a visit to my LBS

[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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!