>>1692728i can respect wanting to have flat bars if it's a reasonable quality bike like a trek FX 3 or cannondale quick 3 as opposed to an overly casual hiten steel shitter like in OP's pic. however those bikes i mentioned still aren't ultralight bikes so if you're fine with having narrower tires and rim brakes i don't think you should write off a modern road bike too soon with modern compact drop bars and brifters. the situational awareness thing is overhyped, it's not a night and day difference if you don't go full retard like in OP's pic, you still have your head higher up on your bike than someone sitting in a car.
