a visit to my LBS

[Blueberry]

Perhaps visit without your credit card or other source of payment so you *have* to think it over? Seriously, the other ladies are right - you have to ride lots of bikes to decide what works for you Try flat bars for yourself and try drops. You never know what will work for your style of riding....

[Jo-n-NY]

ditto to all the above....go out an try those bikes. You will be educating yourself.

I have a Specialized Sirrus that I really liked before getting a road bike. I considered the Sirrus a straight bar road bike, my dh said it is a form of a hybrid, whatever. Anyway, I am setting up the Sirrus as my errand/commute bike.

~ JoAnn

[surgtech1956]

Thanks, Yes, I will go and ride some bikes. Can you ever be too old(51) to get a drop bar bike??? Thats kind of the way I felt when I was at the LBS. But I will ride some different bikes before I purchase(I'm a bit tight with my $$$$).

[indysteel]

Thanks, Yes, I will go and ride some bikes. Can you ever be too old(51) to get a drop bar bike??? Thats kind of the way I felt when I was at the LBS. But I will ride some different bikes before I purchase(I'm a bit tight with my $$$$).

I would say no. A flat bar bike does not guarantee comfort or a good fit. I had more discomfort on my Trek FX (which is essentially a flat bar road bike) than I've ever had on my drop bar road bike. The fact that I couldn't move my hands around on the bars was a big issue for me.

Regardless of the type of bars, the trick is to get a bike with essentially the right geometry for your body and riding style and to then have it set up correctly vis-a-vis the bars, stem, saddle, etc, so that all the hand positions available to you are comfortable. There are drop bar bikes out there with a higher head tube that results in a more upright geometry--like the Pilot. Even road bikes with more traditional geometry can often be set up in such a way so they don't result in an aggressive, racing position. As you age and theoretically become less flexible, raising the bars a bit so that they're level with or slightly below your saddle may help with back issues, too. In my opinion, at any age, you ideally want to be balanced on your bike so that your hands/arms and butt share your body weight as evenly as possible. That not only results in more comfort, but better bike handling.

And speaking for a lot of the cyclists I know and those on the forum that are 50+, 51 isn't and doesn't have to be "old."

[surgtech1956]

OK, OK, - You all are right. I will keep keep an open mind - I usually always do anyways. I will go and test ride different bikes. Thanks for all the supportand great advice. It good to have different perspectives.

[Triskeliongirl]

I personally don't recommend a flat bar bike. It may feel more comfortable at first, the limited hand positions can create problems as you advance. Its all about fit, if the bike fits, drop bars are great (and I am 49 with two drop bar bikes, I even had my terry classic that came with flat bars converted to drop so I do know what I am talking about). I agree that you have to be careful about what some LBS employee thinks is the right bike for me, it can have more to do with moving inventory (or prejudices of their own) than understanding your needs. GO RIDE SOME BIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[indysteel]

And be wary of anyone at an LBS who is "pushing" a particular type of bike. That could be driven by nothing more than what they have in stock to unload. Furthermre, while she might love her flat bar bike, she may also have different cycling "needs" and "wants" than you so her preference may ultimatley be irrelevant.

You're already gotten some great advice on this threat to test ride as many bikes as you can. I'd ditto that.

[mimitabby]

Surgetech, I suppose you could be too old at some point, but i was 54 when i got my first road bike and I've put about 2000 miles on it since then.
So quit with the lame excuses. We're riding bikes because we don't want to GET old!

[Pax]

I bought my back-to-cycling bike because the seat was comfy...it never occurred to me I could buy a different seat if need be.

And Surg, 51 ain't old. I ride with several women who are in their 50's, a couple in their 60's, and 1 in her 70's...they all ride nice drop-bars roadbikes (and out ride my 46 year old butt). On my Trek 1500 I just had the shop swap out my stem for an adjustable one to take the pressure off my neck a bit, might be worth a try if that is a question for you as well.

[KnottedYet]

Surg - Age is not the issue.

Go. Ride. Some. Bikes.