Did you change from Hybrid to Drop Bar Bike

[Boopop]

I occasionally go for 50 mile rides on my Bullitt, but I feel like putting drop bars on it would be a bit ridiculous and impractical. I do like how quirky it looks though.

I could of course go all out and get a TT setup for it.

Answers on a postcard regarding what marginal gains I would acheive with this setup getting the groceries...I'm struggling! I did once see such modifications to a cargo bike being referred to as the "kinkiest of bike porn", which I found rather amusing.

 

[Lovacott]

I still ride flats off-road but for the road, commuting and the like, it will be drops from now on.

I went out this morning on the drop bar road bike and I really appreciated the ease in which I could make myself aerodynamic in the 25mph headwinds.

I can lean forward on the hybrid, but I find it harder to pedal in a forward position so I get no gain.

On the perfect windless day, I'd go flat bars without a doubt, but if a wind kicks up, I'd wish I was on a drop bar.

 

[Lovacott]

I occasionally go for 50 mile rides on my Bullitt.

The length of the front end reminds me of the modified Choppers back in the 1970's. So laid back, but absolute buggers to steer.

 

[SuperHans123]

Drops are way way more comfortable if you are doing any distance, flats for poottling and off road only imo

Disagree.
If you are trying to beat your Strava sectional maybe but if you just want to enjoy the scenery and sit back, flat bar all the way.
Most roadies I see have their hands on the top bit most of the time, may as well get a hybrid.

 

[mustang1]

I didn't vote because my first bike was drop bars. But I have since bought a flat bar bike and I think they're both great for their own purposes.

The drop bar is still my favourite one though.

 

[Grant Fondo]

Disagree.
If you are trying to beat your Strava sectional maybe but if you just want to enjoy the scenery and sit back, flat bar all the way.
Most roadies I see have their hands on the top bit most of the time, may as well get a hybrid.

Never been on Strava, but after cycling 40 odd years there is no comparison. Zero adjustabilty on flats, thats why drops were invented. Oh, and I still enjoy the scenery

 

[SuperHans123]

Never been on Strava, but after cycling 40 odd years there is no comparison. Zero adjustabilty on flats, thats why drops were invented. Oh, and I still enjoy the scenery

Bar ends, more comfortable upright riding position, no need to move hands to change gear or brake, I’ll stick with my back preserving hybrid.

 

[Grant Fondo]

Bar ends, more comfortable upright riding position, no need to move hands to change gear or brake, I’ll stick with my back preserving hybrid.

Agree bar ends help, got them on my MTB which is very 'hybrid-ish' as old

 

[DCBassman]

Bar ends, more comfortable upright riding position, no need to move hands to change gear or brake, I’ll stick with my back preserving hybrid.

While I'm entirely in the flats camp, I never had the slightest back issue with drops. My biggest dislike is poor braking unless on the drops, and brifters that are way inferior to EZ-fire flat-bar shifters, IMHO. Flats are simply easier all round.

 

[DCBassman]

And anything that moves your hands away from the brakes, be it drops or bar ends, is bad news in my books. Your hands belong, permanently, as near to the controls as possible.
However, I do have a beef with most flat bars. They are way too wide. Narrow flat bars make a whole lot of difference, again IMHO...

 

[SuperHans123]

And anything that moves your hands away from the brakes, be it drops or bar ends, is bad news in my books. Your hands belong, permanently, as near to the controls as possible.
However, I do have a beef with most flat bars. They are way too wide. Narrow flat bars make a whole lot of difference, again IMHO...

I prefer mine on the wideish side, about the same as flat bars used to be on a BMX (Showing my age here)
Have resorted to the hacksaw in the past when bars have been too long though..easy enough fix.
This is not me but it is the same bike:-

 

[battered]

I have (had) both in various guises, with and without bar ends. Easiest is flat, not too wide, with bar ends. My touring bike has this. It's not a religion, you can have your bike as you like, I'll have mine as I wish. Nobody's wrong.

 

[matticus]

Nobody's wrong.

Jeez - where's the fun in that??

 

[mikeIow]

Jeez - where's the fun in that??

Indeed: & I have the perfect solution!
I'm a sucker for gadgets.... in the lengthy build up to my Gentle LEJoG (or PandemicPedal, as things turned out: starts next week ), I bought the Wahoo Roam, a Garmin Varia 515 (*brilliant* bit of kit)......and....for the handlebars.....I bought into some kickstarter'd Spirgrips to compliment the Ergon GP5s.

Yes, the Spirgrips were a slightly daft long shot, but at least it cost considerably less than the tech investment....
and?
.....they are pretty darned good!

My cockpit as things look now (note paper maps for disaster recovery purposes only!):

Those little grips give a great alternative position - I probably use them more than the main bars now.

I can still change gears or even pinch the brakes a little going along. They bring the elbows in (think "very poor man's triathlon aerobars" !).

There: the perfect solution, prove me wrong


FYI, I am reliably assured that major bike purchased need requisition forms completing in triplicate in the future, and the first two only got through on account of being safety-related devices (seriously: the best 'notification system' available today for what is coming up behind, bar none.....pun intended!)

 

[mjr]

And anything that moves your hands away from the brakes, be it drops or bar ends, is bad news in my books. Your hands belong, permanently, as near to the controls as possible.

No, as long as you can get to them easily when needed. Motorists don't drive with their hand on the shifter and feet on the brake and clutch pedals all the time. Heck, a depressing number don't have their hands on the steering...