Did you change from Hybrid to Drop Bar Bike

[b0redom]

Just picked up a Specialized Tricross, I've done about 1000 miles on my first proper bike, and figured it was time to treat myself!

 

[just4fun]

i love my race bike, but i have to be honest and say sometimes my back does hurt from the crouched over position and after about 1 hour of cycling i can produce almightly crunching if i stand up straight and stretch.

 

[gabefleming]

I recently decided to start cycling to work in London (8 miles each way), on a borrowed mountain bike with slicks. I've never used drop bars. I looked at a lot of road bikes and flirted with the idea, then decided to play it safe with and bought a Specialized Sirrus, which is basically a road bike with flat bars. My plan is graduate to a proper road bike once ive got comfortable with this one.

 

[Crankarm]

I have converted my Sirrus Sport to drops. It's not hard. I had a spare set of Chorus Ergo levers so the cost was only the bars (44cm), shorter stem 100cm, gel bar tape and cables. Total £50. I previously had bar ends on the std flat bars with stem reversed to make them lower but although a great improvement over the std flat bar set up I prefer proper drops. Boy was the change worth it . Saddle position can also be an important consideration.

 

[Browser]

Am I allowed to have a drop bar road bike as a commuter and fit a carrier for panniers, or is this against the CC forum rules ?
If so, and I'm not saying I'm buying one of these, summat along the lines of a Ribble Winter Training Audax would probably fit the bill for me quite nicely, but only if I could fit it with a carrier






(Don's tin helmet and awaits incoming flak!)

 

[Hollyhillian]

I know that this subject is probably the most "done to death" subject on here but I am baffled by the sheer volume of bikes out there that all seem to do what I want from my next bike.
I currently have a Kona Dew Deluxe that I have ridden for a year and done 1500 miles over all sorts of rides. 5 Mile commutes, Weekend 50 milers, a Dartmoor 70 miler and after work 20 mile pootles.
I would now like to get a drop handle bar road bike and can manage about £1000 using the cycle to work scheme.
I have looked all over the internet at the choice at around that price point is mind boggling.
I have I think decided what to do and would ask for some comments on my decision.

I have no particular brand loyalty so no need to go for any specific make or model however I want to get the right bike for me.

I'm going to go into my 2 LBSs tell them my criteria and see what they recommend.
Then I should have just 2 to choose from and can pick the one I "like" most.

Both shops have proved reliable in the past as I have colleagues who have bought bikes from each of them.

So.......is this the most sensible route for someone who doesn't really know what he wants ,and trusts his LBS?

I think I'm doing the right thing but £1000 is a lot of money and, whilst I know I won't pay that through the cycle scheme, I don't want to get it wrong.

 

[Downward]

I know that this subject is probably the most "done to death" subject on here but I am baffled by the sheer volume of bikes out there that all seem to do what I want from my next bike.
I currently have a Kona Dew Deluxe that I have ridden for a year and done 1500 miles over all sorts of rides. 5 Mile commutes, Weekend 50 milers, a Dartmoor 70 miler and after work 20 mile pootles.
I would now like to get a drop handle bar road bike and can manage about £1000 using the cycle to work scheme.
I have looked all over the internet at the choice at around that price point is mind boggling.
I have I think decided what to do and would ask for some comments on my decision.

I have no particular brand loyalty so no need to go for any specific make or model however I want to get the right bike for me.

I'm going to go into my 2 LBSs tell them my criteria and see what they recommend.
Then I should have just 2 to choose from and can pick the one I "like" most.

Both shops have proved reliable in the past as I have colleagues who have bought bikes from each of them.

So.......is this the most sensible route for someone who doesn't really know what he wants ,and trusts his LBS?

I think I'm doing the right thing but £1000 is a lot of money and, whilst I know I won't pay that through the cycle scheme, I don't want to get it wrong.

I suppose it depends on if spending £1k on a bike is going to be more beneficial than paying say £600 ?

Although I know on the Scheme £1k will cost £60 ish per month compared to £35 a month for the £600 bike.

Personally as I already have a KDD too I am only spenidng £600

 

[mean1010]

Thanks for sharing this useful information. It's great.
this is interesting.. thanks so much for sharing!

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[rose2009]

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)

Hi, your idea is very interesting

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[tenpong]

I have colleagues who have bought bikes from each of them.
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[tsrobinson115]

Hello everyone. Nice to meet you all.


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[Rollon]

So all those of you who have experience of both straights and drops, which gives you the most control. I am an older novice, have recently bought a Specialised Tricross. I dont always feel in full control with the drops especially when using the top straight part, as my hands feel too close together, on the Brake hoods is better but doesnt feel positive enough, and on the drops it feels vulnerable. Like I say I am a novice and recently getting knocked off at a roundabout (Drivers fault) doesnt help.
Dave.

 

[MacB]

So all those of you who have experience of both straights and drops, which gives you the most control. I am an older novice, have recently bought a Specialised Tricross. I dont always feel in full control with the drops especially when using the top straight part, as my hands feel too close together, on the Brake hoods is better but doesnt feel positive enough, and on the drops it feels vulnerable. Like I say I am a novice and recently getting knocked off at a roundabout (Drivers fault) doesnt help.
Dave.

I think there's a case of getting your bike 'skills' back. 6 months ago I could feel precarious and didn't enjoy having to look over my shoulder etc. I started with flat bars and now ride flats with bar ends and butterfly bars. However I am looking at a new road bike, I tend to ride on the sides of the butterfly bars. This would be very similar to the hoods but without access to brakes or gears. Most people seem to set up their drops to prioritise comfort and control access from the drops position. Don't be afraid to mss about with angles etc.

You could also check the bar width, they come ina variety of sizes and your current ones may be too narrow.

 

[Bollo]

So all those of you who have experience of both straights and drops, which gives you the most control. I am an older novice, have recently bought a Specialised Tricross. I dont always feel in full control with the drops especially when using the top straight part, as my hands feel too close together, on the Brake hoods is better but doesnt feel positive enough, and on the drops it feels vulnerable. Like I say I am a novice and recently getting knocked off at a roundabout (Drivers fault) doesnt help.
Dave.

It's not just about the bar width, or for that matter the bars. The stability or otherwise of a bike is a (jimbolee impression) function of the whole setup - the frame geometry and forks are going to have a big say in how stable a bike feels.

BUT........bars can make a difference. If you feel vulnerable in the drops, you might want to look at 'compact' bars, which have a shallower drop than traditional or ergo bars (the ones that have straight sections with sharper curves rather than a gradual bend). They can make a huge difference to the feel of a bike. I think FSA do a range that isn't too eye-watering as long as you don't want carbon.

 

[onlyhuman]

I have had loads of bikes of different kinds over the years, one with dropped bars when I was a lad, an extremely upright old Dutch ladies bike, mountain bikes, a series of hybrids I have used and worn out, mostly on tracks and paths. It's only very recently that I have learned something about riding positions, something that relates to a number of issues people have raised in this discussion.

What I learned is that a "racing" or "aggressive" riding position is comfortable, less tiring, less likely to make you sore in different ways in different places, as long as you are trying to go fast(ish). Pedalling harder takes the weight off your hands and seat. I had thought that I wouldn't be able to get comfortable on a road bike with dropped bars, but that has turned out not to be the case, as long as I keep pressing. Whereas, my more upright hybrid is comfortable for less intense riding, with more weight on a rather plumper saddle, and less on the hands.