Originally Posted by jpwkeeper .
At some point I'm going to have to replace (or at least supplement) my Diamondback XL hybrid bike with something a bit better. I ride, so far, entirely on the road, although I suppose that could change, but if it did I always have my old bike for that.
So here is my question: Is there any advantage to a road bike if your primary goal is fitness?
So to be clear, I'm not training to race. Just to not die of a heart attack and to help strengthen my bad lower back.
Yes, I know road bikes are faster. But to get fit I'm still going to have to put out the same number of watts over the same time period as I would on the hybrid, so I don't really see that as a "get fit" advantage, unless I'm missing something.
And while I'm not sporting clipless pedals, I am using PowerGrips. But I could easily go clipless on this bike (my buddy did just that on his hybrid), so it's not really a unique selling point of the road bike.
Conversely, what are the disadvantages of a road bike if you're biking primarily for fitness? Like Cost, maintenance (like having to glue the tires), etc?
FWIW. I must be the ONLY person on this Forum who actually
loves Hybrid bike frames ...
BUT FIRST,
ALL bikes need some maintenance ...
IF the object of the question is to determine whether buying a new bike is actually necessary, or not, because YOU would like to log more miles per ride then, IMO, the
DISADVANTAGE & ADVANTAGE of what you are referring to as a Road bike vs. your Hybrid may mostly be the DROP handlebars ...
THE DISADVANTAGE
Some people hate Drop handlebars ...
- both the sitting & fitting on a Road bike can be more critical on a bike with Drop handlebars because of the weight distribution, or lack of, of the rider on the bike ...
- which may-or-may-not be exacerbated by a poor saddle choice ...
- additionally, some people find the forward leaning riding position to be uncomfortable ...
THE ADVANTAGE
Drop handlebars allow the rider to achieve a more aerodynamic riding position
- the more aerodynamic riding position typically translates as increased rider speed if all other things are equal due to less aerodynamic drag ...
- Drop handlebars allow for multiple locations for the rider to put his/her hands which means that it is possible to avoid-or-limit potential hand fatigue on long(er) rides ...
- consequently, you may ride more often, too ...
- longer rides may-or-may-not result in more watts burned
The foregoing was hardly comprehensive ...
BUT, if you are ever inclined toward a Road bike because you want to use Drop bars, then YOU don't actually need to buy a new bike ...
If you prefer, then you (and, every other Hybrid bike owner) can fit Drop bars on your Hybrid bike ...
- of course, IMO, the least expensive way to change your bike is to buy the Drop bars whose width & shape works FOR YOU (not necessarily an easy decision) + a set of Campagnolo shifters (which will work with a large variety of Shimano derailleurs & Cassettes)
This is a relatively straightforward process ... the DIY skill level is modest ... so, if you are ever inclined toward a bike with Drop handlebars then it's mostly a matter of deciding between a potentially
fancy-schmancy new bike (potentially,
a good thing) [COLOR= rgb(24, 24, 24)]or only spending a couple of hundred dollars to amend your bike's components (also, [/COLOR][COLOR= rgb(0, 128, 0)]
a good thing![/COLOR][COLOR= rgb(24, 24, 24)]).[/COLOR] [COLOR= rgb(24, 24, 24)] [/COLOR]
- of course, IMO, the least expensive way to change your bike, then is to buy the Drop bars whose width & shape works FOR YOU (not necessarily an easy decision) + a set of Campagnolo shifters (which will work with a large variety of Shimano derailleurs & Cassettes).
Optimum tire choice will be dictated by the type of surface YOU ride on ... you can probably fit 700x28 tires on a relatively wide rim (622-20, maybe a 622-22) ... some 700x32 tires are an "okay" compromise for pavement & hardpacked roads ...
OR, you can get a second set of wheels which have narrower rims (622-15 +/-) to use 700x28-or-narrower tires.
Here's a 90s vintage Hybrid which I reconfigured with Drop bars, etc.
A
Rigid fork is lighter than a suspension fork, BTW.
FYI. About 10 years ago, I set up a Marin Hybrid frame with a
KESTREL Carbon Fiber Road fork --[COLOR= rgb(24, 24, 24)] the combination resulted in a very nice riding Road bike, IMO ...[/COLOR]
- I used a standard V-brake caliper on the rear because I was not aware of mini-V-brakes (which may not have existed at the time) ... not ideal since the brake pads were relatively close to the rims (about the distance that MANY people apparently like to have their pads set on their Road bikes!)
- the Road fork resulted in steeper-by-about-a-degree head & seat tube angle which basically resulted in Road frame angles ...
- the Road fork meant that I could use a standard Road brake caliper & it could be set up like any other Road brake
Without changing to a CF fork, if you DIY & get the shifters off of eBay, then your cost (exclusive of tires & tubes) should be under $200.
IMO, if YOUR Hybrid currently has a Suspension Fork, then changing to any type of Rigid fork will probably be beneficial to your riding experience.