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Should I get a Hybrid or a Road bike?

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Should I get a Hybrid or a Road bike?

Old 08-13-13, 10:07 AM
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Originally Posted by MRT2
It isn't so much the number of speeds, but the gearing range (particularly the lower range) you need to pay attention to. These days, you can get 3 x 8, 3 x 9, and 3 x 10. Or you can get a compact double, usually either 2 x 9 or 2 x 10 (or even 2 x 11).

You need to get a bike with the useful gearing for your weight. My current bike has a relatively close ratio 12 - 25 tooth cassette, but a relatively relaxed 48 - 36 - 26 triple chainring, so the lower chainring offers a range of useful gearing. Whatever bike you get, make sure it either has a cassette with a large bailout gear (at least 28 tooth, preferably 32 or 34 tooth), or a small chainring with 26 teeth or fewer, or both. A lot of roadbikes from the 70s and 80s, even current ones have gearing not suited for bigger riders, like a 52 - 42 crankset, with a close range cassette or freewheel.

Um, this is kinda a completely different language and I don't really understand. Now the cassette is whats on the back or front of the bike? and the large bailout gear would be used for what? and what does " relatively relaxed 48 - 36 - 26 triple chainring" mean?
sorry for not knowing much about bikes lol. I havent beem riding long and I dont quite understand everything about them.
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Old 08-13-13, 10:39 AM
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here are a couple of sites that can help educate you about bike (and let you fix your own in the future)

https://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help

https://sheldonbrown.com/

a bike co-op is place where you can share tools to fix and repair bikes....generally found in larger towns/cities.

Also you could contact forum member wrk101 he is in waynesville. He flips bikes (buys them fixes them and sells for a profit) and has a stellar rep. This way you could get bike that is known good.
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Old 08-13-13, 11:05 AM
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Depends , down in the drops the belly and the knees want to occupy the same space, as you pedal?
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Old 08-13-13, 01:34 PM
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Originally Posted by codyhmrck
Um, this is kinda a completely different language and I don't really understand. Now the cassette is whats on the back or front of the bike? and the large bailout gear would be used for what? and what does " relatively relaxed 48 - 36 - 26 triple chainring" mean?
sorry for not knowing much about bikes lol. I havent beem riding long and I dont quite understand everything about them.
Sorry for using too much jargon. When I have some time later, I will try to explain what I mean.
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Old 08-13-13, 01:47 PM
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I am 360 down from 375, I ride a Giant Escape 3 (xl frame) I'm 6'2. bought at LBS for $420. I have ridden just over 300 miles on it. Longest ride to date has been 33 miles.
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Old 08-13-13, 01:49 PM
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I started at around #440(down to 295) with my Raleigh Detour 4.5, have replaced the back wheel but oterwise held up nice.
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Old 08-13-13, 03:32 PM
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Originally Posted by MRT2
Sorry for using too much jargon. When I have some time later, I will try to explain what I mean.
ok sounds good. ill be waiting for it lol
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Old 08-13-13, 05:08 PM
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I was in the same boat as you. I went with the road bike. I was up to about 321lbs at one time and the bike did fine.
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Old 08-13-13, 05:24 PM
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Originally Posted by codyhmrck
ok sounds good. ill be waiting for it lol
OK, found a couple of articles that explain it. It all starts with cadence, or rhythm. As this article says, it isn't about speed, but about your legs. So gears exist to facilitate cadence, which allows for longer rides without exhausting your legs.
https://www.bicyclepaper.com/articles...-Gears-Are-For

Here is an article on the terminology of bike gears.https://beta.active.com/cycling/artic...-to-bike-gears And another article on the subject. In general, look for a road bike with a triple chainring, or compact double.
https://beta.active.com/cycling/Artic...e-Gears?page=2
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Old 08-13-13, 06:52 PM
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I recently started biking again and went with a performance hybrid (Trek Fitness 7.4, I think the Giant Escape is the same style and cheaper). The hybrid was the ticket for me because my initial rides were on the MUP and were typically to rough for a road bike and I ride some with my wife. As my distance and confidence increased (while my weight went down) I started riding more on the road so, I will take delivery of a Trek Domane 4.5 in September. I plan on riding the hybrid with my wife, shorter rides during the week on the MUP and commuting around town (will be adding a rear rack soon).
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Old 08-13-13, 08:24 PM
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I don't know about other brands, but IIRC, my Specialized Allez had a weight limit of 250 lbs. If you buy new, make sure to check this out on any bike you're interested in.

Concerning the comment on Craigslist, there are good sellers on Craigslist and bad ones. There are junk bikes listed there and there are very high quality bikes listed there and lots of bikes in between. Saying that all bikes on Craigslist are junk is completely untrue. That said, there are some great bargains on Craigslist that can save you to ton of money, you just have to know what you're looking for.
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Old 08-13-13, 08:41 PM
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Basically you will want the lower numbered gear up front to be as low as possible and the higher numbered gear in the back to be as high as possible, this makes it easier for you should you run into any killer hills and you won't have to get off the bike and walk.

Serious road bikes won't go lower than 39 up front and higher than about 25 in the back.
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Old 08-13-13, 08:57 PM
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Cody,
I was like you a few years ago. I was undecided on what bike to get since I had not ridden in many years. I suggest go get sized first and educate yourself onproper fit and types of bikes and the componentry of them and listen to the forum members here lol.This will save you the hassle and frustration. Then go look at the various bikes at a Dicks, Sports Authority and your local bike shops for the types of bikes and try them out. After trying out the type of bike you like, check on CL, Goodwill or garage sales. Be sure you take a tape measure to measure the bike I its your size. A lot of people do not know how to do that properly. Just be sure the used bike that you want checks out ok.




My 2 cents and good luck

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Old 08-13-13, 10:45 PM
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Originally Posted by MRT2
OK, found a couple of articles that explain it. It all starts with cadence, or rhythm. As this article says, it isn't about speed, but about your legs. So gears exist to facilitate cadence, which allows for longer rides without exhausting your legs.
https://www.bicyclepaper.com/articles...-Gears-Are-For

Here is an article on the terminology of bike gears.https://beta.active.com/cycling/artic...-to-bike-gears And another article on the subject. In general, look for a road bike with a triple chainring, or compact double.
https://beta.active.com/cycling/Artic...e-Gears?page=2
thanks alot for the links. they help a lot with understanding gears
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Old 08-13-13, 10:51 PM
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I initially purchased a comfort bike (700c), but the limited gears for the hills around me made that a chore.
I did got a Schwinn Varsity road bike (700c), but the tires kept getting flats.
Both of these bikes were from Walmart.
I ended up taking both back and getting a Giant Escape 2 Hybrid (700c) and love it. The tires are bigger than the road and have more thread to fight off flats, but are smaller than a mountain bike's tires.
I have gotten a flat, but I ran over a commercial box staple.
I recommend the hybrid.
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Old 08-13-13, 11:11 PM
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I tried sending a private message but I haven't quite made the requirements for that yet. and I didn't want to create a new thread for this question so here it is.

"I am torn between a hybrid and a road bike. Each type has reasons for me wanting it. The hybrid will be fine riding down my gravel driveway, but then the road bike has the drop bars and is better for the kind of riding I want to do. I want drop bars because on longer rides my wrists begin to hurt and I would like more position options. But I will mainly be riding on the pavement with the exception of leaving and arriving at my house via my gravel driveway. So what should I do? Get a hybrid and put on drop bars or get a road bike and ride on the gravel? Just worried I will do unneeded damage to the tires on a road bike."
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Old 08-13-13, 11:58 PM
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There is a third option, cyclo-cross bikes. They are closer to a road bike, but with wider tires, many even have drop bars on them.
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Old 08-14-13, 03:25 AM
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I don't agree with the Hybrid Hate. While I've been on Road Bikes since '11, I started on a Trek 7300 (Hybrid) and regularly did rides of 40+ miles daily. To say that a hybrid is only good for rides up to 20 miles is, well, wrong. Are there more efficient bikes? Certainly. But I wouldn't write them off.

I don't think you "need" a Triple or a specific gear range. What you "need" is the bike that best works for how/ where you ride. That may very well be a Triple. But it may also be a Compact Double with a 10 speed Cassette. My Hybrid had a Triple chain ring and I never used the small ring. My Roadie has a Compact Double and I love it. But that's me, you may be different.

I do very much agree with the advice given to test ride as many bikes as you can, both Hybrids and Roadies, and whatever else you can put your butt on. If you have the luxury of time before you purchase, take advantage of it. The shopping time can be one of the funnest parts. When you find the bike that's right, you'll know it.
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Old 08-14-13, 07:11 AM
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Originally Posted by Street Pedaler
I don't agree with the Hybrid Hate. While I've been on Road Bikes since '11, I started on a Trek 7300 (Hybrid) and regularly did rides of 40+ miles daily. To say that a hybrid is only good for rides up to 20 miles is, well, wrong. Are there more efficient bikes? Certainly. But I wouldn't write them off.

I don't think you "need" a Triple or a specific gear range. What you "need" is the bike that best works for how/ where you ride. That may very well be a Triple. But it may also be a Compact Double with a 10 speed Cassette. My Hybrid had a Triple chain ring and I never used the small ring. My Roadie has a Compact Double and I love it. But that's me, you may be different.

I do very much agree with the advice given to test ride as many bikes as you can, both Hybrids and Roadies, and whatever else you can put your butt on. If you have the luxury of time before you purchase, take advantage of it. The shopping time can be one of the funnest parts. When you find the bike that's right, you'll know it.
I also said a Triple OR a compact double. Careful, though, using your experience with a hybrid as a reason why OP shouldn't worry about gearing on a roadbike. Most hybrids have mountain bike gearing, which is much lower. A standard double with a 39 tooth small chainring and narrow range cassette is going to be a challenge for even a very fit 200 lb plus rider for climbing. I also seldom used the small chainring on my hybrid. But I use the small chainring on my road bike fairly often for climbs. Why? It isn't geared as low as my hybrid, so the small chainring is more needed.
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Old 08-14-13, 07:13 AM
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Just trying to make the point that everybody is different and OP should take advantage of the shopping process to try as many different bikes as he can.
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Old 08-14-13, 07:13 AM
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Originally Posted by codyhmrck
I tried sending a private message but I haven't quite made the requirements for that yet. and I didn't want to create a new thread for this question so here it is.

"I am torn between a hybrid and a road bike. Each type has reasons for me wanting it. The hybrid will be fine riding down my gravel driveway, but then the road bike has the drop bars and is better for the kind of riding I want to do. I want drop bars because on longer rides my wrists begin to hurt and I would like more position options. But I will mainly be riding on the pavement with the exception of leaving and arriving at my house via my gravel driveway. So what should I do? Get a hybrid and put on drop bars or get a road bike and ride on the gravel? Just worried I will do unneeded damage to the tires on a road bike."
I put 28 c tires on my wife's road bike. It even has a little tread on it. You wouldn't want to do single track with it, but it is capable of handling short stretches of dirt, gravel, grass, or crushed limestone.
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Old 08-14-13, 07:18 AM
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Originally Posted by Street Pedaler
Just trying to make the point that everybody is different and OP should take advantage of the shopping process to try as many different bikes as he can.
True.

For a beginning 290 lb clyde, the high spoke count wheels, wider tires and mountain gearing of a hybrid are good things. That said, if he has his heart set on a road bike, he can get a road bike set up with all those things, and still get the versatility of drop bars.
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Old 08-14-13, 07:29 AM
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Originally Posted by MRT2
True.

For a beginning 290 lb clyde, the high spoke count wheels, wider tires and mountain gearing of a hybrid are good things. That said, if he has his heart set on a road bike, he can get a road bike set up with all those things, and still get the versatility of drop bars.
Absolutely. I don't weigh much less than OP myself and love the Roadie. I kind of wish I hadn't given the Hybrid away, tho. There are days when it would still come in handy.
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Old 08-14-13, 07:42 AM
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I went with a roadie from day one and have never regretted it. I started at 252 and am currently at 195. When I started, I couldn't reach the hoods, or brakes, and breath at the same time. I'm just 5'7" so there was a ton of belly in the way. Now I can ride in the drops as much as I want too.

There's so many ways to enjoy cycling I think it depends on you. I do believe if you've got a need for speed all roads lead to a road bike. From hanging out here, I've noticed there's a majority of folks who've gone from hybrid to roadie but just a few that go from roadie to hybrid... there must be a reason.
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Old 08-14-13, 08:02 AM
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Originally Posted by LabRat2k3
There is a third option, cyclo-cross bikes. They are closer to a road bike, but with wider tires, many even have drop bars on them.

+1 ... I've got a Kona Jake CX bike ... freaking love it. Right now I'm using it as my commuter, hoping to race CX this year or next (more than likely next). It's very much in line with a "road bike" but with some differences (canti brakes - or discs today for some, clearance for wider tires, it's a triple so it's got lots of gears) ... The only thing I've done so far is swap tires to a little more commute friendly and puncture resistent tires.

The other option is to go with a hybrid and put bar ends on it to provide other hand positions.
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