FlatBar Purchase decisions

pgs

Can any-one help me. I currently ride an Avanti MTB with discs and slicks. I am considering purchasing a FlatBar bike for the 2005 Around the Bay in a Day, am sick of being passed by roadies whilst training on Beach Rd. I am bewidered about the options available ie disc or V-Brakes, Carbon or CR-Mo Forks, Aluminium Frame Vrs Steel, Carbon or suspension seatpost, double butted al Frame does it make a difference etc.

Marx SS

I get passed by road bikes too on my MTB along Beach Rd, but doing the ‘Bay ride’ on a road bike is pretty cruisy. Most half-keen roadies ride 100kms in a normal ride anyway.
I like the fact that I can take my MTB everywhere I want to go. From offroad/single track one weekend to 210kms around the bay on the other (with maybe a change of tyres….).

You mentioned you want to go a flat bar hybrid? If that;s in addition to you MTB, then a full roadbike might satisfy the role better, as you still have the MTB for that ‘flat bar’ cruise.
I suppose this doesn’t help you one little bit.

Great weather forecasted for Sunday. Bring it on!!!

gclark8

My first choice was the felt SR71, next Avanti Blade Pro, next Giant CRX1, Specialised Sirrus, etc.

As long as it is road component based, 105/Ultegra, 25x700c wheels, most flat bar road bikes are very similar.

Mini V brakes are better than road brakes, discs are now appearing on some road bikes, Carbon forks better than CrMo, Al frame lighter than steel, etc. Look for something below 10kg.

Do you have a particular bike in mind?

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Cheers,
George.

pgs

My decision unfortunately will have to be based on the 'hip pocket nerve' therefore a price range no greater than around $1600 (Australian). I favor the avanti Blade elite at the moment as I like disc brakes. I have searched the internet and there are no bikes in that category which have 27 sd gears, disc brakes (preferably hydraulic), road wheels, carbon forks / seatpost & clipless pedals.

I will really have to make a decision on what is my priority Carbon forks / seatpost or disc brakes that is why I posted the thread. I bought an MTB with discs because I got sick of the V brakes binding one side, or squealing when applied. How much better is Carbon over CR Mo?

gclark8

I would agree with the Avnti Blade choice. At that money it will have carbon forks. Suspension seatposts on the Avanti are from Specialised, tyres should be 23 or 25mm, and disc brakes, what a luxury, go for it!!!

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Cheers,
George.

pgs

For $1600 Aus there has to be a compromise in componentry. In this instance the compromise is the forks which are Cr Mo. The discs are shimano Hydraulic.

gclark8

OK, The brakes are a higher priority than the forks, think about tyre size to soften the ride, 25mm or 28mm are softer than 23mm.

I have 25mm on my Felt/carbon forks, my friend with the Giant Perigee/CrMo forks has 28mm, the Giant gives a softer ride than the felt on roads with large (3/8-1/2") blue metal surfaces. Smooth bitumen and concrete paths, no difference.

I think the Avanti will be a good choice.

__________________
Cheers,
George.

pgs

Thanks George. What is your opinion of the difference in rolling resistance between 28mm, 25mm & 23 mm tyres. For training purposes I would use 28mm however for the 2005 Around the Bay in a day (212 km) I wonder if there would be an advantage in using 23 mm.

Any one else have any opinions?

gclark8

For training, for 28mm 85psi will be the go, soft ride not that fast, 23/25mm @ 120psi is what i use for racing, but not that comfortable, on the coarse bitumen, I'm always looking for the white line to ride on.. but yes a lower roling resistance, you will notice it on the arms more with 23/25.

I should ask your age, this effects overall comfort on a bike... (me 55)

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Cheers,
George.

pgs

recently had my half century.

gclark8

Then 28mm tyres and a suspension seat post is it, even consider aftermarket bars with a slight rise, 2"-3", my friend with the perigee (57) has put 4" riser bars on her bike last week, she now smiles more when riding... .

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Cheers,
George.

pgs

I will be a gentlemen and not comment why she is smiling..............

Telegram Sam

My wife and I are both flat-bar roadies. I have a Giant Cypress SL, and she has a Giant Cypress SX. They are both good bikes, but I guess I ought to tell you why I bought the SL.

First and foremost, I ride where there are a lot of hills, and my Sunday 35 is just about all climbing, at different degrees. I find that the Ultegra rear der. needs less adjustment, and is always a good shifter. My wife, who averages a slower speed and puts out less mash at the pedal has had no trouble with the 105-but she is not a stand-up climber and makes less demands of the drivetrain while climbing.
I don't fit on the Felt, although it is a beautiful bike. I have a short inseam and a long torso, and found the Giant's Geometry to be perfect (I can ride a larger frame then I would be able to on a traditional geometry) for my body. The chainstay is just slightly longer then the Sirrus and the SR71 as well, and it provides for very comfortable ascents (35mph is nothing, and I have had her up in the fourties with no wobble).
The carbon fiber seatpost and fork are neccesities- they take up a lot of the road shock, and yet provide nice road feel. I hated the suspension seatpost on my old bike and threw it away because even at full resistance, it still screwed with my rythm while pedaling. My wife says she doesn't feel the road shock...but again, demands less of her bike then I do (and never rides on anything but 28's with 85psi-I'm on 23's at 110-120 most of the time). I rode all the others, and I can say that the Sirrus stands out as a decidedly stiffer ride. I think this is due to Giants Fluidform frame- while the welds are not the prettiest, the material size is larger, allowing for a different wall size-it feels similair to my all steel Marin.
As for a bar, I prefer totally flat with a 3' sweep. I have added bar ends for comfort on climbs, but most of the time I am on the bar. The trick for comfort is to make sure your seat is not tilted forward, and that when you look at the bar in position, it obscures the front axle.
On brakes. This is just my personal opinion, but I see no reason for disks on a road bike. Unless they are 8" hydraulics, I find they have poor modulation, and one of the deciding factors in getting a flattie was that I love the way V-brakes stop...better then any side pull or disk I have felt under a very high price bracket. On a roadie, they take far less abuse, so the problems mentioned will be negated.
The Giant, with the same components, was $400 less then everyone else- and as a special order by someone who had bought 3 bikes in the last two years (I have never seen another SL in this area...Northern California)...and constant LBS troll, I got it at an even better price.
Also, I prefer thumb shift to twist- I have found the twist grips to be less then indestructable, and very finicky (and annoying).
Last- Why did the wife get one too? Because I have found that Giant dealers...at least here, are really cool. Our local gave her HIS personal bike for ten days- she put a hundred miles on it and loved it. Tried to ride the Sirrus and the shop wouldn't even ask her if she needed help.
Hope this all helps- ride everything and see what fits the best is the most important point...and a bike is for at least 8 years, may I suggest that you do not put a maximum price on it because in the end you'll just want another one
Cheers

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may the wind take your troubles away...

gclark8

Sam,

thanks so much for the post. You always have a good balanced perspective on this style of bike.


pgs,

the Giant Cypress that Sam is refering to is called a Giant Perigee in Austraila. However only available here in Tiagra group, there are some 2004 models still available, my friend got hers for below $1K.

The Giant CRX range replaces the Perigee for 2005.

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Cheers,
George.