hybrid or road

[NEO]

hi guys been on a mtb for a few years now after getting back into cycling and want to now start covering more distances. Always rode road bikes in my younger years so cant decide between the upright position of the hybrid or being on the drops. Other than the position will i see a significant difference in performance. any advice would be welcome.

 

[BSRU]

You are really choosing between a flat bar bike or a drop bar bike
Drop bar bike for me, started off with a flat bar bike now all three of my commuter bikes are drop bar, hands can be on the drops, the hoods(usual position) or part closest to the stem(whatever it's called) usually for climbing hills seated.

 

[Pale Rider]

If you are erring between a road or hybrid bike, you could have a look at a cyclocross one.

Like a road bike with drop bars, but with a slightly more upright riding position.

Edinburgh Bike Co-op say cross bikes have 'the speed of a road bike and the versatility of a hybrid'.

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/revolution-cross-13?bct=browse/bicycles

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

I have both a flat barred road bike and a road bike. I prefer the road bike, then again my road bike has more relaxed geometry and is higher at the front end than more race oriented ones. I tried a more race oriented one and really did not like it. Mine is a Specialized Secteur but there are other ones like the Cannondale Synapse and probably other brands. I guess you need to try a few different models.

 

[NEO]

I have both a flat barred road bike and a road bike. I prefer the road bike, then again my road bike has more relaxed geometry and is higher at the front end than more race oriented ones. I tried a more race oriented one and really did not like it. Mine is a Specialized Secteur but there are other ones like the Cannondale Synapse and probably other brands. I guess you need to try a few different models.

I must admit I do like specialized I have one of there MTB's and my LBS stocks all the top makes including the cannondale. Need to make sure I make the right choice as I hopefully get fitter I'll be able to do longer distances that's why I'm swaying more towards a road bike.

 

[lulubel]

If you didn't already have a MTB, I'd say hybrids are more flexible, so it would be a question of what kind of riding you're doing.

Since you do already have a MTB, it seems like a no-brainer to me. Road bike, with drops, for the road. MTB for everything else.

 

[NEO]

If you didn't already have a MTB, I'd say hybrids are more flexible, so it would be a question of what kind of riding you're doing.

Since you do already have a MTB, it seems like a no-brainer to me. Road bike, with drops, for the road. MTB for everything else.

Ha I wish it was that easy haven't got room to keep the MTB plus the accountant ( the wife ) is hard to please lol sale of MTB is funding next bike purchase. That's why it's important I make the right choice.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

I ummed and aahed about this when buying my bike last year - I ended up with a CX btw.

I was convinced it wouldn't matter either way re flats or drops.

But 8 months on I am glad I chose drops but not because of the 'drop' section of the handlebar.

When I started I spent a lot of time riding on the tops of my bars (I have cross-top levers which helped) but slowly gravitated to more 'on hoods' time which eventually became my default position.

And then I needed to stretch out more and a longer stem was fitted and now my position on the bike is spot-on for me.

So I now know that I like to be a bit more stretched out than I thought I would have. Of course, a flat bar bike can be fitted with bar ends and I guess this option would have put me in the right position. However, on the flat bar bike my hands would not be near my brakes or shifters whereas on the hoods of my drop bar they are.

And that to me is the key difference; on one bike I can brake and shift from my (comfy) default position and the other I wouldn't be able to.

My hoods get very little use btw - I am not really into seeing how fast I can go down a hill etc but they can be handy for minimising the effect of a headwind on occasion.

 

[broadway]

I must admit I do like specialized I have one of there MTB's and my LBS stocks all the top makes including the cannondale. Need to make sure I make the right choice as I hopefully get fitter I'll be able to do longer distances that's why I'm swaying more towards a road bike.

If you're not going for road bike with, ie mudguards/rack you can always change from drops to flat if you you don't like the drop bars.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

If you're not going for road bike with, ie mudguards/rack you can always change from drops to flat if you you don't like the drop bars.

V.expensive though.

 

[vickster]

Be cheaper to sell the road bike and buy a hybrid. Buy something with an equivalent flat bar option like secteur or defy

 

[NEO]

What road bike would you guys recommend with a less aggressive position for about £650

 

[vickster]

Giant Defy would be my choice. If you can hold off for a bit or push the budget to £800, you can get the 2 with 10 speed Tiagra gearing, otherwise it'll be the 3 with 9 speed Sora

The 2014 models are now out, not sure on prices, but their availability to start to push the price of the outgoing model down

Otherwise, popular choices are the Cannondale Synapse or the Specialized Secteur (but £650 will get you a much more basic spec with the latter)