Hybrid Bicycles - new here and new to bicycling

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bmwrider
10-05-09, 10:57 AM
I am trying to get a new bike and would like your input, the roads are at the top of the list for bad roads (Detroit area) due to all the big trucks carring heavy metal, I think I want to get a mountain bike a put some sort of wide road tires on it maybe change the gearing if nessary, I'm looking the ride in some snow and rain so disks seem like a good idea, and the front shock fo the pot holes would help, I also figure the stronger frame and rims are gonna hold up better at the price of weight, can anyone tell me if they have done this and what would be the draw backs over a stock hybrid besides added cost and weight? I really want to ride to work as much as possible and don't want drop bars.

bjjoondo
10-06-09, 11:57 AM
Howdy, I've just redone our Jamis MTB's into more road going hybrids and I really like the results!! If you start out with a MTB, then change tires, add bar extensions, rear rack, possibly like us a "suspension seat post", handlebar mirror, ect. you'll have a bombproof hybrid to tackle those local roads with. The tires we switched to are: CST Spectra's with Kevlar liners in a 26x1.75 size which makes road work a lot easier, jmho. We just didn't get into "total off road" like we thought we would but love to ride local backroads and the paths and trails throughout Colorado Springs, CO. and changing from "hardtail MTB" to LOL, what we call "softail hybirds", has made this type of riding a lot more FUN! I ride a $500 Jamis Trail-X 3.0 (wanted disc brakes), the Mrs. rides a Jamis Trail-X 1.0 ($350), with V-brake but the changes have made either bike work well for the more "ROAD" part of our riding, Have FUN!
JonathanGennick
10-07-09, 06:13 AM
I grew up in Detroit. Used to live not far from where I-96 crosses Outer-Drive.

You might look at a mountain-oriented hybrid such as the Specialized Crosstrail. You'll get a suspension-fork and reasonably-wide tires stock. I believe there are models having disk brakes. The tires are 29er tires, and should handle the bumps a tad better than those on a 26er bike.

You might also reconsider suspension. I ride a Salsa Fargo set up as a flat-bar 29er with 2.3" wide slick tires (Schwalbe Big Apples). I run the tires at 20psi, and they absorb a noticeable amount of the shock from potholes and patches in the pavement.