Second hand mountain bike or hybrid

FrenchTart said:
Having drop handlebars is about more than just riding in the drops. This has been discussed multiple times and just recently in a thread you posted in a fair bit :confused:

https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18721954
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Apologies but it's a just a pet hate and I'll be converting my Forme Longcliffe to straight handlebars later this year because, FOR ME, what is on there is pointless.
I'm still waiting to see somebody use their drop handlebars on normal roads.

touch said:
Yet you can't tell the difference between time trial bars and flat bars?
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Of course I can, that's why I used the term 'virtually straight'.


Anyway, off topic.
 
Obviously it's fine if you prefer flat handlebars and/or find them pointless. That doesn't make them pointless for everyone though :)

As in the above linked post, using the drops isn't the only reason to get drop handlebars.
 
touch said:
TT bars are the complete opposite of straight. The handles point directly forward, 90degrees away from straight.

They are horrifically uncomfortable and dont have any relevance to your argument of drop bars vs flat bars.
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So what are those in the picture above that Wiggins is using because it isn't them you posted a photograph of (unless it's a trick of the light)?

I stand corrected, apologies.
 
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Even if you're really convinced drops aren't for you, moustache bars would still be more comfy than flats.

Gah, not moustache bars, the other ones... What are they called...
 
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SexyGreyFox said:
So what are those in the picture above that Wiggins is using because it isn't them you posted a photograph of (unless it's a trick of the light)?

I stand corrected, apologies.
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It's just the angle of the photo.
Here is the same bike side-on:
M3IT0bo.jpg

But, back on topic, drop bars are faster if you are flexible and comfortable enough to use them. Some people prefer flat bars for the more relaxed riding position. there isnt one type which is 'better' than the other - you need to get what suits you best.
 
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Nothing polarises the sub forum quite like the topic of the humble drop bar :p

In an attempt to get back on topic... Boardman bikes tend to have quite a decent spec for the money but come into their own when heavily reduced. I'm pretty sure that all the new Boardman models are out now so discounts might be few and far between.

Your best next step is to think where you plan to ride over a given month. I know this is quite hard but if you can roughly profile it the right type of bike will basically be decided for you. This can then be refined further. I.e. if you decide on a hybrid do you want a bit of suspension? Are you at the MTB end of the spectrum or the flat bar road bike end? Will you be happy on skinny tyres or do you need a bit more rubber for the rough stuff? Then you can concentrate on the specifics.
 
lordrobs said:
Your best next step is to think where you plan to ride over a given month. I know this is quite hard but if you can roughly profile it the right type of bike will basically be decided for you. This can then be refined further. I.e. if you decide on a hybrid do you want a bit of suspension? Are you at the MTB end of the spectrum or the flat bar road bike end? Will you be happy on skinny tyres or do you need a bit more rubber for the rough stuff? Then you can concentrate on the specifics.
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I'm still upset from buying my first bike because I know I was given bad advice.
I'd gone to 3 'Pro' shops we have in this area and all suggested a road bike.
I had told them that around 15 to 20% of my commute would be on canal towpath (some bits with Coronation Street cobblestones) and they still all suggested a road bike because 80% of my commute was road/flat paths/cycle lanes.
As soon as I took my first commute I realised I was on the wrong bike because that 15 to 20% was more important than anything else and I thought I was going to destroy the bike. After a week one bloke on an MTB who came past me actually said 'Ever thought you were on the wrong bike mate?' when I was on the cobbles.
I then had to alter my commute so I had to take in all main roads which I wasn't happy with but had to endure because I was on a road bike.
I then had an accident on black ice, felt very uncomfortable on a road bike so bought a Carrera hybrid which I felt 100% safer on and was able to go back to my original commute where I had little contact with motorists and that is the commute I do 3 years on.

Just to explain the 100% safer before somebody shouts at me:
When I get on my road bike on a Sunday morning I feel like I'm a tightrope walker on a 1" wire with no balancing aid but when I'm on my hybrid or MTB I feel like I'm on a 2" wire with a bar to aid my balance.
 
Just get the bike you like as you will ride it more often. After a year of riding you can then work our what bike will suit your needs.

SexyGreyFox seems to be on a 1 man crusade against road bikes. In my experience most people who commute should get a road bike as it is designed for roads. Clearly you have had a bad experience but that does mean they are not the best option for the vast majority of people.
 
As much as I completely disagree with SGF's point I guess it's probably good that we have someone a bit militant about MTBs and such. There are plenty of roadies that chime in (me included) with fairly one-sided advice in these threads.

SGF is still wrong though :p
 
Liefrich said:
Just get the bike you like as you will ride it more often. After a year of riding you can then work our what bike will suit your needs.

SexyGreyFox seems to be on a 1 man crusade against road bikes. In my experience most people who commute should get a road bike as it is designed for roads. Clearly you have had a bad experience but that does mean they are not the best option for the vast majority of people.
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I use my road bike when I go for a ride on a Sunday morning and I choose a route that is very suitable for the road bike.
My commute on the other hand is not suitable for a road bike but I had zero experience at the time I was told to have one, even though I told them what I would be riding on.
Road bikes are like Ferrari's and I will always stop to admire them when they are chained up (I don't look at hybrids or MTB's) but just make sure you buy the right bike for your commute.
I love road bikes.
 
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FrenchTart said:
As much as I completely disagree with SGF's point I guess it's probably good that we have someone a bit militant about MTBs and such. There are plenty of roadies that chime in (me included) with fairly one-sided advice in these threads.

SGF is still wrong though :p
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I'm not wrong - I have a road bike, a hybrid and an MTB and the one I get the most pleasure out of is my road bike HOWEVER they all have their place and the best places to ride them.
If you think that is wrong then I can't debate further.
The problem is that a lot of road bike users will suggest a road bike when quite clearly some of the commute will not be road bike friendly.
 
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