Hybrid Bicycles - Is this a hybrid?

Schwinn World Sport
700c x 35
Alfine hub
Jtek Shifter
Salsa Delgado X Rims
52 Single Chainring
19 Cog

No, It's a Road Bike for sure. Some still use the term '10 speeds'.. not so relavent. Yours has H/d rims, nice big tires and kind gears.. AND Drop Bars..... Now that's MY kind of hybrid. Many bikes can be classified as such, most have flatter bars, yours have drops IMO .. better

its a hybrid road bike....

put a flat bar and fenders on it...maybe I will let ya get away with just hybrid ;)

Looks nice, and I bet it is really convenient!

Yes, it's a hybrid...since it doesn't fit into any one specific genre.
More accurately, it's a bike...further categorization not required.

I just finished the bike today fenders and rack were in the original plan. 30 pounds now

Nice job! It's a hybrid if you want it to be. :) Not everybody is happy to have the hybrid appellation applied to his or her ride. In my mind, it doesn't qualify as a "road bike", although you can call it that. I consider your bike a hybrid, but might choose a more specific designation such as city bike if I was asked to categorize it.

My thought that all bikes with drivetrains are hybrids was not well received here, nor is my tendency to class everything with drop bars and no derailleurs as a city bike, so take my opinion with a grain of salt. :D

Nothing better than an old Schwinn with an IGH, is mine a hybrid?

All four of your bikes are hybrids, IGH.

The first bike is not a hybrid. It's a ss road bike.

I don't think I'd classify the old Schwinn as a hybrid either.

The first bike is not a hybrid. It's a ss road bike.

I don't think I'd classify the old Schwinn as a hybrid either.

Shwinn didn't classify it as a hybrid either

I'm beginning to think a hybrid is more about the stuff you add to it. My "B" bike, the Kuwahara was born as a MTB but I hybridified it with fenders, rear rack etc.

The first bike is not a hybrid. It's a ss road bike.

I don't think I'd classify the old Schwinn as a hybrid either.

Look at the first bike again...hardly a ss or a road bike - more like a internally geared track-style bike.

A hybrid is any bike that doesn't fit into one of the general classifications (which are all fraught with their own definition problems as well). Why so many of you feel the need to classify them is beyond me. It's a bike and any further classification should be based upon usage rather than some mythical genre based upon marketing hype. So to the OP, if you want it to be a hybrid, it's a hybrid.

Look at the first bike again...hardly a ss or a road bike - more like a internally geared track-style bike.

A hybrid is any bike that doesn't fit into one of the general classifications (which are all fraught with their own definition problems as well). Why so many of you feel the need to classify them is beyond me. It's a bike and any further classification should be based upon usage rather than some mythical genre based upon marketing hype.

We have classified it. All the while leaving ourselves lattitude. Reading the posts clearly show that. You however classify it as a bike .. just that. It's apparent that Hybrids can be interperated differently as can Schwinn's original classification. Are we and the OP supposed to believe that yours is the final analysis ? We're weighing-in.. just like you. The OP can feel about it the way he wants.

Look at the first bike again...hardly a ss or a road bike - more like a internally geared track-style bike.

A hybrid is any bike that doesn't fit into one of the general classifications (which are all fraught with their own definition problems as well). Why so many of you feel the need to classify them is beyond me. It's a bike and any further classification should be based upon usage rather than some mythical genre based upon marketing hype. So to the OP, if you want it to be a hybrid, it's a hybrid.


Hmmmm....I concur the use of the bike also determines it's classification. Would you all agree hybrids are meant for urban purpose such as: commuting, carrying groceries, general urban coolness or am I dead wrong?

I use my bikes for commuting to college, carrying crap, assaulting the urban landscape, junk like that. What do you use your hybrid for?

OK, is this a Hybrid??119832

I'm gonna go with no. To my uneducated eye, that's a road bike.

A hybrid is any bike that doesn't fit into one of the general classifications (which are all fraught with their own definition problems as well).
According to who? You? I don't think you're right here.


Why so many of you feel the need to classify them is beyond me.Seems to me that you're in here doing exactly that.


You were however right about it not being a ss -- I didn't notice the Alfine hub.

Hmmmm....I concur the use of the bike also determines it's classification. Would you all agree hybrids are meant for urban purpose such as: commuting, carrying groceries, general urban coolness or am I dead wrong?

I would disagree here. Hybrids are sold at all ends of the spectrum, from commuting and utility bikes, all the way up to fast road bikes.

Would I classify any of the bikes in this thread as hybrids, I would say: Yes

Maybe not by the marketing standards, but they are all hybrid of something.

If we wanted to use the current marketing standards though:
The first - A road bike with an IGH
The second - A hybrid with an IGH
The third - A... Trike?

Look at the first bike again...hardly a ss or a road bike - more like a internally geared track-style bike.

A hybrid is any bike that doesn't fit into one of the general classifications (which are all fraught with their own definition problems as well). Why so many of you feel the need to classify them is beyond me. It's a bike and any further classification should be based upon usage rather than some mythical genre based upon marketing hype.
We have classified it. All the while leaving ourselves lattitude. Reading the posts clearly show that. You however classify it as a bike .. just that. It's apparent that Hybrids can be interperated differently as can Schwinn's original classification. Are we and the OP supposed to believe that yours is the final analysis ? We're weighing-in.. just like you. The OP can feel about it the way he wants.


Hmm, why would you leave off the last line of what I said when you quoted it then say something silly like this?


Look at the first bike again...hardly a ss or a road bike - more like a internally geared track-style bike.

A hybrid is any bike that doesn't fit into one of the general classifications (which are all fraught with their own definition problems as well). Why so many of you feel the need to classify them is beyond me. It's a bike and any further classification should be based upon usage rather than some mythical genre based upon marketing hype. So to the OP, if you want it to be a hybrid, it's a hybrid.

Hmmmm....I concur the use of the bike also determines it's classification. Would you all agree hybrids are meant for urban purpose such as: commuting, carrying groceries, general urban coolness or am I dead wrong?

I use my bikes for commuting to college, carrying crap, assaulting the urban landscape, junk like that. What do you use your hybrid for?

Any bike is suitable for just about any purpose a bike is suited for...just some are better suited than others. Even among the new, hip, cool, hybrid classification, some bikes are better suited for some purposes than others.

My 'hybrid' is a Raleigh Rt-24 that is pretty much my snow bike and doesn't get used for much more than a 'guest' bike during the warmer months. For hauling groceries and junk I use my Big Dummy, tho for smaller loads I can use my Fuji World, Raleigh Superbe or even my Raleigh One-Way, for commuting I can use any of my 7 bikes, but mostly use the Fuji. For general errands I can use the Big Dummy, the Fuji, the Superbe or the One-Way. For roadie type rides I use my Salsa La Raza, or maybe the Fuji or my old 80ish Bianchi if the weather is sucky. For rides on rail-trails and such I usually use any of the 7, but prefer the One-Way since they are fairly flat.

As you can see, I'm not a one bike guy anymore, but I can tell you that if I had to settle for keeping just one bike it would be my Fuji World...as you can see I can use it for just about anything. But that's my choice and if a so-called hybrid is your choice, that's cool with me. They are all bikes and the best bike is the one that works best for you...no matter what category someone wants to lump it into. ;)

OK, is this a Hybrid??119832

Yes, it's part road bike, part trike. ;)

Riddle me this...if I am part Italian, part Czech and part Navajo, am I a hybrid, or am I required to choose one of the three for my official double-secret classification?

According to who? You? I don't think you're right here.


OK, what's your definition?

Mine is that any bike that has characteristics of two or more of the accepted classifications of bikes (geeze, if we gotta define them we might have to start a whole new thread) can be considered a hybrid.

As I mentioned above, if I am of mixed national origin, am I a 'hybrid' or am I forced to choose one heritage? Why would it be different with bikes?

I would disagree here. Hybrids are sold at all ends of the spectrum, from commuting and utility bikes, all the way up to fast road bikes.

Would I classify any of the bikes in this thread as hybrids, I would say: Yes

Maybe not by the marketing standards, but they are all hybrid of something.

If we wanted to use the current marketing standards though:
The first - A road bike with an IGH
The second - A hybrid with an IGH
The third - A... Trike?

You raise an interesting point...why does an IGH change the classification of a bike? When you buy...let's say a Ford F150 pickup truck....you can usually choose between having an automatic or manual tranny. Does choosing one of the other change the classification of the truck from a pickup truck to something else? Even though they have different types of trannies, they are still both F150 pickup trucks....so why does replacing my derailleur drive train with an IGH change the classification or model of my road bike?

Man, I need to get stoned, this is making my head hurt. :D

(geeze, if we gotta define them we might have to start a whole new thread)
Actually, to support your views, I think you should tell us all what your version of the "accepted classifications of bikes" are. I'd really like to see what you offer.

You raise an interesting point...why does an IGH change the classification of a bike?
I agree. I don't think it does change the classification.

Yes, it's part road bike, part trike. ;)

Riddle me this...if I am part Italian, part Czech and part Navajo, am I a hybrid, or am I required to choose one of the three for my official double-secret classification?
Ridiculous analogy. It's comparing apples to oranges.

And as I stated earlier, the trike may well be a hybrid, but not the type discussed in this forum.

It might be interesting to note that derailleur gears have only been in widespread use for the last 50-60 years and that road bikes were often equipped with an internal gear hub or a fixed / ss drive.

My 1955 Raleigh Lenton "Reg Harris Road Model" was sold as a fixed gear road / club bike but was also available as a three speed model (at extra cost).

My Lenton is a road bike... albeit a very old one.

The Schwinn in the OP is a road bike with a single drive.

I also have a 1954 Raleigh Sports road bike... it has a 3 speed internal hub and will soon have a dual drive to give it 9 speeds.

Ok its a road bike... well I use it to ride to work usually I take a straight path 5 miles. Today I turned and took the highway, guess it handles better on the road.