Most likely done a thousand times before...

[Biscuitfrisky]

But advice on a bike or more rather the type.

After reading the sticky i am still unsure what way to go.

Background:

Currently joining my works cycle to work scheme and have been looking mostly at road bikes only.

I haven't ridden on roads since i was in school (1998-2000) in a suburban area and that was a mountain bike so not sure how i will feel once i get back onto the roads whether i will be confident enough to go forward with road cycling.

I'm really enthusiastic to ride for short journeys to start with but would like the option to also go on cycle paths in parks if i find the roads around where i live a bit too lively for my liking.

I had a look at the hybrids but still not completely sold on them due to being just a flat bar road bike but you may be able to give me a better understanding based on what i want to use the bike for.

I also want to use the bike for exercise as i find spinning in the gym is doing my brain in with the high tempo dance music.

Any advice would be great.

 

[vickster]

What's your budget?

Do you think you want flat or drop bars? If the latter, a cyclocross style bike offers a reasonable compromise for rougher surfaces

 

[MikeW-71]

There are quite a variety of designs out there now.

Road bikes obviously the best for roads. If you have ready access to quiet country lanes, this is ideal cycling country and where I spend 90% of my time on the bike.

Hybrids can be based on either an MTB or Road style frame, they are well suited to mixed riding and will often run fatter tyres which will cope with off-road surfaces better.

There are also in-between designs and Cyclocross bikes, using drop handlebars but able to run fatter tyres like the hybrids. One example is this design from Giant:
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/2014.giant.revolt.1/14990/66575/#specifications

 

[Cycleops]

A hybrid would proably be the best way forward for you. They will have a more upright stance and you might find it more comfortable but there are racier models out there now so you have to find out what suits. They will also have bigger wider tyres, some almost in moutain bike territory. A road bike with drops will have much narrower tyres which are faster but more uncomfortable. A cyclocross could be a halfway house.

 

[Old Plodder]

With 14 years or more off the bike, I would suggest a lightweight hybrid. You can use it for almost any type of cycling bar racing, although a masochist might.
Tyres can be changed within a reasonable amount between around a 28mm up to the maximum the frame will take. I'd suggest something around 32/35mm to start with.

 

[Biscuitfrisky]

Thank you all for the advice, i have been looking at the Cyclocross and Hybrids and will most likely go for the Cyclocross.

I will let you all know when i have it and if its working out

Thanks again!

 

[The Mighty Boosh]

being only able to afford one expensive bike, like you I had to think carefully about the type to get, Hybrid is fine for commutes or Sunday rides, but I want to lose weight and get fit and the only way to do that is to be able to push my self and I don't see that possible with a hybrid, so I went for a road bike, I am now broke, I am yet to lose any weight (still a fatty 12st 7lbs) but I am fitter and love riding in the evenings after work and I also like seeing how fast I can go down hills, top speed so far is 34mph, hope to get 40mph when the weather gets better.

any one know what the keyboard shortcut is to turn off these bloody Italics

 

[morrisman]

I can assure you that pedalling my heavy old hybrid up and down the Chiltern hills is quite effective at making me fit and losing weight. So a road bike is not essential, I am about to replace my old Dawes with a Specialised Sirrus.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

being only able to afford one expensive bike, like you I had to think carefully about the type to get, Hybrid is fine for commutes or Sunday rides, but I want to lose weight and get fit and the only way to do that is to be able to push my self and I don't see that possible with a hybrid, so I went for a road bike, I am now broke, I am yet to lose any weight (still a fatty 12st 7lbs) but I am fitter and love riding in the evenings after work and I also like seeing how fast I can go down hills, top speed so far is 34mph, hope to get 40mph when the weather gets better.

any one know what the keyboard shortcut is to turn off these bloody Italics

ctrl-i
I wouldn't call 12st 7lb fat unless your only 4ft.

 

[Kies]

Specialized Sirrus is a hybrid leaning more towards the road end of the spectrum, the Giant rapid is really a flat bar road bike (having the exact same frame as my Defy). Either bike would allow road and path riding

 

[SpokeyDokey]

being only able to afford one expensive bike, like you I had to think carefully about the type to get, Hybrid is fine for commutes or Sunday rides, but I want to lose weight and get fit and the only way to do that is to be able to push my self and I don't see that possible with a hybrid, so I went for a road bike, I am now broke, I am yet to lose any weight (still a fatty 12st 7lbs) but I am fitter and love riding in the evenings after work and I also like seeing how fast I can go down hills, top speed so far is 34mph, hope to get 40mph when the weather gets better.

any one know what the keyboard shortcut is to turn off these bloody Italics

Seriously: you couldn't 'push' yourself on this?

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/sirrus-pro-disc-2014-hybrid-bike-ec053138#features

I'd wager that not an awful lot of people on this forum couldn't 'push' themselves on something like this - and even less could ride it anywhere near its performance limit.

There is an odd negative reaction to hybrids and flatbar road bikes in the UK - elsewhere eg Germany you see an awful lot more very fit riders on 'flatties' that scoot along at crazy speeds.

FWIW I have moderately decent CX bike (see sig') and I spend most of my time on the hoods (a position I could easily replicate with straight bars and bar ends) and very little time on the drops.

 

[BrumJim]

A road bike with drops will do everything that a hybrid with flat handlebars will do, but will offer more hand positions.

I'd only recommend a road-based hybrid if the drops will put you off riding a road or cross bike. Unless budget is an issue.

 

[PlymSlimCyclist]

top speed so far is 34mph, hope to get 40mph when the weather gets better.

Wait until you hit 35 on a flat, from standstill, that's an amazing feeling. Do it regularly now, so hardly think about it. This is on a MTB btw, with slick tyres.
Going to change the width down soon, so I have less rolling resistance.

 

[morrisman]

I can assure you that pedalling my heavy old hybrid up and down the Chiltern hills is quite effective at making me fit and losing weight. So a road bike is not essential, I am about to replace my old Dawes with a Specialised Sirrus.

Turns out I may now be getting a Defy Road Bike

 

[Old Plodder]

There is nothing wrong with straights/flat bars, the multi position argument for drops doesn't really come into play, as you can hold the bars in at least 4 different positions to relieve tension in your muscles just the same. (I even rode a fairly decent time in a 10 mile TT.)