Did you change from Hybrid to Drop Bar Bike

[ribside]

Can you buy clip-on or drop bar extensions for flat bar hybrids?

So often we see people who come on the forums here who are complete beginners, at least during adulthood, who are looking for a new bike. Often they feel intimidated by drop bars thinking that they aren't good enough for one or just think they look strange. They then set their mind on a hybrid or flat bar road bike.

Just wondering about those people that first bought a hybrid/flat bar road bike and how many of them have since converted to a drop bar version (for the purposes of the poll anything which isn't a drop bar counts as a hybrid ie slicked up moutain bikes, etc which are used primarily on road or towpaths - no mountain biking country included as that takes a much more specialised bike)

 

[Roadhump]

I have a Specialized Sirrus Pro which I bought about 18 months ago and have done over 4,000 miles on it. Although I love this hybrid / flat bar road bike, I have developed tennis elbow which has been bothering me since before Christmas - I have a steroid injection at the doctor's but it didn't help. It is in my weaker arm (left) so I can only think that it is cycling that has caused it. A bit if research suggests that tennis elbow can be caused by cycling and as I tend to lean on the bars with locked out arms I thought changing to a drop bar bike might help. However, I thought rather than buying a new bike, I might change the bars on my current one but rather than dropped bars I was thinking of some of those multi position ones. I was wondering if anyone here might have some experience of them.

 

[dr snuggles]

I used to have a similar problem and I have a sirrus. I have to admit I hadn't noticed until now but it appears to be gone since I bought a road bike and a tri cross, both having drops. Never use my sirrus apart from the annual week long tour now.
I was always recommended not to put drops on the sirrus when I asked. The geometry isn't really suitable apparently.

 

[Roadhump]

I used to have a similar problem and I have a sirrus. I have to admit I hadn't noticed until now but it appears to be gone since I bought a road bike and a tri cross, both having drops. Never use my sirrus apart from the annual week long tour now.
I was always recommended not to put drops on the sirrus when I asked. The geometry isn't really suitable apparently.

When I have researched this via Google, several people have attributed tennis elbow to riding a hybrid bike that wasn't set up ideally for them. Problem is, although you can set up a saddle to the rider's height I don't know how you would set a bike up to avoid tennis elbow. I think it is caused by having your arms in a locked rigid position.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

When I have researched this via Google, several people have attributed tennis elbow to riding a hybrid bike that wasn't set up ideally for them. Problem is, although you can set up a saddle to the rider's height I don't know how you would set a bike up to avoid tennis elbow. I think it is caused by having your arms in a locked rigid position.

This.

 

[Moe]

I have gone down the mountain bike road, but I have replaced the tyres and put on a column stem (?) so I think I now have an in sort hybrid. I would love to try a drop bar road bike but at the moment, I am stuck with what I have! I have a year to decide what I want to do!

 

[Jonathanbrsc]

I bought a cyclocross bike, like a roadbike but really durable, I'm impressed with it but it does count as drop bar I guess as it has them

 

[jowwy]

Can you buy clip-on or drop bar extensions for flat bar hybrids?

Yes you can from inov8 - I have them on my 29er

 

[Wilf76]

I went the other way, started serious riding MANY years ago on a Phillips Tourer with drop bars, (Nearly everything back in the 50s had drops) now coming back after a long gap (So I can claim to be a beginner again) with a hybrid with straight bars to see how I get on.

 

[chasb441]

Been on an MTB for a few years (Strictly Amateur) but wanted to try a road bike. Took the plunge and got a brand new Trek 7.7 FX Duotrap (2015) which is a hybrid and is great for myself being more senior in years and do suffer with back problems etc. Done quite a few miles so far but I'm still 'tweaking' various things. Just upgraded the wheels for winter and fitted mudguards. Wheels = Fulcrum Racing 3 with Continental GatorSkin Road Tyres, Mudguards = SKS. So a work in progress!

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Been on an MTB for a few years (Strictly Amateur) but wanted to try a road bike. Took the plunge and got a brand new Trek 7.7 FX Duotrap (2015) which is a hybrid and is great for myself being more senior in years and do suffer with back problems etc. Done quite a few miles so far but I'm still 'tweaking' various things. Just upgraded the wheels for winter and fitted mudguards. Wheels = Fulcrum Racing 3 with Continental GatorSkin Road Tyres, Mudguards = SKS. So a work in progress!

Would be an ideal bike for me if fitted with some nice disc brakes.

 

[bloodlett]

my first adult bike a hybrid is due to be delivered this week last time I was on a bike we called them 10 speeds I can't ride in a aggressive posture or I would of got a drop bar

 

[rd83]

Hybrid first (Trek 7.2) but now have a drop bar (Felt F85) in the stable too. Before these I had a mountain bike (Fuji Nevada) but never went near a mountain. Great bike it was though and I had it on slicks.

 

[Gravity Aided]

At it again, I've changed from Cannondale H-600 to Fuji Series IV Tourer.


The Fuji now has a longer stem(Nitto Technomic) and a few more miles. A good bike, well worth the many fettling sessions

 

[mjr]

After years of owning and riding a Peugeot mountain bike with straight handlebars, I switched to riding bikes with "North Road" handlebars. They're far more comfortable with a more relaxed riding position for the back and less pressure on the hands.

Yeah, why do North Road and Porter bars seem almost completely absent from this discussion? Why aren't they options in the poll? They give the best of both worlds in hand positions, they're available in both flat and road diameters (so no replacing your whole brake/shifter/mountings set unless you want to) and can be fitted in various positions (high/low, flat/sloped, regular/inverted, regular/flipped) for a range of situations. They're classic bars for good reason!