To all those who regret getting a hybrid for commuting... what did you move on to?
06-16-09, 11:41 AM
#101
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although I did move on from my hybrid there are no regrets of ever buying or riding it.
06-16-09, 11:48 AM
#102
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06-16-09, 11:53 AM
#103
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
If I had to pay someone to do this it would have cost a fair penny but I picked up the bike for $110.00 some years ago and proceeded to do all the work myself.
I just added some NOS XTR cantis which were a significant upgrade and I just sourced out a lighter Specialized fork to replace that boat anchor it came with.
I think that depending on the parts one used this would run someone $300.00 - $400.00 in parts if they kept the stock wheels and did the work themselves... my wheels are hand built with Mavic MA40 rims and the front wheel is stupidly nice Sansin 40 spoke tandem hub. I figure my wheels and tyres account for half of what my bike is worth and the old wheel set is fitted with cx tyres that I use for winter riding.
If you had someone do this for you then you would have to factor in the shop's rate and expect 3-4 hours labour if the mech knew what they were doing.
I love this bike as it does everything well and has been extremely comfortable over the many 1000's and 1000's of km I have ridden it.
I just added some NOS XTR cantis which were a significant upgrade and I just sourced out a lighter Specialized fork to replace that boat anchor it came with.
I think that depending on the parts one used this would run someone $300.00 - $400.00 in parts if they kept the stock wheels and did the work themselves... my wheels are hand built with Mavic MA40 rims and the front wheel is stupidly nice Sansin 40 spoke tandem hub. I figure my wheels and tyres account for half of what my bike is worth and the old wheel set is fitted with cx tyres that I use for winter riding.
If you had someone do this for you then you would have to factor in the shop's rate and expect 3-4 hours labour if the mech knew what they were doing.
I love this bike as it does everything well and has been extremely comfortable over the many 1000's and 1000's of km I have ridden it.
06-16-09, 11:58 AM
#104
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If I had to pay someone to do this it would have cost a fair penny but I picked up the bike for $110.00 some years ago and proceeded to do all the work myself.
I just added some NOS XTR cantis which were a significant upgrade and I just sourced out a lighter Specialized fork to replace that boat anchor it came with.
I think that depending on the parts one used this would run someone $300.00 - $400.00 in parts if they kept the stock wheels and did the work themselves... my wheels are hand built with Mavic MA40 rims and the front wheel is stupidly nice Sansin 40 spoke tandem hub. I figure my wheels and tyres account for half of what my bike is worth and the old wheel set is fitted with cx tyres that I use for winter riding.
If you had someone do this for you then you would have to factor in the shop's rate and expect 3-4 hours labour if the mech knew what they were doing.
I love this bike as it does everything well and has been extremely comfortable over the many 1000's and 1000's of km I have ridden it.
I just added some NOS XTR cantis which were a significant upgrade and I just sourced out a lighter Specialized fork to replace that boat anchor it came with.
I think that depending on the parts one used this would run someone $300.00 - $400.00 in parts if they kept the stock wheels and did the work themselves... my wheels are hand built with Mavic MA40 rims and the front wheel is stupidly nice Sansin 40 spoke tandem hub. I figure my wheels and tyres account for half of what my bike is worth and the old wheel set is fitted with cx tyres that I use for winter riding.
If you had someone do this for you then you would have to factor in the shop's rate and expect 3-4 hours labour if the mech knew what they were doing.
I love this bike as it does everything well and has been extremely comfortable over the many 1000's and 1000's of km I have ridden it.
06-16-09, 12:09 PM
#105
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
I seem to have built the disc free version of the Trek Portland... before there was a Trek Portland.
The cheapest way to make your hybrid more road worthy is to add butterfly / trekking bars as then you can keep all your stock parts and enjoy a more aero position and a wide array of hand positions.
That is a really inexpensive and nice upgrade to flat bars.
The cheapest way to make your hybrid more road worthy is to add butterfly / trekking bars as then you can keep all your stock parts and enjoy a more aero position and a wide array of hand positions.
That is a really inexpensive and nice upgrade to flat bars.
06-16-09, 12:34 PM
#106
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I did this. It ended up costing me around $75 all told, though, because I had to get new shifters (my gripshifts didn't fit on the new bars with the ergo grips I had and wanted to keep using). But if you don't need to get new shifters you can do it for around $25.
06-16-09, 01:46 PM
#107
Who farted?
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You're doing the sensible thing by asking people what their "second bike" was, but you also need to pay attention to why they went to that second bike -- and consider whether any of those things apply to you. At some level, a bike's a bike, and we're all being a wee bit precious when we say that this or that bike is no damn good -- look at people in the developing world who are using bicycles for all their transportation and hauling; they're not pissing and moaning because they've got flat bars. Now. obviously if you've got more choices than some dude in Burkhina Faso, that's great and you should take advantage of them, but also consider function. You talk about your "ideal commuter", but you haven't said anything about your commute: long, short, hilly, flat, windy, good pavement, bad pavement, frequent stops, need to haul stuff? Those things matter, you know.
I started commuting on an old Diamondback hybrid frame with bits and parts from elsewhere, and it did the job just fine -- in fact I did plenty of longer rides in the country on that bike. Then some jamhome opened a door right in front of me, and that was the end of that. I'd already been thinking about a wheel upgrade, but as the shop guys pointed out, the wheelset I wanted would have had me most of the way to a Trek 7.3 and a bit more than halfway to the 7.5. I ended up getting the 7.5, fixed up the old Diamondback, and sold it to someone who is still getting plenty of use out of it.
Could I use a road bike for my commute? Sure, I suppose. Do I want to? Hell no. See, my road bike is a carbon Trek 5000, and I have no interest in subjecting that bike to the streets of Boston. Nor do I particularly want to get a more durable road bike -- why would I, when the ride on the 5000 is a lot sweeter? The 7.5 is an awesome around-town bike. If my commute were around Leadville, Colorado or on 30 miles of windswept prairie, that would be a different matter, but it isn't. Get what works for your commute and never mind what works for somebody else's.
I started commuting on an old Diamondback hybrid frame with bits and parts from elsewhere, and it did the job just fine -- in fact I did plenty of longer rides in the country on that bike. Then some jamhome opened a door right in front of me, and that was the end of that. I'd already been thinking about a wheel upgrade, but as the shop guys pointed out, the wheelset I wanted would have had me most of the way to a Trek 7.3 and a bit more than halfway to the 7.5. I ended up getting the 7.5, fixed up the old Diamondback, and sold it to someone who is still getting plenty of use out of it.
Could I use a road bike for my commute? Sure, I suppose. Do I want to? Hell no. See, my road bike is a carbon Trek 5000, and I have no interest in subjecting that bike to the streets of Boston. Nor do I particularly want to get a more durable road bike -- why would I, when the ride on the 5000 is a lot sweeter? The 7.5 is an awesome around-town bike. If my commute were around Leadville, Colorado or on 30 miles of windswept prairie, that would be a different matter, but it isn't. Get what works for your commute and never mind what works for somebody else's.
06-16-09, 02:03 PM
#108
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This is what I upgraded to.
I upgraded from a year 2000 Trek 7200 multitrack hybrid to this. I am in love. I now realize what I have been missing all these years riding that Trek Hybrid. I cannot put into words how much fun my new bike is to ride.
Last edited by Jesse Miller; 06-16-09 at 02:12 PM.
06-16-09, 02:16 PM
#109
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
I should add that besides my favourite Trek... I have 15 more bikes with a few more that have been set up for commuting and touring.
I say that as commuting and touring have very similar requirements in regard to ruggedness, extended ride comfort, the reliability to go long miles, and cargo capacity.
I say that as commuting and touring have very similar requirements in regard to ruggedness, extended ride comfort, the reliability to go long miles, and cargo capacity.
06-16-09, 02:44 PM
#110
member. heh.
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Very nice bike. Are you comfortable though? Your seat and handlebars make me a little uncomfortable...
06-16-09, 02:48 PM
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06-16-09, 02:59 PM
#113
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06-16-09, 03:08 PM
#114
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I had to bring a monitor in to work, so rolled the cruiser mtb. It's a nice day out, so gonna unhook the trailer, roll downtown, grab a ginger ale and do some window shopping. This is the perfect bike for that. Would be better with a drink holder, I suppose.
06-16-09, 04:21 PM
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hello all, OP here.
Went on eBay and low and behold there is a brand new, unused Lemond Poprad Disc for sale in 57cm, perfect for my 5'11" height. Well known as one of the best bikes for commuting. So I jumped on it. Hope it works out well.
Still keeping my Scattante X-560 order, though, and will compare the two when they come in. The Scat is literally half the price with a very similar feature set. It must be heresy to some to even try comparing the two, but for a relatively new user for me, if I don't find the Lemond to be worth the extra money, will be reselling it. Thanks again everyone for your help.
Went on eBay and low and behold there is a brand new, unused Lemond Poprad Disc for sale in 57cm, perfect for my 5'11" height. Well known as one of the best bikes for commuting. So I jumped on it. Hope it works out well.
Still keeping my Scattante X-560 order, though, and will compare the two when they come in. The Scat is literally half the price with a very similar feature set. It must be heresy to some to even try comparing the two, but for a relatively new user for me, if I don't find the Lemond to be worth the extra money, will be reselling it. Thanks again everyone for your help.
06-16-09, 04:27 PM
#116
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I am a man. Yes the bike is comfortable. The reason why I tilted my seat like this is because my two boys were hitting the seat every time I pushed down on the pedals. I put the fenders on because I wanted to stop the rooster tail that the front and back tire kick up while it rains.
06-16-09, 05:15 PM
#117
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Jesse, which bike is that, what tires and size are you running, and which fender set is that. I like how your fenders have such minimal overhang, but do they do the job as well?
06-16-09, 05:47 PM
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The bike is a 2008 Fuji Roubaix LTD. The tire size is 700x23c. The fenders are from Planet Bike. Since my bike does not have any holes to mount fenders, I had to buy these clip-on fenders. When riding in the rain, you will get wet no matter what type of fender you have on your bike. The only thing that I worry about while riding in the rain is getting that mud rooster tail up my back-side. These fenders do the job nice.
06-16-09, 07:26 PM
#120
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I just bought the bike a few weeks ago. I have not broke it in yet. I took a picture now, so I can remember what it looks like years from now. I don't expect the tape to be white for very long. I will replace the tape when they get doo doo brown.
06-16-09, 08:31 PM
#122
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Regarding drop bars vs flat bars, I've used both and when riding into a headwind, it is nice to have those drops though to me, it doesn't feel like I go much faster when I go from my tops/hoods to my drops.
For me, the drops are nice mostly because they give yet one more hand position and that is a very ergonomic position.. the drops may be lower but they are still actually closer to the saddle than the hoods or even the tops. As well, riding in the drops lowers your center of gravity and generally stabilizes the bike.
Go with a used cross bike for now and if you don't like it, get a flat bar bike.
06-16-09, 10:43 PM
#123
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I commute on a fully rigid 29er in the rain/winter. I'm running 29x2.0 Schwalbe Marathons. Being a hardtail mountain bike with a rigid fork and 700c wheels makes it a good bit like a hybrid, and sometimes I describe it that way for convenience, but the disc brakes and really fat tires make it something else in reality.
I do. It's my primary commuter and the most comfortable of all my bikes. Fast it's not though. Maybe 15mph average across 25 miles on a good day. I have to keep the front fork locked out to make any kind of speed.
22/32/44 and an 11-34 rear don't exactly make for a fast bike, but I do a lot of spinning!
-R
22/32/44 and an 11-34 rear don't exactly make for a fast bike, but I do a lot of spinning!
-R
06-17-09, 06:13 AM
#124
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I have been thinking of going from my Sirrus to a 29er so I can have a Mt Bike. I have a road bike that I commute on some. But its carbon so I can't put a trunk/pannier setup on it. I'm hoping with a 29er I can keep my speed close to the same. I would like to see pics of you rides.
06-17-09, 08:44 AM
#125
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Then a place like the forum is not for you then where free thinking ideas the reason for its successful existence. I think the only person that is narrow minded is the defensive response to a general observation. And a cheeky observation I might add too. As the Joker would say....
Your post and posts like that are reasons I hate this forum.
People pushing their agenda and rhetoric when it's not asked for. 
Regardless of what you think, you are not some amazing free thinker because you post a few pictures that you most likely did not take of dutch cyclists which has been posted over and over and over here. I have to ask, did you even go from a hybrid bicycle to a simple upright dutch style bike?
Last edited by Industrial; 06-17-09 at 08:48 AM.