Advice appreciated

countryliving

hello, i love to cycle ive been cycling since i was a kid.
unfortunately, i am having horrendous back problems. i have a specialised triathlon bicycle and i love it but i just have to give up cycling on this bike as it kills my back in particular my upper back.
however, i have a commuter bike hybrid kelly's and it is very comfortable but no good for doing 50km cycles down the country up hills it is torcher to do a 20 km cycle on it.
so i am hoping to purchase a bicycle where i will be sitting upright but is light and i can do 50km cycles easily. can anyone recommend a bicycle?

Darkglasses

Giant rapid is a popular performance hybrid, as is the specialized sirrus. Boardman also have a flat bar option, although I've never heard of anyone using one.

Seaneh

I literally just posted this reply on another thread.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=83286816&postcount=31

I reckon it would be grand, if you can cycle a hybrid, you could easily cycle this bike and it will be a lot more suited to longer spins than a flat bar. Get one of the older models as the newer irish market model is much reduced in spec and now comes with alloy fork at the lower end and disc breaks at the higher end and just doesn't seem quite the same value. the 2009 and 2011 models are lovely bikes.
I'm a big lad and wouldn't be the more flexible and it find it a joy to ride.

It's got a shorter top tube and a more "upright" position as well as the option of a +16 degree rise on the stem so you'd practically be sitting upright if you wanted but still have the drops for when you want to put a bit more power down.

petethedrummer

countryliving wrote: »

i have a specialised triathlon bicycle

Is that a full TT bike or a road bike with aero bars on it?

There are upright road bikes like the Specialized Secteur (Alu) and Specialized Roubaix (Carbon) which have a tall head tube. Or you can get any aggressive road bike and put a steep angle stem on it. There are pictures of Floyd Landis with this done to overcome a hip problem during his tour de France 'win'.

Most brands will have an endurance/comfort/sportive geometry road bike. You will see a taller head tube and shorter top tube than the race specific models.

countryliving

hello - just checked out yer recommendations. the specialised tricross, secteur and roubaix are bicycles that are similar to my own specialised bicycle. what i need is a flat bar bicycle - so that it is a comfortable riding position and not killing my bicycle.
i have another question - if i do buy a flat bar bicycle i realise the importance of being measured but if i add a small stem to make the flat bar higher will this interfere with my measurements? (sorry if i am not explaining this properly). thank you for your advice much appreciated

petethedrummer

countryliving wrote: »

hello - just checked out yer recommendations. the specialised tricross, secteur and roubaix are bicycles that are similar to my own specialised bicycle.

They are not similar if your bike is a TT bike. They are more similar to the position of a flat bar hybrid. In fact they may be more comfortable as roadbikes have shorter top tubes than hybrids and a more natural hand position. Can you please tell us what model your Specialized bike is?

countryliving wrote: »

i have another question - if i do buy a flat bar bicycle i realise the importance of being measured but if i add a small stem to make the flat bar higher will this interfere with my measurements

somewhat, it could be positive or negative. You may need to try a few different stem lengths and angles to get the correct fit.

victorcarrera

countryliving wrote: »

... however, i have a commuter bike hybrid kelly's and it is very comfortable ... up hills it is torcher to do a 20 km cycle on it.

Why don't you just change the gearing on the hybrid ?

countryliving

hi petethedrummer, thanks for your response. i have the specialised dash and got a stem extension so it is most uncomfortable, got it fitted measured correctly but it is a killer so need to get a flat bar i think...

petethedrummer

countryliving wrote: »

specialised dash

I've never heard of this model and can't seem to find any info online. Are you 100% sure this is what it is?

There is a Giant Dash but it is a flat bar bike.

countryliving

hi Petethedrummer, my apologies i have the specialised dolce

petethedrummer

countryliving wrote: »

hi Petethedrummer, my apologies i have the specialised dolce

right, now we're getting somewhere.:)

Before you go forking out for a new bike you should see if a shop can make your current bike more comfortable. There won't me an enormous difference between the geometry on the Dolce and on a flat bar racer. And not enough difference that you couldn't get the virtually the same position.

There is a possibility the bike could be the wrong size for you. If you could take it to someone you trust who is knowledgeable about bikes, they may be able to make it more comfortable.

Or post a pic of it here and we'll have a go!