Hybrid Bicycles - Light hybrids?

Hi there! I am looking at getting a bike that is lighter and faster than my current comfort bike. But comfort is of course, important! My current bike is really heavy and I can't go very fast on it (~10-11 mph). I am trying road bikes and having a devil of a time because my right hand keeps going numb.

So I want to look at hybrids - which are billed as "road bikes with a more relaxed geometry." However, they all seem to weigh substantially more than comparable road bikes. Are there no light fast bikes that will support a higher handlebar and perhaps a more comfortable seat?

Thanks for any information.

The tires will make more difference than the weight. Any decent hybrid will
be much lighter than the crusher. All major bike companies have aluminum
frame hybrids. Most don't get weights.
Tire size, gear selection, crank arm lengths, fit, all have a bearing on the
speed, as well as your fitness level.

I would recommend going with 36 spoke wheels, the small weight savings
are not worth the difference in strength.

I ride an old, '91, Trek Multi Track, plenty of speed and a velvet ride.

Point, don't get hung up on the weight weenie track. The right fit,
and right tires, make all the difference.

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/cafe_century_xi.htm

This one is around 20 lbs.

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/cafe_century_pro_xi.htm

And this one around 18 lbs.

Look at the performance/fitness hybrids. Basically flat bar roadies. The more carbon, the lighter it becomes- and a higher price point to match. Trek's FX 7.5 and up, Specialized Sirrus, Giant Rapid... just poke around the interwebz, they are out there.

I was in the same, um, boat as you. I just got a flat bar hybrid bike with a carbon fork, as no1mad is suggesting for you to do. Mine's the Cannondale Quick 3. I LOVE my new bike! And I did love my previous Trek Navigator 2, especially on dirt and gravel. But I wanted to go faster and easier on paved surfaces. The Cannondale is definitely faster, I can go farther without tiring, and climbs are easier. It's much lighter, too. My bike shop fit me with a little less upright, more aggressive position which also helps. So go try some of these fitness/urban type flatbars out, I bet there's one that will be just what you're looking for.

If you want really light you need to custom build and if you know the correct components to look for much of the bike can be used parts like from ebay.
This baby I built is 8.1kg or 17.8 lbs. for you guys at the topend of the globe. Not only is it fast like a roadbike but great off road.
http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad345/kdionb/JBC%20custom/AUT15152-1.jpg
http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad345/kdionb/JBC%20custom/AUT15701.jpg

Hybrids can be uberlight like jbc's all carbon hybrid, but for most people the weight of the bike isn't going to be a huge factor on speed unless you are going to be doing extreme hills all the time.
My hybrid weighs about 25lbs and that should be light enough for general use.
With that 25lbs hybrid with suspension fork and everything I can ride at speeds between 22 and 25 for miles btw as long as there aren't too many hills.
If you want to go faster, there are two main factors: your engine and your position ... those make 90% of the difference ... the other factors like the bike and the wheels and the weight and such may seem important but they are not.

...This baby I built is 8.1kg or 17.8 lbs...

Sadly mine has got heavier since I swapped my ultegra / deore to sram, and added my granny ring / MTB cassette.
Not much though ;) as the new bars helped bring it back a little.

Before:
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f266/orbeamitis2/Cannondale%20Bad%20Boy%20Disc/CA331120.jpg

After:
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f266/orbeamitis2/Cannondale%20Bad%20Boy%20Disc/CA331265-1.jpg

Thanks for the pm, giant, but the forum still won't let me pm you back. Sorry for hijacking this thread, so let's talk here: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/749290-Hello-to-Kyoto in the introductions forum. Thank you!

Thanks for the pm, giant, but the forum still won't let me pm you back.

There is a certain minimum number of posts before you can PM people.
This is undoubtedly put in place to hinder spambots.

There is a certain minimum number of posts before you can PM people.
This is undoubtedly put in place to hinder spambots.
PMs start after 50 posts. VMs (Visitor Messages) can be used until the PMs kick in. However, VMs are visible to all who bother to check out your profile...

For reference my MTB weighs in at 28.5 pounds. It is a hardtail with a cushy gel seat.:)

I am hoping my hybrid weighs 22 pounds or less. Should arrive on thursday.

jbchy, what bar ends are those?

For reference my MTB weighs in at 28.5 pounds. It is a hardtail with a cushy gel seat.:)

I am hoping my hybrid weighs 22 pounds or less. Should arrive on thursday.

Yep... weighed in at 22.5 pounds tonight, stock.

my Trek 7.3 FX weighs about 25 lbs - this is stepping on scale holding bike, back on scale without bike - subtracting difference.

Funny thing, since I've been at this two whole weeks and didn't know any better, I thought it was under 20. Feels great, particularly for a starter bike.

I'm thinking you can go around to various local bike shops and ride a few to see what feels best.

What sort of budget do you have? Lighter costs more. with diminishing returns.

Here is a nice light hybrid - gonna set you back $2895

I bought my wife a Cannondale Quick five which feels great to her and is aluminum frame instead of carbon.

Unless price is irrelevant to you, don't worry about weight - get narrower tires, 3 x 8 gears , and be sure to get a good fit. All that will mean more to you than weight.

Where I live, bike shops don't stock that many models - to get a hybrid that weighs less than my 7.3 I would have to order it without seeing one in the flesh

LOVE my Trek 7.3 I have the 2007 model but nothing has really changed throughout the years from what i've seen at the bike shops. A little bit of tiny changes but it over all is the same bike so i would still recommend it.

If you want to go cheaper than the 7.3 you can try the 7.2. The only difference is a cheaper derailur (sp?) but it really isn't that big of a deal and had i known that i probably would have gone for the 7.2. My girlfriend just got one and she loves it.

These bikes really zip around. They aren't the lightest but when it comes to these types of bikes they are really the best.

You might also want to check out the Specialized Vita.