Flat bar or drops?

[FlyingScot]

Hi all! As some of you will remember I got into cycling last summer. I bought a Specialized Globe which I absolutely love. I have found, however, that I have difficulty keeping up with my friends on road bikes so I'm looking to purchase one to add to my stable. I'm leaning toward a Specialized because mine fits me so well (even the saddle) but here's my problem. I broke my neck in 2001 and have chronic issues with nerve pain and radiculopathy in my left arm and hand. I have to use a towel roll to support my head on long car drives or the pain becomes unbearable. I'm concerned about getting a bike with drop handles and having to hold my head up in a stretched out position for riding( I ride between 20 and 36 miles a day when the weather allows). Specialized makes a flat-bar road bike (the Vita) that intrigues me. I'm looking at the Dolce as well. I'm not a racer. Any words of advice or caution regarding choice of handle bars? Would adjusting the stem higher even with drop handles make a difference? Any help will be appreciated.

[ilima]

There are some road bikes with drop bars that are designed to be ridden in a more upright position. They tend to have a taller head tube and less reach.

Examples include Felt's Z series, Cannondale Synapse, and several steel bikes in Jamis' line. Nice thing about the Jamis Satellite, Quest & Eclipse is that they are steel, which does help absorb more road buzz than aluminum. Tires, wheels, and handlebars (I do find my carbon bars to dampen more buzz than the older alum bars) also affect how much road chatter is transmitted to the rider.

So it's a heck of a lot more complicated than flat vs. drop bars as far as comfort goes!

[FlyingScot]

Good point. I guess it boils down to this. Is a flat bar road bike basically the same thing as what I've all ready got only lighter? I forgot to mention that I am extremely long waisted with very short legs and arms which might actually be the problem more than the handlebars. I'll be riding both the Specialized bikes this weekend to see how they feel. Any more suggestions?

[7rider]

A flatbar road bike will have a more agressive geometry and tend to be "zippier" than your Globe. It will also have skinnnier tires and likely quicker handling. It will handle like a road bike!
You can get a road bike with drop bars that has a more upright ride that will be kinder to your neck. A flatbar bike is also a good option.
Really....you already know what to do....go to the LBS and test ride them and see which one works best for you!

[FlyingScot]

Yeah, I know. It's the $$$ investment that makes me want to be absoltuely sure this a good decision. I'm looking at spending between $1200-1600 and that's a lot of money for me so I want to be heading in the right direction. My last road bike (that was never fitted) was terrible and I tended to think it was the drops but the more I investigate I think it just was the wrong bike for me. I don't want to rule out drops if they weren't the problem in the first place.

[indigoiis]

I had a Specialized Dolce and it was a very upright geometry (too much so for me) and super ultra padded bar tape, plus brake levers on the upper deck. Swank! You should test ride...

[Crankin]

My friend, who recently got into riding, has the Vita. She loves it, but the tires are still fatter than most road bikes (28's). She is a very slow rider, so I can't comment if it would allow you to keep up with your friends. I would look at some of the "upright" dropped bar bikes.

[Cataboo]

You can get a fairly upright road bike that you ride on the flats (there are handlebars that are flatting on the upper section to be wrist friendly)... and you can shift/brake using the hoods. That way you'll still have the drops if you want them going down a hill or to sprint.

[HillSlugger]

The Specialized Sequoia is a drop bar bike with relaxed geometry and a more upright posture. The Specialized Sirrus is a flat bar road bike. Both are definitely more zippy that your current bike,

[fidlfreek]

Basically, I think people are saying, don't be afraid to get a road bike w/ a drop bar and also w/ an easy riding geometry that puts you more upright. More of a "plush bike" is the industry term. The drops could just be an additional option for you to use whenever you felt comfortable. I see the drop bars as nothing but providing options.

[HillSlugger]

BTW, I rarely use the drop position on my drop bar bike (I'm much more comfortable on the hoods) but it's there when I need it.

[aicabsolut]

I'd say go with a compact drop bar. The advantages of a drop bar, even when you are not using the drops, is that you have more hand positions. It could be that just rotating the direction of your palms can help you find a comfortable spot relative to your neck problems.
Having a shallow drop bar means that when you do get in the drops, you won't notice a significant difference in how much more you have to look up to see enough. Use the drops sparingly, like when you need to do a lot of descending. Then, you don't need to necessarily look way up the road (you are kind of looking down the road anyway), but you will have some of the handling and stability advantages of a drop bar. You can also make drop bars fit you as relaxed as you need. If you have to crane your head up too much for your comfort, then you've gone to aggressive. A Specialized WSD bike will have a shorter reach (shorter TT) and a bit taller of a head tube. The Roubaix would fit you if WSD geometry (in the TT especially) isn't for you, because it is relaxed with a 2cm taller head tube than more aggressive bikes like the Tarmac or Allez. You may need average outward reach, but you don't want to go too low in front. If you like Specialized, I would look at the Roubaix and Ruby or Dolce. FYI, the Ruby has some aggressive bits to the fork rake and rear triangle that the Roubaix does not have (for handling, stiffness, and responsiveness purposes), but for sizing, the Ruby runs approximately one size smaller than the Roubaix (i.e., a 56 Ruby is similar to a 54 Roubaix).

[aicabsolut]

Oh, as for drop bars, you might want to consider the following compact or WSD bars:

3T (i forget which one is which, but they have some very shallow drop bars now, that come down to a 38cm size)
Specialized WSD bars
Bontrager WSD bars

These are probably the most shallow that I've seen lately.

[sundial]

Basically, I think people are saying, don't be afraid to get a road bike w/ a drop bar and also w/ an easy riding geometry that puts you more upright. More of a "plush bike" is the industry term. The drops could just be an additional option for you to use whenever you felt comfortable. I see the drop bars as nothing but providing options.

My thoughts also. Specialized cornered the market with "plush bikes"--the Sequoia, Roubaix, and the Dolce. These are lightweight zippy bikes but have a less aggressive geometry than the other road bikes.

Besides the handlebars, you might want to consider a taller stem. Nitto makes one. Also, Specialized has stems that adjust to different angles.

[NbyNW]

I know this is a very individual decision, but I can't help but wonder whether a recumbent might also be worth looking into. There are a few people on this message board who ride 'bents, and they are beautiful! (both the riders and the bikes)