FlatBar Purchase decisions

Blundenb

Im doing through the same deliberations as you, same budget etc. Get any good info at the bike show? I'd be interested to know what you decide.

Have a look at the Felt SR81/71 at www.feltracing.com. They seem pretty good for the price - although you might need to add clipless pedals, maybe C seatpost if you dont like the suspension one that comes with the bike.

Seems like the Melb Bike Centre www.bikes.com.au has about the best deal around price wise on these.

cheers
Bruce

pgs

A decision has finally been made, the Giant CRX1. The only thing lacking on this bike is bar ends and bottle cages. Apart from that it satisfies all my criteria. Also it looks great, the black paint job and the shimano wheelset make it look fast. It stands head and shoulders over the competitors.

Drive train Componentry between the major players is mostly the same the deciding factors are the carbon forks & seatpost, pedals, brakes and frame angles. The Giant in my opinion comes out the best

hnr_global

Firstly Hello to everyone. (im new:P)

I'm about to make this decision as well... flat bar roadies seem to be the way to go

However i'm still weighing up between the Avanti Blade elite and the Giant CRX1

They are of comparable price but my personal view is the Giant seems like the better deal, is lighter (due to carbon forks and seat post) than the avanti, even though i **LOVE** the idea of having disc breaks.

They also add weight..

does anyone konw which is more durable? ie longer lasting carbon based frames or CroMo?

Also any other pointers to check out would be useful...

(background on my bike -
have gone about 10,000k on my giant rincon with 100psi slicks and pretty nicely worn the thing out. looking for a good bike to last a long time, commuting about 60k+ per day.

Thankyou to everyone!

crazney

It's pretty easy to keep V brakes / side pulls / whatever type of brakes in shape so they don't squeal / stick.
The squeal can be fixed super easy by 'towing' the pads, and sticking by adjusting the springs. This website explains it all:
http://www.parktool.com/repair_help...ex.shtml#brakes

Blundenb

Your right ... too many options to choose from. Ive just decided on the Felt SR71, with an upgrade on the wheels from R500 to R550. Was a choice between the Felt and the CRX1. Like you I commute about 50km/day.

What attracted me to this bike was the better level of components, better finish and colour (in my view), and arguably more capacity to add better bits and pieces if my budget or riding style change - at only a few more $. But in the end I think that all the higher end flatbars are pretty much of a muchness.

Ive never had any problems with V brakes, C or CrMo forks. Past CrMO frames have been indestructable. The Felt stops on a dime even in the wet. Got great service from the LBS.

hnr_global

How much of an advantage would a flat bar road bike have over say a proper road bike?

If anyone has any opinions i'd very much like to hear it - i've added a giant TCR-2 to the list of possible bikes... (tcr1 if i am a bit extravigant :P)

would the TCR 1 be worth while getting (as it is a big $$$ jump) if it was going to be used as a commuting bike?

so TCR2 vs CRX1 vs Sr71 and possibly TCR1

gclark8

For me it is age (55) and safety, I can control a flat bar bike in the city more confidently and safely than a drop bar one. I will be fitting "Road Ends", drops, on the ends of my flat bars for longer training rides.

The Giant Crx 1 is a worthy competitor to the felt SR71, however look at some of the US commemts, the Felt is better in the handling dept.

__________________
Cheers,
George.

Bugerlugs

PGS,
I am just going through the same sort of process as you, and I have sort of decided on the Giant CRX1 as it seems to give me the most bang for my buck. Just wondering what you decided on, and if you have been happy with your decision, or for that matter if anyone else has made the same decisions lately and what they think.
Paul.

artemidorus

Why, o why, flat bars? By all means have a tall head tube, a high-rising stem, a long wheel base, fatter tyres - all these things can increase comfort at the expense of speed. But getting rid of the drop bars gets rid of a swag of possible hand positions - remember variation in posture is a key aspect of comfort on long rides. I commute on my road bike and have no trouble with control; it comes mostly from the hips, anyway.
The irony is that when i ride my old mtb in the wet, my hands are closer together (about 10cm from the stem) than on my road bike (>20cm from the stem). The distance between hands in no way equates with control, or comfort.

hnr_global

Just to drop in and let you all konw what i worked out - well....

I had a long look at the flat bars available... and ended up getting an Avanti Giro. It was a little more expensive than the others, but after a few test rides, it won hands down. Components on it were higher than other comparably priced flat bars ( giro has full 105 groupset), schimano wheel set, and lots of carbon - (rear stays, fork, headstem, seat post) and i ended up getting it for $1800. compare that to flat bars for $1500 and it works out VEEERRRY good value.

did 180k on it this week - all seems fine, except it uses different muscles than i'm used to (riding solely on a MTB) and i got verry wobbily on friday's ride to/from work. (not totally fun in the rain). but its all part of adjusting

Just like to say thanks for everyone who put their two cents in