Did you change from Hybrid to Drop Bar Bike

[MacB]

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?

I'd agree with persevering for a bit, if it doesn't work out and the bike's in good nick you'd probably be better off selling and buying a flat bar specific model.

 

[richyx]

I purchased a drop bar peugeot 3 years ago and used it for the summer when I took part in the london triathlon. Then took two years out due to work constraints but this year purchased a Cannondale 105 triple 60cm with straight bars off ebay. Have used this for commuting since May and have absolutly loved it. However have suffered some lower back issues this year as well so am a little hesitatant at converting to drop bars as the back problem seems in remission. But there is always the option of aero bars ...

When I was a kid none of my family had bikes so I didn't learn to ride until aged around ten. I can still remember falling off dozens of times learning on a friend's bike which I think was a drop bar.

I still didn't own a bike until my thirties when I bought a Raleigh Scorpion hybrid to ride to work to save on bus fares. I still use this with a rack and panniers to do the shopping and it can carry more than enough.

Seeing an Olympic drop bar bike in a charity shop around five years ago for 12 quid really gave me the cycling bug. This bike served me well until I hit a parked car last year and buckled the frame.

I also bought a secondhand Peugot Course for £65 with double chainring in really good nick as a replacement which I have just fitted new wheels and a nine speed cassette to as I was having problems getting up hills round here.

I bought a relativeley new aluminium frame with triple chanring intending to transfer the parts from the Olympic but bought almost all new parts including wheels. Looking forward to riding this bike from springtime this year.

The Peugot is now running fine and I intend to get as many miles in as possible on it before switching to my new build bike when the weather improves.

Getting back to the hybrid I intend to replace the 26 inch knobbly tyres with something more slick as effort exerted on this bike compared to riding a road (dropbar) over any distance now seems unbearable.

 

[billy1561]

I get a lot of aches in my elbows with my hybrid and also pins and needles on any ride around 4 miles or longer. It feels like a fair bit of my weight is over the bars. Would i see any improvement with a drop bar bike?

 

[Fab Foodie]

I get a lot of aches in my elbows with my hybrid and also pins and needles on any ride around 4 miles or longer. It feels like a fair bit of my weight is over the bars. Would i see any improvement with a drop bar bike?

Not necessarily ....

It's all about bike set-up and tweaking your position.

Take a look at this, it explains stuff well, you may need to move your seat back a bit and get better balanced and potentially move your bars a bit too.
Read on:


http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm

 

[billy1561]

I've actually read that piece of information before mate and tried every which way with some definate improvements. However the problem still remains. I am thinking that the bike itself may be the issue? Maybe my next purchase should be from the L.B.S.

 

[Bornagaincyclist]

I've done Flats no gears, Flats 3 speed, drops 3 speed, drops 10 or 12 speed, longish gap, MTB 1, MTB 2 long ish gap and converted this to a slick tyred, rack n pannier ride to work special.
It's not fast, but I have more luck with 26 x 1.75" wheels rather than fast 27 x 1 1/4" that bent rather quickly.
I suppose you could call it a hybrid, but really it's a bitza - with flat bars.
Must get a better saddle though, as I seem to have started to ride it to places other than work.

Regards Gordon

 

[JonnyBlade]

My first bike was an old 3 wheeler some 40 years ago followed by a cast off Raleigh single speed belonging to my older brother. I bought a Raleigh road bike last year after an Achilles injury from running as a way of keeping fit and have to say I'm now addicted

 

[AuraTodd]

I've tried drop bar, but it hurt my arms and back.

 

[Pigo]

I'm now the proud owner of a drop bar Trek bike (1 week & loving it!) after a few years on a flat bar bog standard mtb. My main problem at the moment is locating the brakes as I'm still tending to ride it like a flat bar! Also, I'm getting slight ache in my left hand around the thumb?? Anyone else experienced this?

 

[Cringles]

Hey guys. I currently have a Hybrid. Been drooling over racer bikes for some time now. I'm still a beginner cyclist. Have cycled about 200 miles so far from the start of February. I did my first 40 mile cycle today. Furthest I've ever cycled before! But after some time my wrists where starting to hurt a bit. I tried a few different hand positions, but your limited on a flat bar bike. I'm just wondering, if it would be worth my time to put some ''bull horns''…(At least that what I called them as a kid). Onto the bike.
I'm planning on doing a 87 mile cycle around Lough Neagh in August, and If I complete that, I may reward myself with a decent road/racer/cyclecross bike.

So yeah, question is, if ‘bull horns’ would be a good idea to put on the bike for the time being.

 

[chewy]

In a word, yes. First thing I did to mine! Only fitted cheap ones too, but lots better for hills too

 

[Hydra]

I recently changed to a droppy and I love it. I've come from a cheapo Hellfrauds MTB, to a slightly better 2nd hand MTB, to a road-oriented hybrid, to a drop-barred roadie in just 18 months. Natural progression IMHO.

So yeah, question is, if ‘bull horns’ would be a good idea to put on the bike for the time being.

Definitely! I was constantly yearning for a more vertical hand/wrist position (as opposed to the horizontal that flat bars force you to adopt), and I decided to grab some bar-ends from Decathlon. Definitely a good choice, and they make a significant improvement when climbing. I found myself rarely using the original bars, other than to brake and change gear.

Adding bar ends, though, will probably increase desire for a road bike. It did for me anyway

 

[Cringles]

I've had the bar ends added. Definitely spend more time on those now. Perfect for hills! Now it makes me want a drop bar bike Hopefully in a few months, I can pick up a Trek Racer

 

[Sallyann]

Hi I'm new to this site and wondered if anyone can offer me some advice? Collected my new superduper road bike on sat never ridden one before, very scary as I can't reach the brakes!! Spacers have been fitted

 

[billy1561]

I've had the bar ends added. Definitely spend more time on those now. Perfect for hills! Now it makes me want a drop bar bike Hopefully in a few months, I can pick up a Trek Racer

Had them as standard on my Hybrid from new but never even knew what their purpose was until a lad in work told me
Much better now. It's a more natural wrist position imho.