"Mike" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
I've walked into 3 bicycle shops looking for an improved commuter bike. My mountain bike with stubby tires isn't cutting it for my 7-mile daily commute (with a killer hill).
In my mind, I decided I wanted a true road bike. The Fuji League seems to fit the bill here nicely. Simple, low-priced, and fast.
But at all three shops, they are trying to talk me into these "road bikes with straight handle-bars". They say they are _not_ hybrids and are closer to a true road bike. I believe the Raleigh C700 is one such bike they are trying to sell me.
Ir your commute involes lots of low speed navigation around obstacles then the straight bars might be usefule. But if you are moving at a decent speed then the comfort of drop bars, with your arms in their natural palms facing in rather then down, will be the best choice.
Get a road bike with drop bars. And enjoy the ride.
Bruce
Quoted message said:
I'm a pretty active person and would likely use this bike for exercise as well.
Why don't they want to sell me a road bike? Are they really uncomfortable? Unfortunately with quick test rides, I really can't gauge long-term comfort.
"Bruce Frech" <bfrech@no_spam_verizon.net> wrote in message news:<nOS4d.4172$fa.3441@trndny09>...
Quoted message said:
"Mike" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
I've walked into 3 bicycle shops looking for an improved commuter bike. My mountain bike with stubby tires isn't cutting it for my 7-mile daily commute (with a killer hill).
In my mind, I decided I wanted a true road bike. The Fuji League seems to fit the bill here nicely. Simple, low-priced, and fast.
But at all three shops, they are trying to talk me into these "road bikes with straight handle-bars". They say they are _not_ hybrids and are closer to a true road bike. I believe the Raleigh C700 is one such bike they are trying to sell me.
Ir your commute involes lots of low speed navigation around obstacles then the straight bars might be usefule. But if you are moving at a decent speed then the comfort of drop bars, with your arms in their natural palms facing in rather then down, will be the best choice.
Get a road bike with drop bars. And enjoy the ride.
Bruce
Quoted message said:
I'm a pretty active person and would likely use this bike for exercise as well.
Why don't they want to sell me a road bike? Are they really uncomfortable? Unfortunately with quick test rides, I really can't gauge long-term comfort.
If you're not planning on racing, a road bike with drop bars are great..._especially_ if you add some in-line break levers. I just put some on my cyclocross bike and it's amazing how much more in control I feel with them. I should have done that long ago.
A lot of mid-range road bikes are throwing them on as standard these days. Makes riding the tops a lot easier and safer in traffic.
If you're not planning on racing, a road bike with drop bars are great..._especially_ if you add some in-line break levers. I just put some on my cyclocross bike and it's amazing how much more in control I feel with them. I should have done that long ago.
Yes, top-mounted brake levers give drop bars a couple of the benefits of flat bars, rendering them a bit safer, more controllable, and more comfortable. They constitute further evidence that drop bars are basically unsatisfactory for non-racing applications (and even some racing applications like cyclocross, BMX, and MTB).
But why not just use a bar that accomodates the superior format of controls to begin with, and places the grip sections far enough apart for real comfort?
[email hidden] (Chalo) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
(Andrew Martin) said:
If you're not planning on racing, a road bike with drop bars are great..._especially_ if you add some in-line break levers. I just put some on my cyclocross bike and it's amazing how much more in control I feel with them. I should have done that long ago.
Yes, top-mounted brake levers give drop bars a couple of the benefits of flat bars, rendering them a bit safer, more controllable, and more comfortable. They constitute further evidence that drop bars are basically unsatisfactory for non-racing applications (and even some racing applications like cyclocross, BMX, and MTB).
What? How does this constitute that they are unsatisfactory? I never have any problems riding on the tops, but for techincal sections where I need to get my weight back, the in-line levers help out. I don't see how my statement in any way supports yours.
Quoted message said:
But why not just use a bar that accomodates the superior format of controls to begin with, and places the grip sections far enough apart for real comfort?
Because one position bars make your hands go numb?
If you're not planning on racing, a road bike with drop bars are great..._especially_ if you add some in-line break levers. I just put some on my cyclocross bike and it's amazing how much more in control I feel with them. I should have done that long ago.
Yes, top-mounted brake levers give drop bars a couple of the benefits of flat bars, rendering them a bit safer, more controllable, and more comfortable. They constitute further evidence that drop bars are basically unsatisfactory for non-racing applications (and even some racing applications like cyclocross, BMX, and MTB).
What? How does this constitute that they are unsatisfactory? I never have any problems riding on the tops, but for techincal sections where I need to get my weight back, the in-line levers help out. I don't see how my statement in any way supports yours.
It illustrates the basic fact that the default controls for drop bars are not in the default hand position for most riders.
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
But why not just use a bar that accomodates the superior format of controls to begin with, and places the grip sections far enough apart for real comfort?
Because one position bars make your hands go numb?
No, using one position on a bar that's poorly located or poorly designed-- like a drop bar-- makes your hands go numb. On a well-fitted flat bar this does not happen. Do you actually think that _all_ pedal rickshaw drivers and ultra-distance motorcyclists would use handlebars that numbed their hands? Any bar that causes discomfort and numbness is too low, too far forward, badly angled... or a drop bar.
No, using one position on a bar that's poorly located or poorly designed-- like a drop bar-- makes your hands go numb. On a well-fitted flat bar this does not happen. Do you actually think that _all_ pedal rickshaw drivers and ultra-distance motorcyclists would use handlebars that numbed their hands? Any bar that causes discomfort and numbness is too low, too far forward, badly angled... or a drop bar.
Chalo Colina
Hey, wait a minute! I'll buy most of this on position, setup, etc. But I won't buy that drop bars in and of themselves cause numbness. Yes, if they, like any other bar, are too low, too far forward, badly angled.... I have ridden many bikes with drop bars without numbness or discomfort.
Thanks for responding to my question, by the way. I see what you are getting at much better now. I think you go a bit too far against drop bars, but given people like me going a bit too far against flat bars, it's only fair 🙂
Any bar that causes discomfort and numbness is too low, too far forward, badly angled... or a drop bar.
Hey, wait a minute! I'll buy most of this on position, setup, etc. But I won't buy that drop bars in and of themselves cause numbness. Yes, if they, like any other bar, are too low, too far forward, badly angled.... I have ridden many bikes with drop bars without numbness or discomfort.
I don't doubt that what you say is true. However, I think the reason so many drop bar users consider multiple hand positions to be an essential feature is because no one hand position on a drop bar is satisfactory by itself.
A flat bar would not be acceptable for all-day riding if it were only as comfortable as any one grip on a drop bar-- though admittedly, there are many MTBs whose handlebar accomodation is even worse than any single grip on a well-fitted drop bar.
"Retro Bob" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
(Chalo) said:
I don't doubt that what you say is true. However, I think the reason so many drop bar users consider multiple hand positions to be an essential feature is because no one hand position on a drop bar is satisfactory by itself.
I'd counter that one position is not comfortable in _any_ human endeavor for extended periods. Bodies need to move. Even if you sit in the most ergonomic chair you can buy, you feel a need to change positions after a time. The same is true for biking (for me at least). I need to change my back position and hand position from time to time simply for a change. The drop bar gives me this flexibility *along with* the drop position - used only occasionally when trying to really minimize wind resistance.
I agree with this, I'd go even further and say, for me, drop bars are more to get many back positions than hand positions. Different back positions work your hip extensors through different ranges.
This is a serious question: how do people mount a lot of hardware on their bars? Should I be looking for places to mount hardware off-bar?
Minoura Space Grip seems to be the usual tool; but if at all possible a seeing light wants to be mounted at the fork crown. -- David Damerell <[email hidden]> Distortion Field!
