -- are much, much less for the non-racing cyclist than are often claimed; ditto differences in 'comfort' etc etc, but that's by the bye. You can be comfortable, reasonably quick and efficient (that depends more on your fitness than any other factor), and ride whatever distances you want/your fitness allows you on either type, so buy what you like.

Typical examples of the kind of bike I mean?

Specialized Bicycle Components
FastRoad CoMax 1 (2015) | Giant Bicycles | Canada

hueyhoolihan

i've got six bikes with road frames. i set them all up with flat bars. i find them preferable for climbing in big gears. because they are single speed bikes this is a common occurrence.

getting low for speed on the flats or descending is simply a matter of setting the bars low to begin with, i've got them all set up between 2" to 6" of drop and then bending the elbows. i can get as low as your avg joe when in the drops.

to switch over you'll need to replace your drop handlebars and everything that was attached to them. probably the cables and housing too.

Wanderer

And, like drop bars, there are many choices (probably more) in the specific "flat" bars you want. More angle changes, rise, sweep, than ever available with drops. And, there are also lots of choices in bar ends, to give you even more.

Along with the semi upright stance on a flat bar, for better availability and handling, you also get increased visibility (by others) in traffic.

Everybody can't, or don't want to, ride drops - and that's OK! That's why there are so many choices.

I rode drops for 40 years, and just can't any longer - but the flat bars are fine. Before drops, I rode typical flats found in the 1950s-1960s, and loved every minute. Drops really aren't as comfortable as many available bars. Sometimes, they just help you go faster and are more efficient. Fast and efficient aren't everything, especially when speaking about comfort. MHO based on 65 years of riding everything.

Get what you like, it's your bike, and you will be the one riding it!

gsa103

If you test drop bar bikes, make sure to test a bike with 105 or Ultegra brakes. The Claris, Sora, Tiagra shifters are an older design with bad ergonomics.

redlude97

how is your hybrid any faster than a road bike on hills unless you are improperly geared for your fitness level?