bike handle bars ?
06-08-21, 11:30 AM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: mn
Posts: 6
Bikes: cruiser
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
bike handle bars ?
Hi everyone! Not sure if this exactly fits in this thread, but I was wondering if the handlebars of a road or hybrid bike make much of a difference when cycling? I've only ever biked with horizontal/straight handlebars on a cruiser, but I've been thinking of purchasing a used road bike with curved handlebars. Is there much of a learning curve or issues with proper form when using either? (I have terrible core strength so I'm worried about my back)
06-08-21, 11:43 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Hollister, CA (not the surf town)
Posts: 1,732
Bikes: 2019 Specialized Roubaix Comp Di2, 2009 Roubaix, early 90's Giant Iguana
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 641 Post(s)
Liked 1,514 Times
in
548 Posts
Personally, I think a road bike is easier on the back than a bike where you sit upright but not all agree. Road bike handlebars offer several different hand positions and that can reduce hand/wrist pain/fatigue. If you ride on the lower portion of the bars (the drops) you may have some neck soreness for a while but you can limit your time in the drops or not use them at all. One thing about a road bike is that it needs to fit your body so do some research on the bike you are interested in and see if it will fit you OK or can be made to fit you by changing the stem and making adjustments. Getting something too big or too small will make it less enjoyable.
Likes For Ogsarg:
06-08-21, 11:44 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
Drop bars give you a number of different hand positions.
Likes For caloso:
06-08-21, 12:13 PM
#4
Method to My Madness
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 3,638
Bikes: Trek FX 2, Cannondale Synapse, Cannondale CAAD4, Santa Cruz Stigmata GRX
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1938 Post(s)
Liked 1,460 Times
in
1,011 Posts
When I got my first road bike in 2017, which has Shimano STI levers, the key difference was learning how to brake from the hoods, because one is pulling the brake levers at a point much closer to the pivot of the lever compared to a flat bar bike.
Likes For SoSmellyAir:
06-08-21, 12:21 PM
#5
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: mn
Posts: 6
Bikes: cruiser
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
thank you for the info everyone! I'll def look more into the fitting threads or getting measured at a bike shop 
06-08-21, 01:37 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: South Wales
Posts: 206
Bikes: 2016 Trek Emonda S6 frameset, custom build (road). 1995 Dawes Genesis Reynolds 531 Competition frameset, custom build (road). 1996 Orange C16R frameset, custom build (retro MTB). Coyote Dual hard-tail, custom build (MTB).
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 61 Post(s)
Liked 76 Times
in
55 Posts
Some of us take to drop bars like ducks to water...others don't It can be a little bit of trial and error with bar width, reach, drop...all the metrics Getting a bike fit or doing a bit of research can't do any harm. Over the decades my fitting requirements have changed several times, depending on the bike and my diminishing flexibility
It can be a little bit of trial and error with bar width, reach, drop...all the metrics Getting a bike fit or doing a bit of research can't do any harm. Over the decades my fitting requirements have changed several times, depending on the bike and my diminishing flexibility
Likes For Bob the Mech:
