Upgrade or Not?

[GJT]

I started cycling 2 years ago as an alternative to a 35 minute walk to work, and to ride a bit at weekends. I wanted to do more strenuous daily exercise and to get a bit fitter. I bought the Corratec hybrid below second hand and love riding it every day.
I started thinking about changing to a drop bar as my firm is now doing the C2W Scheme, but before taking the plunge I wanted to try one out. A workmate who is same height as me lent me his Scott road bike for a weekend. I did about 50 miles on it, but to be honest, I don't think drops are for me. I prefer the riding position on my hybrid.
I tried with hands on hoods, bar and drops but still didn't feel as confident as I do on my hybrid. I did average about 1 mph faster though
I was pretty clueless when it came to specs etc and fell lucky with the bike I bought having Deore XT gears, which are so smooth compared to the Sora on the Scott.
My hybrid is a lot more comfortable on the road surfaces too.
I'm in two minds as to whether to just stay with my Corratec, or would I see a big difference with a new flat bar bike with carbon forks in terms of comfort and speed?
The Corratec has lock out forks, which I rarely use and weight of bike is around 16kg.

 

[vickster]

Get a fast flatbar like the Specialized Sirrus, Cannondale Quick, Giant Escape at 10kg,

Or even the fancy carbon flatbar from Planet X for £800

What are your average speeds at the moment?

 

[GJT]

Only about 13 - 14mph. How much difference would the 6kg weight difference make? Quite a lot or minimal?

 

[AndyRM]

Only about 13 - 14mph. How much difference would the 6kg weight difference make? Quite a lot or minimal?

A lot.

 

[Deleted member 35268]

My Defy is about 9-10KG, and I get 16-20 MPH on average on rolling roads. Im 11 stone.

I reckon you'd go from 14 to 17 MPH instantly

 

[Cyclist33]

A lot.

+1

The main difference in my opinion would be acceleration. I imagine the X vert cruises along quite nicely but with that taut carbon front end on a flat bar road bike, the weight loss and the skinny tyres you would crank up much more easily.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Some difference. The major issue is not weight but aerodynamics.
6kg less will accelerate and go uphill slightly faster BUT if your body position is the same relative to the air then really the differences in average speed will be minimal.
To go faster aerodynamics is everything, hence why fast bikes have drop bars and faster bikes have aerobars ....

 

[GJT]

My Defy is about 9-10KG, and I get 16-20 MPH on average on rolling roads. Im 11 stone.

I reckon you'd go from 14 to 17 MPH instantly

I'm 13 stone, so that's an extra 12kg I have to lug to start with

 

[GJT]

+1

The main difference in my opinion would be acceleration. I imagine the X vert cruises along quite nicely but with that taut carbon front end on a flat bar road bike, the weight loss and the skinny tyres you would crank up much more easily.

You're right there- it does cruise along nicely, which is something I didn't feel on the Scott I borrowed. The skinny hard tyres made me feel every bump on the road. Mine has 28 tyres on (changed from 38 last year).
The Scott didn't have carbon forks though, so I think I need to try and have a go on a flat bar with carbon forks and decide from there.

 

[GJT]

Some difference. The major issue is not weight but aerodynamics.
6kg less will accelerate and go uphill slightly faster BUT if your body position is the same relative to the air then really the differences in average speed will be minimal.
To go faster aerodynamics is everything, hence why fast bikes have drop bars and faster bikes have aerobars ....

Thanks all for the replies. Plenty to ponder on. I understand the aerodynamics, but guess what I'm really after is to be able to retain my comfortable hybrid riding position, but gain a few mph and maybe more comfort with carbon forks compared to my locked out ones. Will have a look at the bikes Vickster mentioned as a starting point

 

[Fab Foodie]

Thanks all for the replies. Plenty to ponder on. I understand the aerodynamics, but guess what I'm really after is to be able to retain my comfortable hybrid riding position, but gain a few mph and maybe more comfort with carbon forks compared to my locked out ones. Will have a look at the bikes Vickster mentioned as a starting point

You'll certainly get a more nimble and exciting ride, be quicker off the line and up hills and will be slightly quicker thanks to a slimmer bike to push through the air.