Flat bar road bike advice

sirichmond

Hi All,

Have been doing as much online research as possible and pretty much decided upon a Fuji Absolute 1.3 http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fuji/absolute-13-2013-hybrid-bike-ec044614?utm_campaign=bazaarvoice&utm_medium=SearchVoice&utm_source=RatingsAndReviews&utm_content=Default.
I have tried drop bars but didnt get on with them felt unsafe on the commute to work. So My steed needs to be capable of the commute, must be able to fit gaurds and able to potter around the lanes for fitness. The fuji looks good from y looking about. Any comments on the spec? Is the weight OK 22.5lbs.

Thanks

lc1981

Just going back a step to try to understand why you didn't get on with drop bars, were you riding mostly in the drops or on the hoods? Most people spend the majority of the time riding with their hands on the hoods, but sometimes I think people who are new to road bikes don't realise this.

wandsworth

+1 on that. I sometimes see people on the drops when there is no reason to be, and they look pretty uncomfortable. Often, those same people clearly haven't set the bike up properly (saddle height very low etc) so look doubly uncomfortable. Spend some time getting the bike set up properly, and try riding more on the hoods (if, of course, you weren't before). I went from a flat-bar hybrid to a road bike and much prefer the road bike riding position. Obviously, everyone's different, and ultimately it might not work for you, but give it a chance.

ForumNewbie

The Fuji looks a nice bike - similar in looks to my Specialized Sirrus hybrid, apart from the fact mine has a triple chainset and 28 mm tyres, so the Fuji should be a bit faster. It should be an ideal bike for commuting. For longer rides I do prefer my drop bar bike, but I can comfortably do an 18 mile commute on the hybrid, which has a rack for my rackpack to carry my commuting 'luggage'.

styxd

Stop being a fanny and get a road bike with drop bars

lockstock666

Having made the switch from flat to drop - I know what the OP is talking about.

Drop bars are narrower, smaller movements have a bigger effect on the front wheel. My first time on my Defy was wobbly as hell and your hands need practice to strengthen for braking on the hoods. It all feels alien at first and it took me about a week to be able to stand up on it on the drops (sprint position) without being all over the place .

Having gone through all of this it is feels more stable than my flat bar ever did in a straight line and when cornering and in any hand position.

Another big reason is comfort. On a flat bar with hand in one position your wrists fatigue, and circulation suffers. With drops, you can move position as often as you need to and your hands/wrists will thank you for the choice!

I would seriously recommend buying a drop bar over flat.

Schoie81

When I was looking at buying a road bike, the guy in the shop suggested as I'd never ridden one before, but had done lots of miles on a MTB, that a flat bar bike might be a good option for me I decided though that if I was going to get a road bike, I wanted it to be completely different from my MTB, otherwise there didn't really seem much point. I've been riding my road bike for about three months now and have covered over 800miles and have to say that I don't very often ride on the drop bars, they still feel a bit unsteady for me, but i'm slowly getting used to it. There's nothing to say that because you have drop bars you have to be in the drops all the time and to be quiet honest, I very rarely see other cyclist riding on the drops, i'd say at least 90% of those I see around here are riding on the hoods.

Ultimately you need to be comfortable on the bike, but don't think that just because you've got dropped bars you've got to ride on them all the time, but if they're there you've got the option, and you'll probably find in time that your confidence grows and you'll be fine with them.

♠ChumBucket♠

You only need to add bar-ends to a flat bar to give you various hand positions.

It makes me laugh how everyone insists it must be drop bars then admits that they virtually never use them? :roll: Then the answer is usually something like- yeah, but they're there if you need them. Then that turns out to be about 4% of all riding time.

My advice is to get the flat bar & fit bar-ends. Lost count last year of the "proper" road bikes I overtook on my road adapted MTB!! :roll: The "tiny" amount of any aero benefit you may gain from drop bars will be more than lost in comfort/position/power losses.

Let battle commence! Watch for all the "pro" comments now. Bradley Wiggins this, aero that, shaved legs the other. All crap mate, you're not a pro & never will be, buy what suits you, not what wannabes tell you what you should!!

This is nice & would suit your requirements I think.

http://www.ukbikesdepot.com/m16b159s867 ... tAodP3sAMw

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Nice1 ChumBucket

iand-83

I brought a road bike with drop bars thinking it would be better but so far I rarely ride on the drops, mostly ride on the hoods or with the bars as a conventional bike but find it strange still compared to my MTB. Wish I had tried both types of bike a bit more before I purchased a road bike would of probably ended up with a flat bar road bike as it suits my riding and comfort better.

string78

First post so don't shoot me down!

My recommendation would be a Scott Speedster Flat Bar. I have the 2011 model and could not fault it. Made the move to drops a year ago (wish I bought the dropped version first off) but am planning on using this as the winter hack. Clearance is fine to be able to fit SKS long blades, have been fitted but yet to try out yet.

If you are looking for a Flat Bar that has a road bike geometry I can't fault the Speedster, so much so I had though about converting it to drops but sense is telling me to get over the stigma of riding a flat bar and invest the money on the summer bike!.

morstar

I am first and foremost a roadie and have been for many years. However, I have absolutely no beef with flat bar bikes for commuting purposes. I specifically bought a flat bar bike for commuting a few years back and never regretted it. On urban roads it is a hands down better position with a handful of brakes to be grabbed at the drop of a hat.
Changed jobs which means I only commute by bike occasionally and the current ride is 24 miles of primarily rural, fast roads. With prolonged spells cruising, I find that drops would arguably be better but even now it's only marginal as the 20 mins navigating Preston still make the flat bars advantageous.
Drop bars are better for 'sport' riding but riding in rush hour traffic ain't the same ballgame!

lc1981

♠ChumBucket♠ wrote:

It makes me laugh how everyone insists it must be drop bars then admits that they virtually never use them? :roll: Then the answer is usually something like- yeah, but they're there if you need them. Then that turns out to be about 4% of all riding time.

It's not just about using the drops though. I don't use the drops much, but I do use the hoods and tops with various different hand positions that wouldn't be possible with a flat bar.

♠ChumBucket♠

lc1981 wrote:

♠ChumBucket♠ wrote:

It makes me laugh how everyone insists it must be drop bars then admits that they virtually never use them? :roll: Then the answer is usually something like- yeah, but they're there if you need them. Then that turns out to be about 4% of all riding time.

It's not just about using the drops though. I don't use the drops much, but I do use the hoods and tops with various different hand positions that wouldn't be possible with a flat bar.

Oh, really? Please explain which positions you refer to & how those positions can't be near enough replicated on a flat bar with bar-ends fitted.

declan1

♠ChumBucket♠ wrote:

lc1981 wrote:

♠ChumBucket♠ wrote:

It makes me laugh how everyone insists it must be drop bars then admits that they virtually never use them? :roll: Then the answer is usually something like- yeah, but they're there if you need them. Then that turns out to be about 4% of all riding time.

It's not just about using the drops though. I don't use the drops much, but I do use the hoods and tops with various different hand positions that wouldn't be possible with a flat bar.

Oh, really? Please explain which positions you refer to & how those positions can't be near enough replicated on a flat bar with bar-ends fitted.

You're just trolling now Chum boy. There are reasons why people use road bikes and they are valid reasons. Drop bars allow (just counting ones that I use) about 7 different hand positions. You would regret not having them on a really long ride. Road bikes are also designed for aerodynamic efficiency with body positioning (which does actually make a difference).

If you don't like road bikes or can't afford to get one or something, please don't have a rant and convince everyone else that they're crap.

Also, the roadies that you 'always overtake' most likely look like this:

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Damn. Was unaware I was being photographed.
Borrowed this for a trial and went to buy a flat bar.

lc1981

♠ChumBucket♠ wrote:

lc1981 wrote:

It's not just about using the drops though. I don't use the drops much, but I do use the hoods and tops with various different hand positions that wouldn't be possible with a flat bar.

Oh, really? Please explain which positions you refer to & how those positions can't be near enough replicated on a flat bar with bar-ends fitted.

Well, any position where I want to be low over the bike and stretched out, while still having my hands on the brakes, such as Cancellara in this photo.

markhewitt1978

It took me a good while to adjust. At first my problem was reaching the hoods; just realised I needed a shorter stem. Then it was actually using the drops, took months to get used to that, felt so unstable at first, but now I wouldn't decend any other way.

apreading

lc1981 wrote:

♠ChumBucket♠ wrote:

lc1981 wrote:

It's not just about using the drops though. I don't use the drops much, but I do use the hoods and tops with various different hand positions that wouldn't be possible with a flat bar.

Oh, really? Please explain which positions you refer to & how those positions can't be near enough replicated on a flat bar with bar-ends fitted.

Well, any position where I want to be low over the bike and stretched out, while still having my hands on the brakes, such as Cancellara in this photo.

I am in the same position with my hands on the bar ends.

Yslen

LockStock666 wrote:

Drop bars are narrower, smaller movements have a bigger effect on the front wheel.

This is backwards. Road bikes have narrow bars (and rotated grip position) for stability. MTBs have huge wide bars to make handling easier.

EDIT: I didn't do myself any justice only quoting that one line, as what you said is in itself correct, but the concept in general is the wrong way about. Narrower bars are harder to change direction with as it is in essence a shorter lever, which means you have more stability.

Just thought I'd get in there before someone corrects me :P

apreading

declan1 wrote:

You're just trolling now Chum boy.

No, he is not - he has a very valid point.

declan1 wrote:

There are reasons why people use road bikes and they are valid reasons. Drop bars allow (just counting ones that I use) about 7 different hand positions.

I can only think of 2 positions that I cant do with flat bars and bar ends

declan1 wrote:

You would regret not having them on a really long ride. Road bikes are also designed for aerodynamic efficiency with body positioning (which does actually make a difference).

Really, well I did a 110 miles sportive this summer and didnt regret it for a second.

declan1 wrote:

If you don't like road bikes or can't afford to get one or something, please don't have a rant and convince everyone else that they're crap.

He wasnt ranting any more than you, and he wasnt saying road bikes are crap - he was having an anti-rant against roadies that seem desparate to convince everyone that flat bar road bikes are crap.

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Here here. Applaud that man.

♠ChumBucket♠

apreading wrote:

declan1 wrote:

You're just trolling now Chum boy.

No, he is not - he has a very valid point.

declan1 wrote:

There are reasons why people use road bikes and they are valid reasons. Drop bars allow (just counting ones that I use) about 7 different hand positions.

I can only think of 2 positions that I cant do with flat bars and bar ends

declan1 wrote:

You would regret not having them on a really long ride. Road bikes are also designed for aerodynamic efficiency with body positioning (which does actually make a difference).

Really, well I did a 110 miles sportive this summer and didnt regret it for a second.

declan1 wrote:

If you don't like road bikes or can't afford to get one or something, please don't have a rant and convince everyone else that they're crap.

He wasnt ranting any more than you, and he wasnt saying road bikes are crap - he was having an anti-rant against roadies that seem desparate to convince everyone that flat bar road bikes are crap.

Here, here, sense at last!!

Oh, and is that "Cancellara" doing his daily commute to & from work by the way??

I'm shocked at the amount of sheep in the road cycling circles, no wonder there's so much money to be had in the relevant retail sector!!

declan1

When did I ever say that flat bar bikes were crap? I completely agree that they're great for urban riding where you require more control.

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declan1 wrote:

When did I ever say that flat bar bikes were crap? I completely agree that they're great for urban riding where you require more control.

But otherwise they are crap?

declan1

You guys are all completely single-minded idiots. I tried to add to this thread properly and all you do is have a go at everyone who even thinks of riding a road bike.

apreading

declan1 wrote:

When did I ever say that flat bar bikes were crap? I completely agree that they're great for urban riding where you require more control.

If you didnt say it, then I apologise. I didnt intend to imply that you specifically did, just that every (and I mean every) post on here asking about flat bar road bikes or hybrids ends with loads of people saying they are crap and to get drops as you will regret flat bars and want to change very soon. Thats why the Chum fella was having a tad of a rant because he was fully expecting the normal baseless arguements to come soon...

declan1

apreading wrote:

declan1 wrote:

When did I ever say that flat bar bikes were crap? I completely agree that they're great for urban riding where you require more control.

If you didnt say it, then I apologise. I didnt intend to imply that you specifically did, just that every (and I mean every) post on here asking about flat bar road bikes or hybrids ends with loads of people saying they are crap and to get drops as you will regret flat bars and want to change very soon. Thats why the Chum fella was having a tad of a rant because he was fully expecting the normal baseless arguements to come soon...

I kind of understand his rant but he's taking it way too far. I understand ranting about people ranting about flat bar bikes ( :P ) but he's basically saying all roadies are stupid and are buying bikes that are pointless - that isn't true.

♠ChumBucket♠

declan1 wrote:

apreading wrote:

declan1 wrote:

When did I ever say that flat bar bikes were crap? I completely agree that they're great for urban riding where you require more control.

If you didnt say it, then I apologise. I didnt intend to imply that you specifically did, just that every (and I mean every) post on here asking about flat bar road bikes or hybrids ends with loads of people saying they are crap and to get drops as you will regret flat bars and want to change very soon. Thats why the Chum fella was having a tad of a rant because he was fully expecting the normal baseless arguements to come soon...

I kind of understand his rant but he's taking it way too far. I understand ranting about people ranting about flat bar bikes ( :P ) but he's basically saying all roadies are stupid and are buying bikes that are pointless - that isn't true.

No, I'm saying you are single minded in the fact that you imply (whether you admit it or not) that flat bar bikes are only any good for very few & far between reasons- which is, rubbish!!

Most of the "wannabe pro roadie" arguments are just regurgitated garbage brought on by too much theory & not enough common sense!!

Why would anyone regret having flat bars on long rides? I for one longed for them on long rides, fed up with having to constantly change hand position because none of them are quite right to begin with!

The OP wanted a comfortable, able commuter & as predicted, we get pictures of Fabian Cancellara in the middle of a race to try & nuance some stupid dreamed up fact! :roll:

If you like road bikes, great but drop bar talk is 90% bullpoop at best in my experience for normal people. It proves the fact when now & again someone asks how much time people spend in that position & the answer comes back as virtually none!! :roll:

lc1981

I used the Cancellara image because it was the first I could find of someone in that position. It's a common position that lots of people ride in, perhaps not on commutes but I was asked to suggest a position that I use that can't be replicated with flat bars. Sorry if riding like that makes me a "wannabe pro", but I find it comfortable and fast. The point is that you don't need to ride in the drops all the time to benefit from road bars.

apreading wrote:

I am in the same position with my hands on the bar ends.

Perhaps, but you presumably don't have your hands on the shifters/brakes.

Anyway, this has gone off topic now. To the OP: buy a flat-bar road bike if that's what you feel most comfortable with. There's nothing wrong with that. I just wanted to point out that sometimes people mistakenly think that having road bars means riding in the drops all the time.

declan1

♠ChumBucket♠ wrote:

declan1 wrote:

apreading wrote:

declan1 wrote:

When did I ever say that flat bar bikes were crap? I completely agree that they're great for urban riding where you require more control.

If you didnt say it, then I apologise. I didnt intend to imply that you specifically did, just that every (and I mean every) post on here asking about flat bar road bikes or hybrids ends with loads of people saying they are crap and to get drops as you will regret flat bars and want to change very soon. Thats why the Chum fella was having a tad of a rant because he was fully expecting the normal baseless arguements to come soon...

I kind of understand his rant but he's taking it way too far. I understand ranting about people ranting about flat bar bikes ( :P ) but he's basically saying all roadies are stupid and are buying bikes that are pointless - that isn't true.

No, I'm saying you are single minded in the fact that you imply (whether you admit it or not) that flat bar bikes are only any good for very few & far between reasons- which is, rubbish!!

Most of the "wannabe pro roadie" arguments are just regurgitated garbage brought on by too much theory & not enough common sense!!

Why would anyone regret having flat bars on long rides? I for one longed for them on long rides, fed up with having to constantly change hand position because none of them are quite right to begin with!

The OP wanted a comfortable, able commuter & as predicted, we get pictures of Fabian Cancellara in the middle of a race to try & nuance some stupid dreamed up fact! :roll:

If you like road bikes, great but drop bar talk is 90% bullpoop at best in my experience for normal people. It proves the fact when now & again someone asks how much time people spend in that position & the answer comes back as virtually none!! :roll:

Stop making up things that I didn't even say. I have NOT been saying flat-bar bikes are crap.

If you want to be like that, I could suggest that perhaps you're not comfortable on the drops because you're a little on the large side? I'm rather light weight and find drop bars considerably more comfortable than flat bars as I can find many different positions to use. I'm not suggesting everyone should use a road bike because they're better...

I just came back from a 20 mile ride of which about 70% was spent in the drops.