Ride London on hybrid?

[alolympic]

Hi,

I used to commute to work on my Whyte Portobello 2011 model.
Since I moved 2 years ago I have had to suffer the train and the bike has been relegated to the garage.
I have just started to cycle again and plan on doing the Ride London 100 mile race next year.
I know my fitness is the limiting factor, but I wonder if it will be worth me upgrading my bike, or looking to buy another.
I have never ridden a road bike, never been that keen on the ride position but I am starting to wonder if a lighter bike will be better for me. I find my current bike very comfortable, but it does run out of gearing on fast descents, and is 10.5kgs so not the lightest to get up hills.
I am not competing against others, and am more interested in getting fitter myself. So, does anyone think a reasonably priced road bike will be more enjoyable for long training rides, or is it all a law of diminishing returns?

[Gren]

I saw lots this year (we got stuck on the route behind the accident when we were cycling to watch the pros) on hybrids and bikes that looked like they should have a basket on the front. Not sure how tough it would be but there were plenty trying!

[Magic919]

See how you get on as you up your distances. I wouldn't dump the Whyte just yet. I've done L2B on a hybrid and it was ok.

[Usget]

You'll be fine on a hybrid I reckon.

[richardxjr]

Looks similar to my hybrid which is my only geared bike so I ride it everywhere. Done the alps (off there again actually), Dunwich run, Ride London (albeit with drop bars that day). If it's comfy, why not!

From the internets your gearing looks std compact 11-28 so don't understand your comment about being undergeared descending tbh. You'd run out of aero waaaaay before spinning out 50/11. (I struggle to spin out 40/11 down proper hills and Ride London is flat). Might suggest you need to up your cadence.

[alolympic]

Thanks guys, you're right.
I need to get fitter before I start worrying about incremental returns from another bike.
I think I will start by swapping my pedals to use clips and just get out more. Box Hill and Leith Hill are on my doorstep so I'm in a pretty enviable position,

[Pachydermus]

richardxjr said:

On Ride London you'd crash into some plonker who can't hold a line before spinning out 50/11.

efa