Talk:Flat bar road bike

Merge with Hybrid Bike
The first link given in the references sums this up best: "Also known as hybrids, flat-bar road bikes combine the speed of narrower 700C wheels with the upright riding position of a mountain bike." Compare this with the second line in the wiki article on hybrids: "In general, hybrids use the mountain bike's triple crank, its handlebars, giving a more upright posture than road bicycles, and its brakes such as linear pull or disc. From the road bicycle they often take the 700c (larger) wheel diameter for higher speeds, but use a wider rim and tire for increased strength."

They're the same thing, so why not merge them and add to the hybrid page that they are also known as flat-bar bikes? --CumbiaDude (talk) 23:07, 4 September 2011 (UTC)


 * No - Hybrid bikes are equipped with MTB groupsets and often with a dangerously low quality suspension fork. A flat bar road bike has a road groupset and a rigid fork. --ilaiho (talk) 10:46, 11 September 2011 (UTC)


 * No -they are not the same-keep separate.Flat bar is a road/ fast commuting bike with rigid fork.Hybrid is now an out of date term seldom used. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 222.152.198.245 (talk) 01:18, 10 November 2011 (UTC)


 * No, they are not the same. A flat bar bike is often the result of a conversion from a drop-handlebar bike whilst a hybrid is most commonly found as an original creation either by an OEM or by an individual.  There are similarities in terms of frame angles, wheel size and desirable gear ratios but that is all.  The concept of buying a hybrid bike compared to the drop-bar/flat-bar conversion are considerably different.  The aspiration of a flat-bar rider is to have the capability of a road bike but with a more upright, comfortable riding position.  Often, this is due to injury, age or other requirements.  The aspiration of a hybrid rider is to have a true hybrid capability for track and pathway use.    — Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.240.160.238 (talk) 01:15, 24 March 2012 (UTC)


 * Keep separate - not the same. These are a type of road bike.--Degen Earthfast (talk) 18:02, 26 January 2012 (UTC)


 * Support merge. While I do not believe the terms are the same there is a great deal of overlap.  It could be said that flat bar road bikes are a subcategory of hybrids: basically performance oriented hybrids.  The above objections contain factual errors: Not all hybrids have suspension forks; nor is the term out of date or seldom used -- at least in my part of the world; flat bar road bikes are not a type of road bike if used in the sense of "racing bike", if used in the more general sense of a bike designed for the road, then hybrids would also be included in this category.  --Keithonearth (talk) 04:26, 19 March 2012 (UTC)


 * Keep separate. Hybrid is used to describe a mountain bike design adapted for use on-road. This style will, hopefully, disappear. Flat-bar road bikes or commuter bikes are similar, but flat-bar road bikes are usually pared-down. Commuters often have rather more peripherals, or at least the capacity to fit them. The term 'hybrid bike' may in time adapt to apply to other 'impure' styles, but it hasn't yet done so. Scrubfowl10 (talk) 08:54, 7 September 2012 (UTC)

Oppose - Hybrids are MTB derivatives while FBRB's are road bike derivatives.--Degen Earthfast (talk) 23:14, 24 November 2012 (UTC)
 * Oppose - these are two different "beasts". Peter Horn User talk 21:55, 12 August 2013 (UTC)
 * Support without coming here to say "what do you asses know about bikes" to some editors, flat bar road bikes and those MTB derivatives (called an urban (because I ride one)) as mentioned by some editors belong to the hybrid group of bikes, even some bike shops say that as well, this is why in some shops, flat bars, hybrids, cruisers and urbans are grouped together. Donnie Park (talk) 22:00, 2 October 2013 (UTC)

Flat bar v drop bar.
In the bike world there is often heated discussions about the best style of bike but in reality they have different purposes. The drop bar is the traditional touring and racing bike. The emphasis is more of speed in most cases and riding for many hours so changing hand positions is important to avoid cramp and undoubtedly due to the lower crouch position they are far more aerodynamic into a head wind or at really high speeds. In the last 2 decades these bikes have got very light and quite specialized.Usually the riders feet are either clipped or straped to the pedals so it is hard for arider to react to a sudden emergecy.You get perhaps 15% more pedal power but risk more falls. Flat bars are for more general riding at more modest speeds and a strong headwind will slow the rider. They are very useful in any situation with mixed pavement -they are happy on rougher road surfaces and paths that twist and turn. They are also better in traffic where the higher seating position not only gives better visibility but are easier to change direction to avoid dogs or lane changing cars that don't indicate. Operation of the short lever flat bar brakes is easy because the fingers naturally rest on the levers when riding. Flat bar bikes are generally far cheaper, most costing about half of the price of a drop bar bike. They tend to be a bit more robust. Most are used for fitness or commuting to work or school. Most can be fitted with mud guards whereas only dedicated touring drop bar bikes tend to have lugs for guards and carriers. The top drop racing bar bikes cost many, many thousands of dollars. - 122.62.226.243 (talk) 23:04, 29 January 2013