can I go fast on a flat bar commuter?

[nigelj]

At present I'm using a crossbike for my 25 mile e/w commute. It works out about 10-15 mins quicker that if I use my mountain bike. I quite fancy changing this for a flat bar commuter with disc brakes (eg cotic roadrat, badboy, muirwoods 29er, felt QX85) but and aftraid I will lose the time I gain by using a drop bar bike.
I'd like to keep with the chunkier tyres (28c upwards).
I run a knobbly up front and a wide slick at the rear an it seems to work well the the naff roads and terrain I cover.

Advice and wisdom appreciated.

 

[ChrisKH]

If you're in competition, I daresay this would have an effect but for commuting I think personally it's just as important to be comfortable. Moreso if you are going across different terrains. Nothing to stop you getting some stubbies on the side or a cheap aero bar clip on if you want to get 'down and dirty' and into a speed position.

 

[HLaB]

In the city I don't think there's much to be gained from drops. Before I converted it to drops (I'm mainly using it outside the city these days) I found my spesh sirrus flat bar road bike with 28 plenty fast enough.

 

[RedBike]

You could always fit a narrow bar then there's very little difference between the two (assuming you were riding on the flats before and not the hoods or the drops).

I'm currently looking into the Cotic Roadrat with dropbars and disc brakes!

 

[nigelj]

it's a shame that the commute is so varied 15 miles country lanes 10 miles in town. I had considered fitting some tri-bars, got some sitting in a draw at home. Position isn't critical as I spend most of the ride on the hoods (like to be close to the brakes even if they are naff).
Think I'll be looking at mtb geometry with the longer top tube in comparison with a road bike. I've tried riding on the flats but find it to upright.

 

[HLaB]

That's a fair old commute, personally I'd be tempted to stay with the drops and upgrade the brakes but if you want to go flat I'd follow the flat bar road bike route, the likes of the Marin Fairfax or Spesh Sirrus. I rotated the stem of my Sirrus when it had flat bars to get a lower position.

 

[Maz]

Spesh Sirrus is a top bike and very nippy.

 

[threefingerjoe]

And don't ignore the touring bike option. Still has drop bars, but a little more relaxed geometry, and you can run fat slicks. Also, plenty of braze-ons, so it's easy to install a rack. Unless you are racing, I think it's preferable to a road bike in nearly all situations.

 

[jimboalee]

No 1 consideration when commuting in the town or city is safety - vision and visibility.

Whichever set-up feels 'more in control' is the one to go with.

My commute is country and town, with a nasty narrow uphill section through Warwick in the evening traffic.
In the winter gloom, I'm on a low geared flat bar gent's Sturmey 3 speed bike because I can look around easier, and in the upright position with flouro jacket, I'm visible.

In the summer, I will be on my Dawes Giro with drops. The roads are dryer with more light, so I can keep up with the traffic and take a wide berth.

 

[nigelj]

I've an old Raleigh racer which I put some flat bars on last night. After a quick test ride wasn't overly impressed but will try on a commute later.

Hlab, I'm thinking this may be the way to go. The cantilevers are awful around town when operated from the hoods (trying to give myself better vision), this I'm hoping shouldn't really be a problem if I get a disc equipped bike.

Redbike, how's you getting on with that dropbar cotic?

 

[biking_fox]

How do people with flat bars find filtering past stationary traffic?

I know with drops the widest part of me is my shoulders - which is easy to assess how small a gap I'll fit through. Flat bars are wider anyway, and protrude past the hands, which presumably means it's harder to estimate what's a safe gap?

 

[col]

If you're in competition, I daresay this would have an effect but for commuting I think personally it's just as important to be comfortable. Moreso if you are going across different terrains. Nothing to stop you getting some stubbies on the side or a cheap aero bar clip on if you want to get 'down and dirty' and into a speed position.

I like the sound of this, are these those things that you put your elbows on and hands out front? Could save a lot of mucking about, just add slicks and your away?

 

[col]

Yes

Thanks, Im off to google.

 

[nigelj]

Well after the commute in this morning all things seem fairly equal. The advantages of the skinny tyres seem to be offset by me acting as a windbreak. Did prefer the handling of the flat bars (600mm) compared to the drops (420mm) around town, especially having the brakes within reach.
Definitely more scope in this and will start testing different positions, would still like to be more stretched out.
Shame I couldn't fit the wheels from the cross bike but the tyres wouldn't fit the calipers.
Anybody looking for a cross bike to try , looks like I might have a frame and fork going spare.

 

[jimboalee]

You are barking up the correct tree.
What you call 'a windbreak' or Windbrake, is your Cd value. Your more upright posture on the flatbar bike is increasing your cross-section area and thus increasing your coefficient of Drag.