Flat bar road bike - Seeking inputs
-
- Posts: 16
- Joined: Sat Mar 18, 2017 7:53 pm
Flat bar road bike - Seeking inputs
Postby Elsior » Sat Mar 18, 2017 8:26 pm
First post here, glad to find an Aussie cyclist forum. My wife and I are looking to get into cycling, mostly will be weekend ride on bike trails and the occasional grassy, dirt areas, but will consider long distance riding as we get fitter and more experienced. We're both new into cycling and would appreciate your feedback.
I'd like the bike to have the following features:
Flat bar (planning to add bar ends)
Rigid, alloy frame (to save cost), preferrably light weight (11kg or less)
Hydraulic disc brakes
Ideally 32mm tyres minimum (for comfort)
Carbon fork (to absorb vibration)
Preferably the drivertrain is not too entry level (the closer to 105 the better), not familiar with other brands
We've been going to bike shops, but haven't had the chance to visit all the ones we plan to visit. So far, we're considering:
1) Specialized Sirrus Elite Disc
2) Cannondale Quick 1 Disc
3) Giant FastRoad 1 SLR
4) Merida Speedster 400
Went to Trek shop but none of their FX models had disc brakes.
Any opinions on these bikes? Or do you have other models to add?
Cheers.
- Thoglette
- Posts: 6628
- Joined: Thu Feb 19, 2009 1:01 pm
Re: Flat bar road bike - Seeking inputs
Postby Thoglette » Sat Mar 18, 2017 9:08 pm
As Sheldon said: most people who don't like drops just don't like the way they've been set up. Usually very agresssively.
"People are worthy of respect, ideas are not." Peter Ellerton, UQ
- StevOz
- Posts: 142
- Joined: Thu Oct 29, 2015 6:37 pm
- Location: Dunsborough, WA.
Re: Flat bar road bike - Seeking inputs
Postby StevOz » Sat Mar 18, 2017 9:21 pm
Ticks all the boxes and is shiny.
http://www.fujibikes.com/au/bikes/city/ ... solute-1-3
- redsonic
- Posts: 1779
- Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2012 8:08 pm
- Location: Brisbane
Re: Flat bar road bike - Seeking inputs
Postby redsonic » Sun Mar 19, 2017 10:45 am
https://www.bikeexchange.com.au/a/flat- ... /102839485
-
- Posts: 499
- Joined: Mon Nov 02, 2015 8:25 pm
Re: Flat bar road bike - Seeking inputs
Postby robbo mcs » Sun Mar 19, 2017 1:07 pm
Any of the flat bar bikes bikes you have mentioned are going to do a reasonable job. Things to think about are whether you will want to add a rack at some stage. If so, check for mounting points.
-
- Posts: 908
- Joined: Mon Sep 09, 2013 5:33 pm
Re: Flat bar road bike - Seeking inputs
Postby koshari » Sun Mar 19, 2017 1:55 pm
very nice indeed. pretty exxy though.redsonic wrote:If I was in the market to replace my flat bar, I would jump at a Jamis Coda Elite. Ticks all your boxes, except CroMo frame with carbon fork (an improvement over aluminium, in my opinion):
https://www.bikeexchange.com.au/a/flat- ... /102839485
-
- Posts: 16
- Joined: Sat Mar 18, 2017 7:53 pm
Re: Flat bar road bike - Seeking inputs
Postby Elsior » Sun Mar 19, 2017 4:52 pm
Took my wife and I some time to get used to the dropbar, but we loved it! We thought the Secultura's riding position was still upright enough and its flatbar didn't make my wrists sore like it was ith Merida Speeder 400 (flatbar road bike).
I suppose we also need to test ride Specialized Sequia (as suggested above), Trek Domane and Cannondale Synapse. Any other recommendations for endurance bike?
Also how important are disc brakes? Ideally we want them on the bikes, but that pushes the price up significantly. Should we aim for better drivetrain with having rim brakes as a tradeoff?
- DavidS
- Posts: 3639
- Joined: Wed Sep 22, 2010 11:24 pm
- Location: Melbourne
Re: Flat bar road bike - Seeking inputs
Postby DavidS » Sun Mar 19, 2017 9:30 pm
I have V brakes on both bikes, discs are meant to be great but V brakes are very effective, rim brakes work fine. Yes they are less effective in the wet but the rims dry out quickly enough and brakes work. That said, I think I will look for discs next time I buy a bike.
DS
-
- Posts: 16
- Joined: Sat Mar 18, 2017 7:53 pm
Re: Flat bar road bike - Seeking inputs
Postby Elsior » Sun Mar 19, 2017 10:31 pm
Thanks DavidS. We did test a couple of drop bar endurance bikes and found the hand position on the hood more ergonomic.DavidS wrote:I have a flat bar and a drop bar, both have their advantages, go with what you prefer not what someone else recommends. Take the bikes for a reasonable test ride, the geometry is very important.
DS
We're now considering cyclocross bikes as well, so far the ones within our price range are:
Giant TXC SLR 2
Merida Cyclo Cross 500
Going to test ride more bikes next weekend.
-
- Posts: 499
- Joined: Mon Nov 02, 2015 8:25 pm
Re: Flat bar road bike - Seeking inputs
Postby robbo mcs » Mon Mar 20, 2017 3:59 am
Discs are nice to have, but shouldn't be a deal breaker. With dropbars hydraulic disks tend to give more leverage and make it easier to apply full brake force from the hoods. This is something that those with small hands, especially women, tend to find helpful.
- DavidS
- Posts: 3639
- Joined: Wed Sep 22, 2010 11:24 pm
- Location: Melbourne
Re: Flat bar road bike - Seeking inputs
Postby DavidS » Mon Mar 20, 2017 9:14 pm
Elsior, drop bars do offer some ergonomic advantages, since I have RSI, I do take a lot of notice of this. Flat bars are fine, but a lot of people prefer drop bars and there are more hand positions easily available.
When judging bikes also remember different brands and models have different geometry. The aspect which decided on the Cannondale flat bar for me was the relationship between saddle and handlebars, it suited me. Similarly, the first time I jumped on the Allegro it felt right and even on long rides it works for me. Many differences in the same sorts of bikes and when you find one that suits it makes a big difference.
Good luck.
DS
-
- Posts: 16
- Joined: Sat Mar 18, 2017 7:53 pm
Re: Flat bar road bike - Seeking inputs
Postby Elsior » Tue Mar 21, 2017 8:01 am
But then I found Polygon Bend RV, for $1600.
https://cyclingtips.com/2016/11/polygon ... ke-review/
It's got everything we need at the same pricepoint. Full Shimano 105 parts, hydro disc, carbon fork, good tire clearance, etc.
Only catch is it's available online only, through Bicycles Online, with 14 days return policy with full refund.
Anyone has had experience with Polygon and/or bicycles online?
I assume for servicing I can still take it to my LBS?
-
- Posts: 908
- Joined: Mon Sep 09, 2013 5:33 pm
Re: Flat bar road bike - Seeking inputs
Postby koshari » Tue Mar 21, 2017 9:14 am
or you can learn to do it yourself.Elsior wrote:
I assume for servicing I can still take it to my LBS?
-
- Posts: 1122
- Joined: Fri Jul 23, 2010 8:56 am
- Location: Bowral
Re: Flat bar road bike - Seeking inputs
Postby celeste boy » Tue Mar 21, 2017 1:20 pm
One of the guys I ride with bought a Polygon 29er MTB for about $1700. Loved it and since then 4 others have upgraded their old MTB to one of these. No problems with any of them and they have done a few km by now.Elsior wrote:I've been advised that re disc brakes, get hydro because mech doesn't self-adjust for pad wears. So that rules out Giant TXC SLR 2 and Merida Cyclocross 500.
But then I found Polygon Bend RV, for $1600.
https://cyclingtips.com/2016/11/polygon ... ke-review/
It's got everything we need at the same pricepoint. Full Shimano 105 parts, hydro disc, carbon fork, good tire clearance, etc.
Only catch is it's available online only, through Bicycles Online, with 14 days return policy with full refund.
Anyone has had experience with Polygon and/or bicycles online?
I assume for servicing I can still take it to my LBS?
CB
-
- Posts: 16
- Joined: Sat Mar 18, 2017 7:53 pm
Re: Flat bar road bike - Seeking inputs
Postby Elsior » Tue Mar 21, 2017 7:04 pm
I'm 173cm tall with 172cm wingspan. Based on their sizing guide, it's Small/Medium.
My wife is 164cm tall with 157cm wingspan. Based on their sizing guide, it's Small.
I plan to order one Small/Medium first for both of us (as I'm most likely that size anyway) to try on. It it suits her too, I'll get another Small/Medium for her. If she feels it's too big, I'll get a Small for her.
Is this the right way to approach this?
Or should we test ride bikes with similar geometry to simulate the feel as close as possible? If yes, any idea of such bikes?
PS: When testing other models (Merida Scultura, Giant Contend Disc SL1) I was on a Medium.
- Mububban
- Posts: 3069
- Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2008 12:19 pm
Re: Flat bar road bike - Seeking inputs
Postby Mububban » Tue Mar 21, 2017 11:20 pm
Whilst some bike shops might give you !! BAN ME NOW FOR SWEARING !! for bringing in a bike you bought online rather than in a store, I think only a moron turns away business. Car mechanics work on all brands of cars, if they turned business away that's money they're losing. No different for bike mechanics.Elsior wrote:Anyone has had experience with Polygon and/or bicycles online?
I assume for servicing I can still take it to my LBS?
-
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Tue May 05, 2020 10:16 am
Re: Flat bar road bike - Seeking inputs
Postby Yakobaj » Tue May 05, 2020 10:27 am
Fairly interested in one myself, but havent been totally sold on it yet. Much appreciated.
Return to “Buying a bike / parts”
- General Australian Cycling Topics
- Info / announcements
- Buying a bike / parts
- General Cycling Discussion
- The Bike Shed
- Cycling Health
- Cycling Safety and Advocacy
- Women's Cycling
- Bike & Gear Reviews
- Cycling Trade
- Stolen Bikes
- Bicycle FAQs
- The Market Place
- Member to Member Bike and Gear Sales
- Want to Buy, Group Buy, Swap
- My Bikes or Gear Elsewhere
- Serious Biking
- Audax / Randonneuring
- Retro biking
- Commuting
- MTB
- Recumbents
- Fixed Gear/ Single Speed
- Track
- Electric Bicycles
- Cyclocross and Gravel Grinding
- Dragsters / Lowriders / Cruisers
- Children's Bikes
- Cargo Bikes and Utility Cycling
- Road Racing
- Road Biking
- Training
- Time Trial
- Triathlon
- International and National Tours and Events
- Cycle Touring
- Touring Australia
- Touring Overseas
- Touring Bikes and Equipment
- Australia
- Western Australia
- New South Wales
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Victoria
- ACT
- Tasmania
- Northern Territory
- Country & Regional
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users
- All times are UTC+10:00
- Top
- Delete cookies
About the Australian Cycling Forums
The Australian Cycling Forums is a welcoming community where you can ask questions and talk about the type of bikes and cycling topics you like.
Bicycles Network Australia
Forum Information
Connect with BNA
This website uses affiliate links to retail platforms including ebay, amazon, proviz and ribble.