Hybrid or drop-bar road bike?

[karimali831]

Hi,

I've been riding on the roads with my Saracen Mantra 1, 19 MTB and looking for a road bike now but I'm really not such whether I should buy a hydrid or drop bar road bike.

Any recommened online bike stores? I'm 16 also and my budget is around £500.

Thanks for any advise

 

[Tynan]

should?

personal choice and style etc

but if you want to take it a bit more seriously and even cane it, drops are the way to go, very handy for head winds and lots of options with hand positions

perhaps a bit harder to get on the brakes suddenly

hybrids are more sensible for commuting and pootling around I suppose at the expense of efficency and speed

 

[tyred]

Matter of personal preference really.

 

[BentMikey]

Drops are generally better, but some people don't get on with them. Speed and efficiency, narrower for getting through parked cars, and more comfort via different hand positions, then get a drop-barred road bike. More relaxed, slower, more upright sitting position, then go for flat bars.

In the end, the best way to find out is to go and test ride loads of bikes, and best of all, have two bikes, one hybrid and one road bike.

 

[karimali831]

Thanks, I got a drop-bar but usually hold the upper bars of the bike because I'm not 100% comfortable with it yet. The difference also to a MTB is amazing. I felt professional.

Got it for an amazing price also. Now to get.. the extras. Any recommened stores?

 

[mr_cellophane]

Got it for an amazing price also. Now to get.. the extras. Any recommened stores?

Depends what "extras" you want. Just look around for most things, you will be surprised where people get their bike stuff from - Tesco, Aldi, etc. You don't have to go a a bike shop for good value or even best quality.

 

[karimali831]

What about the pump? It's different to my MTB and I can not use the orginal pump for this bike.

 

[HLaB]

What about the pump? It's different to my MTB and I can not use the orginal pump for this bike.

I don't know what pump you have but with most pumps you can unscrew the head and turn the rubber washer/ seal (or whatever they call it) round so that a small hole is there that fits presta valve rather than the large hole which fits shrader valves (a lot of mtb's).

 

[karimali831]

I have got a pump simular like this:

http://www.instructables.com/files/deriv/FCZ/VMT7/F36FETIP/FCZVMT7F36FETIP.MEDIUM.jpg

On this bike, it has a screwable metal. It's completely different and does not fit in at all.

 

[karimali831]

Anyone know of this type of pump and where I can get it from?

 

[gbb]

Thanks, I got a drop-bar but usually hold the upper bars of the bike because I'm not 100% comfortable with it yet. The difference also to a MTB is amazing. I felt professional.

Got it for an amazing price also. Now to get.. the extras. Any recommened stores?

Because road bikes are mile munchers karimali, you'll tend to go further than normal. You dont want to get stuck miles from anywhere with a puncture or mechanical problem.
The first things i got were decent tyres, preferably Kevlar lined (Conti Gatorskins in my case). Immediately reduce the chances of getting punctures.
Also, a saddle bag equipped with tools is very very useful...like this..
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Topeak_Compact_Survival_Tool_Wedge_Saddle_Bag/5220000130/
Puncture kit, tyre levers, allen keys, chain splitter and a couple of spanners.
Its all good kit..none of its let me down.

 

[Maz]

I have got a pump simular like this:

http://www.instructables.com/files/deriv/FCZ/VMT7/F36FETIP/FCZVMT7F36FETIP.MEDIUM.jpg

On this bike, it has a screwable metal. It's completely different and does not fit in at all.

I think you mean the new bike has got presta valves (these are long and skinny compared to shrader 'car tyre' type valves.

Your pump may not be compatible with these valves if it was only designed for shrader valves, but maybe the pump nozzle has some reversible sections so that it can connect up with presta valves.

 

[karimali831]

Yes, it's exackly those. I need a pump for it. Some how the tyres has gone flat over night and a guy at Halfords managed to put some air in it some how? Was surprised.. (without it being fitted on properly).. they said they haven't seen this before nor couldn't find the compatible pump. Anyway the tyre has been absoultely fine for the last 8 hours.

I hit the curb to hard as a result of this that I'm sure of.

This ok anyway? http://www.discountbicycles.co.uk/biz/product.php?xProd=3473

I'm not sure if there is a puncher or not which is ridiculuos!

Thanks for helping.