General Cycling Discussion - In General, do people Dislike/Hate Hybrid/Fitness Bikes

It seems like they get a lot of negative remarks.....

Do the majority of the people here feel this way about hybrids/fitness bikes?

I figure they have their place ... I might consider a very plain, inexpensive one for commuting.

My wife loves hers. If you ride longer distances or want more performance, then they are probably not what you would be happy with, but if you want to tool around and run some errands, they are great for that.

I generally don't worry about what other people think.

They get negative remarks around here because most people here are into some specific aspect or subcategory of cycling, so naturally anything "hybrid/fitness" is going to be a turn-off to the purist inclinations of say, a roadie, a mountain biker, etc. There seems to be more acceptance of hybrids amongst those who do a lot of commuting on bikes.


My Trek FX has received compliments from strangers, mostly from people who aren't bike fanatics though. For instance I don't expect a roadie to think my bike is cool. To them, it probably looks like a mutant freak machine :lol: So anyway, its nice that some people I've met like my bike besides myself. Criticism is good when its for practical reasons, and not merely about "image". And ultimately it seems best to emulate the Joe Dog, and not worry much about what others think.

Personally, I don't like how they ride. I'd rather have a road bike or a mtn bike. On the other hand they suit your average recreational rider quite well.

Road bike riders hate em. I love em

It seems like they get a lot of negative remarks.....
They do?

Maybe you've been hanging out in the peacock forum too much.

They are only looked down on by purist snobs who cling to the outdated view of "jack of all trades master of none." Yes, even today there are some that think there should only be pure MTB or pure Roadie. Go figure.

There's nothing wrong with whatever bike suits you best. Mine is perfect for my riding conditions.

The absolute best type of bike out there is the one that doesn't collect dust and cobwebs in your garage.

I ride a hybrid - Giant Suede - love it and ride at least 4 days out of 7 (2 months now). I'm usually riding 6-8 miles each outing. Riding for fun, exercise, relaxation (blood pressure keeps creeping up). My bike has a wide comfy seat, my pedals are slightly forward (like a Townie), my handlebars are very upright. No pain while riding and I look forward to getting out. What more could you ask for? Oh yeah, there are people pushing hard, training for an event, whatever. Good for them. Everyone has their own reason for riding. What's yours?

It seems like they get a lot of negative remarks.....

Do the majority of the people here feel this way about hybrids/fitness bikes?

I think its like cars. When you are on a bike, its like you're a kid again. The old man who always wanted a Corvette and gets one at age 50 is somehow living as if he were 18. Just look at what marketing has done with cars and you can see that horsepower and styling plays a big part in decision making. Even these so call hybrid cars do not skimp on styling and speed. Was it Gore, Jr. who finally broke the speed myth?

I have a hybrid commuter, love it to death as it suits all my commuting/recreational needs. That doesn't stop me from admiring other people's road, mountain or even tandem bikes if I happen to see a cool one on the road. I wonder though, what's the history of hybrids? When did they come into vogue?

It's not that I hate hybrids, but all in all, since a hybrid is a basic mountain bike with 700c wheels instead of 26 inch wheels and less knobby tires as original equipment, I don't see any reason for their existence. People would be better off just buying a basic mountain bike and changing the tires. There's nothing magic about 700c wheels.

I have a raleigh hybrid that I used to ride for everything and now use for commuting and packed earth/light gravel trails. It has been a great bike for my rather short but terrible roads commute(10 miles round trip over potholes, glass, road garbage etc). My road bike is lighter and quicker and I use the two bikes for different rides. My hybrid has never had a flat tire and is not as "delicate" as the road bike. I am happy I have it.

In BF maybe but not in the real world. Look at the market.

will a 7.2fx be noticeable faster than my hardrock sport?

or should i just stick w/ my hardrock sport for fast paced rides on bike paths for exercise?

I rode a hybrid for six years before getting back into road biking. As hybrids go, it was fairly high-end. I used it to supplement my running. Once I landed soundly in middle-age (which is really more like, two-thirds of the way statistically), I had trouble running as often and started relying more on the bike. At that point, it was time for another road bike.

The hybrid did right by me. They do tend to be heavy and when riding into the wind you'll really work the pedals because you're so upright. Other than that, ain't nothing wrong with them in my experience. If you can buy in the $400+ range, the component groups are very reliable.

they're ******* bikes that do nothing well.

^ :lol: troll

will a 7.2fx be noticeable faster than my hardrock sport?

or should i just stick w/ my hardrock sport for fast paced rides on bike paths for exercise?

Stick with the Hard Rock. Swap the tires for narrower slicks and you'll be good to go.

If you really get hooked on distance and speed you can then look at a road bike since that's what you'll probably want anyway. If you've already got a decent bike in good repair, you probably don't need a hybrid.

It's not that I hate hybrids, but all in all, since a hybrid is a basic mountain bike with 700c wheels instead of 26 inch wheels and less knobby tires as original equipment, I don't see any reason for their existence. People would be better off just buying a basic mountain bike and changing the tires. There's nothing magic about 700c wheels.

There's nothing magic about a basic mountain bike either. Many hybrids are really more like road bikes with flat bars any way.

so. it is kinda true. i would think a mountain bike could do the same job while still having some proper off road ability. or a touring bike. you can pick up groceries with it. a hybrid bike just has very little going for it... virtually nothing really.

There's nothing magic about a basic mountain bike either. Many hybrids are really more like road bikes with flat bars any way.

That's what mine is. Vintage road bike frame with flat bar and 26" slicks. It's a sweet ride.

It's not that I hate hybrids, but all in all, since a hybrid is a basic mountain bike with 700c wheels instead of 26 inch wheels and less knobby tires as original equipment, I don't see any reason for their existence. People would be better off just buying a basic mountain bike and changing the tires. There's nothing magic about 700c wheels.

True, but how many people would know to do that? Also, I bought my 7.3 FX specifically for commuting. I needed clearance and mounting points for a rack and fenders. I knew I wanted a rigid fork. I don't think you'll find very many basic mountain bikes, if any, that do not have a suspension fork any more. As for 700c wheels, I can go down to about a 28 I think. I have 32s on right now. A 26" wheel will never get that skinny. Also, if I ever have a problem with my tires, I can go into any bike shop and pick up new ones. Not everyone carries skinny 26" slicks

you can get skinny tires for mtb's. just look at the schwalbe kojak and others.

I recently bought a hybrid bike for my girlfriend, because it will be the perfect bike for her needs-- getting from her apartment to campus and downtown. It's got a 700c wheelset and flat bars-- perfect for her needs. I'm going to upgrade a few components, and make some modifications, all with the goal of building a sturdy, fast, reliable, easy to use, efficient town bike, which is exactly what she needs.

What's not to like about that?

you can get skinny tires for mtb's. just look at the schwalbe kojak and others.


yeah, I had specialized fat boys on my old early 90's mountain bike.

but what I'm saying is that if I'm out somewhere and roll over a bunch of glass and nails or whatever and destroy a tire, the closest place to buy bike stuff will likely have a 700c tire in the width that I want or something very close. Not always true when you run a 26x1.25 tire.

so. it is kinda true. i would think a mountain bike could do the same job while still having some proper off road ability. or a touring bike. you can pick up groceries with it. a hybrid bike just has very little going for it... virtually nothing really.

If you have no interest in off-road riding, then the off-road benefits of a mountain bike are pointless, especially an entry level one.

There's a wide variety of bikes that fit into the "hybrid" classification so it's hard to make generalizations. Some have 26" wheels, ATB gearing and suspension, some have no suspension, road gearing and 700C wheels while most are somewhere in between.

The point really, is to find designs that work for new riders who aren't interested in off-road riding and find true road bikes intimidating.

I think the best hybrids are the ones that offer no suspension, long chainstays, rack and fender mounts and moderately low gearing in a reasonably light-weight package. That makes for a bike appropriate for anything a casual rider might do including commuting, bike paths, errands and some fast fitness riding.

Neither a road bike nor a MTB do all this as well. Touring and some cross bikes can work for this too, but they cost a lot more.

It seems like they get a lot of negative remarks.....

Do the majority of the people here feel this way about hybrids/fitness bikes?

I have two things against them:

1) Their position isn't good for going fast or riding long distances
2) Because they are designed to appeal to casual riders, they use cheaper components.

All that means is that a hybrid bike isn't the kind of bike that I want to ride, but they're fine for lots of other people.

then (as long as the person is within the price range of this) a touring bike would be more useful than a hybrid.

then (as long as the person is within the price range of this) a touring bike would be more useful than a hybrid.
If they didn't prefer to ride upright.

Both my ride buddies have them and are quite happy with them. (Trek 7200 and 7500) We're all in our late 50's, and the bent forward position of a road bike is just not possible anymore. Me, I ride a LWB recumbent, 'cause DF seating doesn't make it anymore. Slower? Yes, but who cares. bk

There are more and more people who ride and don't care about how fast they can go or how far. They like comfort and utility.

Just because components are not the very top of the line doesn't mean they won't last.

I love hybrids think they make the best townie/commuters.

But we all know the real problem is you need several bikes...:D

The point really, is to find designs that work for new riders who aren't interested in off-road riding and find true road bikes intimidating.


Then there are people like me that know that a road bike cannot handle my riding situations and an MTB is too rough and slow. I go anywhere and everywhere I need to go on my bike. Curbs, mud, sand, asphalt and more; NO problem. Road bikes are for people who are either going over and over the same roads or are spinning their wheels for health or ego issues.

Then there are people like me that know that a road bike cannot handle my riding situations and an MTB is too rough and slow. I go anywhere and everywhere I need to go on my bike. Curbs, mud, sand, asphalt and more; NO problem. Road bikes are for people who are either going over and over the same roads or are spinning their wheels for health or ego issues.

Same here. I think road bikes are for people who want to go as fast and as far as they can go on pavement. My riding is about 50/50 - pavement/gravel. I can't think of anything better than my Raleigh Passage 4.5. I would wreck a road bike in short order. But I can do the occasional 35 miler on the paved path too.

If they didn't prefer to ride upright.

Touring bikes can get you just as upright as many hybrids... moreso than some. Don't let the drop bars fool you.

The chief drawbacks of touring bikes are cost, the intimidation factor of drops, and nobody stocks them.

Touring bikes can get you just as upright as many hybrids... moreso than some. Don't let the drop bars fool you.

The chief drawbacks of touring bikes are cost, the intimidation factor of drops, and nobody stocks them.

Pardon my ignorance, but is there a difference between touring bikes and road bikes? If so, what's an example of a touring bike? Got a picture?
Thanks

Pardon my ignorance, but is there a difference between touring bikes and road bikes? If so, what's an example of a touring bike? Got a picture?
Thanks

Touring bikes look similar to road bikes, however, they typically have a longer chainstay, more places to attach waterbottle holders, the braze-ons needed to attach front and rear racks, the ability to easily mount fenders, etc.

http://www.coinet.com/~beckman/s26s.jpg

Oh. Thanks

Roadie riders hate them bc hybrid can keep up with some of the high end roadies or even exceed the speed on a sub $1000 roadie. MTB riders hate them bc it has missing front shocks.

Roadie riders hate them bc hybrid can keep up with some of the high end roadies or even exceed the speed on a sub $1000 roadie. MTB riders hate them bc it has missing front shocks.

Can't we bikers just all get along?:fight:

Roadie riders hate them bc hybrid can keep up with some of the high end roadies or even exceed the speed on a sub $1000 roadie. MTB riders hate them bc it has missing front shocks.

It's not about the bike.

Road bikers and mountain bikers dislike hybrid & comfort bikes because they dislike anything that doesn't meet their needs. What they can't seem to grasp is that most people who ride mountain bikes never take them on to dirt trails and most people who ride road bikes never go faster than 15mph. A rider that falls into either category is much better off with a hybrid or comfort bike.

There are so many different bike designs available that there is something for everybody out there. Go shopping for one without any pre-conceived notions and buy the bike you like best.

LOL

I hate hybrids? Quit speaking for us.
This roadie could care less and would rather save that emotion for something worthy of it like inattentive motorists.
Heck my wife has one.
My preferences are for drop bars, skinny tires, and a racing geometry. Does a hybrid have that? No. Do I hate hybrids? No. Would I ride a hybrid if it would serve my purposes? Yes, but they do not and if they did, said hybrid would look like a racing bike.

Road bikers and mountain bikers dislike hybrid & comfort bikes because they dislike anything that doesn't meet their needs. What they can't seem to grasp is that most people who ride mountain bikes never take them on to dirt trails and most people who ride road bikes never go faster than 15mph. A rider that falls into either category is much better off with a hybrid or comfort bike.


I can't speak to the claim about MTBs, but I disagree strongly with the claim that most road bike riders never go faster than 15 mph. They may not =average= more than 15, but that's still beside the point. Road bikes aren't necessarily about speed. They're about efficiency. When the distances get longer, that efficiency starts to matter because more efficiency means a longer ride with less effort. That's why most recreational riders doing supported multi-day rides use road bikes.

LOL

I hate hybrids? Quit speaking for us.

+1

I love my hybrid flat bar road bike. It is perfect for the MUP's around me. I can zig zag with the trail at a higher speed than I can on my road bike.

It all depends on where I am riding. If I go out on a country road, I use my road bike. Riding the park systems MUP's, flat bar road bike. Taking my dog for a walk, a junkie Mongoose hand-me-down mountain bike with an 8 cog cassette but a 7 speed shifter.

Then there are people like me that know that a road bike cannot handle my riding situations and an MTB is too rough and slow. I go anywhere and everywhere I need to go on my bike. Curbs, mud, sand, asphalt and more; NO problem. Road bikes are for people who are either going over and over the same roads or are spinning their wheels for health or ego issues.

Nonsense, I commute on my road bike and I know many others who do as well.

Besides, there are many iterations of road bikes besides the generic Trek 1000 style bike.

It really doesn't matter what we BF fanatics think...hybrids are the largest selling class of bicycle at this point in time.

Hybrids are the closest thing we have to a utilitarian "daily driver" like the Dutch Granny bikes. :)

Only when roadie & MTB riders start respecting hybrid riders.