Notices
Cyclocross and Gravelbiking (Recreational) This has to be the most physically intense sport ever invented. It's high speed bicycle racing on a short off road course or riding the off pavement rides on gravel like : "Unbound Gravel". We also have a dedicated Racing forum for the Cyclocross Hard Core Racers.

Flat Bar Gravel Bike

Old 12-02-19, 06:08 AM
  #26  
Newspaper_Nick
Senior Member
 
Newspaper_Nick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 153
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 131 Post(s)
Liked 78 Times in 48 Posts
Originally Posted by dualresponse
This weekend, I happened across this video, comparing an old school mtb vs. a gravel bike vs. a gravel bike with flat bars (referred to in the video as 'mutant' ). I fast forwarded to the final summary of gravel vs. 'mutant'.

https://youtu.be/XC_xFpg_UmA?t=1063
I am honestly getting sick of GCN popping out useless videos one after another every single day, dipping into all kinds of cycling gimmicks.They ran out of content a long time ago and now they became like the TLC of cycling channels. Quantity over quality is their motto. Their "tech" channels on the other hand is quite good. Doddy is the man.
Newspaper_Nick is offline  
Likes For Newspaper_Nick:
Old 12-02-19, 06:45 AM
  #27  
dualresponse
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 143
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 71 Post(s)
Liked 92 Times in 45 Posts
Originally Posted by Newspaper_Nick
I am honestly getting sick of GCN popping out useless videos one after another every single day, dipping into all kinds of cycling gimmicks.They ran out of content a long time ago and now they became like the TLC of cycling channels. Quantity over quality is their motto. Their "tech" channels on the other hand is quite good. Doddy is the man.
I don't watch a lot of these videos, so I didn't know how prolific they were. Even watching this one video the first time was a bit of a struggle, especially the "top gear" jeremy clarkson copycat type phrasing. I fast forwarded it in 17:00 minutes to spare the first part.

Edit: I removed the video.

Last edited by dualresponse; 12-02-19 at 08:24 AM.
dualresponse is offline  
Likes For dualresponse:
Old 12-02-19, 12:55 PM
  #28  
Newspaper_Nick
Senior Member
 
Newspaper_Nick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 153
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 131 Post(s)
Liked 78 Times in 48 Posts
Originally Posted by dualresponse
I don't watch a lot of these videos, so I didn't know how prolific they were. Even watching this one video the first time was a bit of a struggle, especially the "top gear" jeremy clarkson copycat type phrasing. I fast forwarded it in 17:00 minutes to spare the first part.

Edit: I removed the video.
Sorry if i offended you man, my criticizm was not directed towards you. You didn't need to remove the video. Top gear jeremy clarkson comparison is spot on though
Newspaper_Nick is offline  
Old 12-03-19, 01:08 PM
  #29  
andrei_r
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Montreal, Canada/ Brasilia, Brazil (currently)
Posts: 581

Bikes: Giant FCR 3 with lots of mods, Brazilian made Caloi 100.

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 188 Post(s)
Liked 9 Times in 7 Posts
I like to think of mine as a flat bar gravel bike:




Last edited by andrei_r; 12-03-19 at 08:09 PM.
andrei_r is offline  
Likes For andrei_r:
Old 12-04-19, 09:52 PM
  #30  
dwmckee
Senior Member
 
dwmckee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 2,468

Bikes: Co-Motion Cappuccino Tandem,'88 Bob Jackson Touring, Co-Motion Cascadia Touring, Open U.P., Ritchie Titanium Breakaway, Frances Cycles SmallHaul cargo bike. Those are the permanent ones; others wander in and out of the stable occasionally as well.

Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 427 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 339 Times in 229 Posts
Originally Posted by CarloM
As someone who contemplated going the other direction (drop bar on a Trek FX S6) the best decision I made was to abandon that idea, re-sell the bike (through Pro's Closet, in case you're like me and don't want to do the eBay/CL/OfferUp thing) and buy a Revolt. I got tons of advice on this forum (and other cycling enthusiasts) to not convert due to the geometry of the frame not really meant to support the bar conversion. They were right. The geometry of the Revolt is completely different from the FX S6. I would have spent hundreds on the new bar, new shifters and brake levers (or in my case going from those to brifters), bleed the brakes, and installation costs and still come up with a result that was nowhere near what I wanted in a drop bar gravel bike.

Since you're preference is for a flat bar, and 1X is the main limited to MTBs for you, I'd focus more on trying to find the MTB that allows a 2X if that's really the gearing that you want, or at least allows enough clearance for the addition of a 2X. If the frame supports added gearing it's a much less drastic conversion than changing from drop to flat bars. Full disclosure: I don't MTB so I have no idea if what I'm recommending is possible, but I could swear I've seen MTBs with 2X on the roads...


Absolutely right!
dwmckee is offline  
Old 12-05-19, 04:43 AM
  #31  
Pearson100
Newbie
 
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 56
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 15 Post(s)
Liked 18 Times in 14 Posts
Consider the Salsa Cowchipper. I put one on my Trek 920 adventure bike (which I use for gravel rides) and love it (I'm not allowed to post URL's but you can do a search on google).
Pearson100 is offline  
Old 12-24-19, 07:38 PM
  #32  
BoozyMcliverRot
Senior Member
 
BoozyMcliverRot's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: bradenton FL
Posts: 1,240

Bikes: 1991 Diamondback Master TG 1990 Trek 850 Antelope

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 117 Post(s)
Liked 325 Times in 106 Posts


BoozyMcliverRot is offline  
Likes For BoozyMcliverRot:
Old 12-26-19, 12:26 AM
  #33  
tashi
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Victoria
Posts: 1,321
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 75 Post(s)
Liked 36 Times in 23 Posts
I recently converted my Cross-Check form drops to wide flat bars. It's ****** awesome. Tons of fun: sketchy and fast like a 90's MTB, but big wheels so no endos. I run 33c cyclocross tires on mine as it was set up as a fairly traditional CX bike and they keep it plenty fast and quite capable. Drop bars would be faster if the riding skewed towards higher speeds and road stretches.
tashi is offline  
Old 12-26-19, 05:27 PM
  #34  
Elvo
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 4,770
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 630 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 369 Times in 206 Posts
Or you can run wide drop bars:

Elvo is offline  
Likes For Elvo:
Old 12-29-19, 10:20 AM
  #35  
gorillimo
Full Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Grass Valley, Ca
Posts: 387

Bikes: Surly Cross Check, Specialized Enduro Pro, Lemond Tourmalet

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 105 Post(s)
Liked 192 Times in 94 Posts
Swept back bars, Cross Check. My do anything bike!
gorillimo is offline  
Likes For gorillimo:
Old 12-29-19, 08:13 PM
  #36  
smurfy
Senior Member
 
smurfy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: SW Ohio
Posts: 1,258

Bikes: Classic lugged-steel road, touring, shopping, semi-recumbent, gravel

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 46 Post(s)
Liked 81 Times in 32 Posts
I have the Origin 8 Gary wide drop bars on my touring bike and I'm not too fond of them. Just like moustache bars they feel too weird. Never could get used to them. Actually I think I'm getting too old for drop h/bars in general anyway as I almost never use the drop portion of the bar anymore.
smurfy is offline  
Old 01-02-20, 05:30 PM
  #37  
Sertsa
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 174
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 61 Post(s)
Liked 164 Times in 67 Posts
I'm getting back into cycling after decades away, so a lot of the categories are a bit confusing. I thought I was getting some handle on it, but with this thread I'm wondering what the differences would be between a flat bar gravel bike and a hybrid. Tires and gearing?
Sertsa is offline  
Old 01-02-20, 06:12 PM
  #38  
AlmostTrick
Tortoise Wins by a Hare!
 
AlmostTrick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Looney Tunes, IL
Posts: 7,398

Bikes: Wabi Special FG, Raleigh Roper, Nashbar AL-1, Miyata One Hundred, '70 Schwinn Lemonator and More!!

Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1549 Post(s)
Liked 941 Times in 504 Posts
Originally Posted by Sertsa
I'm getting back into cycling after decades away, so a lot of the categories are a bit confusing. I thought I was getting some handle on it, but with this thread I'm wondering what the differences would be between a flat bar gravel bike and a hybrid. Tires and gearing?
Marketing.
AlmostTrick is offline  
Likes For AlmostTrick:
Old 01-02-20, 06:13 PM
  #39  
CarloM
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 494

Bikes: 2019 TCR Advanced SL1 Disc; 2018 Cervelo S3 SRAM eTap HRD; 2020 Giant Revolt Advanced

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 212 Post(s)
Liked 128 Times in 100 Posts
Originally Posted by Sertsa
I'm getting back into cycling after decades away, so a lot of the categories are a bit confusing. I thought I was getting some handle on it, but with this thread I'm wondering what the differences would be between a flat bar gravel bike and a hybrid. Tires and gearing?
I was in the exact same position seven months ago. I made some purchases I regret, so here's hoping my experiences save you money and time (in terms of trial and error).

First: assess your fitness level and what position you like to ride in. I thought I was too out of shape to ride drop bars so I bought a fitness bike (Trek FX S6) with flat bars. Loved it at first, regretted it after 2 months when I got my first drop bar road bike and realized I loved going as fast as I could and riding in a more aero position.

I sold the FX and bought a Giant Revolt gravel bike. The main differences are: drop bars and support for slightly wider tires (35mm vs. 43mm) and also support for 650b with even wider tires for the Revolt. Gearing is slightly different, they're both Shimano 105s but I have slightly smaller front chainrings on the Revolt and a slightly larger rear cassette, so it's likely close to a wash. But all of this is change-able whichever one you get.

Off-road capability-wise they're about equal. I didn't hesitate taking either out on gravel and light trails, especially with Panaracer GravelKing SK TLCs on them. I wouldn't take either one on terrain where a mountain bike thrives.

It's when you go on-road that the difference is pronounced. Because of the more upright position, and wide handlebar position of the fitness/hybrid, your body acts as a parasail in the flats. Whereas I'm considerably faster on my Revolt. Here's a totally unscientific look at my average speeds on flats, at approximately 85% effort (based on my Wahoo Roam and keeping heart rate around 155-160 according to my HRM) at my normal local route.
  • Cervelo S3 eTap 25c tires: 23mph
  • Giant TCR Di2 28c tires: 22mph (it's a 2lbs lighter bike but that aero frame on the S3 does seem to make a difference on the flats, at the expense of compliance)
  • Giant Revolt 105 43c tires: 20mph
  • Trek FX S6 35c tires (now sold): 18mph

While I'm still slower on my Revolt than either of my road bikes, I still feel fairly fast and agile. Versus my hybrid bike which I came to think of as "not as fast as a gravel, but with the same off-road capability, and not as off-road as a MTB". But if you're most comfortable riding upright on flat bars, and don't plan on going on mountain bike terrain, then a fitness/hybrid is the way to go.
CarloM is offline  
Likes For CarloM:
Old 01-02-20, 07:39 PM
  #40  
Sertsa
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 174
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 61 Post(s)
Liked 164 Times in 67 Posts
Originally Posted by AlmostTrick
Marketing.
I guess it's working, as I'm already thinking "a bike" to "bikes."

Originally Posted by CarloM
I was in the exact same position seven months ago. I made some purchases I regret, so here's hoping my experiences save you money and time (in terms of trial and error).

First: assess your fitness level and what position you like to ride in. I thought I was too out of shape to ride drop bars so I bought a fitness bike (Trek FX S6) with flat bars. Loved it at first, regretted it after 2 months when I got my first drop bar road bike and realized I loved going as fast as I could and riding in a more aero position.

I sold the FX and bought a Giant Revolt gravel bike. The main differences are: drop bars and support for slightly wider tires (35mm vs. 43mm) and also support for 650b with even wider tires for the Revolt. Gearing is slightly different, they're both Shimano 105s but I have slightly smaller front chainrings on the Revolt and a slightly larger rear cassette, so it's likely close to a wash. But all of this is change-able whichever one you get.

Off-road capability-wise they're about equal. I didn't hesitate taking either out on gravel and light trails, especially with Panaracer GravelKing SK TLCs on them. I wouldn't take either one on terrain where a mountain bike thrives.

It's when you go on-road that the difference is pronounced. Because of the more upright position, and wide handlebar position of the fitness/hybrid, your body acts as a parasail in the flats. Whereas I'm considerably faster on my Revolt. Here's a totally unscientific look at my average speeds on flats, at approximately 85% effort (based on my Wahoo Roam and keeping heart rate around 155-160 according to my HRM) at my normal local route.
  • Cervelo S3 eTap 25c tires: 23mph
  • Giant TCR Di2 28c tires: 22mph (it's a 2lbs lighter bike but that aero frame on the S3 does seem to make a difference on the flats, at the expense of compliance)
  • Giant Revolt 105 43c tires: 20mph
  • Trek FX S6 35c tires (now sold): 18mph

While I'm still slower on my Revolt than either of my road bikes, I still feel fairly fast and agile. Versus my hybrid bike which I came to think of as "not as fast as a gravel, but with the same off-road capability, and not as off-road as a MTB". But if you're most comfortable riding upright on flat bars, and don't plan on going on mountain bike terrain, then a fitness/hybrid is the way to go.
Thanks. That helps a great deal, although it also increases some uncertainty for now. I'm over 50, haven't ridden in a long time (outside of an exercise bike), and have been working on getting back into some semblance of shape after an accident and complications several years ago. So I've been thinking something with flat bars and plan to ride on rail-trails and some gravel and dirt paths.

So I thought either a hybrid or gravel bike, leaning towards hybrid for the flat bars. (I was also considering a rigid or hard-tail MTB, but the person at one shop said knobby mtb tires on a wet tarmac rail trail got squirrelly, which I hadn't considered). I also have a late 80s/early 90s Schwinn Worldsport with dropbars, and have been thinking of fixing it up into something of a gravel bike. I'd seek the help of an area co-op for that.
Sertsa is offline  
Old 01-03-20, 01:39 AM
  #41  
CarloM
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 494

Bikes: 2019 TCR Advanced SL1 Disc; 2018 Cervelo S3 SRAM eTap HRD; 2020 Giant Revolt Advanced

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 212 Post(s)
Liked 128 Times in 100 Posts
Originally Posted by Sertsa
I guess it's working, as I'm already thinking "a bike" to "bikes."



Thanks. That helps a great deal, although it also increases some uncertainty for now. I'm over 50, haven't ridden in a long time (outside of an exercise bike), and have been working on getting back into some semblance of shape after an accident and complications several years ago. So I've been thinking something with flat bars and plan to ride on rail-trails and some gravel and dirt paths.

So I thought either a hybrid or gravel bike, leaning towards hybrid for the flat bars. (I was also considering a rigid or hard-tail MTB, but the person at one shop said knobby mtb tires on a wet tarmac rail trail got squirrelly, which I hadn't considered). I also have a late 80s/early 90s Schwinn Worldsport with dropbars, and have been thinking of fixing it up into something of a gravel bike. I'd seek the help of an area co-op for that.
I hadn't ridden in nearly 30 years (from my teens to my mid-forties), and had lived a sedentary life recently. I never let myself get overweight--BMI was always within the normal range, but waist-hip ratio was on the higher side (now it's to the good after 7 months of daily cycling!), but I was more concerned about lack of aerobic activity and fitness. For the first month or so a fitness bike was the right purchase. But I progressed so quickly (or maybe I never truly was that out of shape, I did walk to work about 5 miles daily round trip, and also walked a lot at work) that within 2 months I realized I preferred drop bar bikes. I probably could have figured that out sooner, I was just trying to justify the FX purchase.

My advice is to build a good relationship with a local bike shop that will let you rent bikes for a period of time, with the rental fees going towards a purchase. Most local shops here do that, but in L.A. there's tons of competition so they're all pretty user-friendly. I'd recommend renting both flat and drop bars for a couple of days each and riding them for long stretches. What "long" means is up to you and your current fitness level, and of course how your body is recovering from the accident, but do try to push yourself a little. See which one feels better to you. Then you'll have your answer as to which one is best for your needs.

Or, after riding both, you feel that due to your accident recovery you feel like a fitness ride is good for now, but that after further recovery you may want a road bike, you could always go with a cheap fitness bike, which then can turn into your errand bike later, and save money for a nicer road or gravel bike later. You can always turn around and sell the cheap bike used, you won't get much, but you also won't have spent much. May work out to be like an extended rental.
CarloM is offline  
Likes For CarloM:
Old 01-03-20, 04:29 PM
  #42  
Sertsa
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 174
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 61 Post(s)
Liked 164 Times in 67 Posts
Originally Posted by CarloM
I hadn't ridden in nearly 30 years (from my teens to my mid-forties), and had lived a sedentary life recently. I never let myself get overweight--BMI was always within the normal range, but waist-hip ratio was on the higher side (now it's to the good after 7 months of daily cycling!), but I was more concerned about lack of aerobic activity and fitness. For the first month or so a fitness bike was the right purchase. But I progressed so quickly (or maybe I never truly was that out of shape, I did walk to work about 5 miles daily round trip, and also walked a lot at work) that within 2 months I realized I preferred drop bar bikes. I probably could have figured that out sooner, I was just trying to justify the FX purchase.

My advice is to build a good relationship with a local bike shop that will let you rent bikes for a period of time, with the rental fees going towards a purchase. Most local shops here do that, but in L.A. there's tons of competition so they're all pretty user-friendly. I'd recommend renting both flat and drop bars for a couple of days each and riding them for long stretches. What "long" means is up to you and your current fitness level, and of course how your body is recovering from the accident, but do try to push yourself a little. See which one feels better to you. Then you'll have your answer as to which one is best for your needs.

Or, after riding both, you feel that due to your accident recovery you feel like a fitness ride is good for now, but that after further recovery you may want a road bike, you could always go with a cheap fitness bike, which then can turn into your errand bike later, and save money for a nicer road or gravel bike later. You can always turn around and sell the cheap bike used, you won't get much, but you also won't have spent much. May work out to be like an extended rental.
Thanks. I've looked at rentals at a couple of area shops and will likely try a couple. I don't believe the closest shop rents, but the salesperson said they offer extended try-outs on the nearby rail-trail on nicer days. (It was snowing when I stopped in). I'm not sure I'll go with a full road bike anytime soon given local driving habits, but I think I'd like both a gravel and mtbs at some point, which is why a hybrid is also tempting. I have to figure the best place to start again and where I most want to ride; hopefully rentals and some trials will help decide. Thanks again!
Sertsa is offline  
Old 01-03-20, 08:24 PM
  #43  
CarloM
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 494

Bikes: 2019 TCR Advanced SL1 Disc; 2018 Cervelo S3 SRAM eTap HRD; 2020 Giant Revolt Advanced

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 212 Post(s)
Liked 128 Times in 100 Posts
Originally Posted by Sertsa
Thanks. I've looked at rentals at a couple of area shops and will likely try a couple. I don't believe the closest shop rents, but the salesperson said they offer extended try-outs on the nearby rail-trail on nicer days. (It was snowing when I stopped in). I'm not sure I'll go with a full road bike anytime soon given local driving habits, but I think I'd like both a gravel and mtbs at some point, which is why a hybrid is also tempting. I have to figure the best place to start again and where I most want to ride; hopefully rentals and some trials will help decide. Thanks again!
I'd just caution that you put a lot of ride time in before deciding. A hybrid sounds like a cross between a gravel and an MTB but in reality it's kind of a bad compromise between both if you like one or the other. It is considerably slower than a gravel (let alone road) because of the riding position, and it's nowhere near as off-road capable as a MTB with suspension (front or full suspension systems).

At this point I only truly recommend hybrid/fitness for those who absolutely don't want to ride on drop bars and also who don't plan to do anything more technical than trail riding. If you want to go true off-roading, go MTB, and if you want light off roading/trail riding but can ride drop bar, I recommend gravel over fitness because it's just as capable on trails--my Revolt actually accommodates wider 700c tires, up from 35mm for the FX to 43mm, and can also go wider with full support for 650b tires which the FX cannot support--but is significantly faster on-road than a hybrid.

Like I said, I bought my FX because I thought I was too old/out of shape to ride drop-bar and proved myself wrong. But if as I get older I find I can't ride drop bar (and by virtue of advancing years, I also can't go MTB) then I'll re-consider a hybrid/fitness. But selling my FX to put some $ towards a Revolt was the best decision I could have made, given how much I now prefer drop bar bikes to flat bar. If I ever do go back to flat bar, it will likely be a full suspension MTB and the type of riding I'll be doing on that will be radically different from my road and gravel bikes.

Last edited by CarloM; 01-04-20 at 02:01 AM.
CarloM is offline  
Likes For CarloM:
Old 01-04-20, 01:37 PM
  #44  
Newspaper_Nick
Senior Member
 
Newspaper_Nick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 153
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 131 Post(s)
Liked 78 Times in 48 Posts


Does this count? I'd like to call this one a hybrid with knobby tires. Or a mountain bike with a rigid fork. This bike to me is the ultimate all rounder. I can commute with it. I toured with it. I climbed mountains with it, i went into gravel/mud/sand/dust roads, fire roads etc. I even ventured into a swamp once. It just handles anything i can throw at it. And it has the cheapest/oldest parts on it. A square taper bottom bracket. It just works. Mechanical disk brakes. Once you get the hang of setting them up, they work better than most cheap hydraulic brakes. Be a man and squeeze the levers dude Don't be such a pansy.
Newspaper_Nick is offline  
Old 01-04-20, 03:51 PM
  #45  
AlmostTrick
Tortoise Wins by a Hare!
 
AlmostTrick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Looney Tunes, IL
Posts: 7,398

Bikes: Wabi Special FG, Raleigh Roper, Nashbar AL-1, Miyata One Hundred, '70 Schwinn Lemonator and More!!

Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1549 Post(s)
Liked 941 Times in 504 Posts
Originally Posted by CarloM
I'd just caution that you put a lot of ride time in before deciding. A hybrid sounds like a cross between a gravel and an MTB but in reality it's kind of a bad compromise between both if you like one or the other. It is considerably slower than a gravel (let alone road) because of the riding position, and it's nowhere near as off-road capable as a MTB with suspension (front or full suspension systems).
Consider that there is a wide variance of "riding positions" on different hybrid bikes. From sit up and beg, to near road bike flat back. And of course this position can be adjusted on any bike. Even some riders with drop bars are no more aero than others with flat bars.
AlmostTrick is offline  
Likes For AlmostTrick:
Old 01-04-20, 03:55 PM
  #46  
AlmostTrick
Tortoise Wins by a Hare!
 
AlmostTrick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Looney Tunes, IL
Posts: 7,398

Bikes: Wabi Special FG, Raleigh Roper, Nashbar AL-1, Miyata One Hundred, '70 Schwinn Lemonator and More!!

Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1549 Post(s)
Liked 941 Times in 504 Posts
Originally Posted by Newspaper_Nick


Does this count? I'd like to call this one a hybrid with knobby tires. Or a mountain bike with a rigid fork. This bike to me is the ultimate all rounder. I can commute with it. I toured with it. I climbed mountains with it, i went into gravel/mud/sand/dust roads, fire roads etc. I even ventured into a swamp once. It just handles anything i can throw at it. And it has the cheapest/oldest parts on it. A square taper bottom bracket. It just works. Mechanical disk brakes. Once you get the hang of setting them up, they work better than most cheap hydraulic brakes. Be a man and squeeze the levers dude Don't be such a pansy.
Absolutely your bike counts as a flat bar gravel bike, if that floats your boat. Just like any new bike marketed as one is.
AlmostTrick is offline  
Old 01-04-20, 04:35 PM
  #47  
unterhausen
Randomhead
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
Posts: 24,363
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Liked 3,664 Times in 2,497 Posts
If I was going flat bars on gravel, I would just ride my mountain bike. I suppose the difference would be the tires, I might go with something less knobby than my mtb on gravel. There is one descent I do on my gravel bike occasionally where I would prefer my mtb, but I'm not sure just changing to flat bars would be the difference I'm looking for.
unterhausen is offline  
Old 01-05-20, 09:47 PM
  #48  
badger1
Senior Member
 
badger1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Southwestern Ontario
Posts: 5,093
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1566 Post(s)
Liked 1,160 Times in 591 Posts
Originally Posted by AlmostTrick
Consider that there is a wide variance of "riding positions" on different hybrid bikes. From sit up and beg, to near road bike flat back. And of course this position can be adjusted on any bike. Even some riders with drop bars are no more aero than others with flat bars.
Correct.
badger1 is offline  
Old 01-06-20, 01:56 AM
  #49  
Newspaper_Nick
Senior Member
 
Newspaper_Nick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 153
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 131 Post(s)
Liked 78 Times in 48 Posts
This dude builds my dream bikes. I think his bikes are a perfect fit for this thread.
https://www.jonesbikes.com/



Last edited by Newspaper_Nick; 01-06-20 at 02:07 AM.
Newspaper_Nick is offline  
Likes For Newspaper_Nick:
Old 01-05-21, 12:58 PM
  #50  
Metieval
Senior Member
 
Metieval's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 2,857

Bikes: Road bike, Hybrid, Gravel, Drop bar SS, hard tail MTB

Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1218 Post(s)
Liked 298 Times in 214 Posts
Originally Posted by unterhausen
If I was going flat bars on gravel, I would just ride my mountain bike. I suppose the difference would be the tires, I might go with something less knobby than my mtb on gravel. There is one descent I do on my gravel bike occasionally where I would prefer my mtb, but I'm not sure just changing to flat bars would be the difference I'm looking for.
Well this thread took a new twist perspective for me.

I had been riding my giant talon mtb more often than my gravel bike. Mostly as a do anything bike.

Sold it.... whoops!
I ran out of storage room. (Bought a Trance 29er) So I had to give up the Talon or my Scalpel. To keep the Talon I would have had to invest in tubeless rdy wheels (damn goatheads). Honestly the Talon is a dead pig compared to a himod Scalpel. Easy choice.

However, I now find my self in a position of still giving up the Scalpel for a flat bar converted higher end gravel bike, or finding a high end hardtail.

I still have my RLT9 RDO as a gravel bike though.

Van life with 3 bicycles and a dual sport is..... cramped!

Maybe I'll just ride the Scalpel with rear locked out.

The market needs more ridged fork light weight 29er's

Metieval is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.