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10-01-2003, 10:31 AM

Buck wrote:
:: "Slider2699" <juuiiniy@kuim.com> wrote in message
:: news:rMneb.45898$Ci5.1415257@twister.tampabay.rr.c om...
::: I'm thinking of buying one of the flat bar road bikes on the
::: market. Plan to use it for errands and occasional commuting ( my
::: main commuter is a road bike). I'd like the bike to have rack
::: bosses, and fender bosses if possible. I can always use clip on
::: fenders, but need a rack mount. I can spend $1000 but would prefer
::: to pay less. I use a slick tired hardtail MTB now, but I'd like to
::: convert that back to dirt use. I read a writeup on the Kona Dr. Dew
::: in Bike Mag but it's kind of pricey. Anybody have a cheaper
::: alternative?
::
:: Mike,
::
:: I was in the market for one as well, but I was shooting for
:: something with discs and possibly suspension. I compiled a list of
:: almost everything I could find. Here's the list from roughly the
:: most expensive to the least:
::
:: Cannondale Bad Boy Ulta
:: Gary Fisher Fast City
:: Kona Dr. Dew (and its little brothers dew deluxe and dew)
:: Giant OCR Touring (a touring road frame with discs, drop handlebars)
:: Cannondale Road Warrior
:: Specialized Sirrus
:: K2 Mach S
:: Fuji Forza
:: Rocky Mountain Metro
:: Jamis Coda Comp
:: Novarra Big Buzz
:: Giant Cypress SX
:: Motobecane Cafe Latte / Noir
::
:: Of this list, I think the Specialized Sirrus is probably the best
:: bets. I know it has eyelets, v-brakes, and rides well. Heck, the
:: Sirrus Sport even has discs for $800.
::
:: I thought I really wanted one of these, but I have since changed my
:: mind. I built up a flat bar road bike from an old schwinn and found
:: that going any kind of distance caused pain in my hands and wrists,
:: despite trying several stems and bars and using bar-ends. It was the
:: combination of the aggressive position and long distances with the
:: flat bar that did it. I don't have these problems with either my
:: road bike or mountain bike. You might evaluate the distances you
:: plan on riding and see if you can rent one for a long test ride
:: before you buy. You could have the same problems I did.

Interesting....I was recently looking at the Sirrus...however, after
spending over 30 minutes riding it at the LBS, I upgraded to a road bike
with drop-type bars for the very reason you mention. having more options on
position just seemed to make a big difference to me.

10-01-2003, 10:31 AM	#4 (permalink)
Roger Zoul Posts: n/a	Re: Flat bar road bike opinions? Buck wrote: :: "Slider2699" <juuiiniy@kuim.com> wrote in message :: news:rMneb.45898$Ci5.1415257@twister.tampabay.rr.c om... ::: I'm thinking of buying one of the flat bar road bikes on the ::: market. Plan to use it for errands and occasional commuting ( my ::: main commuter is a road bike). I'd like the bike to have rack ::: bosses, and fender bosses if possible. I can always use clip on ::: fenders, but need a rack mount. I can spend $1000 but would prefer ::: to pay less. I use a slick tired hardtail MTB now, but I'd like to ::: convert that back to dirt use. I read a writeup on the Kona Dr. Dew ::: in Bike Mag but it's kind of pricey. Anybody have a cheaper ::: alternative? :: :: Mike, :: :: I was in the market for one as well, but I was shooting for :: something with discs and possibly suspension. I compiled a list of :: almost everything I could find. Here's the list from roughly the :: most expensive to the least: :: :: Cannondale Bad Boy Ulta :: Gary Fisher Fast City :: Kona Dr. Dew (and its little brothers dew deluxe and dew) :: Giant OCR Touring (a touring road frame with discs, drop handlebars) :: Cannondale Road Warrior :: Specialized Sirrus :: K2 Mach S :: Fuji Forza :: Rocky Mountain Metro :: Jamis Coda Comp :: Novarra Big Buzz :: Giant Cypress SX :: Motobecane Cafe Latte / Noir :: :: Of this list, I think the Specialized Sirrus is probably the best :: bets. I know it has eyelets, v-brakes, and rides well. Heck, the :: Sirrus Sport even has discs for $800. :: :: I thought I really wanted one of these, but I have since changed my :: mind. I built up a flat bar road bike from an old schwinn and found :: that going any kind of distance caused pain in my hands and wrists, :: despite trying several stems and bars and using bar-ends. It was the :: combination of the aggressive position and long distances with the :: flat bar that did it. I don't have these problems with either my :: road bike or mountain bike. You might evaluate the distances you :: plan on riding and see if you can rent one for a long test ride :: before you buy. You could have the same problems I did. Interesting....I was recently looking at the Sirrus...however, after spending over 30 minutes riding it at the LBS, I upgraded to a road bike with drop-type bars for the very reason you mention. having more options on position just seemed to make a big difference to me.