Sorg67

I have decided to wait to get a new bike until I know the limitations of my existing bike and I have the ability to test ride a variety of bikes of different types. Hopefully these two will come together at a similar time. For the riding I am doing now, my hybrid is perfect. Even if I get a road bike of some sort, I expect I will continue to ride my hybrid regularly.

Sorg67

Well said!!

Sorg67

New to me used, mods and rewarding good behavior all are good suggestions.

I do not understand being annoyed with over-sharing. Those who enjoy hearing about the journey can read, those who do not are under no obligation to do so.

tkamd73 

Then there is always that new bike smell.
Tim

downhillmaster

Maybe it will boost your confidence in yourself so that in the future you can make a major purchase without the help of biased strangers

BobbyG

Welcome to bikeforums.

RH Clark

Pushing harder will make you faster. You can push the same on a lighter bike and be faster. Some will be a lot faster just from gearing and rolling resistance, especially down hill. Fast is fun but also more dangerous and requiring better balance and cycling skills than slow. Just have as much fun as you can without killing yourself or anyone else because you out funned your skill set.

Riveting

Going from an upright hybrid to any equal quality drop bar road bike will get you significant aero gains, assuming you drop/slam the stem, and then ride in the drops as soon as you hit 17+ mph. You'll probably gain several MPH's at the same power output, which isn't a big deal if riding solo, but it's huge if you're trying to keep up with others on drop bars. It will also help you to achieve longer distances, by using less energy to go the same speeds as with the hybrid.

shelbyfv

It is indeed possible that some will want to follow your "journey." BF has anticipated this and provides the Blogger's section.https://www.bikeforums.net/blogger-s-forum/ You can maintain a thread there with your daily musings, whatever you like. It's good BF etiquette and makes it easy for those who wish to follow.

Phil_gretz

A new bike will make you witty, urbane, and a hit with the ladies. Ask me how I know this...

Sorg67

Gotcha. Thanks for clarifying.

Although I still do not get how it is annoying. I have participated in many threads in a variety of forums that have gone off on tangents I was not interested in so I unsubscribed and did not have to pay any attention.

Maelochs

Nowadays many people live for a chance to be annoyed---or rather, many people have made such a hash of their lives by not taking the time to figure out what really matters to them and structuring their lives around solid personal values instead of getting jerked around by the latest, loudest voice int eh room .... than many people are filled with rage and confusion,a nd are always looking for a reason to vent which won't get them to o many attacks in response.

Here on BF, slavering rage is hard to muster or maintain---it is a cool forum (by Marshall McLuhan terminology) and extremes of rage are hard to communicate and thus hard to sustain. Annoyance, however .... is a slightly more intellectualized form of anger and confusion, and of course, people who are confused and insecure look for any chance to bring down or look down on others ....

As you note, the sensible option is not to read threads one doesn't enjoy reading. But ... some folks enjoy having an outlet, a "reason" to vent ... so they tell other people to write what those "irritated" posters want to read (which is a Catch-22 because what they want is to be irritated and to vent) and complain that others are not complying (when they actually are, by posting at all.)

Best bet is to stick around long enough to know who has what good and bad tendencies, and when you realize "Oh, Poster X is going off on his "irritation" rant again," or whatever ... you skip that post and get on doing what you think it best.

Ignore the noise and keep generating signal.

Razorrock

I went from a "fast" hybrid to a drop bar bike a couple of years ago. Like you, I could hang with a lot of the local road rides. The deciding factor for me was fighting the wind. I ride mostly solo and the wind would beat me up. Being able to get in the drops with elbows tucked in comfortably made a huge difference on those days of miles riding into it.

I would suggest that when you do pull the trigger on a new bike. Get the shop to throw in a bike fit.

Retro Grouch 

When starting a new thread I feel responsible for making sure it has a clear title. Beyond that, it's on whoever chooses to open it up.

Sorg67

I bought a Specialized Diverge Sport Carbon. It makes me smile.

I ride on the drops more than I thought I would. Helps into a head wind. And I like it for a different position.

DMC707

Nice !

Boraxo

the original question is spot on for me! For several years I have considering an upgrade to a dedicated road bike. While I love my Trek 730 hybrid, I’m almost 3 decades older LOL and would like something lighter & faster for the uphill sectors. Plus I do zero off road biking so really don’t need the hybrid weight. But it is near impossible to test drive anything now with inventory out of stock.

Really helpful thanks. To me this would justify the expense of replacing a beloved companion that isn’t broken.

I am currently looking at a 57cm Felt VR60 or Tomasso Imola - both have similar price and specs and are a few lbs lighter than my Trek.

But I’m wondering what I would get by upgrading from the $1k range above to something in the $2k range. I am more interested in ease of ride and comfort than speed or looks.

Herzlos

That sounds like a lot of money you'd be better just putting into a road bike!

So it sounds like you're on a mountain bike style hybrid with flat bars and front suspension? You'll find a road bike with dropped bars quite different initially (very twitchy at the front) but it should let you get into a lower position which is better for drag/power, will be a lot lighter (especially if you get a carbon front fork), and you won't lose energy due to the suspension bounce.

Go for it

Mulberry20

Don't limit yourself to those brands. Consider also, Felt, Look, Scott, and Pinarello

The bikes you mentioned are in very short supply because they are from very visible brands but maybe not the best.

subgrade

Answering the original question in the thread title: A new bike will do nothing for you. You're the one who gets to do all the doing. Perhaps you might find some of it a bit more enjoyable though.

Reflector Guy

We do like pics here (hint, hint). Just like when you buy a new car; gotta get a pic before it gets dirty!

rogertc1

Anew bike will take away 10 years.

Sorg67

I bit more enjoyable is doing a lot. And that is what it has done. It is fun to ride. I cannot really tell whether it makes me any faster or not. Maybe faster acceleration and faster up hills. Maybe also faster into headwinds. But none of that matters much to me. Most of the people I ride with are slower than me so being a little faster only means I get less of a workout with the guys I have been riding with. However, I am going to ride with a new group and I think they may be a bit faster than me so might help there.

Mostly it is just a cool toy I like. Kids are grown and out of the house, driving a 13 year old car and not planning to replace it any time soon. I can afford to splurge on a bicycle.

Reflector Guy

When I bought a new bike, for about the first month I had it I was convinced it was faster than my other one. The bike computer even agreed with me; it wasn't just my imagination! Then I realized I'd saved the wheel diameter wrong and the computer was giving me an extra 1 or 2 MPH at all times.... Such a let down!

Eric F 

Sounds to me like you are doing it exactly right.

I recently retired my old bike and got something much newer. It has made me 0% faster...and that's just fine.