Drop Bars Vs Flats | Can A Hybrid Bike Be Just As Fast As A Road Bike?

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!

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[gcn]

Which bike would you pick to ride? Let us know why in the comments!

[jonathanbouchard]

I have no trouble keeping up with my road bike buddies on my hybrid "shopping bike", but that might change if I told them the route and they knew where we were going.

[Dakota_B_]

Never gonna claim my flat bars are the faster design, but my neck is thankful for them.

[blasckops]

Simon's drift in the beginning was cool af

[jabehauber]

"The difference is that the hybrid is in a faster colour." I think that's about right.

[Kishgofu]

they're trying so hard to be unbiased bless them

[sourcefilm]

I've always ridden a hybrid. For me, it's not about aero (or looking cool) but about the health of my neck and back.

[jeffreybarker]

With all the talk of gravel, I’m happy to see discussion of hybrids. My first non-mountain bike is a hybrid so seeing discussion brings me back.

[Shellewell]

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.

[chriscairns]

Flat bars are great in the winter for more confidence.

[andrewponyrko]

That orange bike is sweet, I want one

[FunnyCatVideos]

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

[phurwitzma]

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.

[jaylumbago]

My arms hurt more than my legs - spoken like a true road rider.

[leslie]

Teacher at school: hey ollie count to five please
Ollie: beep beep beep beep booo

[shaunjasper]

We've got a video coming up that involves drops, we'll call Ollie 😂

[calebjackson]

I added clip-on aero bars to my flat bar bike for more comfort when I’m tucked in. Works great!

[daveyallanson]

Ollie: "Drops are good for sprinting out of corners."

Also Ollie: continues to ride on a straight road!!!!

[sergioosorio]

Ollie has had some job done these days, two videos trying bikes he's not used to in the same day. Such a master!

[lynnwood]

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.