Felt QX75 2010 Model

Dam34

Hi Folks

I was in bike shop in Dublin and I recommended the following bike - Felt QX 75 2010 Model.
I haven't really cycled for a number of years but basically I'm hoping to do a couple of duathlons this year. I also want the bike to just get fit, while enojying my cycling and going for cycles on roads and down canal paths etc.
I'm told this is very light weight road bike frame but has the straight handlebars and slightly thicker wheels that a racer..

http://www.wheelworxbikes.com/product_info.php?products_id=2047

To be honest it's slightly more that I was hoping to pay but if it's worth the money I guess I can push the boat out a bit.
Is this a good bike for what i'm looking for, or is there any other bike you would recommend to have a look at?

Thanks for any input...

blorg

You would be substantially better off with drop handlebars for a duathlon.

Dam34

That's the feedback.

Can I ask you why the handbars make such a difference?
Personally I find them quite unconfortable, hence the reason I was planning on getting the straight ones.

Lumen

Dam34 wrote: »

That's the feedback.

Can I ask you why the handbars make such a difference?
Personally I find them quite unconfortable, hence the reason I was planning on getting the straight ones.

Novice cyclists tend to find straight handlebars more comfortable. Experienced cyclists find drop handlebars more comfortable (and they are also faster, since you're more aero when using them).

It is therefore somewhat inevitable that if you take up cycling with any degree of success you will eventually swap from one system to another, usually by changing bikes.

So you can either buy a flat-bar bike and be prepared to change it a few months down the line (at significant expense), or "plan for success" and buy a proper road bike, taking time to get it set up comfortably and then training your body to get the most out of it.

The fact that you're considering racing (duathlons) really rules out the flat bar bike, IMO. Racing on a flat bar bike is like running in a pair of slippers. Comfortable: possibly. Fast: no.

A flat bar bike also rules out training with most cycling clubs.

Redjeep!

I agree with what Lumen say's, but don't forget that most cyclist's don't actually use the drops (the lower part of drop handlebars) for very long at all, and spend most of the time holding onto the hoods (brake lever mount thingies) or onto the flat part of drop handlebars.

You may find this much more comfortable.

ROK ON

Redjeep! wrote: »

I agree with what Lumen say's, but don't forget that most cyclist's don't actually use the drops (the lower part of drop handlebars) for very long at all, and spend most of the time holding onto the hoods (brake lever mount thingies) or onto the flat part of drop handlebars.

You may find this much more comfortable.

In any race, duatalons included most cyclist would spend a fair bit of time in the drops.
Also descending in the drops offers significantly more stability than when upright.

Finally road bars are actually more comfortable for a journey of any distance due to the fact that the cyclist has a range of hand positions to choose from.
They are ado highly useful when it is windy.

BostonB

On the road even on a windy day I could count on one hand the number of cyclists I've seen on the drops.

niceonetom

Part of the reason I would strongly suggest drops over flats is the fact that there are regular threads here about converting hybrids into roadies but none (that I can recall anyway) about going in the other direction.

blorg

Redjeep! wrote: »

I agree with what Lumen say's, but don't forget that most cyclist's don't actually use the drops (the lower part of drop handlebars) for very long at all, and spend most of the time holding onto the hoods (brake lever mount thingies) or onto the flat part of drop handlebars.

You may find this much more comfortable.

To an extent this is true but racing in a non-drafting event you would very much be in the drops, if you had any sense- or indeed aero bars. In a road race in a bunch you will often be on the hoods. If you are in a breakaway, the drops.

@OP- mainly aerodynamics, the aerodynamics of flat bar bikes is horrible. Much worse than even the hoods on a drop bar bike which are much closer together.

Russman

+1 to all that. I've recently changed from a flat-bar hybrid (which is for sale if anyone wants it ) to a drop bar bike and its grand. I'm not into racing or anything and as the previous posters have said, most of the time you're on the hoods or the flats on the top.

I'd advise the drop bar bike FWIW. It can be set up with a very comfortable position and you can lower the bars as necessary once you get used to it.

BostonB

BostonB wrote: »

On the road even on a windy day I could count on one hand the number of cyclists I've seen on the drops.

When I have the funds I'll be going with the drop bars, as my commute can be windy and you really feel it catch you on the MTB with flat bars. Mind you I'll keep the MTB as a backup when I want a flat bar bike.

Lumen

Also, it's not so much the handlebar design as the whole geometry of the bike.

The frames of flat bar hybrids tend to be designed for a more upright rearward position with more weight on your arse and less on your hands. That's a large part of why they feel more comfortable initially.

There is a class of hybrid called "flat bar road bike" which has a more aggressive geometry for a more aero position, but I'm not convinced this is a good idea - you end up loading up an unnatural wrist position and risking an injury. So you fit ergo bar ends and end up with no brake access.

Redjeep!

blorg wrote: »

To an extent this is true but racing in a non-drafting event you would very much be in the drops, if you had any sense- or indeed aero bars. In a road race in a bunch you will often be on the hoods. If you are in a breakaway, the drops.

@OP- mainly aerodynamics, the aerodynamics of flat bar bikes is horrible. Much worse than even the hoods on a drop bar bike which are much closer together.

I'm not really disagreeing with this, just that he made a comment about them being uncomfortable. If he bought a bike with drops he's free to use the hoods or go down into the drops when he's more used to it. He has more choices than a bike with flats.

He's probably fit aero bars anyway, so have even less use for the drops.

Dam34

Thanks very much for all the replies, much appericated.

You all make a very strong case for the racer type bars and I'm certainly open to ideas, because I've very new to this so it's great to get some feedback and ideas.

However I'm also looking for this bike which also premits me to cycle on canal paths i.e. grave paths, a bit bumper that a road, but nothing major.

Maybe I'm looking for something that isn't available, but a bike that I could use in a couple of duathlons i.e. light and fast enough and one I could use for cycles on both road and slightly bumper type grave paths i.e. comfortable ride and quite durable, hence the reason I was pointed in the direction of the Felt QX75 2010..

My price range is around the €500 mark max..

Lumen

You could buy a cyclocross bike, but not for €500. And it would still be compromised.

Cycling is an equipment-intensive sport, and the equipment is both expensive and specific.

It is not realistic to expect a road racing bike to go offroad. You wouldn't race a Land Rover around a racetrack with any expectation of success.

Still, if you're only racing against yourself for a bit of fun it doesn't really matter how slow you are.