25% OFF ALL ROAD BIKES - ONE WEEK ONLY
Until Tuesday, get 25% off ALL Road Bikes at Reid Cycles: https://www.reidcycles.com.au/bikes/road-bikes.html
Road Bikes start at just $225 and you can save up to $350 - there are some EPIC deals to be had.
25% off All Road Bikes @ Reid Cycles
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the difference is in the body/back position. road bike has aggressive geometry, back will be at like 45 degreesish. and is generally thought To be more powerful, less wind resistance and more efficient for pros.
not really recommended To change road To flat bars, as you need to buy new brake levers.etc and the costs add up.
Ok, so Road Bikes - both drop bar and flat bar - are designed for speed. They're generally lighter and have a more aggressive sitting position. If you opt for a drop bar model you'll be able to get your body into a more aerodynamic position than a flat bar model, therefore having less wind resistance (go faster + work less).
A hybrid, typically built for commuting and general use give up a little bit of speed for durability and comfort. You'll probably be in a more upright sitting position, have wider tyres (more rubber/grip on the road) and a tougher frame (more weight to push).
For a commute of 20km, I'd recommend going the road option, flat bar if you're not prepared to give a drop bar road bike a go. Our flat bar road bikes are also 25% off - so check them out. The Reid Flat Bar Osprey is a great bike: http://www.reidcycles.com.au/osprey-flat-bar-road-bike.html
Thanks.
There are a couple of other things holding me back from a road bike though.
1) Have had lower back issues (pulled something near the lumbar spine) and having never had an 'aggressive position' bike am concerned in the long term if might stuff my back up again (it's been healed for a couple years, but has re-occurred twice after being good for years).
2) I also struggle with balance when not in motion due to seat being so high and having clipped/strap pedals (although straps aren't too bad).With that in mind, how fares the road bike recommendation?
Is it all just unrealistic to ride? The bus will take 1hr15min for comparison.
1) Get a more relaxed, commuter or hybrid bike.
2) You need to get the correct fit. As for the having clipped/strap pedals, road bikes generally come with no pedals or the standard cheap plastic ones and you're suppose to upgrade to better pedals yourself (and if you get road bikes you are not restricted to clip ons pedal types).There a plenty of tweaks you can make to a bike so it's right for you, but considering your past injuries it would be really important to consult a physio or similar for a professional bike fit. Their advice will certainly determine what type of bike you opt for.
Note, the flat bar road bike does come with standard (flat) pedals, and depending on how high you have the seat you may be abl eto touch the ground with your feet when still anyway.
Are you close to any of the Reid Cycles stores? Could be worth coming in and test riding a few bikes.http://www.reidcycles.com.au/contacts
Last but not least, there's the option of buying an eBike, where you're assisted - kind of like a tail wind, all of the time! A lot more expensive, but could be worth considering. Our 2014 models will be 10% from Monday until sold out: https://www.reidcycles.com.au/bikes/electric-bikes.html
Answer to your question is probably geometry and weight. I've never owned a hybrid (for good reason!) but i would imagine the selling point is that it is an in-between kind of choice. The geometry (position, shape, setup and dimensions of the various bits on the bike) sets you up in a certain position on the bike. For a more comfortable but slower ride you probably want to be sitting more upright (hybrid), for a sleeker, faster ride you probably want to be lower presenting a smaller cross-section pushing into the air (roadbike). A Road bike obviously will be setup to try and help you go faster!
There are 'flat bar road bikes' around now that try and compromise the already existing compromised bikes and appeal to folks that ride the bikepaths etc. Reid must have one of these (haven't looked myself). In terms of a saddle, the shape of the saddle is more important than padding or size. It is also your perineum (not balls) that cops the damage from a saddle. The reason so many cyclists wear lycra shorts isn't to idolize Chris Froome or think they are in the Tour De France (as most newspapers would have you believe) it is because they value their own nether regions. Get some good cycling bib shorts, forget what you look like to other people and wear the bibshort 'commando' style, the way they were designed to be worn. Good bibshorts with a good pad in them will work with the saddle to make your ride comfortable. Dont be tempted by the massive padded saddles so you can wear normal shorts, bibs and a normal saddle will be much more comfortable. if you are worried people will laugh at you in lycra, wear regular shorts over the top! Once you are into cycling you will wear lycra with pride!!!
If you're not racing or riding long distance, skip the lycra. You can wear normal clothes no problem…just look at the Dutch, everyone there cycles and no one dresses up like they are going to a race.
Once you are into cycling you will wear lycra with pride!!!
LOL
You get used to the hardness of the seat with a plushy seat cushion pretty quick!
Comfort depends on the shape of the seat not the cushiness
says you, who doesn't have my bike that is uncomfortable as ****. well, was, until i put on a cushion
@tomkun01: that's because you don't ride often enough and for long distances. the discomfort you're experiencing is soft tissue related over your sit bones.
cushioning the seat is fine for short, occasional rides, do any serious time on the bike you'll want it the other way around. padding on the shorts and hard saddle.
Hybrid bike usually has moutain bike gearing, so on the highest gear you could be pedalling like crazy and only getting around 34km/h.
I wonder why both my mountain bikes sit on 60km/hr when I pedal like crazy with their mountain gearing ;) Mountain bikes have significantly lower gears at the bottom for very pedestrian hill climbing and more spacing between gears. Road bikes do have some higher gears but you would never use them commuting. I prefer to commute on a mountain bike (no suspension) because it's only a 5km/hr & 2kg penalty due to the state of local roads and the reduce pothole avoidance options in peak hour.
MTB top gear of 44:11 with 2155 mm (700Cx32 hybrid) circ at 80 rpm is 41 km/hr. Quite decent for commuting with a tail-wind or downhill.
What sort of MTB struggles to do 34 km/hr ?? You buying from K-mart?
Rep, any deals on your urban bikes ?
No sorry :(
Rep - I bought a 29" mountain bike last year. I went with recommended size from your chart for my 173cm height however I found I needed to raise the seat post an inch about the max seat height marking.
Based on this should I go up a size in a road bike over what your chart recommends ?
Thanks
I went with recommended size from your chart
Don't believe the charts, you need to sit on a bike to know…
Please call our Customer Service guys on (03) 9329 1222, or email [email protected] - they'll be able to provide you with advice to help with the fit.
Is 2015 Osprey Road Bike at $487 actually a good deal for an entry level road bike? Are there any Reid coupon codes going around? Thanks.
Here Durianrider reviews the Osprey Elite - very similar bike. Worth a watch: http://www.reidcycles.com.au/blog/2015/05/durianriders-ospre…
Can you explain to a non-biker who will soon be facing a 20km commute to work due to an office relocation…
What's the diff between, say, buying a hybrid and putting thin tyres on it?
Vs buying a road bike and changing to flat bars and non-clip/strap pedals?
Because what I want, really, is a hybrid bike that isn't slow.
But deals lately are on road bikes.. and they are tempting. But no amount of seat padding will please my balls.