General Cycling Discussion - which brand is the best for hybrids?

hey there....
I'm am looking at getting my first hybrid and want something that will go both on and off road well and still be quite comfy. I want to spend something in the region of $400-$500. I am looking at the mongoose crossway's and also the avanti range. I was wondering what the differance in brands were and what each brand was best at. Is there any brand that is better then the rest?

Is there any brand that is better then the rest?

No, not really. Pretty much every brand covers a large range of quality depending on what you want to spend. Get something that fits, and that feels comfortable on a test ride.

My hybrid is a Trek 7500, and I've been very happy with it, riding on both trails and roads. It's a bit above the $500 you mention, but there are some lower-level models (the 7300, I think) that are in your range. My father has that one and is also happy with it.

Unless you are an expert bike tech, chosing the right bike shop is more important than brand of the bike. Look for a bike shop within a mile or so of your home that has first-rate service. The best shops treat the owner of a $300 bike with the attention and courtesy that is given to the owner of a $3,000 bike.

A hybrid that shifts well, brakes well, and has perfectly true wheels is a joy to ride. But, those are things that come from the tech at the bike shop, not from the factory.

I've always been fond of the Jamis Coda line of hybrids. They also have a woman specific model.

http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/bikes/07_bikes/codaw.html

Unless you are an expert bike tech, chosing the right bike shop is more important than brand of the bike.

We have a BINGO!

Trek 7200, 7300 or 7500. That's all you ned to think about. bk

We have a BINGO!

Solution: Become a bike expert and do not rely on anybody but yourself.

I have this: http://www2.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/bikes/lifestyle/600/28409/ and it's good on the street and trails. Buying a bike is sort of like buying a car. Test drive a bunch and get the one that's most comfortable for you in the price range you want. As mentioned above pick a shop with a good reputation for repairs and that is close, it's much easier then when you need maintenance later on. Good luck!

Look for a bike shop within a mile or so of your home...

GOOD LUCK!

I've always been fond of the Jamis Coda line of hybrids. They also have a woman specific model.

http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/bikes/07_bikes/codaw.html
+1 for the Codas. The basic model goes for around $450 and the Sport for around $600. They`re flat bar city/road bikes, share the same Reynolds cro-mo frame and are well worth a look/ride. Also, try doing the search function at the top of this page. Maybe that`ll help, too. Have fun!

We have a BINGO!

You don't have to be an "expert" bike tech to do most bicycle repairs. That is a silly notion. I don't know crap, but haven't had to take any of my bikes into the shop in the last 20,000 miles. If you can read, you can go to parktool.com or sheldonbrown.com and learn for yourself.

Solution: Become a bike expert and do not rely on anybody but yourself.

"I just want to check my email and maybe do a little word processing. I don't want to spend too much money. What brand of computer should I buy?"

Solution: Become a computer expert and do not rely on anybody but yourself.

Figure out the following:
1. What you want to spend.
2. How many times a week are you going to ride.
3. Where are you going to ride. Pavement, dirt ??
(Do you really need shocks ?)
Now take the time to find some bike shops and take your time to try some different models , and brands. Test ride them. Do your research on them. Finding a good LBS is important. You're the one who's going to be riding it. If you're not comfortable on it ,or it doesn't fit you're not going to want to ride it.
Good riding guy !

i bought a trek 7300 last november. i wouldn't buy one again. in fact, it didn't take long before i was looking for more of a cross or relaxed road bike. i wish i'd have went with the 7500.

specifically,
i swapped out the saddle. the stock saddle wasn't comfortable.
i swapped out the grips. they were too small (and i have cts so i needed something more ergo)
i do not like the sram x-7 rear derailleur or twist shifters. they are not accurate and 2 separate dealers cannot seem to adjust them correctly (the 2nd lbs has a tech that i really, really trust).
not that you're worried about speed with a hybrid, however, even tho the cassette/chainrings are more sporty than my diamondback comfort bike, i'm faster on my db.

comparing the 2 bikes even more, the shimano t-series derailleurs on my diamondback wildwood are more accurate and smooth than the sram components on my trek.
the shimano revo-shift shifters are wwaaaaaaaayyyyyy more comfortable and smooth than the sram x-4 twist shifters.

also, the shimano components stay "adjusted" longer than the sram. i've had 2 tune ups on my trek since november. i've had 2 tune ups on my db since last may. my trek has about 800 miles on it. my db has about 1800 miles on it.

also, i can be comfortable further and for a long time on the comfort bike over the hybrid. i really like the frame geometry on my wildwood.

i'm not endorsing db. it was a $200 bike i got from a chain sporting goods store. DO NOT make the same mistake i did. i've already replaced the bottom bracket and i'm on my 3rd wheelset. the saddle bracket is crap. it stripped out within a month or so.



here are a few thoughts that helped/would have helped me in my search;

-do your best to think about where, how often and how far you'll ride. it makes a world of difference in the style you should look for.

-"ditto" to the suggestion that the lbs is more important than the bike. until you start to spec out your own bike, i think most brands are going to be comparably built at each price point

-you'll be hard pressed to find a hybrid with decent components under $400. so your range is right. i paid $387 for my 7300.

-a hybrid is great for trail riding. the more you ride on the road, the more you may itch to get into a road style bike. therefore, i shouldn't have ruled out flat-bar road bikes like i did. i probably would have been happier in a trek fx series bike.

-test lots of bikes. don't be afraid to walk out of you don't feel good about an lbs or salesperson or tech. to quote seinfeld, "no move is worth losing a good mechanic."

- have fun.

- be ready for cycling to become part of your soul.

Trek 790 hybrid here.

GOOD LUCK!

I guess I'm lucky. I have two bike shops within a mile of home, five within three miles of home, and about ten shops within five miles of home. Or, maybe I'm unlucky. Too easy to find myself in a bikeshop, and too easy to see something that wants to go home with me.

Developing a relationship with a neighborhood bike shop has benefits. The last time I took my nine year old nephew's $200 bike into the shop for an adjustment, the tech removed a $4,000 bike from his workstand and made my nephew's bike "job one".

I suspect I could save a little money buying stuff from some shop fifty miles away (or mail order, or via the internet) but the terrific service a neighborhood shop provides is far more valuable than saving a few buck here and there.

I've always been fond of the Jamis Coda line of hybrids. They also have a woman specific model.

http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/bikes/07_bikes/codaw.html
I second that, these are great looking bikes with relaxed angles for easy riding. Right in your price range, better components than on similar treks. The base model is pretty good too.

Best luck in your search!

You want to ride on roads and on trails? Have you considered cyclocross? It's more of a ruggedizing of a road bike than a dumbing down of a mountain bike, which means awesome.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v390/blickblocks/7XR2C_bbq.jpg

Just as capable off road as the best hybrid but much faster on the street.

You want to ride on roads and on trails? Have you considered cyclocross? It's more of a ruggedizing of a road bike than a dumbing down of a mountain bike, which means awesome. Just as capable off road as the best hybrid but much faster on the street.

Very nice bike. I want one. Something tells me it's a little over their budget. :D But if you have to break the bank, this is the bike to do it on.

Tim