whats a hybrid?
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Originally Posted by vpiuva
A bike that is designed for both on and off-road use, and as a natural consequence, is acceptable for neither.
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Originally Posted by vpiuva
A bike that is designed for both on and off-road use, and as a natural consequence, is acceptable for neither.
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Originally Posted by old and new
As a commuter,you see no merit to hybrids ? that's odd . What defines a commuter bike then ?
A commuter bike is one that you ride to work. I have 4...two mountain and two road (one touring). One of the mountain bikes doesn't have a rack or possibility of mounting one so it gets used a lot less than the other 3 for commuting. If I want to go fast and far, I take the road bike. When the grass quits the orgy that it goes through every June (I'm allergic to grass ), I take the mountain bikes and bomb off into the woods for a fun commute.
As for using them in recreational pursuits, I've been on rides with people who buy into the 'it can do everything' schtick and it's made the ride frustrating for everyone...the hybrid owner included! Once I convinced a hybrid owner that her bike was really limiting her and she bought a mountain bike, her abilities vastly improved. I've seen similar results with road bikes and hybrids.
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Originally Posted by vpiuva
A bike that is designed for both on and off-road use, and as a natural consequence, is acceptable for neither.
Eliteist annoy me.
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NOPE I don't buy it.Your definition ,like your criteria it's too narrow. A hybrid can be a fast flatbar,a 19lb bike with non-drops; it can be a drop-bar H/D cyclecross like an old Miyata "cross". It can be a Mountian bike style WITH skinny tires that roll nicely and are faster than your mountain bike on all but the worst trails. I state all this in responce to your response, not for your sake, I don't care what you think,besides, your mind is made-up and filled wuith negative notions, all the rhetoric and jargon, wannabee and such .I only write it for the OP, we both have presented some insight towards hybrids I'm sure.
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I love my now somewhat vintage 1998 sport touring road bike, but I like hybrids for general, utilitarian cycling. If they didn't have to call them "hybrids" for some reason (hybrid of what?... if it's because they kind of adopted the look of mountain bikes, then today's all-out road racing bikes are just as much hybrids), they would just be bikes, like bikes were for better than a century. No, they aren't all out mountain bikes and so not suitable for mountain bike racing, and no, they aren't all-out road bikes either and so not suitable for road racing. If you have no fantasies about racing, much better you buy a "hybrid" than one of those so-called comfort bikes. Put a smoother, more road-oriented tire on it (about 32mm wide should be Ok), and swap the usual riser bar for a flat handlebar, then add those plain, L-shaped bar ends, and you've got a pretty good bike for riding around town and even some touring. In fact, except for not having drop bars, they aren't too different than the average affordable touring bike.
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+1 Mine's a light road bike frame with riser bars and 26" X 1.5 slicks. It's WAY faster than my MTB, but the skinny 700C's can still drop me like fly bait. I don't care, though, because I'm primarily a utility cyclist. It has racks and a trunk and I put panniers on for store runs. It's fast enough for me and very comfortable for my upright riding position. I even have my bar ends angled toward me rather than forward like all the others I see. I refer to them as my cruising handles rather than climbing horns or something like that.
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Originally Posted by collisa1988
of a bike? I thought they were cars?
Nowadays I say it is so all-encompassing and vague as to not be very useful by itself.
You have more upright/laidback/comfy hybrids, up to what are essentially race bikes with flat bars.
I have a race hybrid (Spec'd Sirrus) and it is *perfect* for my riding conditions (at the moment). To each their own.
Originally Posted by collisa1988
Don't don't don't believe the hype -vvv-
Originally Posted by vpiuva
A bike that is designed for both on and off-road use, and as a natural consequence, is acceptable for neither.
Bike styles reflect the diversity of life and it's plain silly to adhere to such a black and white compartmentalisation.
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Originally Posted by coollisa1988
of a bike? I thought they were cars?
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Originally Posted by Retro Grouch
If you habitually park a mountain bike overnight in the same room with a road bike, eventually you'll find that you've acquired a hybrid bike.
thanks for the tip
CHeers T
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Originally Posted by old and new
NOPE I don't buy it.Your definition ,like your criteria it's too narrow. A hybrid can be a fast flatbar,a 19lb bike with non-drops; it can be a drop-bar H/D cyclecross like an old Miyata "cross". It can be a Mountian bike style WITH skinny tires that roll nicely and are faster than your mountain bike on all but the worst trails. I state all this in responce to your response, not for your sake, I don't care what you think,besides, your mind is made-up and filled wuith negative notions, all the rhetoric and jargon, wannabee and such .I only write it for the OP, we both have presented some insight towards hybrids I'm sure.
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I have a raliegh hybrid, two folding bikes and a road bike. The hybrid is my winter commute bike - it is fairly heavy - but it is great for my commute and it is great for the hard dirt rails to trails katy trail around here that I would not like to take my road bike on. It has been bomb proof and I have ridden used it for 30+ mile trips without incident. I like that it is upright, I like that I can easily attach a trailer, and I don't want it to be either like either my road bike nor a mountain bike. I think a hybrid can be a good choice depending on the needs of the rider. Even though I have a road bike for longer faster rides - there are any times the hybrid is the right bike for the ride.
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Sometimes hybrids work great, like in the case of mules. As for bicycles.......ehhhhh, not so much.
That's just my opinion, though, ride what you want....but ride, dammit, ride!!!!
I still can't figure out why all the angry-faces in the OP, though. Seems an odd thing to be THAT angry about. Maybe you thought you knew all the bike types and someone sprung a new one on you, which upset you very much?
That's just my opinion, though, ride what you want....but ride, dammit, ride!!!!
I still can't figure out why all the angry-faces in the OP, though. Seems an odd thing to be THAT angry about. Maybe you thought you knew all the bike types and someone sprung a new one on you, which upset you very much?
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Originally Posted by soderbiker
you mean if i take my $20 mtn bike and park it next to a sweet road bike , it will be come ( the mtn bike ) into a sweet hybrid , **** you lean something everyday .
thanks for the tip
CHeers T
thanks for the tip
CHeers T
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The name "hybrid" is applied to some very different sorts of bikes. I've seen it applied to 40 pound bikes with massive mountain bike sized tires. I've also seen it applied to some 25 pound bikes, with light 700c tires, that have exactly the same wheelbase and geometry as a good road bike made in 1977.
The BEST hybrid bikes are those with the light frame and fork and light 700c tires. They are as fast on five and ten mile inner-city rides as a "racing" style road bike, but their longer wheelbase soaks up road shock, and their longer chainstays enable you to add a rear rack and saddle bags and use them for light touring.
The "flat" bar design does not offer a choice of hand positions, so hybrids are not the ideal bike for riding three or four hours at a time. But, for a one hour "urban" ride, the best hybrids are ideal bikes. And, the best part is that a good hybrid costs far less than the $700 that a good entry level road bike costs.
The BEST hybrid bikes are those with the light frame and fork and light 700c tires. They are as fast on five and ten mile inner-city rides as a "racing" style road bike, but their longer wheelbase soaks up road shock, and their longer chainstays enable you to add a rear rack and saddle bags and use them for light touring.
The "flat" bar design does not offer a choice of hand positions, so hybrids are not the ideal bike for riding three or four hours at a time. But, for a one hour "urban" ride, the best hybrids are ideal bikes. And, the best part is that a good hybrid costs far less than the $700 that a good entry level road bike costs.
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Originally Posted by Retro Grouch
Maybe not so much. While there are some nice looking mixed breed dogs running around, there are some pretty funny looking ones too. That's what's more likely to happen if you let your sweet road bike sleep in the same room with your $20 mtn bike.
so i hope that the nishiki or the cannondale that sleeps with my crescent mtn bike , ( which needs a face lift =) and i wake up in the morning to a new nishiki -> https://www.nishiki.se/index.php?page=cyklar&id=37
Cheers T
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original ballpark hybrid definition twenty years ago was: skinny-tired mountain bike.
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I have many hybrids. I love them all.
The people who hate on them prolly either don't ride in citys,or are just jealous of my disc brakes.
The people who hate on them prolly either don't ride in citys,or are just jealous of my disc brakes.
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My Marin hybrid is working out quite well as a utility bicycle. For those who bicycle for recreation and aren't car free, such concerns are probably less important. But for those of us who can't afford to buy a different bike for every occasion they're pretty good. Esp. since so many other bicycles today have become hyper-specialized. They remind me of what we used to call "mountain bikes" in my college days. Back before mountain biking became an "extreme" sport full of arrogant a-holes and fussy little gear queens.