Hybrid or Flat bar road bike?

BostonB

I'm looking for a bike for mainly commuting 12k each way. I've noticed there seems to be hybrids (Like the Sirrus) and flat bar road bikes like the Giant FCR etc. The popular opinion seems to be the hybrid, mainly for comfort, and more clearance for mguards wider tyres etc. It will be replacing my slick tyred MTB. The Hybrids are cheaper. Budget is around 4~500. Kinda looking a Sirrus, Lapierre Cruisers and Giant FCR's.

patspost

Hi there, I have a 08 Specialised Sirrus for nearly a year now and it is a good bike. I use it for leisure rather than commuting, tend to do 8, 12 or 20+ mile spins on it and it is comfortable to ride.
I have a mudgurad on it too.
I saw in 52 deg north in Blanch a while back that the newer ones seem to be a bit cheaper, I paid e600 last year for it.
There is one for sale on adverts.ie if you are interested.

best of luck

RobAMerc

Hey,

I bought a Giant FCR 3 a few months back to use for my 10k commute. I find it superb in the city.
I came from my road bike so I don't really know what advantages the extra tyre of a hybrid would give you, but I have had no buckles or punctures yet ( fingers crossed )

BTW you can fit mudguards to them ( the clip on plasy ones)

I'd have to say go light ( as ever with cycling )

Lumen

On terminology, hybrid = road groupset & wheels with MTB-style bars, brakes and shifters. Or that's what I've always understood.

So a "flat bar road bike" is still a hybrid. Maybe it means "expensive hybrid".

You can get a drop bar road bike with big clearances, and a flat bar "urban bike" with small ones.

Maybe categories are a bit irrelevant.

crawls back into hole having confused self

blorg

"Flat bar road bike" is a subset of "hybrid." Generally means it leans towards the road side of hybridness, with thin tyres, narrow clearances, road gearing etc.

Many other hybrids lean more towards MTB with MTB components, gearing, etc. Most hybrids have 700c wheels and flat bars although there are a few 26" wheeled ones.

scaryfairy

BostonB wrote: »

I'm looking for a bike for mainly commuting 12k each way. I've noticed there seems to be hybrids (Like the Sirrus) and flat bar road bikes like the Giant FCR etc.

hi
mr sf is on his second Sirrus, uses it for a 16km roundtrip, and absolutely loves it, it's really fast and light. had to change the tyres after purchase but other than that, it's great. can be a bit overpriced due to its popularity, so might be worth to try to find it on sale (in UK maybe?).
good luck

Captain Ahab

Have a sirrus comp and very happy with it for commuting. I think it's worth paying the extra for a carbon fork as it dampens a lot of the bumps in the road.
I think many of the Irish shops will match the UK prices on specialized now, so worth checking local prices first, e.g. http://worldwidecycles.com/c-4-hybrid-bikes.aspx

boniver

Also have a look at the Giant FCR range - they are the flat bar versions of the Defy Dropped Bar racers using the same frames. As per previous advice, get one with a carbon fork - FCR3 is good.

Alanstrainor

I got a FCR4 a month or 2 ago and i'm finding it great. Got it for 400 all in, which wasn't too bad. It's very light and Manoeuvrable, i was tempted by the carbon forked FCR3, but for the money i wasn't too sure if it was worth it. I'd say you'd be more than happy with either tbh.

lukester

BostonB wrote: »

I'm looking for a bike for mainly commuting 12k each way. I've noticed there seems to be hybrids (Like the Sirrus) and flat bar road bikes like the Giant FCR etc. The popular opinion seems to be the hybrid, mainly for comfort, and more clearance for mguards wider tyres etc. It will be replacing my slick tyred MTB. The Hybrids are cheaper. Budget is around 4~500. Kinda looking a Sirrus, Lapierre Cruisers and Giant FCR's.

Are you set on flat bars? Drops give you a much greater variety of hand positions, and you can tuck out of the wind on blustery days.

RobAMerc

lukester wrote: »

Are you set on flat bars? Drops give you a much greater variety of hand positions, and you can tuck out of the wind on blustery days.

I have to say - I much prefer having the flats for commuting - much better vision and feel much more in control. ( That's if you commute in traffic that is ).
I agree about the wind etc but its a small price - I'd hate to go back to be honest.

lukester

RobAMerc wrote: »

I have to say - I much prefer having the flats for commuting - much better vision and feel much more in control. ( That's if you commute in traffic that is ).
I agree about the wind etc but its a small price - I'd hate to go back to be honest.

I went the other direction, from flat to drops, for commuting in traffic. Could never go back to flats, like riding side saddle :pac:

Stark

patspost wrote: »

I saw in 52 deg north in Blanch a while back that the newer ones seem to be a bit cheaper, I paid e600 last year for it.

They reduced the specs for the 2009 models. The 2009 Sirrus Sport is about the equivalent of the 2008 Sirrus, 2009 Sirrus Elite about the equivalent of the 2008 Sirrus Sport etc.

fenris

I am commuting from Bray to Fitzwilliam square on a Giant Defy 2.5. The drops are great for windy days and just a change of hand position.

I have also installed a set of Crosstop brakes to give me access to brakes while upright in traffic. They work really well and give me a much greater feeling of control while in traffic, they are only about €25 but really make life easier.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/images/BR7312.jpg

kenmc

lukester wrote: »

I went the other direction, from flat to drops, for commuting in traffic. Could never go back to flats, like riding side saddle :pac:

Ditto.

lukester

@ the OP, I was in your position a while back, and was only considering flat bar bikes, for the same reasons most people quote, i.e. comfort, access to brakes, etc. This forum, and one of the chaps in Cyclelogical, (credit where it's due, young geezer, Cliff perchance) turned me on to drops as an option. Once I got used to them after a couple of rides, I was hooked. Having a road bike also opens up options should you start to consider longer rides, as happened to me.

Erm, you may also ultimately start building a bike collection, and find your bike related purchases start to raise eyebrows with the financial controller in your life, but it's not habit-forming, and there is support to be had here from people who understand.

BostonB

Anyone I know who was commuting with drops has gone back to a flat bar and usually has a road bike for long runs. From memory I didn't use the drops much on the racer I had in my youth. So I was thinking I'd leave the drops unless the need for a road bike appears in the future.

DirkVoodoo

I too am an advocate for drops on the commute. I prefer the number of positions, personally I find it easier to maneuvre and I find once flexibility improves the ability to look around in traffic isn't compromised.

Lumen

All drops are not the same.

I wouldn't want to commute on a bike with a 10cm drop from saddle to handlebar tops. This is obviously less likely on a hybrid than a race bike.

If the tops are level with saddle (or up to an inch below) like you tend to find on a tourer or cross bike then there is no visibility/comfort problem.

lukester

Lumen wrote: »

All drops are not the same.

I wouldn't want to commute on a bike with a 10cm drop from saddle to handlebar tops. This is obviously less likely on a hybrid than a race bike.

I wouldn't want to commute on hybrid hung out like a sail in the wind. Both my bikes have a significant drop to the bars, both are very comfortable over 100k-ish distances. I'm rarely down on the drops for long unless I'm descending, tucking out of the wind, or sprinting to try and beat my mate to the coffee shop, but they give a much wider variety of hand positions than flat bars.

BostonB

On flat bars with end bars you've two positions.

What extra does the drop give you, other than on the drops themselves. Being on the brake cover is the same as the end bars on a flat no?

lukester

BostonB wrote: »

On flat bars with end bars you've two positions.

What extra does the drop give you, other than on the drops themselves. Being on the brake cover is the same as the end bars on a flat no?

Being on the brake covers/hoods is a little different to the end of a flat bar, as you're a bit more leaned forward, so some aerodynamic advantage but still very comfortable.

Drops give you at least 4 positions. 3 up top- middle of the bar, corner, and on the hoods. And then at least one in the drops, although I tend to use a few different positions in the drops.

Another option is a kind of time trial tuck, elbows resting on the bars and hands on the hoods, comfortable if you've a longish stretch where you don't need immediate access to the brakes.

Apart from the flexibility, being able to tuck out of the wind is a big advantage that you just don't have with flat bars.

More from Sheldon

I wouldn't have considered a bike with drops at the time that I switched, but am very glad I did. It may be at least worth your while having a spin on a road bike before you decide.