Ryleeryno

Hello All,

I'm new to the forums and like many, I need advice. I live in Southeastern Massachusetts and I'm 24 years old.

I'll start off by saying between age 7 - 16 I've riden bicycles (mostly mountain) on a daily basis. But I took a loooong brake and its time for me to rekindle my favorite pasttime. I have decided that a hybrid would be a good choice for me since I do a lot of road and want a comfortable ride. I'll pretty much list my preferences and would really appreciate feedback since I'm a novice. Here's what I want...

1. $500 - $750 price range
2. Lightweight and durable
3. Fast!
4. Decent braking, Easy control, and "the right gears" for long distance riding. Not very hilly.
5. Reputable name

Thank you, any feedback would be appreciated.
-Ryan Resendes
Ryno@Resendes.com

chipcom 

Jamis Coda Sport
https://www.jamisbikes.com/bikes/06_codasport.html

cc_rider

Trek
7500 or 7.5 FX
https://www2.trekbikes.com/bikes/bike...d=1341000&f=26

chipcom 

Steel is real!

No it isn't!

Yes it is!

Old fart!

Poseur!

There, we got that out of the way.

The Treks are good bikes too. Some others to consider:
Kona Dew Deluxe
Raleigh Route 24
Bianchi Strada

Are you set on flat bars...there are lots of drop bar bikes to confuse you even more!

MichaelW

The flat-bar road bike style is a kind of sportier hybrid; the bike that most hybrids were meant to be.
Jamis Coda and Specialized Sirrus are both popular models but most brands make them. Suggest you pick your bike shop first then tell us what brands it stocks.
Some bikes of this style are simply to racy for practical use and you may as well have bought a full road bike. To be really practical you need clearance for medium tyres (28-32mm), full fenders and luggage rack. This will give you the option for commuting/touring/winter riding.

If drop bars are acceptable then consider also a touring/cyclo-cross bike. Again, Jamis make a nice example.

Budget for some accessories but note the difference between essentials (such as lights) and nice to have (such as computer).

lrzipris

Let me add a caution that might save you some money in the end. I know many people who chose hybrids to start. I did. But, quickly enamored about cycling, we almost immediately began shopping for road bikes. Our hybrids now see little use.

A properly-fitted road bike could certainly meet all your criteria. Why not skip a step and get an entry-level or possibly used road bike?

Let's not even talk about the next stage: after you get your first road bike, you immediately begin salivating about upgrading components or buying a new, lighter bike!

cyccommute 

What he said Some road bikes to consider are the Fuji Newest, Specialized Sequoia, Biachi Brava, Cannondale R700, Lemonds, and a whole bunch more that you can look at. Ride everything in sight, twice. Road bikes feel a bit different from mountain bikes (I rode road bikes first but that was back when dirt was new ) so you want to try lots of them out before you decide.

Nubie

What he said.

I have a Trek 7200 from 2000 that has pathetically little road time since I bought my road bike this past October. I sort of wished I had simply saved up a little more and bought a road bike or a touring bike in the first place. I think Irzipris's advice is dead-on.

01GTB

That's what I bought. I was pretty sure I wanted a hybrid for my first bike in 20 years. I did swap the tires for a more-hybrid tire though. Bottom line, no regrets. The price was right for a nice entry-level bike.

Jarery

My hybrids hanging on the wall after 3 months.
My cyclocross with drop bars gets all the love now

Cyclist01012

Save up a little more then what you have budgeted now and look into cyclocross bikes. you wont regret it.

Ryleeryno

Thanks for the responses.

I'm deadset on a flatbar bike right now. I know that I will come to be a bike freak again that I'll upgrade to a road bike in the near future. But I have to start somewhere? Hybrid seems practical for me coming from a MTB user for many years.

So it looks like I've decided upon the Trek 7.5fx Based on all the reviews and ratings with a decent price range. I'm not going to be much of a communter, more of a daily rural rider 15 - 20 miles a day.

THANKS EVERYONE!
-Ryan

edp773

I have been looking at the same type of flat bar bikes myself. I went for some test rides last week and this is my opinion on what I have ridden.

The Trek is most likely going to be my choice because of the geometry, a longer chain stay an lower gearing make this bike closer to a touring bike.

The Specialized Sirrus and Giant FCR both handle quicker with more of a road bike feel to them.

pelikan

I was in a similar situation last year, I ended up buying a Kona Dew Deluxe. I quickly outgrew it and bought a Kona Jake, but the Dew still gets more seat time simply because I prefer flat bars better. Maybe it's because drop bars are new to me and motorcycling and mtb are very familiar to me. My next bike will be the fastest & lightest flat bar'd bike I can find.

desmoface

I have a jones to upgrade from my specialized crossroads elite to a coda comp...I've looked at most flat bar bikes available and just fell in love with the coda comp immediately..Good luck.

Steve

EricDJ

I vote Jamis. Others may try and sway you from a flat bar, but you know what suits your riding and surroundings.

https://home.pacbell.net/pneil/ti.airborne.jpg

bbattle

Just got one for the wife; she loves it so much better than her Trek 7100 hybrid. I'm thinking about getting one myself and putting racks on it and make it a beer run bike.

bbattle

Trek makes a road bike with a more relaxed geometry called the Pilot. It has a flatbar model, too. Should be plenty fast and light. Something cheaper is their 7.6 or 7.7FX. High-end aluminum with carbon fork and a road double crank.

Pilot 5.2 flat bar. OCLV 120 carbon ~$3,000


Pilot 1.2 flat bar. Aluminum frame, carbon fork $880


7.7FX ultegra group, carbon fork and seatstay. $1700


7.6FX hydroformed aluminum, 50-36 double $1040

Nermal

Giant Cypress SX is right in the price range, and you say "not to hilly". My lowest chain ring is much smaller than OEM, because we have hills, but I have yet to run out of gears on the high end.