Did you change from Hybrid to Drop Bar Bike

[Psyclist]

So often we see people who come on the forums here who are complete beginners, at least during adulthood, who are looking for a new bike. Often they feel intimidated by drop bars thinking that they aren't good enough for one or just think they look strange. They then set their mind on a hybrid or flat bar road bike.

Just wondering about those people that first bought a hybrid/flat bar road bike and how many of them have since converted to a drop bar version (for the purposes of the poll anything which isn't a drop bar counts as a hybrid ie slicked up moutain bikes, etc which are used primarily on road or towpaths - no mountain biking country included as that takes a much more specialised bike)

I used to ride an XC MTB with slicks, riser bars and carbon rigid fork. I used to be nervous at the thought of riding a road bike with thin tyres and drop bars.

Then, after riding on the MTB for a while, I thought I could do better and ride easier. Went and bought a cheap retro road bike to test the waters.
First 100yards I was a bit shakey and nervous, but then after those 100yards, it all felt natural to me.

I'd say; dump your city bikes and hybrids, get a road bike with drops, or even put flat bars on a road bike if you don't like drops. It'll make riding tarmac more enjoyable and easier!

 

[Gravity Aided]

I have both,but for any distance I use drop bars . I'm past 50, and my back needs all the help it can get . That being said, I still use flat bars for commuting on my Giant , and on my 26" wheel
CityBike , a Nishiki Blazer . Keeps my head up for traffic.

 

[ShinyDave]

My first bike (at 22) was a Halfords special (actually a second-hand Carrera Subway), and I ended up borrowing an old MTB when that one got nicked. As I'm quite clumsy, I was terrified of the thin-tyred road bikes, but I had a sort-of-epiphany when swapping bikes having been stunningly dropped going on even a beginners' group road ride on said old MTB. I wasn't even wearing the right shoes, I'd never ridden a road bike before, I was *terrified* going downhill because I felt I couldn't quite reach the brakes, but I was going uphill on that bike faster than I went on the flat on anything else I'd ridden before.

Three years later, I'm coming to the conclusion that drops don't scare me, but thin tyres and twitchy handling still do (especially on steep descents and a). With an eight-mile commute starting next month, I suspect I'll be looking (one way or the other) at fat tyres and drop bars.

 

[LarryDuff]

Had a nice hybrid from Halfords, got a new road bike a month ago. Has taken a bit of getting used to especially the brakes as I tend to ride quite a bit with my hands on the bars not the handles.

 

[pnh]

Tried a Raleigh Airlite after a gap of 45 years since my drop bar Cinelli (ride to school bike) - but wasn't happy with the neck ache and narrow hand position. Plumped for a Trek 7100 (front susp and seat post bouncer) and I'm back to school......much happier with the control, and after swapping the saddle for a Specialized something od other, all is good in the neck, wrist and b*m areas after a 35 mile slog - I say slog, 'cause when I start out, I can tackle any hill (I live at the bottom of the North Downs) so any way is UP. On my way home, however, I develop into an "Old Boy" - but never give up, just get knackered! Can't understand it, 'cause my head says I'm only 32........

 

[Maylian]

Well after getting into cycling last xmas I have just bought my 3rd bike in the past 14 months. I have just bought a Giant Defy 2 2012 model which arrived today and gave it a quick test on my daily commute to work. Still obviously a little nervous on it considering my others bikes are a Cube Tonopah 2010 hybrid and a Specialised Comp 2011 hybrid (still don't know why I bought a second hybrid).

Looking forward to getting some more miles under my belt on the road bike and see what kind of speeds I can get out of it, just need to get some cleat pedals and shoes since after only a few yards I realised I do not like caged pedals.

 

[Bigsharn]

I went from a flat bar hybrid that was far too big for me, to my (drop bar) Galaxy.

Originally I got a drop bar Raleigh thing for commuting back in 2008 which badly hurt my back because it was set up wrong.

 

[bluemint]

I had a MTB that got used on trails and the like but started commuting on it and changed the tyres to slicks and put a bigger triple chainring on it = speed machine. I then treated myself to a drop bar tourer for days out and holidays.

 

[bananaboy]

Changed from drop bar specialized allez comp.To a specialized sirrus hybrid.Then saw the sirrus limited(full carbon)But her indoors said no-way jose!!!! But I'm still working on it

 

[rollinstok]

I avoid roads like the plague and haven't owned a drop bar for years now.
I just cant see the enjoyment in having a bike that cant stray off the road.
The Boardman CX Team is one bike that I want though.. very sexy !!
Roads are a necessary evil to get me to the trails and cyclepaths.

 

[bobcat]

I converted my Dawes "red feather" to dropped bar and have never looked back, (really should learn to, it may make me safer)!

 

[IscaSteve]

USe both. Started off many moons ago with drop bars (school commute and long summer holidays!) then moved onto flat bar with a couple of MTBs used strictly for leisure. Now have flatbar on the Carrera subway hybrid for a short 4 mile daily commute and the drop bars on the retro road bike pair for distance, leisure and pleasure

 

[davester65]

I use both too, returned to cycling after a long lay off last summer. I bought a cheap Claud Butler Hybrid off ebay to make sure a, i could still ride one & b, i enjoyed it! Was shaky for the first couple of 5 mile rides then got my confidence back and am loving every minute. Am now approaching 1000 miles total riding since last august and am averaging 15mph on a 25-35 mile sunday ride.

I bought a Kinesis Decade Convert 2 frameset last september and built it up as a drop bar road bike. My flat bar Claud Butler has had some tlc this winter in the form of a complete Deore groupset, and use that for early morning city rides.

 

[asterix]

Have recently bought a flat barred bike (Trek Soho dlx) mainly because it had belt drive and I wanted an into town bike that didn't have an oily chain. Up to now I have been using a Brommie and it didn't fit very well.

I like the Trek, it's heavy at 29lbs but can hustle along. The bars were too wide so I clipped a couple of cm off each end and it feels better like that. Nevertheless I don't see it as a substitute for a drop bar bike over long distances.

 

[Norm]

Have recently bought a flat barred bike (Trek Soho dlx) mainly because it had belt drive and I wanted an into town bike that didn't have an oily chain. Up to now I have been using a Brommie and it didn't fit very well.

I like the Trek, it's heavy at 29lbs but can hustle along. The bars were too wide so I clipped a couple of cm off each end and it feels better like that. Nevertheless I don't see it as a substitute for a drop bar bike over long distances.

I've been looking at those for a couple of years. Is it as wonderful in reality as it is in my fantasies?