Is there a general consensus of what a hybrid bike is?
Seems to me like the common definition includes the following.
700c wheels.
28mm wide tires minimum
Flat or slight riser bars.
Triple crankset or single if with an IGH rear hub.
Canti, V or Disc brakes
Relatively relaxed geometry frame
Other than the flat bars it sounds like a classic touring bike to me.
Normally a mixture of road and MTB technology weighed towards the old no suspension MTB end except for wheel size. It also sounds very much like many bikes now being sold as "commuter bikes".
Opinions wanted:
Can a Hybrid have an internally geared hub?
Can a Hybrid have 26" (559mm) wheels as on most MTBs?
What differentiates it from a Touring bike other than handlebars and maybe a few additional braze-ons on the touring bike frame and fork for racks?
What differentiates it from a "commuter" bike, if anything?
I figure if we are going to have a Hybrid bike forum there should be some agreement of what they are other than "I know one when I see one".
__________________
Gear Hubs Owned: Rohloff disc brake, SRAM iM9 disc brake, SRAM P5 freewheel, Sachs Torpedo 3 speed freewheel, NuVinci CVT, Shimano Alfine SG S-501, Sturmey Archer S5-2 Alloy. Other: 83 Colnago Super Record, Univega Via De Oro
Visit and join the Yahoo Geared Hub Bikes group for support and links.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Geared_hub_bikes/