What do you think of the Kona Dew?

[Rod Smith]

Flat bars don’t always put rider in a more upright position. If I had drop bars, I would set them up such that my body position while riding on the brake hoods would be the same as my position holding the grips of my flat/riser bars. Drop bars offer a more aero position in the drops. Barends can give a more aero position on flat bars but not as much. Drop bars provide more hand positions and a greater variation in rider position from upright (holding on the flat part near the stem) to tucked (in the drops), So yeah, drops are probably better, but I rode 350 miles last weekend on riser bars with barends, so it can be done. I wasn’t fast and I had some soreness in the triceps Monday. I don’t know how much faster I would have been with drop bars. A lighter bike may have made a bigger difference. I don’t know, but flat bars will not prevent you from riding long distances.

[mstone]

It’s certainly possible to go any distance on a flat bar bike, that’s why I stuck to phrases like “many people are more comfortable” rather than claiming an absolute advantage. The larger point is that for a 6 mile ride on a budget, any possible difference isn’t worth worrying about. Could be he tries the Dew on a century and it works out, could be he tries the Dew on a century and it doesn’t work out, either way it doesn’t matter if the plan is to use the bike for a 6 miles commute and the century is s future hypothetical. Buy what works for the current need, and if the need changes, then see if another bike is necessary.

[lordofthemark]

@mstone 66020 wrote:

It’s certainly possible to go any distance on a flat bar bike, that’s why I stuck to phrases like “many people are more comfortable” rather than claiming an absolute advantage. The larger point is that for a 6 mile ride on a budget, any possible difference isn’t worth worrying about. Could be he tries the Dew on a century and it works out, could be he tries the Dew on a century and it doesn’t work out, either way it doesn’t matter if the plan is to use the bike for a 6 miles commute and the century is s future hypothetical. Buy what works for the current need, and if the need changes, then see if another bike is necessary.

This sums up the situation nicely. That said, I appreciate everyone’s ideas.

[lordofthemark]

Today I test rode a Specialized Sirrus Sport http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bikes/fitness/sirrus/sirrus-sport at Freshbikes. Another zippy bike, this time 700×28 wheels and 3×9 gears. Cheapest hybrid (?) they had in the store. Nice, but I think the Kona works just as well for me, and this cost $590.

[dasgeh]

Weighing in late, but my rule of thumb:

3 miles and under (and not too hilly): I’m fine on any bike that’s approx my size
Up to 8-10 miles: I’m fine on any bike that’s my size
Above that, I want to fit well on the bike. My bum feels it first (e.g. long days out on the ebakfiets, I’ve got the e-assist, and I prefer to be upright to be able to see, but around mile 8 my ass would like to change that preference). Also, I ride a ton faster when I’m more comfortable on the bike.

Last night I finally changed out the handlebars on my bike (I mean the bike I’m borrowing from Dad). I also swapped the cassette and chain, and added yellow handlebar tape and good lights. Today I was FLYING.

In sum: the more comfortable you are, the more you’ll ride, and that’s really the goal, right

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