Change to drops

[johnsie]

This is my first post, so apologies for any poor protocol.

I'm using my old "racing" bike (Falcon - c1977) for my 12 mile each way commute because I don't get the pace from my recently-purchased Specialized Sirrus Elite hybrid (the one with the carbon ff).

Would I be foolish to think that putting drops on the new bike would give me a better ride?

 

[Tynan]

no

 

[SimonC]

+1 for drops for speed.

Or some tri-bars on hybrid.

 

[HLaB]

You'll loose some breaking power but I did it to a Sirrus sports and I'm glad I did. I use problem solver travel agents to improve the braking.

 

[swee'pea99]

What tyres are you on? Get some good 23mm slicks and take 'em up to 100+PSI.

 

[Crankarm]

Maybe you have all the kit you will need I don't know, maybe you can transfer your bars, stem and brakes etc from your old Falcon bike, but first you will have to check tube diameters steerer diameter typically 1 1/8 on your Sirrus Elite your Falcon will have a quill stem, stem diameters, and corresponding handle bars to fit. It is unlikely your Falcon 1977 drops would be a straight forward swap over.

So you will need new bars, poss new stem of different length, STI or Ergo units (pricey) as you won't be able to use your flat bar shifters, maybe new cabling, bar tape - all adding up to quite a cost probably approaching at least 50% of value of the bike. Plus the head tube angle will be suited to a hybrid and not a road bike. Best buy a road bike.

What you can do with the Specialised Sirrus is flip the stem over and take a few of the spacer rings out below where it clamps to the steerer to lower the stem and bars further. You might find that this is sufficient to satisfy your desire for a more racing position. Also fit bar ends. You can also narrow the bars by cutting a small amount off each side. Fit bar ends first and gradually slide them in until you are comfortable with the width then cut off the excess tube on the outside of them.

As per the above fit 23C tyres and keep them at 110psi.

 

[I am Spartacus]

110+

 

[Twanger]

I don't get the pace from my recently-purchased Specialized Sirrus Elite hybrid (the one with the carbon ff).

I know exactly what you mean. I have one as well (but I love it). Riding position is high, so the suggestion to use a lower stem is good. Bar ends I also added, and they have made the thing much more versatile, and really helped with climbing.

The sirrus elite is a fine, comfortable, fast commuting bike, but it is NOT a road bike and won't behave like one. It is superb around central london, exceptional in traffic, but if my commute had more straight, fast road on it I would have gone for a road bike.

 

[Miquel In De Rain]

I wen't onto drop after the age of 3.