Hybrid to Road bike....

dell33

I have a Giant Hybrid bike and thinking of trading it for a Giant Dash 4 with the flat bars. Currently cycle 20k/25k most nights and maybe throw in a 60k twice at the weekend. If I bought the dash would hope to be able to up my distance.

Just wondering do you think it is worth the upgrade.

Surveyor11

dell33 wrote: »

I have a Giant Hybrid bike and thinking of trading it for a Giant Dash 4 with the flat bars. Currently cycle 20k/25k most nights and maybe throw in a 60k twice at the weekend. If I bought the dash would hope to be able to up my distance.

Just wondering do you think it is worth the upgrade.

Flat bar to flat bar? Maybe a bit lighter and more nimble, but not a road bike!

Lumen

Surveyor11 wrote: »

Flat bar to flat bar? Maybe a bit lighter and more nimble, but not a road bike!

25mm 700C tyres, rigid fork, tight clearances. I wouldn't fancy going off-road on that. Therefore, it's a road bike.

Brian?

Why not a real road bike?

Darkglasses

It will be lighter, but it won't be hugely different to what you already have. I'd strongly recommend going for a Defy instead! I've got one and I absolutely adore it. I made the switch from a hybrid (a Giant Escape) too, and the feel of a road bike is a lot more fun. It's much more responsive to even very subtle changes in how hard you're pedaling. The drop handlebars don't take long to get used to either. And you can get your head well down comfortably when cycling into the wind.

dell33

Brian? wrote: »

Why not a real road bike?

basically i am afraid of falling off the bike with drop handlebars but might actually take a giant defy for a test spin tomorrow. thank u

couerdelion

dell33 wrote: »

basically i am afraid of falling off the bike with drop handlebars but might actually take a giant defy for a test spin tomorrow. thank u

You'll probably find that you would spend most of the time on the top of the bars any way with your hand positioned on the hoods. It's rare I go down on the drops but at least the bars give the option (and various hand positions on top). A flat bar would give you a choice of one position.

Definitely take one for a test ride if you can.

Surveyor11

Lumen wrote: »

25mm 700C tyres, rigid fork, tight clearances. I wouldn't fancy going off-road on that. Therefore, it's a road bike.

Ok fair 'nuff, OP had no mention his hybrid had suspension or a mention of tyre width, I assumed 'road bike' would infer dropped handlebars briadly as a key differentiating feature. Here's a hybrid with rigid handlebars and 28mm tyres which could presumably accept 25mm

http://m.evanscycles.com/products/lapierre/shaper-500-2013-hybrid-bike-ec043327

Anyway OP would recommend the plunge for a Defy, the handlebar position offers more options for comfort, and you'll get uses to them pretty quickly

Tar.Aldarion

dell33 wrote: »

basically i am afraid of falling off the bike with drop handlebars but might actually take a giant defy for a test spin tomorrow. thank u

Don't have to use them, Ive never used mine. Nice to have the choice

To Alcohol

What kind of Giant hybrid do you have at the moment OP? The Giant Rapid range would be a lot closer to a Defy than the one you mentioned. Have you considered one of these?

smacl

Tar.Aldarion wrote: »

Don't have to use them, Ive never used mine. Nice to have the choice

I don't buy into this having drops but not using them argument, because 'they're there as an option'. I'd rather a steep descent on a crappy surface on a flat bar Giant Rapid, than on the hoods of a drop bar Defy. That said, in the same situation, I'd far prefer to be in the drops of my drop bar bike than either. I found getting used to all the hand positions on a road bike was a skill that took some time to acquire, and preferred my old hybrid until I'd got the knack. I now think of the drops as the position where I've most stability, surest grip, and best access to the controls, i.e. the least scary position.

@OP, the Rapid and Defy are both solid bikes. You'd possibly find the rapid an easier option from day one, my sisters had one for years and loves it. If you're anything like my when I moved from the hybrid, the drop bars will feel a bit weird at the start, but if you put the time into getting used to using and moving between all the positions offered, they're undoubtedly a better long term option.

Buzwaldo

To Alcohol wrote: »

What kind of Giant hybrid do you have at the moment OP? The Giant Rapid range would be a lot closer to a Defy than the one you mentioned. Have you considered one of these?

The giant dash that the OP mentioned is the 'female' equivalent of the rapid.