What flat bar road bike?

[j20nyh]

I'm looking to make the transition from a hybrid to a flat bar road bike as i'm looking for something lighter and faster and with the winter drawing in it's highly unlikely that i'll be venturing off road. I'm not really looking to spend anymore than £500.

Here's a few i've looked at....

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Giant-Rapid-4-Flat-Bar-2014-Road-Bike_66487.htm
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Eastway-Eastway-FB-3-0-Flat-Bar-2013-Road-Bike_62942.htm
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/eastway-fb40-x5/

Any advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

 

[helston90]

I have a 2013 Rapid 4, as far as it as a bike goes it's great, very fast gearing with 52 x 11 (if you can keep up with it) and great on the hills as it's a triple so will spin up anything in 30 x 28, frame is well made and the drive chain works well for a £500 bike.
However- I do wish I'd bought a drop bar bike as I'd like to be able to vary my hand position more- toward the end of yesterdays 100km I found myself constantly shifting from bars to bar ends and back again. How come you're not looking at drop bars?
Also if you can find something with some carbon forks it does transfer quite a bit of road buzz and bumps up through the carbon ones.
If I were you with near £500 to spend on a bike to ride on the road I would a. get a drop bar bike, b. find something in the sale and not pay full price and c. get something with some carbon in the forks- something like this say

 

[Cycleops]

I wouldn't think your choices would be that different to your current bike unless it's got a very heavy frame with wide rim wheels and chunky tyres. I think you may be better off with drop bars as suggested by helston90. Also the Mekk he's linked to is a rather lovely colour.

 

[j20nyh]

My current hybrid is relatively heavy, has wide tyres, lockout suspension and is generally more tailored towards off road use. I've been reading up about flat bars on road bikes and maybe it's not such a good idea. I'd be interested to hear if there's anyone here who favours them over drops?

What are peoples recommendations for a road bike with drop bars around the £500 mark?

Also how does climbing on drop bars compare to flat bars?

 

[j20nyh]

Spent a few hours shopping around and have found the following that look suitable, what's your thoughts?

http://www.rutlandcycling.com/159538/products/charge-plug-3-2014-road-bike.aspx
http://www.westbrookcycles.co.uk/gi...2014-p232643?gclid=CJvg4Z_-l8ECFRHHtAodcl4ArQ
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/vitus-bikes-razor-vr-road-bike-2014/rp-prod107023
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/felt-z95-sora-2014/
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fuji/sportif-23-compact-2014-road-bike-ec053266

 

[Cycleops]

Well, VFM it's got to be the Charge Plug 3. Even though it has steel rather than carbon forks And a steel frame I believe they give a better more comfortable ride. If the price reduction is genuine that's a great buy, plus you get discs. The Defy and the Fuji get bargain basement Shimano groupset. The Felts and Vitus look OK but my vote would go to the Charge by a country mile.

 

[j20nyh]

Also should I go for a compact crankset or a triple? I tend to do quite a lot of climbing but unsure on how i'll get on with the compact.

 

[Cycleops]

Well, none of the bikes have a triple so I guess it's a compact, that should give you plenty of low gear options. If you're keen on the Plug I should get it ordered as it won't hang around long at that price. I see now that it is out of stock so maybe enquire when they will be able to get one for you. It's only the medium they are offering so Is it the correct size for you?

Edit: I see they have no more stock so you will have to choose again, unless somebody else has one.

 

[j20nyh]

Wiggle also have them at a reduced price although not quite as cheap. http://www.wiggle.co.uk/charge-plug-3-2014/ the reviews are not great however.

Are there many triple chainset road bikes out there? I'm not sure I can commit to buying a compact without trying it first. I live in a relatively hilly area and although I don't tend to use the 'granny' cog very much there's a few big hills that I would struggle on without it.

 

[Cycleops]

Specilaized do one but it's out of your price range: http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Specialized-Secteur-Sport-Triple-2014-Road-Bike_65836.htm
You will find most cyclocross bikes have triples, like this one:
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Specialized-Tricross-Triple-2014-Road-Bike_65876.htm
A bit of hunting may turn one up but there won't be too much choice at that price point.

 

[Cycleops]

Found one at Evans: http://www.evanscycles.com/products/dawes/discovery-road-sport-2-2014-road-bike-ec054789 In your budget too.
Again, more of a cyclocross spec.

 

[Cubist]

Johny H, where do you live? I'm not very fit on a road bike and manage the South Pennines on a compact with a 50/34 and an 11-32 cassette. I may be selling my Cube Peloton Race 2014 shortly, and it won't be massively over your budget. If nothing else if you fancy a test ride, and would fit a 56 (5'8" to 5'11" ish) you are welcome to try it.

 

[Cubist]

Ignore what @Cycleops says about welds in his next post.......

 

[Cycleops]

Found another triple: http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/giant-rapid-3-triple-road-bike-id80952.html
But I think you would be fine on a compact as Cubist says.

 

[j20nyh]

Found one at Evans: http://www.evanscycles.com/products/dawes/discovery-road-sport-2-2014-road-bike-ec054789 In your budget too.
Again, more of a cyclocross spec.

Thanks for taking the time to have a look Cycleops, much appreciated. What's the difference between a cyclocross and a road bike?