Did you change from Hybrid to Drop Bar Bike

[Big Nick]

I've just bought a carbon road bike as I enjoy being out on my hybrid so much that I wanted to go further and faster although I'm still on the hybrid practicing clipless to try and lessen the chances of toppling over on my new bike!

I'm still totally in awe of how far I can now ride a bike having only got back on one in January, 10 miles doesn't even register now as exercise!

I've set myself a target of a 60 mile ride by August (currently doing 30-40) and a 100 miler by the end of the year although my main enemy is time not fitness with work, family etc taking up more than normal at the moment.

 

[mrcunning]

I've restarted cycling with a Giant Escape Hybrid that has been great (but needed that gel cover, otherwise it would have never been used).

And a few weeks back, I went all retro with this Raleigh Magnum (sharing the same gel cover).

Back before I had a motorcycle licence and when I also had hair, I used to have a 1980's Raleigh Winner in this size (25"), I was looking for another of those, but this came up and all it needed was a rear brake cable, some brake blocks and a slight truing of the rear wheel. The 27 1 1/4 Schwalbe Marathon's were on it when I bought it.
I added the rack for my army backpacks, but it's coming off as the centre pull brakes don't leave much room, so I'll have to find somewhere else to store my stuff.


As for the riding difference, the hybrid will make it uphill in it's comedy first gear, but I've had to bail on the similar hills on the racer. On the flat, the racer feels more faster to ride, but on downhills, I would prefer to be on the hybrid as the steering is a bit twitchy on the racer as the upper brake levers only work about 2/3 on, so I have to be lent over the front to cover the brakes and it's still a bit odd at the moment.

 

[mrcunning]

Im sorry mate,i cant stop laughing at the seat.have you got piles?..

 

[mrcunning]

I ride both to be fair,the flats are pretty similar to the drops for me now.

 

[Ste pt1]

I started on a forme hybrid last year started of me buying a hybrid so I could go down the parks with my daughter after a fee weeks I started going out for my own 10-12 miles to beging with but gradually increased just picked up a cube peloton race last Thursday and I've not been out on her yet due to work but I'll be out in a few hours today

 

[Sassy14]

I started off on a Raleigh MTB doing a few miles with hubby years ago. Dragged it out of the garage at the beginning of last year and did a few miles and had to have a new bike. That's when I got my hybrid and before I knew it I'd joined a ladies cycle group and was cycing all over the place. This year I had to have a road bike, call it a mid life crisis if you like. I'm in my 40's and I wanted to go further and faster, not go to the bingo!

So now I'm the proud owner of 3 bikes.

 

[TigerT]

When I started cycling regularly again 5 years ago, I got a cheap (and extremely heavy) Hybrid. Once I'd proved to myself that I would ride regularly I switched to a road bike. My road bike is now my bike of choice, I feel more confident on it and love the lightness and quality of it. However I've also just bought a better Hybrid (thanks Mr Taxman for billing me a lot less than I expected).

For Solo rides when I'm going at my own speed, it's the road bike every time. However for casual cycling with groups of friends who enjoy the ride, but are a little less enthusiastic than me, then I'll take the hybrid. It's easier to ride slowly, good on the rougher cycle paths and I like the more upright position for chatting and being sociable while we ride.

 

[burndust]

cant ride flat bars anymore, much prefer drops and ride alot on the hoods

 

[Acesand8s]

Imo it depends on where you get pains. And i dont understand why it says, "drop bar bike/flat bar bike" there are 7 types of handle bars that are common, and none are perfectly speaific to a bike save BMX bars. You can have drop bars on a mountain bike, and flat bars on a road bike, and i have seen many examples of both. If you get wrist/elbow/shoulder pains you might want drop bars. For neck/back/hip pains a flat or riser or cruiser-type handle bar set up might be best. What bike frame you have doesnt limit this.

 

[Slawek]

I have been all my life riding 'normal' bikes. My last one, was a steel mountain bike, weighing 17.5 kg. I have bought it second hand some 7 years ago or so. Have done on it a lot of riding, including multi day trips. However, i have recently started using the bike to keep fit and improve my fitness only (so no panniers, mud guards etc.) and started looking for something new. Had no clue how I would feel on drop bar (and badly wanted to see) and so decided to rent one for one day. I know I could go to a LBS and perhaps had a test ride or something but I really wanted to spend few hours and cover some miles to see whether the first feeling would carry on during a 'normal' ride. So I rode for 2 hours, covered some 31 miles and I loved every single moment of it... it was a trek 1.1 which I'm told has more 'relaxed' position rather than more racier / aggressive. I found that when I'm not down there on drop bar, my riding position is quite similar to how I'm on my MTB right now anyway.

So, cannot wait for my first road bike and as long as the ride is on the road, I would not contemplate using flat bar at all any longer.

 

[michaelm1968]

ive just changed from a specialized crosstrail to Giant defy road bike, ive just done 2x 30 milers on the new bike and my left elbow is sore constantly thru the ride which in turn leaves my left hand with pins and needles. Any ideas?

 

[whoosh]

I have got a Planet X Pro Carbon last week to use as well as my Boardman Hybrid
Did a quick 21 miler after breakfast yesterday (well, quick for me) on the Boardman hybrid it was 20.5 miles @ avg 12.3mph, onthe PX it was @ avg 13.3 and I was not as tired when I got back, 700ft of ascent
Things that I am getting used to:
Quick steering - and a bit of wobbling when changing hand position
Brakes being in a "funny place"
V rather than disc
I think I need a smaller ring at the front, or some bigger ones at the back for them proper hills
8Kg vs 12 Kg
Surprisingly it's not as bumpy as I thought - 23mm slicks vs 38mm tread hardtail

I'm still terrified of having a falling over incident though

 

[David Higson]

After years of owning and riding a Peugeot mountain bike with straight handlebars, I switched to riding bikes with "North Road" handlebars. They're far more comfortable with a more relaxed riding position for the back and less pressure on the hands.

 

[Craig Walker]

I spent a lot of time riding a friends hybrid before taking the plunge and getting my own bike. I decided to go to a drop bar, took me a little while to get used to the different riding position, gear change and breaking. Same as everything you get used to it

 

[Coggy]

This thread has just taken me back 30 or so years.

I had a "racer" back in 1981 as an 11 year old. In reality what I would call a tourer now. Had a rack and dymo (?) lights and as well as usual brake levers also had a horizontal bar connected to brake lever so you could ride sitting up and still pull brakes.

And then I remembered my London to Southend and London to Brighton completed in 1988 on my brothers "proper" racing bike.

The Raleigh Milk Race Special !