Road Cycling - Question about my bike

Just got this"hybrid" off CL for $75 and was wondering if anyone knew what year it came out and if it's a piece of junk? it seems to ride good and the shifting is as smooth as it gets.

I was thinking of running skinner tires. I was told they are 700mm. They just seem wider than most road bike tires.


http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/1506/raleighhybrid003xa0.jpg (http://img165.imageshack.us/my.php?image=raleighhybrid003xa0.jpg)
http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/raleighhybrid003xa0.jpg/1/w640.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img165/raleighhybrid003xa0.jpg/1/)

TT says "Raleigh USA, Dash Plus, CX"

Steel frame.

so you were?

i would say it is a fair price, bike will be just fine for casual riding/around town type of stuff.
you could run a narrower tire if you wanted, though i doubt you would be able to notice much of a worthwhile difference and if the rubber on those are fine, i would leave them be.

Cool. I'm just gonna use it to get the store (1 mile from my home, ha) and ride around for exercise. I can't stand on my feet for more than 30 min or so at a time so cycling will basically be my only form of exercise.

P.S I don't know anything about Raleigh, except that they were once based in the UK (?)
So, does anyone know if this is even considered a respectable bike, or are we talking cheap? Like I said, it seems to ride fine, but I am a novice and am just curious what other brands you could compare this to.

Good deal. It's not a road bike though... and don't cross-chain. :thumb:

P.S I don't know anything about Raleigh, except that they were once based in the UK (?)
So, does anyone know if this is even considered a respectable bike, or are we talking cheap? Like I said, it seems to ride fine, but I am a novice and am just curious what other brands you could compare this to.
It is hard to tell from the picture. Seems OK, especially for $75.

the brand was once respectable and like many other companies, more or less fell through.
i would not be embarrassed riding that bike or anything, honestly like you said, being a novice i would focus on riding your 75 dollars out of it until you are hooked enough to purchase your next bike.
happy riding.

Good deal. It's not a road bike though... and don't cross-chain. :thumb:

If I replaced the 700x380 wheels with a narrower set, would that make it basically a roadie with riser bars? Reason I got a hybrid is cause I can't maneuver drop bars, but I wanted the speed of a roadie.


I was under the impression Hybrids were essentially road bikes with wider tires and riser or flat bars. Is there a geometry difference as well, or something?

Just got this"hybrid" off CL for $75 and was wondering if anyone knew what year it came out and if it's a piece of junk? it seems to ride good and the shifting is as smooth as it gets.

That part of your post seems to imply you already know it's a good deal - many folks can't say that after spending a lot more.


I was thinking of running skinner tires. I was told they are 700mm. They just seem wider than most road bike tires.


700mm is the diameter of the wheel, not the width of the tire. These are normally listed on the tire wall in mm - on a hybrid you could see anywhere from 35+ to 25 or 28mm. If you're at the thinner end of that scale, you won't find a difference. I started on a Peugeot hybrid with semi-knobby 38mm tires. I switched them for smooth 28mm armadillo's and found a noticeable difference in climbing.



If I replaced the 700x380 wheels with a narrower set, would that make it basically a roadie with riser bars? Reason I got a hybrid is cause I can't maneuver drop bars, but I wanted the speed of a roadie.


I was under the impression Hybrids were essentially road bikes with wider tires and riser or flat bars. Is there a geometry difference as well, or something?

Kind of, but at the same time they are designed for comfort, so yes geometry would typically be more relaxed and weight is not much of a concern.

Sounds like you did good.

If I replaced the 1) 700x380 wheels with a narrower set, would that make it basically a roadie with riser bars? Reason I got a hybrid is cause 2) I can't maneuver drop bars, but I wanted the 3) speed of a roadie.I was under the impression Hybrids were essentially road bikes with wider tires and riser or flat bars. Is there a geometry difference as well, or something?

1) You probably don't need new wheels, you just need new tires. Get narrower tires once these wear out though.
2) Have you ever tried?
3) Speed difference comes from a different fit and setup. Roadies are faster because they're more aerodynamic as well since the position is more forward.

1) You probably don't need new wheels, you just need new tires. Get narrower tires once these wear out though.
2) Have you ever tried?
3) Speed difference comes from a different fit and setup. Roadies are faster because they're more aerodynamic as well since the position is more forward.



oh yeah, duh. the wheel is 700c, so if I go with a narrower tire, say 700x20 something, then I could keep the wheels. Gotcha. I am slow.

And about trying the drops - I indeed have, but unfortunately due to my physical conditions (Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita, Pectus Excavatum , And bilateral Club Feet) I was in pain with every position I tried on the bars.


Basically my back is just too stiff to stretch forward, and I have a very small reach, so drop bars hurt me pretty bad. I did about 10 miles with em and was in pain for a week. Lesson learned.

Thanks for the advice guys. Much appreciated.

I would say it's probably an early 90s model. It looks to be in good shape, so $75 is a good price for it.

I would try a 700x25 or 700x28 tire on it. Something like a Michelin Orium (25) or Panaracer Pasela (28).

I was thinking of running skinner tires. I was told they are 700mm. They just seem wider than most road bike tires.


As long as the tires are in good shape, no cracks in the rubber, then I'd ride those 'til they wore out. From the sidewall color, they look like Continentals, which are generally pretty nice tires.

That's a perfect bike for running errands, what with the rack mounts and room for fenders.

Judging from the picture, the only thing I'd change is the seat and the pedals, but those are just personal preference.

Oh, and perhaps a non-quick release seatpost bolt

For sure. The pedals are ultra lame plastic w/ reflectors, and the quick release seat post just isn't my thing. Although the quick release front tire seems convenient for an anti theft device.


What's the advantage of adding fenders? What kind of seat would you suggest? The guy I got the bike from said the seat was a "Jell" seat. Maybe he meant Gel, and just can't spell....I don't know.

"deflectors"? Now that sounds cool. :)

"deflectors"? Now that sounds cool. :)


I mean reflectors. Although, ironically, the ugly orange colored reflectors do happen to deflect women, so in a way, the reflectors should be considered deflectors as well.

reflector deflector reflector deflector reflector deflector reflector deflector reflector deflector reflector deflector reflector deflector reflector deflector reflector deflector reflector deflector reflector deflector reflector deflector reflector deflector reflector deflector reflector deflector reflector deflector reflector deflector reflector deflector reflector deflector reflector deflector reflector deflector reflector deflector reflector deflector reflector deflector reflector deflector reflector deflector reflector deflector reflector deflector reflector deflector reflector deflector reflector deflector reflector deflector reflector deflector

Coffee.

It's hard to tell from the photo, but if those are wider hybrid rims, 25mm tires may not be the best idea.
Or maybe it's ok. But in any case, I agree with all the above who say that it's not worth changing the tires unless there's actually a problem with them.

You need to know the actual dimensions of your rim to size tires. If the label is still on there, it will say something like 700cX23 6061, or similar. 700c being the diameter (fit a 700mm tire), 23 being the internal dimensional width (from here it is easy to determine what tire will fit) 6061 being the type of aluminum (alloy).

Find that, and we (and Sheldon) can tell you what size tire would fit.

Also furnish your weight, and the exact type of riding you plan, on what kind of surfaces. And, what do you plan on adding to your bike.

We also need to know what actual sized tires are on there now, and how much space there is between the tire and frame (seatstays, chainstays, brake parts, other frame parts, etc..

All this stuff makes a difference.

Basically my back is just too stiff to stretch forward, and I have a very small reach, so drop bars hurt me pretty bad. I did about 10 miles with em and was in pain for a week. Lesson learned.

Thanks for the advice guys. Much appreciated.

Was the frame properly sized? There are road bikes out there that have a much more upright riding position. However, if you are happy with the hybrid then no point looking for the perfect fitting road bike. Don't put 20mm tires in that thing though. Get 28's.