Did you change from Hybrid to Drop Bar Bike

[Enis Baysal]

I'll be purchasing my 1st Road Bike very soon and im unbelievably excited^^! Boardman Carbon Race Team.. currently ride a Giant FCR3.. im most looking forward to see if i can feel the big weight difference in the ride! 11.6kg-8.6!!

 

[cassavant89]

Hey everyone - n00b here to both these forums as well as biking in general. Before last summer, I hadn't ridden a bike since I was 16 on my Haro Shredder. But after riding an old cheapie for a bit, I splurged and purchased a Surly Cross-Check, a "do everything" bike recommended after scouring the net and speaking with my local bike shop.

That brings me here...

I've put on about 100-120 miles since last September, about 20 of them just this past week. While I like the bike, I'm REALLY sore in my neck after riding more than 8-10 miles. It's so bad that it actually prevents me from riding as often as I'd like to and has me wondering if I made the right purchase. It takes me at least a full day or two to start feeling right and sleeping well. I have chronic back issues stemming from a prior hobby (demolition derbies) and wonder if cycling isn't surfacing these issues more so.

I love biking and really want to do more of it. Am I crazy to consider selling the cross-check in favor of something different? If I'd classify my riding, I'd say it's a combo of pavement and gravel with some off-road mixed in. I'd like to try some trail riding at some point as well, so I'd really like something that I can do everything with.

Is it the cross-check itself, or is it the drop bars that are leading to my riding discomfort? Would I be better off with something like a Surly Ogre or Troll? Would it make sense to try putting different bars on the cross-check, or is it the frame and reach on the cross-check that's the real issue?

 

[Stormbringer]

Just bought a drop bar bike ,my first for over 40 years havening used flat bars since then .

 

[Mark1978]

Just went from a GT Transeo 3.0 hybrid to a Raleigh SP Comp full carbon with drop bars. The difference is out of this world if you ask me. Wish i'd gone straight onto the drops Added an average of 2.5mph to my speed.

 

[Jordon Brooker]

I went the other way from a bike with dropped bars to a flat bar hybrid, which suits my current needs very well...

Same as me. Tried a dropped bar bike and didn't find it right for me. Picked up a hybrid and was all good from then.

 

[Lincov]

Started with a mtb BSO I'd had languishing in the garage for years, quickly upgraded to a mid-range hybrid, then 9 months later decided I needed a road bike in my collection! The hybrid is firmly my second favourite bike now, though I still use it to get to work, pub etc.

 

[Boo]

Back in April, as part of the 'Get Boo to be less of a porker' programme, I treated myself to a Spesh Hybrid. And lovely it is too.
"Oh ho!" said some of my already-cycling web acquaintances. "Give it six months and you'll wish you'd bought a road bike!"
I scoffed in their general direction. This is all the bike I'll ever want.

See my stylish yellow panniers, which mean I do most of the local shopping on two wheels rather than four.
See my comfortable, upright riding position, giving a commanding view of the road. And quite a lot of wind resistance...
See me whizzing along the lanes. Getting overtaken by lycra-clad types, hunched over the drops...
See me watching the Tour de France!
See me looking at all the websites for road bikes...

Darn! How did that happen?

With a house move imminent, much as I'd like an n+1, it's not going to happen for a little while, but there's no harm in being prepared.
I'd assumed that when the time came, I'd just pop along to the shop du bicyclette (probably back to Evans - service has been great) and look for something the right size, the right price and in a swish colour scheme.

However, after reading this month's Cycling Active, I now have some doubts.
A young lady, after riding hybrid for some years, switched to a road bike, and suffered a great deal from aches, pains and general not-having-a-good-time. In the end she went for a professional bike fit, which, combined with various exercises, has helped a bit.

Is there that much difference between riding flat bar and a road bike? And is there anything exercise-wise you can do to prepare for it?
And is paying £200 for a two hour bike fit session crazy, or worthwhile?

Any thoughts welcome.

Cheers!

Boo

 

[KneesUp]

Back in April, as part of the 'Get Boo to be less of a porker' programme, I treated myself to a Spesh Hybrid. And lovely it is too.
"Oh ho!" said some of my already-cycling web acquaintances. "Give it six months and you'll wish you'd bought a road bike!"
I scoffed in their general direction. This is all the bike I'll ever want.

See my stylish yellow panniers, which mean I do most of the local shopping on two wheels rather than four.
See my comfortable, upright riding position, giving a commanding view of the road. And quite a lot of wind resistance...
See me whizzing along the lanes. Getting overtaken by lycra-clad types, hunched over the drops...
See me watching the Tour de France!
See me looking at all the websites for road bikes...

Darn! How did that happen?

With a house move imminent, much as I'd like an n+1, it's not going to happen for a little while, but there's no harm in being prepared.
I'd assumed that when the time came, I'd just pop along to the shop du bicyclette (probably back to Evans - service has been great) and look for something the right size, the right price and in a swish colour scheme.

However, after reading this month's Cycling Active, I now have some doubts.
A young lady, after riding hybrid for some years, switched to a road bike, and suffered a great deal from aches, pains and general not-having-a-good-time. In the end she went for a professional bike fit, which, combined with various exercises, has helped a bit.

Is there that much difference between riding flat bar and a road bike? And is there anything exercise-wise you can do to prepare for it?
And is paying £200 for a two hour bike fit session crazy, or worthwhile?

Any thoughts welcome.

Cheers!

Boo

Well you could spend that £200 on making your hybrid into a drop-bar bike to find out how it pans out for you. And if you like it not at all, you can sell the parts and get most if it back, thus making it cheaper than the bike fit. And if you like it a bit you can keep it as it is for mucking about on tow paths and things and buy a road bike later - and if you love it you can just ride it, and perhaps get some different wheels.

Your main expense will be some way of changing gear - I've gone for second-hand bar end shifters at £25 because I like them and I already had brake levers.

 

[Archie_tect]

Since I voted, I have now have 2 drop bars, one hybrid which Mrs A_T has adopted and one hybrid tandem... n+3!

 

[vickster]

@Boo there's no point really paying for a bike fit until you actually have the road bike as they fit you to your bike, I had a retul fit and don't think you could easily transpose the measurements from hybrid (Crosstrail, i.e. more MTB or Sirrus i.e. more relaxed road).

Have a play with the set up yourself if having issues only when cycling...if you have problems off the bike too, medical help may be required (i.e. a physio)

Get into the habit of warming up and stretching when done (and indeed every day) - stretch everything including glutes, ITB, back, shoulders etc not just legs (for legs, calves, quads and especially hamstrings).

I'd say the bike fit helps but it's certainly not cured my ails, physio, stretching, and less cycling are helping here (I basically overdid it coming back from injury )

I started with flat bars, now I have one flat bar commuter / shopper and two roadbikes

 

[Boo]

Cheers!
At the moment, things are ok. My right hand does go to sleep and then I have to shake out the pins and needles, but I'm pretty sure it's because I lean too heavily on the bars.
And I have a similar problem with 'little Boo', because I find myself shuffling forward on the saddle. As long as I say to myself every 2 mins 'Sit further back!', I'm ok.

I was just assuming that the only difference between a hybrid and a road bike was different handlebars / goes faster, but the article suggested that you need to develop a whole new posture and so forth.
I certainly wouldn't want to get rid of the Sirrus. Any road bike would be as well as, not instead of.

First world problems, eh?

 

[vickster]

Why not put the saddle back a bit?

 

[Boo]

That would make it worse, not better, wouldn't it? Might try shifting it forward an inch or two.

Good thinking, Batman!

 

[Dark46]

I've got a Boardman Hybrid at the mo, as originally the plan was to ride to work . But I hadn't on planned of enjoying it so much and wanting to do more.
Now I've joined a cycling club and the urge to get a road bike is growing ! Just the lack of funds is the only thing stopping me lol

 

[Jhey]

I got my Specialized Sirrus Elite about 2 months ago for commuting to work, I love it and even done the London to Brighton night ride for the first time and trying to push myself on my days off to beat my times & cycle further, I do wish now I got a bike with drop bars but I do love this bike, it's smooth and lightweight, my next bike will 100% be a road bike, getting married next year so saving for that at the moment