Flat bar road bike

Deanster04

Most people only understand what they see "marketed" to them and drop bars are sexy (lets face it sex sells). It really doesn't matter how one rides so long as they are comfortable and enjoy them selves. I have a flat bar arrangement on my Ionic Columbus Foco Tubing steel bike (light and the latest). I did this because at 63 my 9cm drop from the saddle to the top of the drops is clearly no longer appropriate. On rides over 50 miles my comfort level starts to be effected. My mtb has flat bars and Cane Creek Ergo bar ends and I found that I liked the feel...so experimenting has become the watch word. Since I don't have a horn, bell, or steamers sticking out the ends of the handle bars the younger riders I encounter think my setup is "cool" and looks somewhat like a TT bike. Who knows maybe they are just patronizing this old grey haired fart, but what do I care. When I finally achieve what I am looking for I am sure it will be unique and VERY COOL. I have ridden this bike for 87 miles since the change and found a vast improvement in the way I feel after my ride.
Tires and tire pressure now that is a topic. If you go to www.roadbikerider.com you can see an ongoing discussion about tire pressure that is very well reasoned. 90 to 100 is what is thought to be optimal. This is by a veteran rider who still races extensively. I never pump my 23c tires above 100 and ride 25c tires (90psig) in the winter with a different tread pattern for the road conditions here in Boulder, CO.

Ride what "feels" the best for you regardless of looks and you will probably ride more. For what it is worth I still keep up with my younger friends with the flat bar arrangement...

Deanster04

I needed to add that you don't need to buy a whole bike to change out the components just a set of tools or a good LBS.

shokhead

Different tire pattern for the road contitions? Right there make me ? if he races. I steer riders away from flatbars if they are moving up to it because most will last a year and then want a reg road bike as i did. There are still alot that belive if you have a roadbike,you have to ride in the drops when that is not true.

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Lots of pedals,not much speed

chero

To each his own; so those of you who like drops and dislike a flat bar, enjoy your choice and good riding! But some of us much prefer a flat bar. In fact, I think I would abandon my 100 mile a week bike commute if I had to use a drop bar.
The flat bar gives a more upright posture, keeping the neck straighter (major comfort advantage to me), letting you see and be seen better, and keeping pressure off your hands. Yes, I know you can ride on the hoods of a drop bar, and get almost as upright, or perhaps just as upright, (and most riders I see ride the hoods almost all of the time), but there are two disadvantages: Your hands are rather close together, reducing leverage (and thus control) when you hit rough road. And, you have to reach for the shifters, or if you have STI shifters, your (cold weather) gloves get caught in them (significant disadvantage for a cold climate commuter). Trigger shifters or grip shifters on a flat bar are right there, and work great with gloves.
A disadvantage of this more upright posture is the extra wind resistence. If you race, this is a serious thing. But for commuting anything less than 10 miles each way, I judge it to be a minor issue; very minor compared to the comfort and security advantages I find in the flat bar.

Chero

gclark8

To settle the question of which is faster, look at the pix of Craig Walton at Noosa, Australia's fastest bike rider.
http://craigwalton.com.au/noosa.html
No drops! TT bars!! Look just like flat bars with bar ends to me. OK, he has added aero bars, but on the 80kph descent uses the flat part of the bar not the aero position.

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Cheers,
George.

shokhead

No kidding and next TDF,all flatbars.

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Lots of pedals,not much speed