Kestrel Rt-1000 Flat Bar Shimano 105 Bicycle

I would not call this a fitness bike but a true flatbar road bike. Being full carbon it is pretty light and has a good, proven equipment group (shimano 105). It uses an endurance road geometry (you can get this same frame with drop bars as well) so, although the the flatbar does provide a more upright position, this bike will not likely be as comfortable as a true fitness or hybrid style. Furthermore, the 25mm tires and carbon fork (not suspension) are also counterpart to standard roadies rather than comfort type bicycles.So essentially this bike is equipped with everything a roadie is (sans drop bars), except it will not be as aerodynamic. Both because it puts the rider in a more upright position to begin with and the hand position on the bar naturally bends the elbows outward producing a large torso profile to grab air. I particularly noticed an increase in aero-drag at 17 mpg on up.Keep in mind that flatbar bikes are comfortable overall but often produce discomfort on your hands during longer rides (for me over 40 miles). This is mainly due to lack of alternative hand positions. This is where traditional drop bars do excel in that they allow for more hand configurations which can reduce hand fatigue. However, the addition of end bars can provide alternative hand positions. I use end bars in a mid-bar configuration on my bike and find it produces enough hand position variations that I can ride long distances without hand discomfort anymore. I have completed 3 centuries in the last month on this bike.The cons about this bike are that the seat is terribly uncomfortable and the wheelset is very basic. However, both of these items are often replaced on much costlier bikes.Overall, I really like this bike. It is quick, looks great and has a lot of quality features for the price. If you are looking for an alternative to a standard drop bar configuration I would recommend it .

I have had neck issues for years now due to herniated disks in my neck. I had always wanted to get into road biking but the neck pain kept me away. This bike was a great solution for me. Not only is the upright position more comfortable for me, but the balance on this this bike is so perfect that I can ride without hands allowing me to sit completely upright. The bike is super light so as its fully carbon fiber which help tremendously when going up-hills or riding fast. If you wanted to you could always upgrade the handle bars and components to turn this bike into a more standard road bike for fitness or speed riding set-up. Also live how fast this bike is!! This was a great buy for me.

As always, depends on what you are looking for.This is a road bike and with a very, very stiff frame: good for some, bad for others.The first thing to do is to replace the 25mm front tire with a 28mm at lower psi to reduce vibration. You could try a 32mm tire but it may not fit the fork width. also, I have end bars on order and will use pipe foam to cover them which should help reduce the vibration to my hands.The second thing to do is get a Serfas seat with SPRINGS. The aerodynamic seat post can not be replaced with a shock absorbing one.Forget padded biking shorts, they will not do the job.The third thing is to replace the back tire with a larger lower pressure one. Be aware of the narrow width of the frame.I was infatuated with the idea of a carbon bike but, as a fitness rider, I should have gotten a gravel bike instead - all that glitters is not gold.