Road Bike Regrets?

[la bicicleta]

Just wondering if there are any women who regretted buying a road bike. Maybe found out it wasn't for them. All I've been reading are positive experiences. I'm still debating whether to make the transition from a comfort hybrid to an entry-level road bike. As a pre-teen, years ago, I did have a 10-speed.

[lph]

I've been commuting for years on a mtb, and I bought a used road bike this summer.

I most certainly don't regret buying my road bike, but I am very happy I still have my commuter bike, and at the moment, my dhs old bike to use for hopping around in the woods. There's a reason "everybody" here uses mtb for everyday use, they are more practical and robust.

And I'm happy I haven't dropped lots of money on buying a road bike. I think if I'd spent loads on a really, really nice bike I'd be feeling I should be using it more than just for whizzing around for fun a couple of days a week.

[Dianyla]

No real regrets, but in retrospect it would have been more sensible to have bought a nice commuter-worthy roadbike first (capable of having fenders, racks, etc), and then bought the light fun racy bike second. I spend a lot more time on the commuter bike these days. But they're both road bikes so... I don't suppose that answers your question.

For me, the switch from mountain/hybrid to road was amazing. No going back, even my clunky commuter bike is so much lighter and faster.

[indigoiis]

I went used, and regret not having a couple thousand to get a new one.

No really, I kept the mountain/hybrid, and still use it occasionally, but I much prefer the roadie.

My roadie has wider tires/wheels than most. It was built hybrid style. This was great at first but now I am looking at upgrading the wheels.

[uforgot]

I didn't "go" from one to the other. I had a hybrid, and then got a road bike. I still have the hybrid and it's my commuter. My road bike has clipless pedals and is intended for long weekend rides, but my commuter has two sided pedals, a more comfortable seat, racks and fenders and I can just hop on it, no matter how I'm dressed, to run errands or commute. I like having both, but I certainly am glad I don't have a road bike exclusively. Guess it depends on how you intend to use it.

There are also bikes that give you the best of both worlds, like a touring bike. I"m always going to the Rivendell pages just to dream, or you can look at LisaSh's bike on her site. Mmmmm....some day!

[Thorn]

No regrets about the road bike, either. I love the road bike. When I bought the hybrid I would never have believed that the road bike was more comfortable for long rides.

If I have a regret is that I wasn't reading these forums before I bought the road bike. Although I found a good bike shop and got a good bike, after learning so much here, I probably would have done a few things differently.

[TexanCzexican]

NO regrets about the road bike, but do have regrets about the mtb. Thought it'd be something I'd like, but no so much. Am working on switching it to a commuter.

[KnottedYet]

I have two "road" bikes (both are cyclocross bikes). One is a compact double and set up with clipless and narrower tires and a computer, no fenders/rack. It's my fast bike. The other is a triple and has full commuter kit and lights and wider tires and will soon have honkin' huge platform BMX pedals just cuz I like them.

Anything I'd've done with my hybrid I can do with my cx commuter. Except she's still too new for me to feel comfortable locking her up to an outside rack while I go grocery shopping. I fret...

[Zen]

What kind of riding do you do?
Do you commute?
How many miles per week do you ride?
Like Uforgot said, it depends on how you want to use it.

[CorsairMac]

Just wondering if there are any women who regretted buying a road bike. Maybe found out it wasn't for them. All I've been reading are positive experiences. I'm still debating whether to make the transition from a comfort hybrid to an entry-level road bike. As a pre-teen, years ago, I did have a 10-speed.

Is there a reason you want to make the transition?..ie...you want to go faster?...you want a lighter weight bike?....you plan on increasing your miles?
If you like the comfort hybrid and it's working for you - there's no reason to make the change.

I started commuting on a hybrid and switched to a road bike as soon as I could afford one because I Really Like Going Fast!!!! Especially going downhill! I've since sold my hybrid to a friend who is very happy tooling around on it and that's enough for him! They're both happy!!!

[Zen]

To answer your question though, I'm sort of having regrets.
Not too bad though. If I had known then what I know now I'd go for a cross or touring bike so I could have a lighter road bike (anything would be lighter than my 1990 MTB behemoth) and a bike that I could ride on our local canal towpath.

[mixie]

I hadn't been on a bike in over 20 years and even back then didn't ride much. I was ten and had a kids BMX bike

I bought an entry level road bike as my first bike (specialized dolce) and my only regret is not spending more and getting something a little nicer. Oh, my other regret is that I can't ride as much due to this damn job I have

[karen]

I somewhat regret getting a road bike. I started out on a hybrid, and traded up a few weeks later (thanks, Performance!) to a comfort road bike. The main problem that appeared once I switched was hand pain! I have carpal tunnel already, so that added pressure on my hands was bad news. I believe I also gave myself tennis elbow on the left during my first ride on the road bike - putting my front weight on my left hand while i grabbed the camel back straw... I added two handle-bar extenders so now it "looks" like a hybrid with its upright seating, but has thinner wheels (still not super thin or slick, though, as it's a "comfort" road bike), is lighter, and has WAY better gearing.

[coyote]

To answer your question though, I'm sort of having regrets.
Not too bad though. If I had known then what I know now I'd go for a cross or touring bike so I could have a lighter road bike (anything would be lighter than my 1990 MTB behemoth) and a bike that I could ride on our local canal towpath.

I'm with zen...I'm thinking that a cross\tour bike would have been a better choice. We have a lot of bad roads and louse gravel and sandy soil. The wider tires and longer wheel would be nice.

I do not regret giving up the hybrid.

[northstar]

I don't regret getting a road bike one bit. But, as a previous poster mentioned, I do lust after a bike more set up for touring with racks and fenders. My road bike is a little too racy. But I love it!!