Did you change from Hybrid to Drop Bar Bike

[Norm]

what exAMS?

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

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

Aren't actuaries people who don't have the personality to become accountants? **baddum tish**

(OK, I admit it, I'm an accountant whose first job after Uni was in the investment department of a life assurance company. )

As for bar shapes, I move between several, depending on the nature of the ride. The 21 year old MTB now has slick tyres on it and made an excellent town bike and winter commuter (10 miles each way) when I didn't want to expose the decent bikes to road salt.

We bought my son a Sirrus for his school commute a few weeks ago and that is a fantastic machine. Bum-basic and entry level everything but who cares when it's such a great ride - not that I "borrow" it whenever he's not looking, of course. We've swapped bikes mid-ride a couple of times, to try him out on road bikes with drops, and he is very keen to get something for himself. However, as I've already got 5 bikes in the garage, all of which he fits onto perfectly, I'm struggling to persuade Mrs Norm that another is needed.

 

[Emmanuel Obikwelu]

Is there any reason why you coudnt put flat bars on a racing bike - for fast cycling but without the conspicuousnessly sporty image that drop bars give.

 

[Norm]

It's not generally a straight swap, as the distance the cable is pulled on the gears and brakes is different so you need to pick components carefully.

Many manufacturers have similar flat and drop bikes in their model ranges, though. Spesh's Sirrus and Allez, for instance.

 

[doogle84]

Aren't actuaries people who don't have the personality to become accountants? **baddum tish**

(OK, I admit it, I'm an accountant whose first job after Uni was in the investment department of a life assurance company. )

Oh dear.....an accountant making jokes at an actuary's expense (not too difficult I admit), next you'll be having a mid-life crisis and getting a faster calculator

 

[CopperCyclist]

I started on a mountain bike, on which the previous owner (my father in law) had fitted hybrid tyres. I now use drop bar bikes (currently a cyclocross, but a road bikes my next purchase when I have the cash) and can't see me ever going back to flat bars, except for actual mountain biking of course.

 

[Emmanuel Obikwelu]

It's not generally a straight swap, as the distance the cable is pulled on the gears and brakes is different so you need to pick components carefully.

Many manufacturers have similar flat and drop bikes in their model ranges, though. Spesh's Sirrus and Allez, for instance.

Thanks Norm. Yes i can see that the cabling might need some tweaking and that the posture would obviously be altered .

 

[Doseone]

I've gone the other way i.e. from drop bar to flat. My drop bar was quite an aggressive set up and I was finding that my contact points were killing me if I tried to spend more than an hour / hour and a half on it. Couple that with the fact that it was causing me back pain and it meant I just wasn't going out riding on the road. So, sadly, (it was a very nice bike

) I sold the drop bar bike and got a Trek 7.7FX which I absolutely love.

The trek really suits me. It is very comfortable, and I'm riding for pleasure and fitness rather than speed these days anyway.

I can really notice the difference in acceleration, but once the Trek spins up it bats along very nicely. Most importantly, it's got me back out and enjoying my riding again.

 

[Arjimlad]

I bought a Giant FCR 3 flat-bar road bike five years ago, but wish I had gone for a drop-bar bike instead. Drop bars are, I think, more versatile.

Changing the bike over to drop bars would seem to be expensive given the cost of combined brake levers/gear shifters.

I will be laughed at if I confess that I fit aero-bars to the bike in the summer but I do find that it then goes an awful lot faster with the more aerodynamic riding position.

 

[david k]

i have both, i am surprised at how much i like the drops, didnt expect too

 

[bricksmasher]

After loosing a hybrid I bought a road bike, i like the speed of riad bikes but don't find then as easy on the back/shoulders, I'm investing in another hybrid soon though, for commuting

 

[Raistlin]

Got a refund on the Sirrus Comp 2011 (which in turn was a replacement for a stolen Sirrus Elite 2010) and have gone with a Sectuer Sport 2011. Loving it so far and really enjoying the drops!

 

[Ivor]

Went from 3 speed sit-up & beg to 10 speed drop bar, to 21 speed hybrid to 28 speed drop bar to flat bar folding bike. Currently use any of the last 4 depending on the type of journey. (I'm hoping to get the 3 speed back on the road soon when I have time to do a bit of mechanicking).
I'm most comfortable with the drop bars for longer distances - keep changing hand position, but have done over 60 miles on each of the non-drop bikes without any lasting discomfort.

 

[BC BOOTLE]

had problems with my back,converted from drops to flats and put a set of tri bars on the flats,ideal for me.

 

[BC BOOTLE]

I bought a Giant FCR 3 flat-bar road bike five years ago, but wish I had gone for a drop-bar bike instead. Drop bars are, I think, more versatile.

Changing the bike over to drop bars would seem to be expensive given the cost of combined brake levers/gear shifters.

I will be laughed at if I confess that I fit aero-bars to the bike in the summer but I do find that it then goes an awful lot faster with the more aerodynamic riding position.

 

[BC BOOTLE]

not to be laughed at,i have tri bars on my flats,,,ideal for me,can still drop down if needed.