So I might as well be a new rider...

[featuretile]

I bought a 2008 Vita Sport by Specialized. It is equivalent to a 2009 Vita Elite. They call it a flat bar road bike. It has a Dolce seat. It is a WSD small which is 51cm (I'm 5'3"). From the moment I got it, it was so comfortable. No complaints in the seat area, shoulders or hands. It weighs 22 lbs. (unlike my first comfort hybrid Globe which weighed 35 lbs.) The various models are between $500-$880. It goes faster and is easy to ride. I bought a bigger rear cassette for hills, and some ergonomic bar ends for longer rides.

I wonder when I read this forum and am around bike club people, why they consider this bike a 'cute little hybrid'. I read about the Sora components as if they are cheap and not good, but it seems to work fine. I don't think I would ever use drop handlebars, so why would I need them? Is this some sort of status thing to pay lots of money for a road bike, or are they really that much better? I also read about all the body pains and complaints with these more aggressive styled bikes, and I don't have any. So, perhaps if I rode one I would notice a difference (or not). Right now this suits me just fine and I think you might like to test one yourself.

[redrhodie]

I wonder when I read this forum and am around bike club people, why they consider this bike a 'cute little hybrid'. I read about the Sora components as if they are cheap and not good, but it seems to work fine. I don't think I would ever use drop handlebars, so why would I need them? Is this some sort of status thing to pay lots of money for a road bike, or are they really that much better? I also read about all the body pains and complaints with these more aggressive styled bikes, and I don't have any. So, perhaps if I rode one I would notice a difference (or not). Right now this suits me just fine and I think you might like to test one yourself.

No, it's not a "status" thing to ride a road bike. Like the way your bike suits you, a road bike suits me. I cannot ride comfortably with flat bars due to wrist issues. I am comfortable in an aero position, and I most often ride in the drops. Road bike geometry is right for me.

I'm glad you've found a bike you like. It sounds like someone offended you for riding it, but just remember to do what works for you, and ignore the rest. We are here to support and encourage your love of the sport.

And the price of different component groups is due to weight, finish, and quality. If you are happy with what you have, no need to change because you feel pressured. There's no pressure on this forum, as far as I can tell (except maybe to wear wool as much as possible ).

Good luck!

[Owlie]

I wonder when I read this forum and am around bike club people, why they consider this bike a 'cute little hybrid'. I read about the Sora components as if they are cheap and not good, but it seems to work fine. I don't think I would ever use drop handlebars, so why would I need them? Is this some sort of status thing to pay lots of money for a road bike, or are they really that much better? I also read about all the body pains and complaints with these more aggressive styled bikes, and I don't have any. So, perhaps if I rode one I would notice a difference (or not). Right now this suits me just fine and I think you might like to test one yourself.

I know what you mean. I have a road bike, but it's entry level--Sora components, that sort of thing. They work as well as they need to. BF's bike is Ultegra--lighter, shinier...He teases me about my "cheap bike" (his wheels cost more than my bike), but I don't care. It's my bike, it suits me for where I am right now. The components may one day be upgraded (when I have money), but right now, I'm quite happy with it.

[Cataboo]

I know what you mean. I have a road bike, but it's entry level--Sora components, that sort of thing. They work as well as they need to. BF's bike is Ultegra--lighter, shinier...He teases me about my "cheap bike" (his wheels cost more than my bike), but I don't care. It's my bike, it suits me for where I am right now. The components may one day be upgraded (when I have money), but right now, I'm quite happy with it.

I think your BF should upgrade your "cheap bike" as a present to you... or shut up about it

It's the motor that counts... not the bike (although having a well fitting one makes a huge difference)

[Owlie]

I think your BF should upgrade your "cheap bike" as a present to you... or shut up about it

It's the motor that counts... not the bike (although having a well fitting one makes a huge difference)

It's good-natured, really. His old road bike was pretty much the same thing I have (OCR3). Besides, I have more than enough to tease him about.

He has brought up the possibility of helping me upgrade it, though, since when that time rolls around, I'll be living off a graduate student stipend. Nothing higher than 105 in all likelihood, because given the cost of the bike, anything better would be silly.

[Cataboo]

I suppose ultegra is lighter - but I can't tell a difference between my 10 speed ultegra or my 10 speed 105 components shift wise.

[Kris]

It has occurred to me that if my objective is to get exercise, which it is, I may be better off with a heavier bike that makes me work harder, as long as I'm not trying to keep up with anyone else.

[Cataboo]

It has occurred to me that if my objective is to get exercise, which it is, I may be better off with a heavier bike that makes me work harder, as long as I'm not trying to keep up with anyone else.

You don't want a bike that's hard or unpleasant to ride - because then you're less likely to actually ride it and enjoy it.

I've been more or less upgrading constantly over the last year (okay I stopped about 4 months ago when I found what I really wanted).... And riding isn't getting "easier" I'm just riding faster and a lot harder than I used to... I'm still exhausted at the end of a good ride. I'm just doing that ride in a lot shorter time without breaks...

[KSH]

I bought a 2008 Vita Sport by Specialized. It is equivalent to a 2009 Vita Elite. They call it a flat bar road bike. It has a Dolce seat. It is a WSD small which is 51cm (I'm 5'3"). From the moment I got it, it was so comfortable. No complaints in the seat area, shoulders or hands. It weighs 22 lbs. (unlike my first comfort hybrid Globe which weighed 35 lbs.) The various models are between $500-$880. It goes faster and is easy to ride. I bought a bigger rear cassette for hills, and some ergonomic bar ends for longer rides.

I wonder when I read this forum and am around bike club people, why they consider this bike a 'cute little hybrid'. I read about the Sora components as if they are cheap and not good, but it seems to work fine. I don't think I would ever use drop handlebars, so why would I need them? Is this some sort of status thing to pay lots of money for a road bike, or are they really that much better? I also read about all the body pains and complaints with these more aggressive styled bikes, and I don't have any. So, perhaps if I rode one I would notice a difference (or not). Right now this suits me just fine and I think you might like to test one yourself.

Well a true road bike with drops is all about performance. Obviously everyone has different goals on their bike.

Your bike works wonderful for you and how you use it.

It wouldn't work for me. A road bike works for me. I'm a triathlete, and I have used my road bike for everything from a sprint all the way up to an Ironman.

I also do local group rides of 30 miles where we keep a 18-20 mph average (not the rolling speed- but the overall average at the end of the ride- we are typically rolling at speeds of 20-26 mph).

You mention Sorta components. I started on Tiagra components with my first roadie, a Trek 1000... and they sucked.

I now have all Ultegra. Night and day difference.

The Tiagra components needed to CONSTANTLY be adjusted. In fact, I rode around on that stupid bike for a good 3 months where I couldn't even get into the big chain ring. I also had to have the bike shop adjust the derailer once a week.

My Ultegra components... no adjustments. In fact, I've only had 2 tune up's since January 2007. One of those was the "new bike" tune up.

I'm sorry if someone made you feel bad about the bike you ride. There are some people in this sport who are very serious about it. They aren't in it to "have fun"... they are all about speed, racing, etc. and tend to lose sight of the fact that not everyone is into cycling for those reasons.

Anyways... Trust me, we don't get roadies for the status symbol of owning one. They are machines that have a purpose.