Road bike users, help me with hand positioning

Nebulous2

The brake / gear levers are an issue if you have small hands. I've seen women on a cycling forum say they don't like shimano shifters because they are too big - preferring SRAM. You can also get a shim for the shimano ones to bring them closer to the handlebars.

Generally if you are between sizes you would go smaller, rather than bigger for frames.

So even more to think about, and more reason to try and test different set-ups before rushing in.

thescouselander

I use the hoods 95% of the time and only use the drops when I'm going really fast (down a steep hill etc).

You'll get used to the road bike once you've ridden it enough. Then when you get back on your mountain bike you'll realise how difficult they are to pedal and how wallowey they are on the road. There really is a massive difference.

armyknife

Thanks, lots of good advice in this thread, interesting. :hmm:

But not quite enough to drag me away from me hybrids.

parking_question_chap

armyknife wrote: »

Thanks, lots of good advice in this thread, interesting. :hmm:

But not quite enough to drag me away from me hybrids.

Got a hybrid bike the other month so I can cycle rather than drive.

Am considering a road bike, would it be worthwhile for a 2.5 mile commute on mostly cycle routes?

I do like the idea of dragging a lighter bike out of and back into the shed each day. The hybrid is alu but its not exactly light.

Nasqueron

parking_question_chap wrote: »

Got a hybrid bike the other month so I can cycle rather than drive.

Am considering a road bike, would it be worthwhile for a 2.5 mile commute on mostly cycle routes?

I do like the idea of dragging a lighter bike out of and back into the shed each day. The hybrid is alu but its not exactly light.

Road bike at a budget is not going to be much lighter than a hybrid - maybe around 10kg, maybe a bit less with a budget carbon from the likes of Ribble or Planet X. You won't notice the difference on a 2.5 mile commute taking 10 minutes unless your hybrid weighs something daft like 15kg+

When you say "mostly cycle routes" do you mean paved ones and then what is the other bit? Road or off-road? Consider a CX perhaps so you have the road style bike with drops but can fit wider tyres

parking_question_chap

Its a mix between roads, and cycle routes, but there are a couple of sections where the routes are a bit bumpy.

Yes, I think my hybrid is 14kg. Got it due to good condition, nice brakes, mud guards and bag rack. Forgot to research the weight.

Nasqueron

So long as it's paved or tarmac then a road bike will be ok, knocking 4kg might make a bit of difference (it's certainly more than the silly things people do to justify spending hundreds of pounds to save 100g here and there on a really lightweight bike - weight differences that are less than going to the loo before a ride!).

If you are intent on commuting through the winter as well, having the hybrid will be good for winter days and the road bike for leisure as well but you will need to shop around and look at reviews to get the bike weights as many don't specify it - a decent alu bike coming in at 10kg without any accessories can be had for £500, to get maybe 1kg off that you'll probably be looking at closer to £1000 and budget carbon

Consider also a nice saddle for the bumpy bits, without suspension it can be a bit painful at the start

ab1982

Loads of good cyclecross bikes too. I reckon better than a hybrid.

parking_question_chap

Thanks, I might keep looking at the used market for an alu road machine. Dont want to get a used carbon in case its been crashed, and certainly dont want to spend £1,000 on a new one!

ab1982

Nah I'm no fan of carbon either, think it's too rigid for UK roads and no point unless racing. Steel and titanium are supposed to be good but never tried them. I bought a merlin cx bike recently, love ithe can go anywhere a mountain bike can and still go fair old clip on road.