mato_h2h

I was wondering where the bike snobs on this board would classify a flatbar roadie? I think the C'Dale Road Warrior 1 looks awesome but it's priced within many decent road bikes. The top of the flatbars from specialized and trek look drool worthy also. Can this be a new cool group to hang with? Maybe the next big thing now that fixed gear crowd is realizing that if you have hills then gears are good? Or should I just buy a cheap Bianchi and enjoy the Celeste club?

umd

dorky

euphoria

celeste is best

kwrides

once you stat riding any distance, you will want drops...and most flatbar bikes don't have the geometry to make the switch

CastIron

Dorky, but not entirely without their uses. And Chorus FB is the creme de la creme' in that area.

Treefox

A perfectly good 'round town or fitness option.

I wouldn't say particularly cool or uncool, just different.

But if I felt I didn't need drops on a road bike, I'd probably get bullhorns...

I have seen some pretty sharp looking flat bars with 700x25 tyres around shops and such.

mato_h2h

I guess my fear is that I don't want to totally commit to the "dress up like a super hero and ride for 100 miles at 25 mph". I sadly dn't have the time to commit to such epic challenges. I'm thinking more of quick spins early morning for an hour or so to burn some calories..maybe a heavier upright position is better for this?

CastIron

I disagree. You can dress normally and still operate a drop bar bike. It's how I get to work.

mato_h2h

I haven't heard of the CHorus FB..any links or pics?

BTW - My other thinking about the appeal of a top of the line flat bar is that my wife wouldn't think a flatbar is as expensive as a dropbar bike ;-)

Cdy291

When my grandfather got his bike 2 years ago I tried to tell him he should get a road bike. I told him that have a road bike doesn't have to mean a low drop racer and he could get a more comfort road bike and get the bars up nice and high, but he insisted it would hurt his back no matter what I told him.

AEO

Yeah, you don't need a kit to ride drop bars.

bbg

The coolest bike is the one you're riding, man. If you look at it every morning and it compels you to saddle up, it's the right ride for you!

somebadlemonade

If you do dress normally just make sure nothing will get caught in the chain or wrapped around crank/pedals.
So tuck your shoe laces into your shoes and either put a rubber band around your ankles over your pants, or fold them up(they have a tendency to unfold though) or stuff them into your socks.

CastIron

If you're concerned about the cost, this may not be for you. At any rate, it's rare. Not sure if it's ever been spec'd on a production bike. Still, a hell of an option.


I'd point you towards some of the multi-terrain bikes often sold as commuter or cyclocross bikes so that you can throw a rack and fenders on it and gain a little utility if you have no intention of joining the ranks of spandex clad weekend warriors. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Most here are.

halfspeed

So why ask in this forum? "Dress like a super hero" and ride long distances is what we do, so the kind of advice you're likely to get is appropriate for that use.

CastIron

Bianchi: Volpe

Trek: 520, Portland

Specialized: TriCross

Just a few off the shelf options in a variety of flavors.

Catweazle

That's the one for me. The legacy of many years sawmilling is that a flatbar bike with the bar about 1" lower than the saddle is as far as I can comfortably get down for any length of time.

Will I? My rides are getting out around the metric century nowadays, and I'm not experiencing discomfort from them. I'm dressing for comfort and convenience, which means cycling gear, and the cycling folk around here are not too proud to invite me along on some of the 'beyond beginners' rides that occur around the place despite my lack of drop bars.

Buggered if I can understand the "dorky" tag being thrown about - especially if that supposedly "dorky" bloke is keeping up with the rest of the riders

merlinextraligh

Ratebeer, Did you change your screen name?

the beef

This one is one of my faves. I think it belongs to a BFer.

caloso

Well, YMMV, as the intarweb kids say, but I can't ride more than 10 minutes on flat bars before my wrists and hands ache. You get one hand position, two if you install bar ends.

With drops you get five: tops, ramps, hoods, drops, and my favorite, the phantom aero bar.

roadfix

Forget flatbars.

Record Ergos on moustache bars.

mrbubbles

Dorky? or cool subset?

kwrides

I'm glad you like your bike and are getting good distance in, but imho you are the exception, not the rule. I have nothing against flat bar road bikes, btw. I'm just offering my 2cents to the OP. In my experience, a flat bar road bike purchaser usually ends up losing money selling it to buy a different bike in a year or so.

Having said that, I like to buy a new bike every few years anyway.

Buy what you like if it fits you and enjoy the ride!

Catweazle

Granted to the 'exception rather than the rule' comment. Most folk riding distances on roads seem to prefer drop bars, and good on them. The snobbery is silly in either direction.

I can't last more than half an hour with 'standard' grips before experiencing soreness or numbness. I have 'comfort grips' and extenders fitted, and very rarely need to use the extenders. Subtle variations of hand position on the grips do the trick for me.

duff1301

I ride a Trex 7.7fx flatbar bike and ride 70 to 100 miles in Charity rides and have no problems.