Road Bike or Comfort

[kziggy]

Well here is the thing. In talking with my husband last night and hew says to me that road bikes compared to my felt verza is going to go faster easier. He also says to me that my bike is just something that well is only a mid grade bike not something if I wanted to ride serious distance. Now I understand the road bikes are amazing but I just dont have the money for one right now. My bike I have says its a good mix for both road path and some tails. While I don't plan on riding the trails the bike paths yes. I dont plan on being like some crazy super star rider but I would like to do a nice long ride at some point. So here is my question are rode bikes that much better then my bike?
I am thinking of taking this up with my Local Bike Shop guy as well... I am maybe thinking of getting something along the lines of a road bike maybe next year if I stick with my distance riding.
Thanks

[kziggy]

this is the bike I am looking at Jamis book
http://www.myjamis.com/SSP%20Applications/JamisBikes/MyJamis/consumer/bike.html?year=2013&model=Ventura%20Sport%20Femme&cat_grp=fem_4

[thekarens]

Obviously it's easier to go long distances on a road bike than hybrid. However, having said that, I know and know of several people who have done centuries and endurance rides on a mountain bike. It's about fitness.

As far as Jamis goes I think you get a lot of bang for the buck. I love mine.

[kziggy]

Thank I think this year I am going to just ride the crap outta my felt and see what I want to do next year

[Trek420]

Obviously it's easier to go long distances on a road bike than hybrid. However, having said that, I know and know of several people who have done centuries and endurance rides on a mountain bike. It's about fitness.

^ that. It's also about the tires, fit of the bike. Lots of folks do endurance rides on a mountain bike with slicks. If you have FS is there a locking option on the fork? I'd continue to ride your ride then later on when you get a road bike this becomes the back up or winter bike.

[thekarens]

That bike only has a front fork and you can lock it out, at least my partner who has the same bike told me it can be locked.

[ny biker]

I've done long rides on pavement on a mountain bike with slicks. It's definitely easier on a road bike, regardless of how fit you are.

But, looking at the Felt website, I think the Verza would be fine for trying some longer rides. And if you don't have the money for a new bike right now and you're just getting back into cycling, I think it makes sense to ride the bike you have, figure out what you do and don't enjoy about cycling, then think about getting a road bike (or other new bike) when it's in your budget.

[kziggy]

Thanks

[Kiwi Stoker]

Have you looked into a flat barred road bike? Take the comfort of a more upright position but the frame, wheels and gearing of a road bike. Some come with slightly wider tyres too (28s) so you can still do well packed gravel trails.

I certainly did centuries on a flat bar bike.

However I agree, just ride what you have for now and evaluate later if your needs change.

[Catrin]

Have you looked into a flat barred road bike? Take the comfort of a more upright position but the frame, wheels and gearing of a road bike. Some come with slightly wider tyres too (28s) so you can still do well packed gravel trails.

I certainly did centuries on a flat bar bike.

However I agree, just ride what you have for now and evaluate later if your needs change.

This would be a great option for longer rides IF you decide that what you currently have won't work for longer rides. It is SO easy for us to get caught up in the thinking that THIS kind of bike is necessary for THAT kind of riding when that isn't always the case. You may find that your hands might have issues with flat bars for longer rides - but there are ways to address that which may not require road bars. For me, my hands can't handle road bars so I actually ride with 2-inch riser bars on my bike. Have fun experimenting and find out what works for YOUR body :)

[kziggy]

My bike does have the lock out forks. As far as bars go I like them I think I just need to stop questioning what kind of bike I need and just ride what I have. I think we'll to be faster I should have a road bike but if my bike is a step or two below I should just ride it.

[Melalvai]

You can go on a long ride on any kind of bike. You just count "long" in hours, not in miles. A 7 hour ride is a 7 hour ride, whether you go a century on a road bike, 70 miles on a hybrid, 50 miles on a mountain bike, or less on whatever your combination of bike & fitness make it.

There are a few reasons to get a different kind of bike. 1) You are riding with friends who have better bikes, and it is a struggle to keep up with them. 2) You want to bag a century. 3) Your bike isn't comfortable for a long ride.

[OakLeaf]

One of my riding buddies does most of his miles on his 29'er, even though he has a road bike. Including the first day of the Columbus Fall Challenge, 112 miles and 10,000 feet of climbing including several 25% climbs. With the knobby tires on (but yes, the suspension locked out).

I originally wrote "one of the strongest riders I know," but that's not even true. He rides his own pace and couldn't come close to keeping up with the really strong riders in our area. But he's gotten a lot stronger by riding his mountain bike regardless of the terrain.

What Mel said, as long as "bagging" a century means doing it as fast as possible, not just completing it.

Do an organized ride in Amish country some time. Most rides will have a few Mennonite women in their long dresses, on their heavy, upright, three-speed or single-speed bikes, nailing the century.

There are plenty of reasons for all of us to want a bike that's lighter, more aerodynamic, stiffer and more efficient. Not too many reasons any of us non-racers need one. If you want it and can afford it, go for it.

[ny biker]

There are plenty of reasons for all of us to want a bike that's lighter, more aerodynamic, stiffer and more efficient. Not too many reasons any of us non-racers need one.

I respectfully disagree. I need a lighter more efficient bike to do the type of rides I want to do within a reasonable amount of time with the hills that I need to climb in this area.

When I first got a bike as a adult, a mountain bike, I thought people who do centuries are crazy. After a few years of riding my mountain bike on roads and paved trails (in addition to dirt), and doing longer and longer distances, I decided I wanted to try a century after all, and I wanted a road bike to make it easier. I am not a fast rider so the ability to ride a few mph faster on a road bike made a real difference over so many miles.

My first road bike was aluminum. It was a good bike and I enjoyed riding it for years. But there were some fit issues. When the LBS manager suggested I try a WSD bike, and that I should consider a carbon frame, I spent 5+ hours thinking about his recommendation while riding a hilly metric century. I decided that the lighter more comfortable bike was worth the investment because I'm not getting any younger and I'm certainly not getting any faster. If I'm going to be on the bike for that many hours, a better bike made sense.

I have absolutely no regrets about this progression from one bike to another, because the bikes I've had made sense for the rider I was at the time. When I first bought that mountain bike, I really had no idea what kind of cycling I would enjoy.

I have siblings and friends who ride inexpensive hybrid bikes and they're totally happy with them, because they're happy doing shorter rides and have no interest in anything else.

Someone who has a good hybrid/comfort bike who is just getting into cycling should go ahead and ride that bike. Kziggy might decide she loves long rides and will be happier doing them on a road bike. Or she might decide that much saddle time is not all that much fun after all, and the bike she has is great for the rides she does enjoy.

[kziggy]

Well the road bike will be here soon for me. After a ten mile ride on Saturday and a surprise birthday party I will have my Jamis