Did you change from Hybrid to Drop Bar Bike

[Nearly there]

Ive started hitting the roads but on a MTB and am annoyed when the drop bar boys whizz past me so originally thought of putting slicks on but im now seriously thinking of getting a proper road bike but cant decide if i should buy now or wait til the spring.

 

[I like Skol]

Put some slicks on and pump them up really hard. I started this way and to be honest while my new road bike is quicker, it isn't by much and you don't want to expose a new bike to a winter if you can help it.

 

[Nearly there]

Ive decided to get some slicks and get the race bike next spring hopefully sept/oct will still be decent enough to get some miles in.

 

[Nick Salt]

I started on a hybrid, then 'upgraded' to a 3 speed raleigh sports, enjoyed it so much I got a single speed raleigh sports which I now use as my main bike.

I picked up cycling again to get fit, so once I decided the hybrid needed a friend I thought I'd get something heavier that would make me work a little on my miniscule 8 mile round trip commute. The single speed was a progression of the same philosophy. I may be using a Tradesman's bike soon lol!

I enjoy the upright position so much I've put North Road bars on my hybrid now! Only 'problem' is I have a Brooks B17 sat doing nothing due to changing my riding stance. I might have to flip the North Road bars on one of the Raleighs - will that count as drops?

 

[Part time cyclist]

2 years ago I bought a hardtail Apollo from Halfords, worst thing I ever done, 5 months ago I decided to buy a decent road bike and sought advice from my local bike shop, they steered me away from a drop bar bike, so I bought a specialised Sirrus, IMHO the best bike I have ever riden, my nephew and I done the London to Brighton this year, I was on my Sirrus and my nephew on his GT5 drop bar bike, I found the ride easier than he did!!! Trouble now is want to go faster but not sure if I want a drop bar bike because of the gearing differences etc....

 

[eml1909]

Started with a Specialized Sirrus (Elite)... really enjoyed it for a few months but suffered terribly from 'bike envy'. Upgraded to a Condor Gran Fondo (titanium frame, drop bar, touring bike) and I absolutely LOVE IT. Perfect for my daily commute (9 miles each way), and longer rides at the weekend. STill use the hybrid for riding with the kids, but I MUCH prefer the Condor.

 

[123paul]

I like both - depends what the bike is for / what type of riding I'll be doing. I have an old flatbar Raleigh Merlin that I just refurbished which is great for riding bynthe canal and on the road, but I'm putting together / refurbing an old racer now.

 

[doogle84]

I've just chopped in a Cannondale Bad Boy for my first drop bar, a Ridgeback Mercury. Seems much more suited to my country lane commute and there's definitely something satisfying about going downhill in the drops.

Did a quick loop of my usual roads today and found....it was no quicker (same average speed).

This might be down to spending the last three weeks sat at a desk revising for exams, with only Hobnob cookies for company.

 

[david k]

what exAMS?

 

[doogle84]

what exAMS?

Actuarial, hopefully for the last time...but this weather isn't helping!

 

[david k]

sorry if im thick but whats that

 

[doogle84]

sorry if im thick but whats that

Fear not, it's not the most well known profession! We advise on the likely pattern of future cashflows for pensions, life insurance and general insurance

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actuary

It seems we're slightly off topic now...

 

[david k]

seems like a cool career option, good luck

 

[slowmotion]

I bought a half-way decent and light Dawes hybrid about 30 months ago as my first bike after decades of not cycling. I really started to enjoy my ten mile (return) commuter trip, even in all weathers. Other longer rides were a bonus. At the end of January this year, I bought a Secteur Elite....I'm not sure why, but I think it was something to do with wanting to get fitter.

The drop bar riding position was a real challenge for about five weeks. My hands, arms and wrists hurt like crazy , and I did once think that I would never become comfortable and might revert to the hybrid. After a lot of tweaking ( and probably because the ancient body was getting used to it ), things started to get better.

I love the way that you can accelerate away in traffic and the general "nippiness". It also seems to encourage a faster pace, I'm not sure how or why. I'm still pretty slow.

So, hybrid or drop bar? Well, I have not sat on the saddle of the hybrid since the day I took delivery of the road bike.

 

[doogle84]

Thanks DavidK, much appreciated, I'll be giving it everything I've got!