Originally Posted by
EdgewaterDude
Are components on flat bar hybrids as much of a big deal as they on STI road bikes?
I was just about to make the same point. With trigger shifters I don't think it makes nearly as much of a difference as the much more complicated road bike style integrated brake/shifters. I don't notice a big difference in shift quality with lower end trigger shifter setups but they require much more frequent tuning. So a higher level rear derailleur on a hybrid does make a difference. IME the front derailleur makes almost no difference in real world shift quality. Don't forget the crankshaft quality either, it's often a part manufacturers skimp on that I've heard makes a difference in shift quality.