Drop Bars Vs Flats | Can A Hybrid Bike Be Just As Fast As A Road Bike?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ย. 2024
- When buying a road bike beginner cyclists are often faced with a decision - flat bar hybrid, or dropped bar road bike? Hybrids are practical for a range of uses whereas dropped bars allure to the traditional racing look of a road bike, but which is actually faster? Ollie and Si are here to figure out if hybrids can in fact compete with the incumbent dropped bar racing bike, and to make things more interesting they've brought a pretty rowdy hybrid to the party!
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Which bike would you pick to ride? Let us know why in the comments!
For me a ‘classic’ road bike, i can understand why to choose a flat bar. For some people they choose flat bar for their back.
My tt bike any day....
Those orange grips sold me
Just the ability to change position and fidget makes the drops more comfortable. Up straight looks great but on long rides It's still rigid. Also the I changed to a gravel with drops from wide mountain bike bars last year, I still do lots of off road and I'm glad the thin bar width doesn't get sleeves caught on branches bushes and brambles etc on badly maintained trails, particularly during the spring fast growth season.
I prefer drops, but if I rode in wild places, that has a lot of hungry predators everywhere, then maybe I would consider the wide flat bar, because it would make me look bigger and scarier. Instead of them yelling at me. I would be the one yelling to them(pedestrians) with very bad language.
Flat bars are great in the winter for more confidence.
1:35 “Without having to look through your eyebrows” Perfectly put. One of the things I’m still getting used to on my drops XD
It's actually a daft thing to say, because you just tilt your head back. And on the hoods, you're quite upright.
@@matthewlewis2072 Personally, my head doesn't tilt back without making all sorts of "I don't like the sound of that" grinding noises, followed eventually by neck and shoulder pain.
@@matthewlewis2072 What does intelligence have to do with it. Some people really struggle with neck strength and flexibility.
@@matthewlewis2072 It's still a definite shift from flat bars though, you have to say.
Never had suck an issue. I can, and def do look straight ahead while riding. Not doing so is a death wish
I've been riding a hybrid for over 15 years. With my body shape, riding with drops just isn't so comfortable. I like sitting upright. But I also have handlebar extensions to allow me to get into a more aero position when I want to do that. I've gone 50+ mile rides on my hybrid and love it.
Welcome to the club!
Same here ;-)
@@PinkPlume try clip on aero bars, similar to ones time trial bikes use. i am using a canyon hybrid, and the clip ons work perfectly fine, i can hit 55kmh even without the aero bars just by using what simon did in the video
@@PinkPlume ya most hybrids have the steep in width, just put it nearer the middle, works for me haha and use masking tape too, u can put clips to prevent it from sliding too
Same here, have Ergon GP3 grips.
This video confirmed what I am living, the social pressure and other riders not getting it; picking up my son at school, going on family rides and picking up milk and bread #FlatBar is just a whole heap of fun...
My whole life I was 100% a road bike monster... But 3 years ago something clicked, one look at a flat bar road bike set up and I was sold... My racing days are over and having a bike that does everything makes so much more sense to me, it's the same reason I have a convertible #ItsJustMoreFun people talk about stiffness and performance loss, but like tbe flat bar, any performance loss is made up by the smile on my face... #Fun and #Versatility.
Crazy results, one rider was faster on his flat bar using road bike technics to ride (exactly what I do when I want to go fast)...
I'm sold because of the versatility, I ride with my ten (10) year old son, then I go on serious road rides (Gravel too)...
Love to hear what you think...
#MassiveVideo
Kurt
Sure, you can hold the middle and get "aero" on a flat bar, but on a drop handlebar you can get aero and still have your hands on the brakes.
I don't see why you should hold the bar middle to get "aero" on a flat bar ? I never hold my flat bar in the middle, but often "get aero", especially front to the wind.
@@ouztaki You say that you "get aero" on the flat bar. If so, then you should be well aware that a key to that is reducing frontal area. By holding towards the middle of the bar rather than hands out to the side you drastically decrease your frontal area. If your arms tuck in with the rest of your body while also maintaining a fairly low position then you're well on the way to a time trial position. That means you're in a real aero position rather than just bent a little lower.
I just hold my brakes and bend my arms inwards; it's aero enough for me
You do you, but that isn't what was tested in the video.
@@Shellewell the video test nothing, really. Is just another nonsense video from this great guys. I dit not saw it fully, seemed to me waste of time...
Never gonna claim my flat bars are the faster design, but my neck is thankful for them.
I like banana
@@pappie_joppie I'm a banana
i have "little " belly and drops bars is killing me :)))
@@KillahKuin Hilarious!!!! OMG!!!!!
I just inverted my stem.
Yes! This is a video I have been wanting to see! I ride a trek all and hybrid and it’s fast light and keeps up with a lot of road bikes. I do admit my light road bike is faster but all in all hybrid bikes definitely deserve a lot more credit than people give them 👍
Could not agree more!
Agreed. Hybrid bikes have been given a false ‘not a serious bike’ reputation and it needs to change if we want to get more people on bikes. 9 times out 10 when a ‘general’ member of the public needs a bike, it’s a hybrid - but marketing etc means they buy the wrong bike.
Yeah, I really like my hybrid (Whyte Stirling). I'm about 10% faster on my mid-range road bike for the same effort but the hybrid is more comfortable, feels a lot more stable, especially at low speeds and is easier to see ahead.
My trek fx 2 got me into the sport of cycling, and 2 years later, she’s still the bike I’d turn to for a quick ride to the shops, or a little bit of training laps at a local park! I’m thoroughly convinced that hybrids can be for serious cyclists, as well as for those looking for a workhorse vehicle
Same, I ride a Specialized Sirrus X Comp Carbon modified for the road with 50mm carbon wheels and 28mm tires and I enjoy keeping up and being faster than some roadies out there, I love it!
I added clip-on aero bars to my flat bar bike for more comfort when I’m tucked in. Works great!
Always had trouble with my back, hence I ride flat bar. On all my bikes I have just sawed the ends off to make them narrower and added horns for extra hand positions. Works a treat and still feels pretty quick!
My first bike is an aluminium hybrid, picked out of concern about back issues. Over time, likewise have fitted bar ends, moved shifters in as far as possible, trimmed bars, and now run flipped stem. For extra comfort and grip, I taped over the aluminium bar ends. Effectively riding in TT position using the bar ends, gives me aero, and lots of hand positions. I also now have a carbon drop bar roadie, as over time my core has improved to support my back. But the hybrid is the favourite!
@@robertdixon8238 Lymphominator!
G'Day Sam Chen! Been a while, mate!
Dead right! For some reason flat bars have got over wide. The wife's new electric bike had bars wider than my motorbikes! Got the hacksaw out and then fitted two position bar ends so she could change hand position to relieve arthritic pain. How often do you see non racing cyclists on the drops? Not very often - ditched drops years ago.
@@redtrummy Mountain bikers use the super wide bars to maintain control, but they also cut them to length as standard practice. Cheaper for a manufacturer to have only a few styles of flat bars for both their MTBs and hybrids. PS: older bikes used to have the BB lower and thus the saddle to bar drop was much less, or negative. The drops were the standard position.
I actually own one of each, a Giant Rapid flat bar + Ribble Gran Fondo road bike and the two bikes have very similar equipment levels.
One absolutely must on a hybrid in my opinion are bar ends, they give an option for alternative hand position and especially help when climbing. On one of my training routes there is a hill that stretches for 2,6km and after owning the Ribble for 2 years I still have not beaten my best time on the flat bar.
That orange bike does look amazing.
I should add that at 66 I spend very little time in the drops.
You can use Spirgrips.
I have a Giant Fastroad and a TCR.
Teacher at school: hey ollie count to five please
Ollie: beep beep beep beep booo
Fun is an important factor in riding, so I'd think the subjective sides of the results deserve a lot more consideration. I'd prefer more fun over more speed.
Comfortable
how about you get most of the speed too
Often SPEED = FUN but the feeling of control and safety is also very important
All we need is flatbar with additional bullhorns :D I mean for commuter or gravel. Seriously on the road ppl spend like 80-90%% in the hoods.
There are few hybrid bars on the market but I think it will be more popular in few years.
I've been changing and adding different bar ends on my hybrid bike and the best solution that I think which also haven't tried is putting aero bars on flatbars for maximum aero. However I only have bar ends and narrowed my flatbar. The biggest flaw is nothing having your fingers on the brakes when going aero.
We've got a video coming up that involves drops, we'll call Ollie 😂
Really helpful for me, cheers. After about 7000km on my drop bars I'm struggling with neck pain, so I've been pricing up the cost of converting to flat bars. I think I can live with being 1 or 2 minutes slower per 10km! Cheers boys, great video
7k??
Or a higher, shorter stem?
Having tried all the options available, my ultimate build would be this: a flat bar with drop-style bar ends (they exist) *and* clip-on aero bars. The flat bar enables better control in a crowd and more space for bells, lights, etc. The drops allow a fast, comfortable ride while still offering good control over choppy terrain. The aero bars are the ultimate option for speed.
or you can just get a wide drop bar with aero bar
@@davidnguyen8265 The width of an aero bar is not a problem for me, it's that I haven't yet seen a bell that can be mounted on one, considering their non-tapering profile. And I'm tired of shouting at people to not walk on the cycling track. :(
@@ivanmatic4229 i have my bell mounted on my drop bar all the time.
@@davidnguyen8265 Ah, the perks of not living in a country in which cycling is treated with complete disdain. Guess I'm gonna have to turn to Amazon to solve that problem. ;)
@@ivanmatic4229 p1
You can get a pair of Bar Ends for a flat bar to give you a vertical grip option.
I personally don't use a flat bar "plain or as is" without making a few changes to it. However, every rider is deferant and should go with whatever fits his or her riding needs☕
Yep, bar ends will help and so would a clamp on aero bar if you really want to get low, narrow, and aero. I used to be a dedicated roadie, but as I age ( now 67 ) I seem to gravitate to the bikes without drop bars.
i love the "bullhorns" on my late 90s mountain bike, it's a different position which is great for comfort, and it feels like i have more horsepower uphill
It would be really interesting to see the margins by which faster equipment affects riders at different skill levels. For instance, what is the time difference between a road bike and TT bike for a pro, an amateur, and a beginner, and compare the percentage gains across skill levels to see who benefits the most.
Wouldn’t be fair unless the hybrid weighed the same
@@vika0194 the hybrid shouldn't weigh more, the flat bars are much lighter than drop bars, so even with a slightly heavier seperate gear/brake combo the weight is pretty much the same.
My carbon Sirrus Pro ltd is under 8kg with a 2x11 system and is made from a 8M 'heavy' (but robust) MTB modulus, that's with 32 spoke wheels as well.
I suggest trying out the SQ420 inner barends on the flat handle bar for two reasons. Gives you a different hand position so your hands don’t get tired. Secondly gives you a narrower arm position similar to a drop bar setup for more aero. I have been using them for about 1k miles and so happy with them that I exclusively use them on my flat bar now.
I have clip-on aero bars on my hybrid, and those are amazing for my commute. Makes it way faster, and being able to lean into them saves my back as well!
One of the biggest differences when buying these bikes is that hydraulic brakes are hundreds of pounds more expensive on a drop bar bike!
So true
Absolutely agree!
I've just had to convert an old CX bike to flat bars because I wanted hydraulics, because mechanical are so crap and over priced. Hydraulic brifters are disgustingly expensive, I just couldn't justify it! 🤦
Last month I got second place in a 9km TT riding a hybrid in the praying mantis position. This video is relatable af 😅💯
Video or it didnt happened
Liar
If it's not on strava it didn't happen.
I'm in the u18 TT. So it's much more roadbike and tri bar dudes I was against... I'll just end it here believe it or not I don't care🤷🏽♂️
Interesting topic - my fastest race pace was on my hybrid with flat pedals. Never got the same pace on a carbon road bike and both bikes are ridden as aero as I can go.
Same here.
I did the opposite, I bought a hardtail mountain bike and put dropbars on it. Not a speed thing for me but a comfort thing. Something about having your arms spread out like that is uncomfortable and tiring on longer rides.
How did you go about switching the shifters and stuff? Does that create compatibility issues?
@@airwilliam24It's a total hack job lol. Managed to keep the shifters, found a way to fit them on the top bar of the drop handle bar. Got the brakes from an old bike.
I don't advise it all. But I wanted a cheap mountain bike for the snowy winter riding season here in Canada. Between the salt and crazy weather, you can ruin a bike if you're not careful. Didn't want to spend decent money on a gravel bike only for, winter to wreck it.
So much fun though, if I had the money, I would probably buy that gravel bike with a lefty suspension fork.
so... now you have a gravel bike? :P
Looking at that Orbea Orca (road version), makes me immensely frustrated. I want one, I can afford to buy one but I can order one as there is no stock available and may not be back in stock until 2022. I’d love to see a GCN film investigating the current stock crises which seems to be affecting all brands.
Maybe as a professional media channel you haven’t experienced this issue, but as a “regular” cyclist, it’s a major issue.
Yeah that's a major issue. International manufacturing and shipping is a nightmare at the moment. Also as a side note, many regions don't get new bike designs/styles for ages (I had a really difficult time trying to buy a decent gravel bike in Australia...they only barely exist here)
Its not gonna take a Mr S Holmes to figure out why
GMBN Tech did a bit on this, since the current lack of supply issue is equally hitting both road and mtb, which is essentially the same supply chain...
@@jameswarner8038 I’m suggesting they take a look at the impact it’s happening rather than the reason why.
I got my Cannondale Topstone early January when I popped in a bikeshop for a coffee, they said there will be 2! in my size arriving next week and there won't be any more for the rest of the year! Didn't want to buy one right then but if I didn't I wouldn't be able to for a year at least.
And that is how I got into curly bar cycling.
I have both. My gravel bike has flats. 2 observations: those bars are way too wide for road/gravel use. Bar ends are a must as they offer a desirable alternative hand position-I use the Ergon stubby ones.
Ergon GS3 just bought! Great control
The free gcn videos have such a high quality, I am curious what more will come with gcn+.
more advertising videos like this no doubt 🤣
Thank you for adding the aero twist to the comparison! I'm going to try some add-on bars (e.g. SQlab innerbarends) to mimic riding on the hoods when I get a flat bar bike.
Hmmm, straight flat bars in my experience with commuting with a 45km/h speed pedelec are simply not aerodynamic. This is mainly because you tend to have your elbows pointing outwards. I switched to a flat bar with 15 degrees backsweep and this makes a big difference as your elbows point much more downwards while still being stable and comfortable.
if your elbows are pointing outwards your flat bars are way too wide, just as they are in this video, flat bars for non trials/proper off road should never be wider than 56cm
I'd buy the street fighter just for the looks - if I could lol
Been trying to buy my first road bike. My options are to drive 8 hrs to nearest store with my size/model in stock or wait til early 2022 😭😭 everyone is saying shimano cant keep up with demand of parts
Nothing wrong with 2nd hand. Especially if it’s your first.
@@joenaai3 Just don't get carbon 2nd hand, you'll never know if there are fractures, so alu or steel is safer.
@@bloodjam30050 nice, I bought a Specialized Roubaix Elite, carbon frame - £400.
Converted my single speed 83 Raleigh Royal town hack from drop bars to flat bars, felt inspired and I love it, thanks guys.
That skid! Si has been spending too much time with Blake.
About 25yrs ago, I fitted straight bars to my Claud Butler steel-framed racing bike. I fitted MTB levers & Grip Shifts. My neck problems went! It was more comfortable, more manoeuvrable & more fun to ride. I did 100k & 300k Audax rides on this bike. I keep hearing that drops give more hand positions & IMO, all less comfortable!
When you watch grand tours, check out how much time is spent on the drops - not that much. If you really do want an alternative hand position on a straight bar, you can fit bar ends though I don't.
I now have both a Ridgeback hybrid (now with Hunt carbon wheels, 160mm XTR rotors & Schwalbe 35c knobblies) & a 4yr old Giant Defy. Both run tubeless. I have thus returned to drops. The Defy weighs in at 8.3kg & the hybrid: 10.0kg. Both are fun to ride but 50 miles on the Defy gives me neck ache.
I could never work out why X-bikes have drops. My theory is it's more to do with so-called hybrids being seen as shopping bikes or possibly the inertia of "tradition". I can understand drops for road racing - makes perfect sense but touring, gravel & X-bikes - nope. The Defy does have a 160mm rotor up front but the hydraulic discs on the hybrid work better, as does steering.
Riding both regularly, I don't buy the hand position argument - often put forward by those who've never ridden on straight bars. Many cyclists have an emotional attachment to drop bars & dismiss alternatives outright.
Si: Knock yourself out, actually don't knock yourself out.
Hank: Is that a challenge?
I have both a Giant Fastroad Comax, and a Giant Defy Advanced Pro 1, the Fastroad is a hybrid and a beautiful one at that, and when it comes to Strava PB's the honours are shared just about evenly, as the Fastroad is fantastic at going up hills, when additional leverage on the handlebars makes it a winner. I used to take it to a bike shop for servicing, where the mechanics would almost fight over who got to take it for a 'test' ride!
One thing I’ve been meaning to try on my mountain bike is to put a little bit of grip tape in the center of the bars. This I’m hoping, would allow me to rest my forearms on the bars and get into an aero position.
Another thing you can do on a mountain bike is put your hands on the crown of the fork. While it’s not very stable, if you’re good at riding no hands it’s not too difficult.
would be interesting to see a test like this with a 50 or 100 km ride. How hard would it get with a flat bar?
I do 100km XC mtb rides. I am going to say it’s easy… but my back the next day 🤦🏻♂️
I have a flat bar racer ... all I needed is an inner barend like the one from SQLab. No more arm problem.
I had put two 10cm bar ends, and cut them, 6 or 7 cm are enough, and look better. Great to relax, and climbing standing...
I’ve got in board mounted bar ends on my flat bar hybrid. The bar ends hand position is narrower than any drop bar hoods 😂Great versatility, even with headwind.
Love my hybrid, albeit with bars cut narrower than yours & cow horn extensions to put me in the same place as drop-bar hoods. Lets be honest, its more about your legs than about your handlebars. To go faster, just bend your arms and pedal harder.
Stick to bikes you dont have to pedal. Youre clueless
@@SuperRat420 tough guy!
@@SuperRat420 damn bro you a real tough guy real strong man real masculine guy, GayDicks420!
I have both. The road bike is an investment, I only use it for triathlons, workouts, or when visiting a friend, where I can put the bike in their home or garage. The road bike is for sport. The hybrid bike I use for transport in town, and I dont mind locking it outside for a bit, while I go to work or some restaurant or cafe.
More research into the obvious. A fit bloke on a hybrid will kick the arse of a less fit guy on a road bike. Fitness counts more than the bike.
@Mucha Lucha same, one time I was driving at 200 mph and saw a kid like age 10 year old biking a 201 mph with ease
So ... I put curved Profile bar ends on my flat bar ... only I mounted them inside the grips. Actually, I cut about 3/4" off of the grips so they could tuck in between the grip and shifter/brake levers without having to move either. What this creates is a three additional hand positions.
1) Thumb hooks the Profile bar while heel of palm rests on the top of the flat bar and the mount for the bar end. I think this is roughly equivalent to riding the hoods on a drop bar. It brings your elbows in and is more aero.
2) All the way out on the bent portion of the bar end. This is similar to what Ollie was doing by grabbing the center portion of the flat bar except it allows you to extend out about 5 inches. So less arm bend and also the hand orientation is more natural. But the grip is still the narrowest and the most aero. Also the least control.
3) The straight section of the bar end. Your hand orientation is 90 degrees to the flat bar's regular grips and in the same direction as riding the drops of a drop bar. You don't drop down, but you do extend a little and your elbows get tucked in.
So if you like flat bars, this simple option not only gives you extra positions that help with hand comfort, but they give you some practical aero positions for situations where that's handy.
I have both. Got my hybrid because I wanted to get back into cycling and lose weight but soon found it really frustrating in headwinds even with the triple chainring. They are good for short rides around town but more than an hour and the fun starts to wane.
Doug Wiggin After 1 hr..... I ride my flat bar 3-4 hours all the time and it's still plenty of fun!
It really doesn't start to wane if you are just relaxing and not trying to beat your pals on Strava
If you wanted to lose weight then look at the headwind as a great opportunity.
Fantastic video! I like the conversion ideas - Road to Hybrid; Hybrid to Road; Hybrid with Aero Bars - all with the same frame and wheel setup.
It's not just the possibility of varying and position on a drop bar, but that there's less strain on your arms (shoulders, elbows) with your hands in the neutral position as opposed to the pronated position on a flat bar (bar-ends was the solution on my flat bar). But after riding with a drop bar now for 3 years, I'm never going back! (Except for some MTB trail stuff, which is a different matter entirely) :)
Fun, but very much in a rural environment, how do they compare if you want to go fast in a urban environment?
IMO flat bars are better in an urban environment. Your head is more upright, making it easier to see what's going on around you, which is important in city traffic.
@@minuteman4199 I agree partially, as you also want the ability to squeeze between narrow spaces (between parked cars and the ones on the road for example); so the bar should not be to broad.
This was a foregone conclusion from the start but it was fun to see the test done anyway. I ride both types of bikes but I like my hybrid a lot more than my road bike. I am willing to sacrifice speed for comfort (easier on my back). I think that a lot of people have the perception that hybrid bikes are heavy and slow. That perception is reinforced by the fact that hybrids are generally sold as entry-level machines and are priced and spec accordingly. As a road bike, a hybrid can be spec with high-quality components that will make a huge difference in the way it handles and rides but they are not cheap, and not many people are willing to spend that much on a hybrid. That being said, it does not matter how much you spend on your hybrid, you will always be slower than a dedicated road bike..
I've got, in my opinion, the best of both worlds, with my new Koga Satori Denham handlebar. It's a flat bar with a 34 degree sweep at the grips and bullhorns for a more aero riding position on the straights.
Hybrid rider here, maybe this helps someone
Rest forearms on Flat Bar --> More comfortable, similar position to aero bars
My hybrid!!
22-700 wheels with 47mm all terrain tires, hydraulic disc brakes, everything from 22/36 to 42/11 gearing and trekker bars with like 10 hand positions.
I can ride anything from aero on road pavement to upright on off-road anything short of black diamond.
I love the freedom to go practically anywhere I desire on my daily rides. More than adequate on all road conditions.
Flat Bar with Mini TT Bars. The Orbea Orca looks sick loving it
Kudos to Si for quoting the great Greg Lemond - Greg was referring to racing lighter bike "...it doesn't get any easier, you just go faster..." This video reminds me of another great cycling quote (unknown author): "...you can't make a donkey into a racehorse...". Ollie riding in the proven fast "Graham Obree position" is still about 3 minutes slower (i.e. about 20% slower - that's huge!!) than Si's slowest time. So, it doesn't matter what Ollie is riding (he could be riding the fastest TT bike), Si will beat Ollie on any bike Si is riding 100% of the time. That leads me to another great cycling quote by Merckx: "don't buy upgrades, ride up grades". Meaning that the biggest difference in riding fast in cycling is the engine that drives the pedals and not the carbon aero wheels, nor superlight carbon frame, nor the integrated hidden cables that costs $12,000 us. A mid-range carbon bike with reasonably light aluminum wheels that costs a third of that will do. The incremental marginal gains past about $3k or $4k in very little in the real world.
this video reminds me of the argument for wide flared bars on a gravel bike, its also assuring to know leading brands are bringing out variations of standard discipline bikes, meaning not as much pressure to buy into marketing n feel like you must have a certain type of bike. i just had a great day out riding my bald tyred 26" hybrid with a rusty chain and very few gears, it didnt affect my enjoyment and i got some fresh air n got to see my mates. just ride people, just ride
I'd like to add that front rake does a lot regarding (in)stability. Either bike could give the same amount of front authority changing the fork reach/angle.
It has the fixed gear appearance, in other words,looks amazing.
Flat bar with bar ends you can use to tuck the elbows would be helpful since it would lessen one of the aero position arguments for drop bars
My Trek FX 6 is full carbon, excellent ride
Tried a flat bar road bike for a few years and it was OK, but returning to drops when I replaced it was amazing.
I thought the control would be better on flat bars and knew all my riding would be around centres at rush hour where this could be a nice advantage.
What I didn't allow for was the years I had spent riding drops. So a beginner coming to cycling might find straights easier. For me losing the subtle control of drop bar road bikes was detrimental. I still have the straight bar bike, sort of, passed it onto my son who doesn't ride much but likes the combination of quick and flat bars. But I will not go back to riding one.
Other thing I like on drop bar bike is the bars are the same width as me so I see a gap I could get through, I know it's enough, and on commutes, this often makes a difference.
? A wider bar will allow you more precise control than a shorter bar. Amen
As someone who owns both a road bike and a hybrid, I can say that my hybrid is just a better bike for commuting, fitness rides, and just all around fun. Sure the geometry isn’t as agile or “lively” as my road bike, buuuut it’s still agile enough to weave through traffic and side roads, and I enjoy having a larger fov cause of the more upright position. Oh. And hydro disc brakes are easier to find on cheaper hybrids rather than road bikes, where I’d have to spend quite a bit more to get the same thing on a new bike. Hybrids will always be my trusty preference! At least until I can get my hands on a gravel bike, and even then my hybrid will still see use!
What's a comfortable riding position is a function of distance. The upright position of a flat bar and a plushly padded seat is comfortable and practical in a lot of utility urban cycling where you're only going a few miles. If you're going to ride a century, drop bars and a lightly padded seat are more comfortable. In my experience the cross over is at between five and ten miles. Below five miles upright and plush is the hands-down winner. Above ten miles low and lean is clearly superior.
The orange one is so cool looking !
Dad bikes have gotten high tech and pricey now. That hybrid needs a few things to make it more realistic: a big head light, bell, rear view mirrors, bar ends, cup holder, cell phone mount, good luck charm, and a wired Cat Eye bike computer.
I actually put grips on the inside and the outside of my flat bars and it’s very useful!
Yes arm fatigue is big here that if your arms have to fight the wind resistance then you are going to go slower since you are using watts to maintaining that power or aero position
I have a narrow flatbar 540mm with a clip on aero bars for speed and long barends for climbing and it is much faster and more comfortable than drops especially on fast descent.
"Thats not a hybrid.. that's actually cool!"
-Ollie inadvertently roasting hybrid riders
Who knows how many millions upon millions of riders that could be!
@@Rocky4719 to be fair, a lot of them aren't interested in being cool
@@armadillito oh absolutely. And the bikes they buy aren’t made to be the coolest or the fastest on the market. They’re made purely for utility, whether it’s hauling groceries, commuting, light touring, or just riding. They’re the quintessential workhorse of the cycling world, imo. I bought a hybrid because I wanted a bike, plain and simple.
I've got a hybrid flat bar bike with road tires. Recently got myself some drop bar ends to attach to the end of the flat bars, so far I'm loving them especially when facing a headwind. Unfortunately a new bike isn't in my budget at the moment.
I put orange bar tape on my Orange OnOne Scandal 29er Hardtail bars for a Gravel event back in Sep. Really helps into a headwind and if not to gnarly you can tuck onto your forearms for short periods👍🏽
What a great video! This is bike top gear. You guys are great and natural. I was just looking for some information about hybrid bikes and ended up here and stayed for whole video. Thx and cheers!
Weather in England so badly...
I meant look at the street..
Wet watery muddy...
Hardly to see bright sun in day time maybe..
I'm not staying in European country but my family members in Liverpool.
I'm living in South East Asia country..
I'm glad warmer weather here .
Happy to see bright sunny day light.
My bicycle always clean and my photo are super sharp clear. 😁🤗
I use a straight bar for commuting and move my hands close to the stem for a bit of extra aero & change of position for stort times.
I have a Giant Fastroad Advanced 1 and it is awesome but I get left behind by my friends with drop bar bikes especially while climbing hills.
I have decided to buy a TCR Advanced 2 disc and keep the flat bar bike as a winter/rain bike and the TCR as a performance/race bike.
Did buying the TCR improve your climbing at all ?
Ollie was also (I think) behind the camera bike more on the flat bar. Getting a pull along.
I presently ride a Hybrid and I love it, thank for the tips I will try putting my hands closer!
You've missed the mark. I use straight bars for stability brake access and maneuverability with and aerobar for speed when I need it.
When I returned to cycling as an adult I bought a hybrid,”I’m not using drop handle bars or clip in pedals” I declared!! Anyway keeping up with my road bike companions was possible if they eased off slightly and I worked 25% harder than them 😁 as an aside I have an Orbea orca aero in that orange STUNNING!!!!
You can always mount inner bar ends for diff hand position and to help with keeping your elbows in.
Si on drop bars vs 4 roadies on flat bars video coming soon?
The real test between a hybrid and roadie should be a mixed course. It should be from home start (incl dressing up in lycra, cyc shoes etc) , a city traffic section, bad road/gravel section and of course a smooth road sec.
Horses for courses. So, city commuting or park ride is better with hybrid/x-hybrid, etc
To be frank I like "fitness" bikes with flats - put some wider rubbers, and you can go shread some forest roads. Like in old mtb you know!
If a bicycle means ripping around everywhere at full speed, then drops sound like your best bet. Cycling is so much more than that though.
Love your stuff guys but you constantly discriminate against us TT riders... think you need one on your team! Personally I dont even own a road bike just 3 tt bikes and a mountain bike. Would love to see more tt bikes included in your videos
You mean Tri-bikes?
@@Rover200Power yeah. Though we seem to have grouped together any bike with a tri set up these days as a "tt" bike.
@@boomchakalaka3715 they probably don't so that GTN doesn't lose content. Too much overlap is bad for views.
@@Rover200Power fair enough it just does seem a shame that they cover so little about this wonderful aspect of the sport. We are not that different between disciplines and including tt/tri bikes would (esp on videos like this one) add another perspective. Obviously they tend to be faster (hence why I love them over road bikes) but not so much as to have a blow out. Still a great programme love all they do just a little more representation would not hurt. 👍
I use flat bars with the bar end built in the hand grips so I can change hand position. Thanks great vid.
That thing is awesome! I built a streetfighter on a single speed road frame for a while, and it was indeed a blast to ride!
If you put a couple of bar ends on the inside of the grips you can get a really nice low hoods style position with them. I did this as a cheap touring style upgrade to my hybrid.
For the flat bar, in addition to holding the bar closer to the center, you can grab it from underneath the bar as well, for even more aero, and a slight change of position and muscle groups. For me though, bar-ends are a flatbar's best friend. 😏😁
I'm trying to remember whether GCN has done videos on any or all of the "not flat, not drop" bars. I feel bad for we happy few who enjoy riding with our butterfly/trekking bars, H bars, Jones bars, bullhorn/messenger bars, and classic Albatross bars, when we see one of these "drops vs. flats" and feel left out.
Thank you for this video, I'm glad you gave it your best shot for the good ol' flat bar. I trust you tried to represent us well. I will be moving away from the family too. So sad, I'm crying. Plrease help
I started cycling again in 2014 at the age of 64 after many years away from the sport. I've owned many different types of bikes since coming back - "comfort" hybrid, regular hybrid with suspension fork, flat bar road, endurance road, hardtail 26er, hardtail 29er, full suspension trail, fat bike, and gravel bike. For me, the most comfortable, best riding, and all around best bikes have drop bars - Trek Domane, Trek Checkpoint, Cannondale Topstone, and Salsa Journeyman. Think about it, when walking you naturally hold your hands in the same position as on a drop bar bike, palms inward. You don't walk with them palms down as on a flat bar bike. No question for me - drop bars are best, no more flat bars.
I did the hybrid bike thing the other way around: Put barends and skinny road tires on my 29´´ hardtail. Commuting to work got noticeably faster, and i swapped them back whenever i was planning to ride on the trails.
For the hybrid I suggest trying a narrower bar and something like SQLab Innerbarends that mimics hoods of a drop bar.
*That's* much more like a 90s mountain bike. I have a theory about that; without suspension you really had to weave through the trail obstacles rather than ride over them so the priority was responsiveness rather than stability. Bars were typically under 600mm with, and of course sported bar ends for climbing.
I have an old XC race bike that I ride with 25mm slicks as my town get around (having front suspension when knocking about kerbs and foot-paths is a god-send. Use the same hand position Ollie was using all the time.
Long and low, thing flys with a 50t front ring in a 1x9 . Have shown up a few road guys on it for time to time.
If you are using flat handlebar, I recommend using bar end grips, to get an extra hand position
Totally agree this bike is so cool and Hybrid road bikes are so cool for being super quick around town hence why I added another to the collection you know that N+1 rule
Usually hybrid bikes are for commuting. The orange Orbea looks like a 🔥
The Jones H bar rocks, gives one more hand positions than a flat bar. The Orbea flat is super nice, cool bike.
This video is fully aligned with me.
I have a similar road bike hybrid I love for its looks but the lack of hand position and sustainable aero position is lacking. I do the same aero position on my flat bars. Then I decided just to add the aero bar.
I own a Canyon Roadlite 5. I mainly use it as my commuter to/from the train station, but once a week I ride it all the way to work (40km).
On the long, straight stretches without traffic i tuck into the aero position just like Ollie, and it works wonders! I have no issues keeping average of 30km/hr on flat sections. Kinda fun to zoom past roadies on my "commuter" :D