Hybrid Bicycles - How did you customize/optimize your Hybrid?

Back in '95 I was getting ready to go outta town/state for college and knew that I didn't need a car in Cleveland Ohio, so I sold my car and bought myself a Trek 750 for my birthday at about $600 after alterations.

The first thing that I did was get rid of the riser bars and grip shifters, which were replaced with drops and barcons ala tourer/cyclocross. This went with me to Old Fort, South Carolina and to a family reunion in Chipewa Lake, Ohio before being used in Cleveland. It was a capable trail/tour/commuter bike that saw some group riding when I came back from school, before I got a "proper" road bike.

Here it is in its last two set ups.
http://i32.tinypic.com/207waxz.jpg
Put brahma bars and trigger shifters on after getting the road bike.
http://i31.tinypic.com/2n0itz4.jpg
And this is how it is now, sans the new wheels, with drops, RSX brifters and a road double crankset which was an upgrade from a compact 22/32/42 to a 42/52. Should be as fast as my road bike now and maybe could run a cx course again if I wanted.

What does your hybrid look like?
How did you customize your hybrid?

Excellent; I was just going to start a thread like this.

I got a 1994 Nishiki XRS Sport about a year ago. It was in time capsule condition; it was apparently never ridden. At the time it looked like this (the lady I bought it from found the front clip-on fender and I eventually put it back on):

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/Bicycle08/Picture265.jpg

A rack, trunk bag, bottle cage and some lights in it was ready for the ride to work:

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/Bicycle08/Picture181.jpg

The trunk bag turned out to be a little too small for my commute, so I added panniers:

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/Bicycle08/Picture003-1.jpg

After learning it had recalled Shimano death cranks, I got those changed out at the LBS:

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/Bicycle08/Picture004.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/09SportXRS/100_3484.jpg

Finally I added full fenders and put on an Origin8 Space Bar, and this is what it looks like right now:

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/09SportXRS/0811091959-01-1.jpg

Just look at the pictures of my hybrid. Only the frame and fork, headset and handlebars - are original stock components.

Thanx, much the same for me, frame set (frame, fork, head set, and seat post) and brakes (maybe even pads- ie brakes are for stopping) are original.

Too bad you only got the cranks warantied, I would have gone for a better crank with placeable chainrings.

You know, I was going to upgrade before the recall, but I actually got some good stuff out of it: the recall kit included a new bottom bracket, crankset, chain and front derailleur. The old FD was mounted to a plate and couldn't be adjusted, height-wise. The new one can. So if I decide to upgrade the front cranks, I can now use the same FD. Also, I got a slightly bigger large chain ring (42 now instead of 38 before... still small though). I've gotten the bike up to 40 and it plays in traffic (vehicular cycling-wise) very well. It is pretty much an extension of me when I ride it, moreso than my other bikes, so why mess with it too much?

Ya' know, now that I've upgradedd the crankset I've not been using it, so it might have well be a 1x7 with the old 42. Then again the old stx cranks were dissappointing, but this is all maybe a topic for another thread.

I started with a stock FX 7.2 I bought as recreation bike. I then decided modify it into a commuter so I could get in more time on it. I added fenders 1st and a post rack, small bar bag.

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n235/Timber_8/009-1.jpg

The longer I commuted to work the more I realized I needed to carry some more crap. I like the Topeak commuter equipment so I ordered a Quick track rack with the integrated Ulock storage & a decent Trunk Bag

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n235/Timber_8/008-2.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n235/Timber_8/007-2.jpg

I've not yet done much to my Marin Point Reyes. I added rack, fenders, chopped the bars, switched stem and grips, swapped out brakes, peeled all the stickers off, added a Brooks B67S, planet bike superflash, bottle cages and bar ends. But the mechanics of it remain mostly stock. I'm thinking of swapping out the crank because the gearing isn't high enough. I'm always riding on the largest chainring (48t) and the smallest cogs. The darn thing has a mtb crank (48-36-26) and I think I'd prefer a road crank.

I had to add lighting and went with the Mity-Cross @ 350 lumes & I have been through several rear blinkys. I then added Areo Bars to add hand & body position. This is the best mod yet and the one I caught the most ridicule over. The bike computer was just a standard add on to monitor. my fitness level

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n235/Timber_8/004-1.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n235/Timber_8/010-2.jpg

I found my 1999 Trek 7500 Multitrack by accident but was not going to pass up a nearly mint bike when the asking price was 110.00... when I looked at the frame geometry the seed of a project was planted.

The only original parts are the frame, 1 1/8 threaded fork, and adjustable stem which I just put back on a month ago so I could get a little more stretched out on the bike. I have a nice thread less fork in the wings that I will probably be installing it as it is much lighter then the stock fork.

I have a back condition that prevents me from sitting upright for any period of time or handling shocks in this position so just about every bike I have is set up quite aggressively... I spend a lot of time in the drops.

I scored a tandem front wheel that was built with a Sansin hub and Mavic MA40 rim (40 spoke) and had another NOS MA40 that I laced up to a Deore mtb hub for the rear wheel and run 700:28 Schwalbe Marathons

The old wheels still see service as I have 700:35 cross tyres mounted up for off road and winter riding.

Because I went with drop bars I had to change the v brakes to cantis (no travel adjusters for me) and am presently using some XTR's which are probably some of the best cantis ever made.

I replaced the crank this spring with a Truvativ Isoflow (mtb) as I use this bike for a lot of utilitarian riding, towing, and touring so I don't really need more than the 108 gear inches this drive has.

I have hit 55 kmh on flat ground with this bike and can cruise pretty comfortably in the 30 kmh range... it has also joined the guys on a few group rides and I have had no trouble hanging with the crew.

Last week I took it for a 100km spin that was very very nice... I came off the bike feeling like I could do 100 more.

People often have trouble figuring out what kind of bike it is... I really love it.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/trek09new1.jpg

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/trek09new2.jpg

I need to get better shots of my bike for you guys. I may have the most basic bike and set up. Mine is a Trek WSD 7000. I added the usual rear rack, rack light, front light (which I've yet to use), bell, computer, water cage and bottle, 2 stickers :). I got cute Pannier that isn't as functional as I think it should be. I'll use it for now but depending how actual work commuting goes, I may upgrade. The truth is, my commute is 1.4 miles which is nothing. I will sometimes have my laptop with me which is why this particular bag isn't great. It's light though so for just fun rides or errands it's great. I can throw my purse and snacks and whatever in there. Right now my ULock is flat on my rack held on with webbing. That works great.

Oh, we also bought to Grocery Getters which are great to carry into the store and plop on the bike but they don't stay on the bike so great. I'll likely use that for my purse and lunch when commuting. I can see myself upgrading to a double pannier for work sooner than later. I took off the under seat bag. I was gung ho and got that with a spare tube, tool and tiny pump. But really, I live in the city, I'll never be in the middle of nowhere and hell if I know how to change a bike tire (yet) :)

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_TuKudpPLZyA/SlqHldcSoII/AAAAAAAAA-g/qkY7zdm5SyE/s640/DSC00334.JPG

Snazzy!

Snazzy!

Who me? Thanks :D

For my 2003 Giant Sedona DX, I have made a few changes.

Slicker tires.

Had fork swapped for a rigid a couple of years ago. At the same time moved to a threadless headset, so I have a different headset and stem too.

Added a rear rack, stainless bottle cages, a computer and a bell.

Had fenders for a while... then I realized I don't ride in the rain anyway. ;)

Had lights for a while... then I realized I don't rids after dark anyway. ;)

I would replace the seat post, but I just tightened it enough that I have locked it and it is effectively no longer a suspension seat post. If I run into one to use, I may replace it to save a few grams.

I also had clipless pedals for a while, but for the type of riding I typically do on this bike, I went back to the stock pedals.

I am seriously considering a move to a Nashbar trekking bar and rapid fire shifters. I have both.

I will possibly switch to Schwalbe Big Apple tires when my current set needs replacing. I have modified my desire for speed and want to see if I like high volume slicks. I have a few drop bar bikes if I want to ride faster.

My Trek 7.5 FX, which came with a low-end triple crankset from Shimano. And a Deore FD. The Octalink bottom-bracket felt like I was pedaling an ice-cream churn. So I started looking for something more my speed.

And there it was. On sale from Jenson for $160 - a brand new Shimano Ultegra triple 52-39-30T external-bearing crankset. And the external-bearing bottom-bracket for $20. One in stock. I took some measurements and pounced:

http://i424.photobucket.com/albums/pp323/nagognog/IMG_0482.jpg

Started out as a Jamis Allegro 2,,,,,

* put Mavic Ksyrium Equipe wheels on
* Brooks B-17 seat,,, cut my own slot in it,,,,,
* Brooks Grips
* Continental Top Contact tires
* Change handle bars (1.5 rise) and added to sets of bar ends for different hand positions
* Topeak bag carrier
* SKS fenders,,, had to tweak them to get them to fit just right,,,,
* Mavic Wintec computer with cadence and HR monitor
* Shimano 105 front crank and rear derailleur
* Shimano 105 pedals
* Topeak Road Morph tire pump mounted to front fork

On my Swobo Dixon I have added M324 SPD pedals, a Topeak rear rack and trunk bag, REI shopping panniers, a cycling computer, Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires and a Euro style Axa Defender frame mounted lock. Also a dual leg center stand, rear blinkie and a headlight quick disconnect mount. Using it as my utility/shopping bike so the changes are aimed at utility and convenience for that type of use.

"All my bikes are set up quite aggressively..."

Haha, your handlebars are higher than your saddle!

"All my bikes are set up quite aggressively..."

Haha, your handlebars are higher than your saddle!

The tops of the bars are actually pretty level with my saddle which is my preferred set up for longer distances and commuting as I can still keep my head up and have a better view of things and can still be very comfortable on the hoods and in the hoods.

Most people who ride any kind of distance have similar set ups.

I really hope you are learning things here.

I had to add lighting and went with the Mity-Cross @ 350 lumes & I have been through several rear blinkys. I then added Areo Bars to add hand & body position. This is the best mod yet and the one I caught the most ridicule over. The bike computer was just a standard add on to monitor. my fitness level

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n235/Timber_8/004-1.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n235/Timber_8/010-2.jpg

Is that a beer on that bike?

Is that a beer on that bike?

Have you seen his pics? I wouldn't put it past him :D LOL:roflmao2:

Appears to be a Molson Ice beer. Decent Canadian swill - though I like Labatt's better. Not so sweet and more hops. Best brew (ale) I've ever had was an obscure, hand-made Belgian Trappist Monk's ale. But if I saw anyone drinking one of those - I'd get far away from them! That's stuff packs one heck of a wallop.

Please be responsible. Don't drink and ride. :thumb:

Have you seen his pics? I wouldn't put it past him :D LOL:roflmao2:


Appears to be a Molson Ice beer. Decent Canadian swill - though I like Labatt's better. Not so sweet and more hops. Best brew (ale) I've ever had was an obscure, hand-made Belgian Trappist Monk's ale. But if I saw anyone drinking one of those - I'd get far away from them! That's stuff packs one heck of a wallop.

Please be responsible. Don't drink and ride.

I'm not even legal drinking age :p

Mmmm... beer.

I think I've effectively derailed this thread.

Another piece of customizing-upgrading work: The Avid Single Digit 3 V-Brakes that came stock:

These brakes were powerful enough and would stop you fine - or throw you over the handlebars if you weren't careful. But they went out of adjustment standing still. Really! I had to carry a 3mm Allen-wrench when I went riding. So sooner had I braked - it was rubbing the rim. The Avid SD 3 brakes are not sold to the public - only available as stock on various bikes. And I had had it!

Upshot: After a bunch of reading reviews and such - I got Avid SD 7's for the bike. Though I was worried that another Avid product might have the same problem, the SD 7's are perfect. They stay adjusted and stop me in a dime.

Highly recommended.

I have SD3's on my mountain bike mated to some XT V brakes... they have been very solid.

I have the one's from my Trek. Would you like to buy these (in my best Carnival-Barker voice) Wunderful-wunderful brakes?

Step right up!

(I guess you got lucky. Some say they work well. Others have the same troubles I related)

It is probably a QC issue in that some are good and some are bad... mine are 01's and have been solid.

The tops of the bars are actually pretty level with my saddle which is my preferred set up for longer distances and commuting as I can still keep my head up and have a better view of things and can still be very comfortable on the hoods and in the hoods.

Most people who ride any kind of distance have similar set ups.

I really hope you are learning things here.

Tour de France is pretty long, I didn't see anything like that there.

What you should learn is I enjoy yanking your chain. I'm a troll. There's nothing wrong with your position. Honestly, your bike does not appear to be set up for an aggressive riding position. Why are you in the drops most of the time? Is it because your bars are too high for your desired aggressive riding position?

To have a similar average position with flat bars, you would want to put them about where the brake hoods are. ie. a couple inches lower, and maybe four inches forward. So compared to how most people set up their hybrids, yours is an aggressive position. I guess it's all relative. Back at 45º is considered an average rule of thumb sort of starting place for finding your ideal position on a bicycle.

Found my hybrid! Hybrid forum is hot and I wanted to be part of it, so I dug up my old Cannondale H300 CAAD 1, to see if I could get it rideable. It seems to need nothing but air, although the chain is a little rusty and the front brake squeals. When I finish my coffee, I'm going to take it for a spin.

http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr147/Rod_Smith/IMG_2681.jpg

More of a typical hybrid than my Marin, it came with wider rims, mtb gearing, 135 rear axle spacing. My main transportation for years, now a mish-mash of recycled parts. LX cranks from a mtb necessitated by non-replaceable worn rings. White elephant front wheel, 40 spoke Phil Woods hub radially laced to a 27" rim. Rear wheel, I built myself XT hub laced 3 cross to Mavic MA3 rim. Lift pass evidence that the Bontrager saddle was on my mountain bike in 1998. Steel XT seatpost from same mtb.

I have a Trek 7000. I went to a Sunn CR18 rear rim (I'm 6'4 240 lbs and the factory Mavic wasn't cutting it), changed the tires to Bontrager racelights 28's, Shimano SPD pedals, new allow laid back post, WTB seat, 1' riser bars, with ends. Definately made it quicker and more efficient.

I bought a Raleigh Route 4 and added the standard accessories for visibility and carrying stuff. I also got a bike mount to put my Garmin GPS on the handlebar. I swapped the good Kenda tires with Vittoria Randonneurs, 700 X 35c, for smoother rolling.

7mm

Drop bars
Road saddle
high pressure 700x28c road tires

The mtb conversion has drop bars and road levers as well as a fixed drive and slicker tyres as it is both my winter bike and rehab bike aka "the bike I ride when the body isn't cooperating as it should".

I'd see my rheumatologist, rather than treating the symptoms by building a 'fixie' myself. If it were me.

Nothing better for an aching back than riding drop bars and fixed gear.

I inherited gout from my Dad - Thanks, Dad! And this can make walking unbearable at times. Have to gobble codeine. But, oddly enough, bicycling feels fine. Must be using an entirely different set of muscles. I wonder if my rheumatologist could install wheels on my legs...

I inherited gout from my Dad - Thanks, Dad! And this can make walking unbearable at times. Have to gobble codeine. But, oddly enough, bicycling feels fine. Must be using an entirely different set of muscles. I wonder if my rheumatologist could install wheels on my legs...

They do it to dogs, so why not you :)

http://www.herbanmedia.com/ambglb/myspace/myspace-pics-t/821dog-on-wheels.jpg

Nothing better for an aching back than riding drop bars and fixed gear.

There was a time the only bike I could ride was my fixed folder as I could not swing a leg over a conventional bike and could only pedal with one leg.

I have sold most of my upright bikes as I cannot ride these for any distance and am quite limited in how far I can ride them.

I am presently designing a similar bike for a fellow that has a similar problem in that he cannot use his left leg but still wants to ride as it will offer him greater mobility.

I was going to purchase a Trek 7.3FX and upgrade it, but the 7.6's brilliant blue paint and front carbon fork beckoned in the showroom. Since picking it up earlier this summer, I've added:

- Ultegra SL rear derailleur to replace the stock Tiagra piece
- Ultegra CS-6500 close ratio cassette replacing a SRAM PG950
- Reflectors taken off, added Cateye TL-LD500 and Exposure Red Eye taillight in the rear, Nite Rider MiNewt x2 Dual and Exposure Race Maxx2 lights up front
- Trek SpeedTrap sensor added to pocket in front fork, Trek Incite Link bike computer
- Bontrager Bzzzkill handlebar inserts
- Shimano A530 SPD clipless pedals
- ... and a bell for MUP use. :)

I inherited gout from my Dad - Thanks, Dad! And this can make walking unbearable at times. Have to gobble codeine. But, oddly enough, bicycling feels fine. Must be using an entirely different set of muscles. I wonder if my rheumatologist could install wheels on my legs...

Cutting back on the red wine and beefsteaks usually takes care of gout.

There was a time the only bike I could ride was my fixed folder as I could not swing a leg over a conventional bike and could only pedal with one leg.

I have sold most of my upright bikes as I cannot ride these for any distance and am quite limited in how far I can ride them.

I am presently designing a similar bike for a fellow that has a similar problem in that he cannot use his left leg but still wants to ride as it will offer him greater mobility.

Lower your bars and HTFU.

Drop bars
Road saddle
high pressure 700x28c road tires

Road saddle? What road saddle?

Lower your bars and HTFU.

Like this ?

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/confetti1a.jpg

These have to come down a little more but I am still dialing this one in...

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/cooper1a.jpg

Impressive! I though you had sold all your uprights.

my saddle is a Specialized Avatar Gel size 143 http://www.thetristore.com/view_product.asp?product=502&brand=6&make=Specialized

I paid about $80. for it this spring and have racked up just about 2,000 miles on it so far. guess you can say I got my money's worth. only drag is swapping it when I change bikes. I should get another or try something similar so I don't have to swap so much. this "season" I used 4 bikes, well ... 5 if you count one of the bikes (2) I bought last week and rode 58 miles with on Friday

I replaced the fork with a rigid fork. Got new handlebars, re-placed all the components; LX Hollowtech II crank, XT front and rear derailleurs, LX 9 speed shifters and brakes, Velocity Deep V rims, LX hubs, Jagwire cables and housings, ergon bar ends, bar end mirror, Time pedals. Great bike, so I figured it was worth the cost of upgrading. I plan to use it as a commuter in the fall, winter and spring. Summer has just too much heat, lightning and rain in Florida and I have to haul a computer everyday so not taking any chances.


http://www.jaxgtr.net/bfstuff/finaltrek7300.jpg

origin space bar...specialized rival saddle...fsa seatpost...dimension 50mm stem...replaced rear derailleur with a NOS acera (works great)...cheap ($50) 32 spoke rear rim bought off the shelf at local LBS...and some time this next week, a new tange chro-moly fixed fork.
planned is for a new IRD rear freewheel, and some new tires.

pictures when the fork is replaced.

Impressive! I though you had sold all your uprights.

My apologies... when I said upright I meant bikes that require one to sit in a very upright riding position... like my old 1948 Rudge (which I will be keeping).

The triple sprung Wright's saddle is even older than the bike and has allowed me to take short trips on this bicycle as it absorbs a great deal of shock and the bike rides like nothing else.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/nevillerack1.jpg

I have parted with my vintage Raleigh Superbe and my 1933 CCM roadster as I found I could not ride these comfortably for any distance... little changes in geometry can make a huge difference.