Drop or flat? More advice needed.

[colonel c]

OK like many others I'm back to cycling as is the trend at the moment. I started in June with a standard MTB bought on a ride to work scheme . initially enjoying a mix of dirt tracks and quirt roads. Now I'm finding I want to do more road mileage and feel the MTB is not really the best bike for the job.

So with another ride to work scheme on the horizon I'm looking for something for the road.
I rather fancy a Giant Defy 4. It's around the right price and appears to be very popular. However one my cycling chums reckons I should go for a flat bar road bike. He recommends the Giant Rapid 3. His thinking is that I will find the drop bar riding position very uncomfortable after a short distance. A valid consideration given that I'm no spring chicken.

So what are the pros and cons from the PH cycling prospective?

[donfisher]

It's really down to personal preference and what works well with you and on what bike IMHO.

FWIW I (I'm tall and not at all flexible) prefer a flat bar set up for commuting in congested traffic but don't mind drops for leisure.

[bigdom]

Drop bars give you the option of more positions, so in reality it's more varied in use.

[Daveyraveygravey]

I think you'd have to be VERY tall or VERY old/un supple to not be able to get reasonably comfy on a drop bar bike if the shop will spend a bit of time with you setting it up right.
Plus drops give you at least 5 places to put your hands which flats just don't.

[Deerfoot]

I'm 43 and have a Giant Rapid. I tried a Defy and just couldn't get used to the drop bars at all.

I have fitted a pair of Cane Creek bar ends and can get a comfortable position easily. Of course I have to alter my hand position to change gear but it's no big deal. I managed 30 miles on Thursday evening with no discomfort.

Most of the guys I see on drop bar bikes spend the majority of time on the hoods anyway.

[drivin_me_nuts]

I'm 48. Just bought a trek domane over a flat bar. Also ride a hybrid with flat bars. Road bike wins in every comfort way. Get drops.

[Jimbo.]

Deerfoot said:

I'm 43 and have a Giant Rapid. I tried a Defy and just couldn't get used to the drop bars at all.

I have fitted a pair of Cane Creek bar ends and can get a comfortable position easily. Of course I have to alter my hand position to change gear but it's no big deal. I managed 30 miles on Thursday evening with no discomfort.

Most of the guys I see on drop bar bikes spend the majority of time on the hoods anyway.

Hoods are still more aero that flat bars, yet still allow you to stretch out and cover the brakes.

[AC43]

Much prefer flat bars in traffic. Far easier to see what's going on around you - esp over your shoulder.

[Barchettaman]

Nothing wrong with a flat bar, but consider investing in a pair of Ergon (style) grips with the bar-ends. A standard flat bar with normal round grips gets very tiresome very quickly.

I'm about to re-do my CX bike as a flat bar, but only to get Magura HS hydraulic rim brakes, which I miss on a commuter bike. It will definitely have a pair of Ergon grips.

[Daveyraveygravey]

AC43 said:

Much prefer flat bars in traffic. Far easier to see what's going on around you - esp over your shoulder.

I don't understand that...with drop bars, you aren't actually lying down horizontal! And yes, most people spend more time on the hoods, or the bit the near the stem, or the bit before the curves, than down on the drops, but you have that choice...

[jkh112]

I had the same decision to make a few years ago when I bought a dedicated road bike to commute on rather than use my mountain bike.
At the time I went for a flat bar road bike and at first it was fine but after a while I found the lack of alternative hand positions quite annoying when on longer rides.
I have now converted it to drop bars and although I rarely ride on the drops, I find the choice of hand positions from the top of the bars, the corners and the hoods much better and a lot more comfortable.
I have not found a lack of visibility in traffic, but do not have the bars set very low. What I have noticed is the lack of an immediate brake lever when not on the hoods.

[colonel c]

Thanks for those thoughts guys. My instincts tell me I'd prefer drops. I guess I will eventually go with that. Shame I'm going to have to wait until mid winter before I can get the new bike. Unless I cave in before that and get something from eBay or a cheapy until then.

[Barchettaman]

Alternatively, instead of waiting on a price drop on your 550 quid Giant, just get a Merlin Defy for 300 quid which will offer a near identical riding experience:

http://road.cc/content/news/131472-just-new-merlin...

Best of luck whatever you decide.

[colonel c]

Barchettaman said:

Alternatively, instead of waiting on a price drop on your 550 quid Giant, just get a Merlin Defy for 300 quid which will offer a near identical riding experience:

http://road.cc/content/news/131472-just-new-merlin...

Best of luck whatever you decide.

That is very tempting right now.