Flat Bar Road Bikes

[jowwy]

Not Hybrids but proper flat bar roadies

like the Giant Rapid - Ridgeback UltraFlight - Sirrus Elite

who's got one and what do you think of it??

i'm looking at the ridgeback UltraFlight 4 with tiagra groupset, RS10 wheelset and weighs less than 10kg....

i'm debating one of these cause on my 32 mile ride last weekend i never used the drops once, always on the hoods or flats, and i do prefer the more upright ride position too

 

[defy-one]

Excellent question, I'll be watching the responses with interest!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[jowwy]

Not many takers yet though

but i really like the ridgeback flight 03

 

[Muddyfox]

I had a Cannondale Synapse flat bar road bike and it was very light very fast and very comfy although mine did have some bigger than standard tyres on it and with a set of bar ends it was a bike that you could ride all day

Foxy

 

[jowwy]

I had a Cannondale Synapse flat bar road bike and it was very light very fast and very comfy although mine did have some bigger than standard tyres on it and with a set of bar ends it was a bike that you could ride all day

Foxy

thats what i was thinking the ultra flight weighs 9.2kgs, which is a full 5kg lighter than my hybrid with carbon forks and rs10 wheelset as well as a compact chainset with a 11-28 rear cassette

it sounds soooooooo good

 

[Cyclist33]

I'm madly in love with my Cannondale Quick 3, which to look at some might call a hybrid, but as it can take 28mm slicks, weighs about 10 kilos and (now) has a genuine flat bar instead of the supplied riser, I think it fits your criteria

Oh and it can go like sh*t off a shovel when required, too.

Can also take, eg, Schwalbe Smart Sam 40mm tyres for the odd recreational hop.

I'd be intrigued to try out last year's Quick 2, which came with a Tiagra triple chainset and rear mech so genuine road gearing, unlike mine which tops out on a 48 tooth front chainring. I prefer mine in VFM terms tho, and I think it looks nicer in white, and is more versatile for day-long cruises.

Stu

PS The Flights looks like really nice and road-ish rogues. Someone at work's got one from 2010.

 

[Mike!]

I have a 2011 Sirrus Comp and it's been great, comfy, fast and ultra reliable. Standard fit bar ends give an extra hand position and make it a flexible bike.

Having said all that after buying a roadie and falling for its abilities I have just replaced it with a boardman cx as I like the drop bars, disc brakes with guard and rack capability and it's now for sale!

 

[Cubist]

My Boardman Hybrid Pro was fast as.... less than 10kg but armed with disc brakes, it was a hooligan all-weather commuter, and held its own very well in roadie company.

 

[Cyclist33]

 

[jowwy]

Does anybody else have a flat bar roadie that they would like to throw into the mix and contribute to this thread???

 

[Beebo]

Orbea do a range of flat bar road bikes. They call them road fitness bikes and they range from £650 to £1800 for the all singing model.

Check out their website http://www.orbea.com/gb-en/

 

[amaferanga]

Wouldn't it be better to raise the bars a bit on your road bike (steeper rise stem or more spacers if possible) so you have a nice upright position on the tops/hoods, but you still have the option of using the drops if you want to get a bit lower (e.g. when its windy)?

 

[Sittingduck]

I would keep the road bike and just use the bar tops / hoods. I don't see what benefit you would gain from getting a flat bar road bike. As amaferanga suggests, could you swap to more of an angled stem or adjust spacer placement? Even getting replacement forks, with more of the steerer tube left has to be way cheaper than a new bike. Just seems a bit of a hassle / expense for not much benefit and the lack of drops, should you ever require them?

 

[HLaB]

I've got a Sirrus Sports and with a bit up upgrade, new wheels and tyres. It was almost as fast as a drop bar bike, it kept up with the ERC roadies when I was on it, not as quite though if it was windy and even if it wasn't I still had to work harder when others were freewheeling. On longer rides it more restrictive as to hand position compared to drops also. I eventually ended up converting it to drops and buying a drop bar bike. When I'm on the drop bar bikes I hardly ever use the drops either (using the hoods 99% of the time) but its nice to have the option and the flats of the bars, IMO it makes for a more comfortable/enjoyable ride.

 

[Arjimlad]

After many years on a Giant FCR 3 I am pleased to be on drops again. As others say above, in the wind I can drop down, and when I want to go fast I can get onto the drops and give it some beans. The flat bars left me feeling like the sail on a windsurfing board. I used to fit aero bars in the summer.

I did almost shed a tear saying goodbye to the FCR 3 though, I liked it very much.