New cyclist, what road bike to get, drop bar or normal????

Yam Yam Jay

Hiya All,

Well i hope you can help because i really am confused.

I want to buy my first road bike but dont know where to start.

I am doing a sponsored bike ride in may so want the right bike for the job.

Do i get a road racing bike or as some people have suggested one with straight handles. and as a startup which bike is the best one to start with, because i have seen a Cube Aireal 2009 online which looks ok and a Ridley and Trek in the local shop to me but i really dont know what i am looking for.

Can you help?

STEFANOS4784

Hello mate and welcome.

Buying a bike can indeed be a very cunfussing time .
I would jump strait in and say drop bars but it really depends more on you. ie how fit are you? What type of riding will you be hoping to do prior to and after the sponsored jobbie? Fit is also a fairly major contributing factor when it comes to whether or not you enjoy the bike, so you need to be aware of what size to get.

Ideally you need a decent local bike shop to chat to and maybe test risde a couple?

Hope this help in some way, others will be along with more sense soon

Yam Yam Jay

Well, i like the idea of gettign the drop bar.

As for being fit, i am getting there doing alot of training at the moment.

Want to be out on the road from March as my bike ride will be mid May, the ride i am doing will be covering 260 miles over 5 days so quite intense but just want to get the right bike.

My local bike shop is lettign me buy all of my stuff at trade because of the event i am doing so it means i can have a bike around £700 - £800 and only pay around £600 which is my budget

I also want to carry on doing it after the event also so want to right bike.

Barrie_G

Another vote for drop bars, they give you loads more hand positions, they're more comfortable over longer rides, they let you alter your position more on the bike, well you get the idea.

STEFANOS4784

What's the shop called? What brands do they stock? Anything caught your eye specifically? Also how tall are you and what are the length of your legs like in proportion to your body?

This site can be useful to give you some insite but beware, it suggests frame sizes for me larger than i find comfortable so don't take it as gospel.

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CC ... ATOR_INTRO

Dazza2280

+1 for the drop bars.

Dont know how many people have been on here saying they bought a flat barred road bike, only to realise they wished they'd got drops and want to know about converting it to drop bars, might take a bit of getting used to in the corners at first but its worth it!!

Yam Yam Jay

That's Great, well I'm 6ft 3, inside leg is 33. The shop stoke most brands and said thy can get things in, saw radley, is trek or track, Raleigh, there were others brands too one begining with P but can't remember, liked the look of a white and blue radley retailed around 725 but as I say just really trying to get ideas??

kingrollo

", wrote:

OMG - It couldn't be could it ?

Yam Yam Jay

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Bullet1

Road bike with drop handle bars.

Dont do like I did - fork out £700 on a hybrid and after 2 weeks of riding wish I'd gone for a road bike. Cost me another £600 to swap 12 months later!

stokepa31

one way is to do what i did. went into the shop ad chose a road bike but got them to put straight bars on it. I also retained the drop bars and sti's for when i'm ready to make the change. cost me £150 extra but ive got flexibility in the long run.

mattward1979

I went from a MTB to a roadie, and fell in love with the position almost immediately...

+1 for the drops!!!

I only go into an aggresive position when I know for certain that I can open up, but its SO nice to have the option... riding on the hoods is a revelation in comfort and stability too. Although your first time out of the saddle can be interesting!! Pulling up on a MTB flat bar to give you more propulsion is a dangerous tactic to try on hoods until you realise that your hands can and will slip off of the top if you pull too hard =D

Noob mistake though, and one not replicated in 8 months of road cycling!

Philby

Drop bars will take a bit to get used to over flat bars, but if you get into cycling on a regular basis and start doing more events you will find the drops much more efficient and more comfortable.

Might be worth asking for a couple of test rides to see how you get on with drops and flats. Trek have a great range of bikes which meet most people's needs - don't know much about Ridley.

Ben6899

Drop bars all day long. You won't regret it.

The 'P' could be Pinnacle or Pinarello and there's a world of difference between those!

Dess1e

260 miles over five days - go for the drops. Different position for climbing, cruising etc. Allows you to vary position for comfort etc. Just get the height and reach correct.

Rich Hcp

Barrie_G wrote:

Another vote for drop bars, they give you loads more hand positions, they're more comfortable over longer rides, they let you alter your position more on the bike, well you get the idea.

Yes, I went from MTB to drops and SPDs, no probs.

Being able to change position and stretch your back is worth it with the drops.

On long rides it will be much better.

fastercyclist

Just go for drops. You can always ride on the hoods to begin with which isn't any different to a straight handlebar.

Yam Yam Jay

Ben6899 wrote:

Drop bars all day long. You won't regret it.

The 'P' could be Pinnacle or Pinarello and there's a world of difference between those!

Yes thats the one Pinarello, what are they like

Yam Yam Jay

Oh yes also if anyone would like to sponsor me that would be great too


www.justgiving.com/on-me-bike

Ectomorph

Drops, 100%. You'll very quickly regret flats.

Ben6899

Yam Yam Jay wrote:

Yes thats the one Pinarello, what are they like

They're beautiful.

softlad

Q. drop bar or normal.

A. drop bar IS normal.

Flasheart

Drops ...there is no substitute :roll: