Flat bar road bikes???

[KnottedYet]

It just depends on what kind of handlebar you like.

Flat bar road bikes have bars like hybrids. They can also take moustache, trekking, or albatross bars.

It's just a road bike with shifters/levers that suit a flat bar or some variation of a flat bar.

[rij73]

I ride one. For me, I wanted a bike that would be fun for fitness laps around the park, but would also work in Manhattan traffic (complete with lousy pavement). Having not had a bike for years, I did some research, tried out some bikes, and felt most comfortable with the flat-bar road style. It's relatively light and zippy (unlike many hybrids), but with a slightly more upright position and beefier tires than a real road bike. In other words, a really good compromise for my needs at the moment!

See my "I love my bike" thread: http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=15672

[Pax]

I ride one. For me, I wanted a bike that would be fun for fitness laps around the park, but would also work in Manhattan traffic (complete with lousy pavement). Having not had a bike for years, I did some research, tried out some bikes, and felt most comfortable with the flat-bar road style. It's relatively light and zippy (unlike many hybrids), but with a slightly more upright position and beefier tires than a real road bike. In other words, a really good compromise for my needs at the moment!

See my "I love my bike" thread: http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=15672

Ditto that...my new commuter is zippy enough for urban assault trips without being as fragile as my road bike would be in that circumstance. I LOVE how I can whip it around and abuse it a bit without it getting trashed.