Flat bar road bike opinions?

[Slider2699]

I'm thinking of buying one of the flat bar road bikes on the market. Plan to use it for errands and
occasional commuting ( my main commuter is a road bike). I'd like the bike to have rack bosses, and
fender bosses if possible. I can always use clip on fenders, but need a rack mount. I can spend
$1000 but would prefer to pay less. I use a slick tired hardtail MTB now, but I'd like to convert
that back to dirt use. I read a writeup on the Kona Dr. Dew in Bike Mag but it's kind of pricey.
Anybody have a cheaper alternative?

Mike

 

[Garyg]

"Slider2699" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'm thinking of buying one of the flat bar road bikes on the market. Plan
to
> use it for errands and occasional commuting ( my main commuter is a road bike). I'd like the bike
> to have rack bosses, and fender bosses if
possible.
> I can always use clip on fenders, but need a rack mount. I can spend $1000 but would prefer to pay
> less. I use a slick tired hardtail MTB now, but
I'd
> like to convert that back to dirt use. I read a writeup on the Kona Dr.
Dew
> in Bike Mag but it's kind of pricey. Anybody have a cheaper alternative?
>
> Mike
>

Joe Breeze has begun marketing a line of "Town Bikes" that are designed for errands and shopping.
See http://www.breezerbikes.com/ for more info.

--
~_-* ...G/ \G http://www.CycliStats.com Developers of CycliStats - Software for Cyclists

 

[Buck]

"Slider2699" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'm thinking of buying one of the flat bar road bikes on the market. Plan
to
> use it for errands and occasional commuting ( my main commuter is a road bike). I'd like the bike
> to have rack bosses, and fender bosses if
possible.
> I can always use clip on fenders, but need a rack mount. I can spend $1000 but would prefer to pay
> less. I use a slick tired hardtail MTB now, but
I'd
> like to convert that back to dirt use. I read a writeup on the Kona Dr.
Dew
> in Bike Mag but it's kind of pricey. Anybody have a cheaper alternative?

Mike,

I was in the market for one as well, but I was shooting for something with discs and possibly
suspension. I compiled a list of almost everything I could find. Here's the list from roughly the
most expensive to the least:

Cannondale Bad Boy Ulta Gary Fisher Fast City Kona Dr. Dew (and its little brothers dew deluxe and
dew) Giant OCR Touring (a touring road frame with discs, drop handlebars) Cannondale Road Warrior
Specialized Sirrus K2 Mach S Fuji Forza Rocky Mountain Metro Jamis Coda Comp Novarra Big Buzz Giant
Cypress SX Motobecane Cafe Latte / Noir

Of this list, I think the Specialized Sirrus is probably the best bets. I know it has eyelets,
v-brakes, and rides well. Heck, the Sirrus Sport even has discs for $800.

I thought I really wanted one of these, but I have since changed my mind. I built up a flat bar road
bike from an old schwinn and found that going any kind of distance caused pain in my hands and
wrists, despite trying several stems and bars and using bar-ends. It was the combination of the
aggressive position and long distances with the flat bar that did it. I don't have these problems
with either my road bike or mountain bike. You might evaluate the distances you plan on riding and
see if you can rent one for a long test ride before you buy. You could have the same problems I did.

Good luck! -Buck

 

[Roger Zoul]

Buck wrote:
:: "Slider2699" <[email protected]> wrote in message
:: news:[email protected]...
::: I'm thinking of buying one of the flat bar road bikes on the market. Plan to use it for errands
::: and occasional commuting ( my main commuter is a road bike). I'd like the bike to have rack
::: bosses, and fender bosses if possible. I can always use clip on fenders, but need a rack mount.
::: I can spend $1000 but would prefer to pay less. I use a slick tired hardtail MTB now, but I'd
::: like to convert that back to dirt use. I read a writeup on the Kona Dr. Dew in Bike Mag but it's
::: kind of pricey. Anybody have a cheaper alternative?
::
:: Mike,
::
:: I was in the market for one as well, but I was shooting for something with discs and possibly
:: suspension. I compiled a list of almost everything I could find. Here's the list from roughly the
:: most expensive to the least:
::
:: Cannondale Bad Boy Ulta Gary Fisher Fast City Kona Dr. Dew (and its little brothers dew deluxe
:: and dew) Giant OCR Touring (a touring road frame with discs, drop handlebars) Cannondale Road
:: Warrior Specialized Sirrus K2 Mach S Fuji Forza Rocky Mountain Metro Jamis Coda Comp Novarra Big
:: Buzz Giant Cypress SX Motobecane Cafe Latte / Noir
::
:: Of this list, I think the Specialized Sirrus is probably the best bets. I know it has eyelets,
:: v-brakes, and rides well. Heck, the Sirrus Sport even has discs for $800.
::
:: I thought I really wanted one of these, but I have since changed my mind. I built up a flat bar
:: road bike from an old schwinn and found that going any kind of distance caused pain in my hands
:: and wrists, despite trying several stems and bars and using bar-ends. It was the combination of
:: the aggressive position and long distances with the flat bar that did it. I don't have these
:: problems with either my road bike or mountain bike. You might evaluate the distances you plan on
:: riding and see if you can rent one for a long test ride before you buy. You could have the same
:: problems I did.

Interesting....I was recently looking at the Sirrus...however, after spending over 30 minutes riding
it at the LBS, I upgraded to a road bike with drop-type bars for the very reason you mention. having
more options on position just seemed to make a big difference to me.

 

[Ryan Cousineau]

In article <[email protected]>, "Roger Zoul"
<[email protected]> wrote:

> Buck wrote:
> :: "Slider2699" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> :: news:[email protected]...
> ::: I'm thinking of buying one of the flat bar road bikes on the market. Plan to use it for
> ::: errands and occasional commuting ( my

> :: I thought I really wanted one of these, but I have since changed my mind. I built up a flat bar
> :: road bike from an old schwinn and found that going any kind of distance caused pain in my hands
> :: and wrists, despite trying several stems and bars and using bar-ends. It was the combination of
> :: the aggressive position and long distances with the flat bar that did it. I don't have these
> :: problems with either my road bike or mountain bike. You might evaluate the distances you plan
> :: on riding and see if you can rent one for a long test ride before you buy. You could have the
> :: same problems I did.
>
> Interesting....I was recently looking at the Sirrus...however, after spending over 30 minutes
> riding it at the LBS, I upgraded to a road bike with drop-type bars for the very reason you
> mention. having more options on position just seemed to make a big difference to me.

For people who think they might want a flat-bar bike but fear these comfort issues, a cross bike
with top-bar add-on levers might be just the ticket:

http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/brakes.html#cross

They are designed to add on to your normal brake levers. Sheldon has several times said how much he
likes the Tektros.

--
Ryan Cousineau, [email protected] http://www.sfu.ca/~rcousine President, Fabrizio Mazzoleni Fan Club