Flat bar road bikes???

[7rider]

Who rides a 'flat bar' bike? Is this just a personal choice or is there a real benefit?

A flat bar road bike is sort of a "hybrid hybrid"....
Generally, a roadbike frame with hybrid bike handlebars.

The geometry of the frame is different vs. a hybrid. It generally has skinnier tires - my commuter runs 25's in the summer and 28's in the winter, vs. the 23's on my road bike, and 32 or 35's you generally see on a hybrid.

I have a flatbar roadbike as my commuter. I find it's geometry more to my liking. I like the zippiness of the ride - I found hybrids tended to be rather plodding. But I wanted the upright position and quick braking that the flatbars offered for in-city commuting (read: slower speed vs. my drop bar bike). I also didn't want to be worn down with needless suspension that seems to be the rage in "comfort" bikes these days. In fact, my commuter came with a suspension seatpost, and that was the first thing to go.

But...as with everything bikes: what you get all depends on what you want, what you intend to do with it, and what your preferences are....
My "benefits" of a flatbar bike vs. hybrid may not jibe with others...

[rij73]

Oh yeah, I forgot to say that almost everything marketed as a "hybrid" these days has a suspension fork which is not appropriate for the riding I do.

[Pax]

Oh yeah, I forgot to say that almost everything marketed as a "hybrid" these days has a suspension fork which is not appropriate for the riding I do.

I've started referring to mine as an "urban commuter" for that reason, I had a hybrid and it was much more squishy and not nearly as responsive.

[Jolt]

Oh yeah, I forgot to say that almost everything marketed as a "hybrid" these days has a suspension fork which is not appropriate for the riding I do.

Yeah, seems the only hybrids with no suspension are older models (like mine, which is from probably the mid-90's). I don't think I'd want suspension either--I don't need any help being slow, it's just another thing that can break, and if you learn to get out of the saddle a bit when you hit a rough patch it's totally unnecessary.

[sbctwin]

I have a Lightspeed Bella road bike. When I bought the bike, I had the drops changed out to a flat bar. I was very uncomfortable with drops on all the road bikes I test road. Mind you, I am short, and I didn't have much to choose from. I think, now that I have done a bit of riding in the last 2 years, I may choose to get drops put back on. But I would have to save up because it would be a costly changeover. My LBS did a wonderful job in changing out parts for me when I bought my bike.

[rij73]

I have a Lightspeed Bella road bike. When I bought the bike, I had the drops changed out to a flat bar. I was very uncomfortable with drops on all the road bikes I test road. Mind you, I am short, and I didn't have much to choose from. I think, now that I have done a bit of riding in the last 2 years, I may choose to get drops put back on. But I would have to save up because it would be a costly changeover. My LBS did a wonderful job in changing out parts for me when I bought my bike.

That sounds like a nice bike. In a couple of years when I'll want to upgrade my ride, I'll probably also go for a nice road bike and convert it to flat-bar (unless by then I just want to go with drop bars).