Did you change from Hybrid to Drop Bar Bike

[iandg]

Rode drops since I was 12 (early 1970s) health issues have pushed me the other way. I now ride "flat" bars and bikes that would be considered "hybrid"

 

[Sixmile]

I'm a step behind on the journey. I've been riding a Cannondale Trail mtb for a few months, purely on the road, and now I'm deciding whether to slowly transition ie to hybrid, or to go the whole hog and buy a drop bar cycle. The hybrid seems and easier transition, and probably more comfortable, and I may never go to road bikes. Or I might find hybrid an unnecessary interim step. Any advice would be welcome. Btw I'm 61 yo.

I restarted my cycling on a cheapo MTB with flat bars, bought a semi-decent hybrid and upped my mileage and reignited my cycling enjoyment then bought a decent road bike. Fast forward 5 years, my road bike hardly turns a wheel and 90% of my annual cycling mileage is done between a decent touring barred hybrid, a looped bar cheapish fat bike and a butterfly barred tandem - all of which will do 50-100 mile rides fairly often.

 

[Electric_Andy]

I'm not sure if I've replied to this in the past or not. I re-started my cycling hobby on a MTB, changed the tyres to skinny slicks and got a better saddle so started doing longer rides. Then got a road bike but converted drops to flat bars, then converted gears to single speed, then sold it and got an ebike

 

[iandg]

I've ridden drops since I was 12. Started to struggle around 2020 with shoulder pain and fatigue. In 2022 I was diagnosed with PMR. All bikes are "flats" now to reduce the load on my shoulders and upper arms.

 

[Sallar55]

My touring bike is flat bars with Ergon grips now. Don't need mitts when the grips are set to the correct angle.Expect most people can't do the Racing snake position when they get older. Road bikes are still drops.

 

[Alex321]

I'm just choosing my first bike. I used to ride only my brother's bike. Which one should a beginner choose?

That depends on a lot of factors.

What type of riding do you expect tio be doing?

How much experience do you have in riding your brother's bike?

What type of bike is your brother's bike (as thaht is the type you will be used to riding).

How old (roughly) and how fit are you?

What sort of budget do you have?

 

[fitfatman]

Hello good people, hybrid bike user here. I got my second bike after two decades and my local shop’s recommendation was to get a hybrid to get to know the ropes of cycling again. Well, that worked but now I feel I can handle a drop bar bike. Still, I don’t want to pay up for a new one since I want to keep my current bike for commuting. So, the thing is, my hybrid is size 58 (I’m 1,90m tall) and all I can find in used drops are size 56. And none of them are in my region so I can’t test drive them to see how it goes. Can someone help? Is a size 56 ok or do I need something bigger for my size?

 

[sevenfourate]

Went from head-down arse up ‘on the drops’….to flat / riser, slowing the pace, being more comfortable, taking in the scenery and literally: enjoying the ride.

It’s transformed my cycling enjoyment. Took me 53 years to get there. Oh well…..👌

 

[Gillstay]

Neck injury, so flat bars. Also went and tried drops for a while and just ended up moving around all the while as not settling, while the flat bars I settle to for the rest of the day very easily.

 

[All uphill]

Went from head-down arse up ‘on the drops’….to flat / riser, slowing the pace, being more comfortable, taking in the scenery and literally: enjoying the ride.

It’s transformed my cycling enjoyment. Took me 53 years to get there. Oh well…..👌

My first bikes had swept back bars. It's taken me 50+ years to rediscover them; not fast but so comfortable.

 

[Alex321]

Hello good people, hybrid bike user here. I got my second bike after two decades and my local shop’s recommendation was to get a hybrid to get to know the ropes of cycling again. Well, that worked but now I feel I can handle a drop bar bike. Still, I don’t want to pay up for a new one since I want to keep my current bike for commuting. So, the thing is, my hybrid is size 58 (I’m 1,90m tall) and all I can find in used drops are size 56. And none of them are in my region so I can’t test drive them to see how it goes. Can someone help? Is a size 56 ok or do I need something bigger for my size?

With modern road bikes, that single "size" is not all that useful, as the geometry varies between models a lot more than it used to. The top tube at one time was always almost horizontal, and sizes were fairly consistent across models and even brands. But that just isn't true nowadays, and hasn't been for a fair number of years now.

In some models, a 56 would be as "big" for you as your current 58, or even bigger, while in other models, it would feel smaller for you.

Find out the geometry of your current bike (in particular the stack and the reach), and then try to find out those figures for the bikes you are considering.

 

[fitfatman]

With modern road bikes, that single "size" is not all that useful, as the geometry varies between models a lot more than it used to. The top tube at one time was always almost horizontal, and sizes were fairly consistent across models and even brands. But that just isn't true nowadays, and hasn't been for a fair number of years now.

In some models, a 56 would be as "big" for you as your current 58, or even bigger, while in other models, it would feel smaller for you.

Find out the geometry of your current bike (in particular the stack and the reach), and then try to find out those figures for the bikes you are considering.

The problem is that I find only 56 size models. I do understand that the reach can be adjusted by changing the neck of the bars, but since I’m 1,90m I don’t know if the seatpost will be able to go as high as it should to accommodate me comfortably. That’s why I’m asking. Because I can only buy online since I can’t find any suitable bikes to test them in my area. If you have any suggestions regarding this matter, I’d appreciate it. If not it’s ok. I know I might be asking a bit too much anyway. Thank you for your reply though.

 

[Alex321]

The problem is that I find only 56 size models. I do understand that the reach can be adjusted by changing the neck of the bars, but since I’m 1,90m I don’t know if the seatpost will be able to go as high as it should to accommodate me comfortably. That’s why I’m asking. Because I can only buy online since I can’t find any suitable bikes to test them in my area. If you have any suggestions regarding this matter, I’d appreciate it. If not it’s ok. I know I might be asking a bit too much anyway. Thank you for your reply though.

Don't get hung up on the "56" or "58". That number is only really of any use within one bike brand or even model.

I ride a 53 in my Cube Attain, but a 51 in an Orbea Avant has larger stack, and 1mm less reach. Cannondale, with a Synapse I would want a 51, a CAAD13 I would want a 54. These numbers are taken from the spreadsheet I used when I was looking for a bike three years ago (when I bought the Cube).

So the odds are some 56 size bikes will be similar to your 58 sized hybrid. You need to look up the geometry for the bikes you see on sale (that doesn't usually change much between model years).

 

[Sixmile]

Road bikes to me are the definition on a one trick pony - go fast. For practicality, comfort and sheer enjoyment, I feel that others bikes do this better plus I know you don't have to dress in the lycra gear to ride a road bike but I always feel I have to. Other bikes, it's whatever yee've on ye.

 

[Alex321]

Road bikes to me are the definition on a one trick pony - go fast. For practicality, comfort and sheer enjoyment, I feel that others bikes do this better plus I know you don't have to dress in the lycra gear to ride a road bike but I always feel I have to. Other bikes, it's whatever yee've on ye.

That is a very restricted definition of a road bike. Many are built for endurance or comfort rather than outright speed.