How much more comfortable is an Endurance Bike vs. Hybrid?
08-02-22, 01:47 PM
#1
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How much more comfortable is an Endurance Bike vs. Hybrid?
I currently have a Specialized Sirrus 6.0, so more of a flat bar road bike than a Hybrid, but still classified as a Hybrid. I have been looking at getting a Canyon Endurance CF 8.0 and was just wondering how much more comfortable it would be on long rides. I currently ride between 400 and 500 miles a month with a handful of days with 50-55 mile rides but that is my max so far. I do get some numbness in my hands on occasion but still feel decent after a 50 mile day, although I am rather slow, usually average ~14mph but want to build up to complete some centuries. Does anyone have any personal experience making the switch to an Endurance type bike with drop bars from a flat bar road bike and can comment on comfort levels compared to the two?
Thanks!
Thanks!
08-02-22, 01:55 PM
#2
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I have a Sirrus 4.0 and a Domane SL5, and have had both for a little over two years now. Both are 2020 models, and both have been modified with some better components than stock. I much prefer the Domane for anything over about 15-20 miles, but I find them both comfortable. The big difference to me is that the Domane covers ground faster since it puts you in a position with less wind resistance.
08-02-22, 03:47 PM
#3
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My experience from back when I made the transition from a Specialized Crosstrail hybrid to a proper road bike was that the availability of more hand and riding positions was the biggest improvement to comfort. I would say not to expect a radical difference in the way the bike feels from a comfort perspective, but you'll be able to move from the hoods to the drops to the tops which will change the pressure you feel both in the saddle and in your hands. I found that with the hybrid, when I started to push 40-50 miles, I would start getting numbness in my hands. With the road bike, those small changes in position throughout the ride meant I never experienced the same as I progressed past 50 all the way to beyond 100 miles without any hand numbness. I'm sure it's different for everyone, but that was my experience.
08-02-22, 04:23 PM
#4
Junior Member
Agreed! Drop bars offer more possible hand positions — which also changes your body position — allowing opportunities to reduce hand fatigue and pain. It also offers easier ability to ride more areo to more upright for speed, efficiency and comfort considerations.
Happy cycling!
Happy cycling!
08-02-22, 04:49 PM
#5
Junior Member
But I would caution that overall cycling enjoyment comes down to a lot of intangibles like personal fitting preferences, experience, skill, health, fitness and personal expectations. Many, many bike packers and touring cyclists ride incredible distances day after day on flat bar bikes. So, a new drop bar endurance bike in and of itself may or may not make more riding more comfortable for you.
I only bring this up because your OP seems hesitant. If you have the opportunity, do many test rides on bikes you like before you buy. That way you’ll be sure.
Happy cycling!
I only bring this up because your OP seems hesitant. If you have the opportunity, do many test rides on bikes you like before you buy. That way you’ll be sure.
Happy cycling!
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08-02-22, 05:08 PM
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Both were alloy frames, both rolling on Fulcrum Racing 5 wheels and GP4000 tyres. The Ribble was 0% more comfortable BUT with the lower position (and more choice of hand positions) I was able to cycle faster and further. That was my goal and a road bike was a tool to achieve that. For you, a road bike may be more nimble and lighter and give you more position options, but it may not improve your overall ride experience.
Your switch will likely not be any more comfortable, but that's very personal. Will it be a "better" ride? I think so, but that's purely personal too.
Are you able to test ride one? Or test ride a drop-bar road bike of any sort?
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08-02-22, 05:13 PM
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My experience from back when I made the transition from a Specialized Crosstrail hybrid to a proper road bike was that the availability of more hand and riding positions was the biggest improvement to comfort. I would say not to expect a radical difference in the way the bike feels from a comfort perspective, but you'll be able to move from the hoods to the drops to the tops which will change the pressure you feel both in the saddle and in your hands.
08-02-22, 06:21 PM
#8
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Thread Starter
I have a Sirrus 4.0 and a Domane SL5, and have had both for a little over two years now. Both are 2020 models, and both have been modified with some better components than stock. I much prefer the Domane for anything over about 15-20 miles, but I find them both comfortable. The big difference to me is that the Domane covers ground faster since it puts you in a position with less wind resistance.
My experience from back when I made the transition from a Specialized Crosstrail hybrid to a proper road bike was that the availability of more hand and riding positions was the biggest improvement to comfort. I would say not to expect a radical difference in the way the bike feels from a comfort perspective, but you'll be able to move from the hoods to the drops to the tops which will change the pressure you feel both in the saddle and in your hands. I found that with the hybrid, when I started to push 40-50 miles, I would start getting numbness in my hands. With the road bike, those small changes in position throughout the ride meant I never experienced the same as I progressed past 50 all the way to beyond 100 miles without any hand numbness. I'm sure it's different for everyone, but that was my experience.
But I would caution that overall cycling enjoyment comes down to a lot of intangibles like personal fitting preferences, experience, skill, health, fitness and personal expectations. Many, many bike packers and touring cyclists ride incredible distances day after day on flat bar bikes. So, a new drop bar endurance bike in and of itself may or may not make more riding more comfortable for you.
I only bring this up because your OP seems hesitant. If you have the opportunity, do many test rides on bikes you like before you buy. That way you’ll be sure.
Happy cycling!
I only bring this up because your OP seems hesitant. If you have the opportunity, do many test rides on bikes you like before you buy. That way you’ll be sure.
Happy cycling!
When I first got into "road cycling" I switched from a Specialized Sirrus flat-bar hybrid to a Ribble 7046 drop-bar road bike.
Both were alloy frames, both rolling on Fulcrum Racing 5 wheels and GP4000 tyres. The Ribble was 0% more comfortable BUT with the lower position (and more choice of hand positions) I was able to cycle faster and further. That was my goal and a road bike was a tool to achieve that. For you, a road bike may be more nimble and lighter and give you more position options, but it may not improve your overall ride experience.
Your switch will likely not be any more comfortable, but that's very personal. Will it be a "better" ride? I think so, but that's purely personal too.
Are you able to test ride one? Or test ride a drop-bar road bike of any sort?
Both were alloy frames, both rolling on Fulcrum Racing 5 wheels and GP4000 tyres. The Ribble was 0% more comfortable BUT with the lower position (and more choice of hand positions) I was able to cycle faster and further. That was my goal and a road bike was a tool to achieve that. For you, a road bike may be more nimble and lighter and give you more position options, but it may not improve your overall ride experience.
Your switch will likely not be any more comfortable, but that's very personal. Will it be a "better" ride? I think so, but that's purely personal too.
Are you able to test ride one? Or test ride a drop-bar road bike of any sort?
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08-03-22, 07:33 AM
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BruceA78 if you want to get a sense of how hand/body position changes may affect comfort over distance/time, it may make sense for you to try some SQ Lab Innerbarends:
https://www.sq-lab.com/en/products/i...rends-411.html
I ride both flat- and dropbar roadies all the time, and while I wouldn’t ascribe comfort per se to bar shape, I do often want the aerodynamic relief of bringing my arms in close to my body. Narrower flat bars are one way to do that, but come with compromises in some areas. The SQ Lab inner bar ends have the added value of not only reorienting your handholds for better, deeper elbow bending, they can be placed narrower than you could ever get a flatbar (with gears n’ brakes), so you get not only a new position, but also a more aerodynamic one.
On my distance flatbar bike, I use the Innerbarends, and really like them:
Classic, end-of-bar ends are an option, too, and while I find them comfy, the do sacrifice on the aerodynamic efficiency aspect.
There are hordes of clip-on aero extensions available as well as shaped handlebars which you could retrofit to your existing bike to experiment with and see how hand/body position changes affect your riding.
https://www.sq-lab.com/en/products/i...rends-411.html
I ride both flat- and dropbar roadies all the time, and while I wouldn’t ascribe comfort per se to bar shape, I do often want the aerodynamic relief of bringing my arms in close to my body. Narrower flat bars are one way to do that, but come with compromises in some areas. The SQ Lab inner bar ends have the added value of not only reorienting your handholds for better, deeper elbow bending, they can be placed narrower than you could ever get a flatbar (with gears n’ brakes), so you get not only a new position, but also a more aerodynamic one.
On my distance flatbar bike, I use the Innerbarends, and really like them:
Classic, end-of-bar ends are an option, too, and while I find them comfy, the do sacrifice on the aerodynamic efficiency aspect.
There are hordes of clip-on aero extensions available as well as shaped handlebars which you could retrofit to your existing bike to experiment with and see how hand/body position changes affect your riding.
08-03-22, 08:15 AM
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If youre having hand numbness problems maybe try and be conscious about not gripping the bars tightly. Nobody told me to be "loose" on the bike for a long time but its actually good advice.
08-03-22, 08:23 AM
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08-04-22, 08:07 PM
#12
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BruceA78 if you want to get a sense of how hand/body position changes may affect comfort over distance/time, it may make sense for you to try some SQ Lab Innerbarends:
https://www.sq-lab.com/en/products/i...rends-411.html
I ride both flat- and dropbar roadies all the time, and while I wouldn’t ascribe comfort per se to bar shape, I do often want the aerodynamic relief of bringing my arms in close to my body. Narrower flat bars are one way to do that, but come with compromises in some areas. The SQ Lab inner bar ends have the added value of not only reorienting your handholds for better, deeper elbow bending, they can be placed narrower than you could ever get a flatbar (with gears n’ brakes), so you get not only a new position, but also a more aerodynamic one.
On my distance flatbar bike, I use the Innerbarends, and really like them:
Classic, end-of-bar ends are an option, too, and while I find them comfy, the do sacrifice on the aerodynamic efficiency aspect.
There are hordes of clip-on aero extensions available as well as shaped handlebars which you could retrofit to your existing bike to experiment with and see how hand/body position changes affect your riding.
https://www.sq-lab.com/en/products/i...rends-411.html
I ride both flat- and dropbar roadies all the time, and while I wouldn’t ascribe comfort per se to bar shape, I do often want the aerodynamic relief of bringing my arms in close to my body. Narrower flat bars are one way to do that, but come with compromises in some areas. The SQ Lab inner bar ends have the added value of not only reorienting your handholds for better, deeper elbow bending, they can be placed narrower than you could ever get a flatbar (with gears n’ brakes), so you get not only a new position, but also a more aerodynamic one.
On my distance flatbar bike, I use the Innerbarends, and really like them:
Classic, end-of-bar ends are an option, too, and while I find them comfy, the do sacrifice on the aerodynamic efficiency aspect.
There are hordes of clip-on aero extensions available as well as shaped handlebars which you could retrofit to your existing bike to experiment with and see how hand/body position changes affect your riding.
08-04-22, 08:09 PM
#13
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Thread Starter
I learned that lesson from years and years of riding motorcycles, I normally just reset my hands on the grips and/or bar ends and don't actually grip, just rest my hands on there but my core is pretty weak so my hands/wrists/arms end up holding up a good amount of my weight when I'm leaning forward.
