Hybrid vs. Road

[matty_doh]

My works Cycle2Work scheme is due to start again in the next few weeks - it's scheduled to run for 2 weeks and 2 weeks only.

It's the Halfords only scheme and so I was looking at the Boardmans... When I first started looking the carbon 'Team' Boardman was £999.99 - IE, within the scheme limits (I can't add any money to the scheme as it'll apparently cause an issue with split ownership).. Since then it's been raised to £1200 and the Aluminium 'Team' has been raised to £999.99, but is out of stock and apparently Halfords are unsure when any more will be available.

It got me thinking though, do I really want the road bike over the hybrid? On my current Specialized I tend to ride on the hoods 99% of the time, rather than use the drops, and the hydraulic stoppers on the Hybrid Pro LTD look tempting given the amount of numpties who walk/drive in front of cyclists without looking. The Hybrids seem much more agile as well versus the road bike which would be nice to have for skirting through and around traffic.

I'll be using the bike for a mostly rural/fast A-road commute and some light leisure riding (Up to about 60 miles) and was wondering if people had any thoughts? Is the road bike that much faster than the hybrid? Can I swap the straight bar for dropped ones if I feel the need or will it feel completely wrong with the hybrids geometry? (I know I will need special brake levers and shifters)

If the road bike doesn't come back in stock before the end of the period I can use the scheme I think I will go for the hybrid regardless.

Spec lists of the two I was looking at here;

http://www.boardmanbikes.com/hybrid/hybrid_proltd.... - Hybrid
http://www.boardmanbikes.com/road/road_team.html - Roadie

[Disco You]

If you're riding on roads get a road bike.

Riding on the hoods is a million times more comfortable than riding on flat bars because of the hand position.

[ammw]

Gotta agree with Disco ... last year I bought a Kona Dew Plus hybrid, but as I started to ride more, I got tired of the same hand position all the time. Just recently bought my first road bike, and much prefer the options available on drop bars. I've still got the Kona, which should make a good winter bike - just wish it had drops!

[hullbilly]

I ride a hybrid at the moment and wish I went for a road bike.

I have added bar ends which does give me a different hand position which helps, but next year I will be buying a road bike and keeping the hybrid for a winter hack, commuter.

[dubbs]

I converted my Specialised Allez to a flat bar for the commute as you get much better control for sudden changes of direction plus quicker braking (more leverage than trying to brake from the hoods) It suits MUCH better and thoroughly recommend it.

The racing bike is just that - it's for training and racing, aggressive angles, drops and not the right tool for commuting.. don't get me wrong I spent 2 years commuting on a road bike but a flat bar is better to use (this is from a 12miles commute each way perspective).

I'm not sure how much more relaxed the hybrid geometry would be compared to converting a racing bike to flat bar spec so can't comment on that. Personally I'd stick to Ally for commuter bikes as well.. something in my head just doesn't like subjected the cervelo (being all carbon) to pitted and holed commuting roads, the Allez take it all on with gusto and without being too lairy from a nicking perspective.

[Mars]

I very much prefer the hybrid geometry although even the Boardman hybrids leave me too stretched out. I prefer the riser stem and bars Specialized fit as standard to keep me in a more upright position. I'm more a leisure cyclist though, so the question of speed is less important to me. I just enjoy the ride, normally in company, so we can have a chat. The dropped position leaves my neck aching from looking upwards all the time, and I feel as though the position compromises my ability to read the road around me.

In my weekly cycle club ride the numbers of dropped bars to flat is about 50/50 but the dropped position rarely gets used, if ever. Those guys tend to ride on the hoods all the time. When holidaying in France recently I was pleasantly surprised by the large number of cyclists (western coast). Many took their cycling very seriously, adopting similar team apparel to the guys on the TdF, and yet I don't think **ever** (in two weeks) saw anyone using the dropped position. After the first couple of days I made a point of trying to find someone riding dropped, but no luck.

[Gnarlybluesurf]

Perfect solution... Why not get the Boardman Cyclocross Pro. It has the drop bars and in-line cantilever brakes so you can brake on the hubs or top bar. It also has mounts for panniers and muguards should you want them during the winter commute. Finally it can also take some light trails too just by changing the tyres from roadies... Sorted!

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

[matty_doh]

Thanks for the replies all, plenty to think about...

Atm I have a 3 year old Specialized Allez and a Felt hardtail MTB so have a little experience with both straight bars and drops - I don't really find either bar type uncomfortable, though my shoulders ache after a while on the hoods on the road bike but have never really used the MTB on the road, let alone with slicks, so can't really get a good feel for what a hybrid would be like.

The Cyclocross does look interesting - will have to look into that some more!

It's interesting to see that there are people on both sides of the fence - I guess I will have to try and blag an hour or so on each of the bikes I'm looking at to try them out.

Edited by matty_doh on Saturday 11th September 00:26

[Parsnip]

From what you say, it sounds like you are after a road bike.

I have never felt I needed more brake power on either of my road bikes - the limiting factor is not the brake, but the level of grip you get. Obviously a hybrid with huge tyres will have more grip, but if you are taking about doing proper rides on it, I'm guessing that you wont want to be rolling around on balloons - sticking huge brakes and then skinny tyres on just means that they will lock easier,

Hybrids only really make sense for shortish commutes where you will be doing stuff a roadbike can't - bit of towpath, jumping up kerbs etc. If your commute (and the rest of your riding) is 100% on road, a road bike makes sense.

I would never go for a long ride on flat bars for the simple reason that I know my wrists and hands would start complaining about being in one position for the whole ride - I am probably 55% hoods, 20% tops and 25% drops for an average ride. Maybe you are different though, try out a set of flat bars for a ride and see how you like them.

[Mr Will]

Have you considered adding a set of flat bars and chunkier tyres to your Allez and buying a new road bike for "best"?

[dubbs]

Parsnip said:

From what you say, it sounds like you are after a road bike.

I have never felt I needed more brake power on either of my road bikes - the limiting factor is not the brake, but the level of grip you get....

It's also your hand position relative to the brake when required and the required leverage you need to apply the brake quickly and effectively.

When on a road bike you sacrifice some of this for a more aero position as you're racing or being as aerdynamically efficient as you can manage - in a commuting/heavy traffic situation then your aero position does little due to the spped you are travelling so isn't important.

In this case having a flat bar means the levers are at the finger tips and can be "grabbed" when required - I've had to many close shaves where grabbing for the brake form the hoods mean I'm at the top of the lever so don't have the chance to get enough leverage to brake hard/lock up (which is pretty much the fastest way you're going to stop in the dry and in an emergency on normal road tyres)

[buccal]

What about a sirrus?

Similar frame to an allez (i believe), flat bars and firmly towards the road-end of the hybrid spectrum.

[Gnarlybluesurf]

dubbs said:

In this case having a flat bar means the levers are at the finger tips and can be "grabbed" when required - I've had to many close shaves where grabbing for the brake form the hoods mean I'm at the top of the lever so don't have the chance to get enough leverage to brake hard/lock up (which is pretty much the fastest way you're going to stop in the dry and in an emergency on normal road tyres)

That's the beauty of the Cyclocross... I have the same on my Planet X Uncle John in traffic you can ride on the flat bar and break with the in-line brakes (which are almost instant) and then as soon as you're out of traffic you can drop onto the hoods and brake on those if needed.... Perferct! Also it can accomodate larger tyres which means you can jump curbs and bounce off potholes without the worry of a "snake bite" puncture...

I found that with the 28c tyres on the Boardman Hybrid Pro if I grabbed a handful I was regularly outbreaking the tyres with the Avid Elixir Disc Brakes and skidding... even in dry conditions. So i'd say unless you want a larger tyre you don't need the amazing brakes on the Boardman.

[matty_doh]

I think I've decided on the Hybrid through the Cycle2Work scheme as a work/winter hack - I tried the base spec Boardman hybrid (12 months old) today that belonged to a mate of my dads and really quite liked the agility of it in traffic and sharp turns were unbelievably easy - the bar attachments (Can't think of the proper name, the 'horns' on the bars) also ment I could alter my hand position too, though the grips were surprisingly comfy and forgiving.

I was averaging roughly the same speed as on the Allez, though there was very little wind so didn't really have chance to test aerodynamics.

I have to admit though, a contributing factor to this decision is the lack of choice through my works cyclescheme and no firm answer from Halfords regarding fresh stock of the 'Team' road bike.

I will, however be looking for something carbon and shiny, and not restricted to Halfords, for nice sunny days come the new year, for longer rides and maybe some sportives... Can't have too many bikes you see... a BMX and a folder and I think I've got all aspects covered!

Edited by matty_doh on Sunday 12th September 00:56