Did you change from Hybrid to Drop Bar Bike
- Thread starter doyler78
- Start date
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uphillstruggler
Guru
- Location
- Half way there
After using a mountain bike (ridgeback 604LT) converted to road use (thinner slicker tyres) for a while, i was lucky enough that my partner and kids (6 and 8) decided to buy me a bike for my birthday - ah!
i chose a Giant Rapid - flat bar hybrid after much deliberation. i got it because i am not quite fit enough for 2 rings on the front whilst this is still quick and light. I must say that i really love this bike
its typical that my riding mate has been looking for a drop bike and found the Giant Defy - pretty much the same as mine even with 3 rings on the front. if only i had looked a bit harder eh.
i have toyed with the idea of putting drops on it but that would mean different levers and shifters too - too much cost for little gain.
maybe if i can get to the next level of fitness over the winter i may think about it next year.
When you compare the cost of a new, reasonably priced bike (giant defy about £475) thats a pretty cheap investment for some.
For me, i will have to wait a little longer - the kids will need new bikes before i can justify another - ho hum!
i chose a Giant Rapid - flat bar hybrid after much deliberation. i got it because i am not quite fit enough for 2 rings on the front whilst this is still quick and light. I must say that i really love this bike
its typical that my riding mate has been looking for a drop bike and found the Giant Defy - pretty much the same as mine even with 3 rings on the front. if only i had looked a bit harder eh.
i have toyed with the idea of putting drops on it but that would mean different levers and shifters too - too much cost for little gain.
maybe if i can get to the next level of fitness over the winter i may think about it next year.
When you compare the cost of a new, reasonably priced bike (giant defy about £475) thats a pretty cheap investment for some.
For me, i will have to wait a little longer - the kids will need new bikes before i can justify another - ho hum!
The Jogger
Legendary Member
- Location
- Spain
Going to pick up my boardman comp road bike today.
Mountain bike'd all my days but got a drop bar tricross at the start of the summer I like the drop bars but feel more confident on a flat bar particulary around town and traffic for the commutes in to work. For that reason im thinking of getting rid of the tricross and using the money to fund a 2nd hand flat bar for work and also pick up a road bike for weekend linger runs as I love it just don't like the position around traffic
The first bike I bought was a unisex hybrid trek T10 when I was 20. I found it uncomfortable and unrideable, I gave up on it in March after a particularly bad day of cycling but I knew I'd love to cycle on a better bike. I'm 23 now and I was passing a bike shop in May and went in to have a look around. They tried me out on hybrids but when I told them about my problems they took me to a Dawes Horizon touring bike. I loved the drop bars because you don't have a single pressure point like you do with the straight bar hybrids. On drop bars you're able to move your hands around the whole bar and the male bike frame was much more to my body proportions, I'm 5'10. I spent the afternoon riding it around the village just to make sure, paid for it at closing time and we were inseparable ever since.
Fish on a bike
New Member
- Location
- Nottingham
I started with a Raleigh Chopper 
then a drop bar road bike for years, before an MTB (no suspension) in the early 1990's, now I have a hybrid. If I depended on the bike as my only form of transport then I might go for a drop bar for covering distance which is what it's designed for, but at the moment I like the upright position of flat bars on the hybrid for negotiating traffic, also I'm not sure race rims would last long with the potholes... and I'm too old for lycra 
then a drop bar road bike for years, before an MTB (no suspension) in the early 1990's, now I have a hybrid. If I depended on the bike as my only form of transport then I might go for a drop bar for covering distance which is what it's designed for, but at the moment I like the upright position of flat bars on the hybrid for negotiating traffic, also I'm not sure race rims would last long with the potholes... and I'm too old for lycra Rollon
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Chorley, Lancs
I purchased a Tricross with drops last year, after more than 40 years out of the saddle. I couldn't get on with it as I felt really stretched out and lacked control. I couldn't securely get onto the drop part of the bars and wobbled all over the place. It didn't help when I was hit by a car on my 4th ride out, whilst negotiating a roundabout.
After the bike was repaired I gingerly managed to get up to 50 miles, but still felt uneasy.
The bike went away for 7 months over the winter. I try to stretch out a bit before I get out of bed each morning. I started doing a tight curled up, knees to the chest stretch of my back muscles combined with an added rotation of my pelvis.
When I finally got back on my Tricross, expecting the usual difficulties, I was surprised. It felt like a completely different bike. I was no longer stretched out, the bars felt as though I was on top of them and I had very good control, which is getting better with each ride.
I also at first found turning round to see behind difficult and could never get a proper view. I went down the road of trying all sorts of rear view mirrors. I still have a 'Bike Eye' but now I can look behind without problem.
Stretching has certainly made the difference.
Dave.
After the bike was repaired I gingerly managed to get up to 50 miles, but still felt uneasy.
The bike went away for 7 months over the winter. I try to stretch out a bit before I get out of bed each morning. I started doing a tight curled up, knees to the chest stretch of my back muscles combined with an added rotation of my pelvis.
When I finally got back on my Tricross, expecting the usual difficulties, I was surprised. It felt like a completely different bike. I was no longer stretched out, the bars felt as though I was on top of them and I had very good control, which is getting better with each ride.
I also at first found turning round to see behind difficult and could never get a proper view. I went down the road of trying all sorts of rear view mirrors. I still have a 'Bike Eye' but now I can look behind without problem.
Stretching has certainly made the difference.
Dave.
biggs682
Itching to get back on my bike's
- Location
- Northamptonshire
having fun on drops at mo but have flat barred one ready to go
When I first got back into cycling three years ago, it was on a knobbly tyred, flat barred Raleigh ATB. I still have tis, and it's perfect for biking with my daughter in the back seat because it makes me two things that are really important with her on the back - go slowly and keep my head up. I still really enjoy throwing it about off road too...
...but having bought a drop barred road bike (and then another... and then another) I am really glad I never made incremental changes to the ATB to try and make it liveable on the road. On my road bike, I saw my speed (and comfort) on the road increase dramatically. I would love to claim this was because of my vastly increased levels of fitness... but in reality it was the bike. Here it is:
...but having bought a drop barred road bike (and then another... and then another) I am really glad I never made incremental changes to the ATB to try and make it liveable on the road. On my road bike, I saw my speed (and comfort) on the road increase dramatically. I would love to claim this was because of my vastly increased levels of fitness... but in reality it was the bike. Here it is:
Zoiders
New Member
- Location
- Ice Station Zebra
I dislike these threads as some people have some very weird ideas about bikes with drops/flats/risers/butterfly bars whatever.
Bikes exist at all sorts off price points in all kinds of format, it just having drops does not make you a more experienced or compotent cyclist. Even some pro's on X-thousand quid a pop carbon team issue bikes have poor bike handling skills - they compete becasue they are fit not because they are a whizz kid on two wheels.
Never listen to anyone who feeds you the "drop bars are for proper cyclists" line.
Bikes exist at all sorts off price points in all kinds of format, it just having drops does not make you a more experienced or compotent cyclist. Even some pro's on X-thousand quid a pop carbon team issue bikes have poor bike handling skills - they compete becasue they are fit not because they are a whizz kid on two wheels.
Never listen to anyone who feeds you the "drop bars are for proper cyclists" line.
som3blok3
New Member
- Location
- Cobham, Surrey.
Started on a Grifter, onto a Peugeot Ranger MTB, then went to drop bars as a teenager doing the school run everyday. As an adult I've gone back to hybrids, Dawes Kalahari and now a Boardman Comp Hybrid.
Having been there I know what getting down low feels like, just the same as ducking low on a Hybrid imho. All the guys I see on my 20 mile daily commute that are on drops stay up top any ways,,,, even on the downhills ?!?!
Having been there I know what getting down low feels like, just the same as ducking low on a Hybrid imho. All the guys I see on my 20 mile daily commute that are on drops stay up top any ways,,,, even on the downhills ?!?!
SlowofWrittle
New Member
I seemed to follow the usual path. A few years ago when arthritis forced me into stopping doing a lot of hard surface sports I bought a Boardman Hybrid which got me back cycling (the last time was in the 80's with a Raleigh Pursuit). After a year or so of this, even though I only went out once a week, and finding I was clocking up 40 to 50 miles I took the plunge and bought myself a Focus Cayo which has now become the 'summer' bike. I have converted the Boardman to a winter bike with drop handlebars etc. New summer I plan on getting a winter frame and transferring all the bits on to that so I can get my Hybrid back again!
What it all boils down to is get out on a bike and enjoy yourself regardless of what it is.
What it all boils down to is get out on a bike and enjoy yourself regardless of what it is.
I started cycling when i was a child but really got in to it when i was 16. I brought a Rayleigh Team race bike and was riding at times up to 60 miles day. With passing my driving test it slowly dwindled down to nothing. About 6 years ago i brought myself a Corretec SuperBow Race bike and really enjoyed the ride. I have now been thinking of returning to my previous level and have brought a Focus Variado race bike.
My point is i find the low riding position of the Focus strange, going from my Corretec. No doubt i will get use to it but i was considering changing the handle bars to some flat ones? I think the reason i haven't done it so far is i am unsure if this can be done?
Any suggestions would be greatly received.
My point is i find the low riding position of the Focus strange, going from my Corretec. No doubt i will get use to it but i was considering changing the handle bars to some flat ones? I think the reason i haven't done it so far is i am unsure if this can be done?
Any suggestions would be greatly received.
aberal
Guru
- Location
- Midlothian
It's possible but if you put on flat bars you will also have to change the brakes and gear shifters. Also, the shape of the Focus frame is designed for drop bars so the top tube will be shorter - the upshot being that you may find the transition to flat bars actually uncomfortable and may have to increase the length of stem to compensate. I'd suggest persevering with the drops - it sounds like you are just not used to them yet. Do you ride with your hands on the hoods at all? Or do you always go down on the drops?
