Which flat bar racer?

Mason2021

Hi, first of all sorry if this is in the wrong subreddit. Second of all I'm very new to biking so sorry if this is an obvious answer
The actual question:
I'm looking to upgrade and get a new bike. I currently have a hand me down drop down bar racer (don't know the specs of it) but I'm looking for a serious bike. I'm planning on riding a minimum of 6miles a day on a fairly hilly road (north west UK) and I want to get there as fast as possible. I want a flat bar as I never use the drop down bars on my racer; I'm always on the hood and straight bit. Possible bikes I'm looking it (I'm going to buy a bike second hand)
• Cannondale quick carbon 1 hybrid
• Boardman hybrid pro
• BMC AC01 Sora or AC02 three
Which of these would be best? They're all about the same ~400-500 second hand so its just about specs. To clarify my main preference is speed and durability as I'm not knowledgeable so can't really fix it myself
Thanks a lot

svetty

As you are a self-confessed beginner you might need to be prepared to adjust your thinking and heed the advice of more experineced cyclists.

If your criterion is speed then getting an aerodynamic position is key. You need to re-think the drop bar vs flat top bar question and learn to use the drops (or at least ride with horizontal forearms on the tops).

skooter

As Svetty has said I think you need to have a rethink on the bike you want..

If it were me I would look at a different bike as the ones mentioned all weight nearly 11 kilos so if you what speed and durability look for 9 kilo bike and conti 4000 for speed and good puncture protection and Tiagra group set at least.

Good luck though..

OnTheRopes

If you ride the tops and the hoods then by changing to a flat bar you have lost one position you already use.
Riding on the drops also give you more stability on fast descents or sharp cornering so even if you don't use them then they are there for when you realise they are a useful position.

apreading

OnTheRopes wrote:

If you ride the tops and the hoods then by changing to a flat bar you have lost one position you already use.

Not if he has bar ends, he hasnt. I dont know why people keep spouting this.

OnTheRopes wrote:

Riding on the drops also give you more stability on fast descents or sharp cornering so even if you don't use them then they are there for when you realise they are a useful position.

Thats true enough though, but if he doesnt use them in those situations already, when they are available, then he wont lose anything.

Svetty is right - there seems to be a contradiction in your post that suggests you should think carefully and understand better before proceeding.

The Boardman Hybrid is probably the most racy flat bar bike with discs I have ridden though, so that would be my recommendation if you are sure you want to go for flats.

Moonbiker

Flat bar racer is an oyxmoron

As is serious bike & hybrid in the context of trying to be as fast as possible.

apreading

Moonbiker wrote:

Flat bar racer is an oyxmoron

Tell that to Mr Obree

pblakeney

A flat bar racer is hybrid. A hybrid is a compromise.
People who go from racers to hybrids tend to regret the compromise eventually.

apreading

PBlakeney wrote:

A flat bar racer is hybrid. A hybrid is a compromise.
People who go from racers to hybrids tend to regret the compromise eventually.

All bikes are a compromise - unless you get a specialised track bike or an aero time trial bike. All the current 'sportive' bikes are a hybrid between a comfortable sit up and beg bike and an out and out race machine. Very few bikes wouldnt be considered some form of compromise or hybrid.

The question is what mix of compromises make the ideal bike for you.

zeee

Even though you don't use the drops you're not losing anything from them being there. But by ruling them out you're restricting your bike options significantly.

There are many 105 equipped "sportive" bikes available in your price range. I sold my ribble Gran Fondo for 500 in the summer. And they are a lot lighter than the bikes you are looking at.

Moonbiker

CGN flat v drops vid for the OP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6-yz1qJrUc

apreading

Moonbiker wrote:

CGN flat v drops vid for the OP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6-yz1qJrUc

That is a completely and utterly s**t 'test' though...

"Flat bars make you more upright" - WRONG - either type bike will let you position your hands wherever you like and sit as upright or low as you choose. The flat bar bike they have chosen has the same length top tube as the drop bar bike and a short stem. This is not a proper flat bar bike designed for the same purpose - if it was it should have a longer top tube and put the bars in the same position as the drop bar bike. This is precisely why you cant just swap the bars from one type and end up with a good bike of the other type - the frame geometry SHOULD be different. Flat bar bikes could have your hands lower than in the drops if they designers chose to do this. For their tests, they just chose the wrong flat bar bike.

"Flar bars only have one hand position" - WRONG - why the F did they test a bike with wide bars and no bar ends?

What you dont get from flat bars is two different heights, so that when you want to lower your COG and get more aero, you can choose what would be an uncomfortable position for long periods for those short specific instances when this matters. But of you dont use the drops that is no issue. Flat bars should be set up to put you in the same position you would be for 90% of the time on the drop bar bike. So generally the bar ends are in the same place as the hoods and the flat part in the same position as the flat part. Maybe slightly wider if you want, as many do. that way there is no difference between the two if you dont use the drops.

pblakeney

apreading wrote:

PBlakeney wrote:

A flat bar racer is hybrid. A hybrid is a compromise.
People who go from racers to hybrids tend to regret the compromise eventually.

All bikes are a compromise - unless you get a specialised track bike or an aero time trial bike. All the current 'sportive' bikes are a hybrid between a comfortable sit up and beg bike and an out and out race machine. Very few bikes wouldnt be considered some form of compromise or hybrid.

The question is what mix of compromises make the ideal bike for you.

Stretching the point more than a little. Opinions were asked. Opinion given. I’ve had both types and won’t buy another hybrid.

lakesluddite

To the OP (if you are still interested!?), I think any of those you mention are decent bikes, although I'm struggling to find a carbon version of the Cannondale? All I can see online are alloy versions.
Scrub that, just found a 2017 version from Start Fitness for £845 discounted.

If you are after 'speed', then there are plenty of differing gear combinations with the bikes you have chosen. The Boardman for example looks to have a fairly road-ish look to it, but only has the one chainring, thus reducing the high end gears you may need (a 44-11?) whereas the C-Dale has a double compact chainset, which will give you a higher gear of 50-11. This would only really affect you hammering it or going downhill fast, but it's worth thinking about this. No idea about the BMC though tbh, there are so many different versions of those that I couldn't be bothered to look further.
Having said that, a x1 chainset would be easier to maintain.

As for handlebars, then you need to choose whatever you are comfortable with. If you really can't get on with drop bars then get a flat bar. Personally I wouldn't use flat bars, but then again I've been happily using drops for years, so I'm biased. What I would say is that if you do 'catch the bug', then when you want to inevitably upgrade (and you will, it's just a symptom of our particular disease!) then you'll have far more choice with drop bar bikes. I wouldn't worry about hardly ever using the drops either, I reckon most riders spend 90% of the time on the hoods or the flats - I know I do - it's just good to know I can grab the drops on descents or if I'm sprinting for some reason (hardly ever!).

pblakeney

LakesLuddite wrote:

...I reckon most riders spend 90% of the time on the hoods or the flats - I know I do - it's just good to know I can grab the drops on descents or if I'm sprinting for some reason (hardly ever!).

Headwinds mostly for me. Then descents. Sprinting? Nah.