Wanderer

A different approach - go ahead and get the Hybrid, for 95-99% of your riding, and keep it under/around $800, all in.

This will suffice for most of your riding, and be much more comfortable for most of it, faster, and easier.......

Then, start watching Craigslist for an unsprung Mountain bike, for around $100...... for another $50 you can fix anything that needs it, and still have money left for a helmet..........

This is the same advice we gave Jinxter, and worked out right for him......

If you find out that you don't need the mountain bike for anything - it's likely you can resell it for what you have in it...

steve_cay

Or a twist on this advice.

Since you don't know specifically what you want to do, stop waisting valuable riding time further deliberating and get the Hybrid as your steed. You cannot go too wrong, it will do most of what you want to do, and I agree $800 is the sweet spot.

Then if you love it, and enjoy riding in various terrain, and could not want for more: congratulations on the great choice, and pat yourself on the back.

If however the "n+1" bug bites, as it should according to rule # 12..

If it is because you suddenly realize you need more of the thrill and challenge offered by some of the photos above, get a serious mountain bike ... probably well over $1k. This will be money well spent, because you will know you really want to do it after mastering the more reasonable trails. Then add some slicks to the hybrid for faster around town use.

If on the other hand your ego can't take constantly being dropped by those serious roadies, twice your age wearing tights and colourfull team shirts, snickering at you as they wiz by ... or you just want to compete, or do centuries as efficiently as possible: Add a nice road bike, and be prepared to open that wallet wide $1.5k minimum! Also plan to eliminate all body fat, or they will still keep whizzing by you! Your good old hybrid will still work nicely on the trails for you, as you will not want that expensive carbon work of art anywhere near a pebble!

If both of the above, read rule # 12 again ... You won't be alone! Then if you find you hardly use the hybrid anymore, sell it! The loss you will take will be paltry compared to your new expensive hobby if you got in this deep!

Personally I have not passed stage 1, I love my hybrid and do not want for more.

badger1

Seriously:

Just get something -- anything that's decent quality -- and start riding. Sooner or later (usually sooner) you'll figure out if what you bought is what you want(ed). That's when you (inevitably) will buy your second bike. It may be a higher-end version of Bike #1 , or something completely different. You might start off with a dual sport, and decide later that you want a race-geometry road bike. You can't figure this out in the abstract; experience (i.e. "ride lots") does the trick.

steve_cay

Exactly!

madurotiger

one more question and I will stop annoying you guys. How is the resale value on these bikes? Can you get close to half of what you paid for a bike, whether it's a hybrid or a mountain bike?

steve_cay

I am no bike trader, but have been keeping one eye open for a hybrid for my wife (she currently has a department store mountain bike, and hates it for her magority road use). When ever I see one of the good brands (Trek/Specialized) that is 1-2 years old, with the ole "perfect condition, hardly used" ... they seem to ask >75%. Nothing close to half price which I would jump on. Probably also varies by region and season, and negotiations ... perhaps somebody with more experience can chime in.

corwin1968

I'm going to go in the opposite direction and say that in my (limited) experience, the first photos Steve posted are exactly what the mountain bikers around here are riding and I would guess that the vast majority of mountain bikers in this country are riding similar terrain. The rocks and huge downhills are at the extremist end of things.

I've never ridden a bike like the DS but I've ridden plenty of "hybrids" and I would not ride one on the terrain in Steve's first photos. Been there, done that. It wasn't fun and quite frankly, it scared the $hit out of me.

It that's the type of riding you want to do, I would lean toward a dedicated mountain bike, probably with front suspension. My go-to's are the Surly Karate Monkey/Ogre and the Troll, simply because I've spent a little time riding them. They are so stable feeling that they dramatically increase my riding confidence over a typical hybrid. They don't come with front suspension and that would be a costly upgrade on a bike already over your price limit. Again, I've never ridden a DS type bike and maybe those would be appropriate for the type of riding you want to do.

AlmostTrick

Just buy a cheap used mountain bike and get riding. You'll figure it all out as you go.

Then you can sell the used bike (or keep it!) and get the new bike that better fits your style.

Wanderer

Easily, if it's not too old...... and well taken care of.

And, you are not bothering anyone - questions are good!

This is what I would get, if I were you - but you gots to decide which one pulls your trigger.

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bik...ail-sport-disc

or this

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/...specifications

steve_cay

Big difference between a fitness Hybrid (say a Trek FX) and a Dual Sport Hybrid (say a Trek DS). I have tried both. I would not take a "fitness" Hybrid on any of the photos posted. First two photos, no problem for a Dual Sport. Second two sets of photos, dedicated Mountain Bike, and a pretty good one at that!

And in case it was still confusing, I meant to clarify that the second two sets are not typical mountain biking, but rather "technical trails"! The first two photos are fairly typical for run of the mill mountain bikers.

And add this to Wanderer's list of fine choices for a "Dual Sport" Hybrid:

https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes...series/8_4_ds/

madurotiger

Why the sport disc over the regular disc? It seems that disc brakes and hydraulic brakes are really the only difference. Correct me if I'm wrong though. I can get the crosstrail disc for $520. The sport disc is $770. Is it worth the extra $250 in your opinion to get the sport disc?

corwin1968

After I posted my last reply, I went to Trek's website and checked out the geometry of the DS and I was impressed. I had no idea it was so different from typical hybrids. Looks like a really good design for true off-road riding, rather than gravel/dirt roads.

Wanderer

Crosstrail Sport Disc = improvements over Crosstrail Disc

Better fork
Hydraulic Discs
9 spd rear derailleur
Better derailleurs
Better bottom bracket
Better and broader chain rings
Better handlebar

MHO, easily worth the extra dollars spent - would cost lots more to do it yourself.

Very similar to the DS 8.4, but cost less..... Similarities are so close, they could be twins.

madurotiger

I'll be checking out the Crosstrail Sport Disc tomorrow and come to a decision.

It seems that the Crosstrail and DS are exactly the same bikes. I too checked the geometry and components and they're almost identical to the tee.

steve_cay

Just noticed that my local Trek store's site lists the 8.4 DS at a regular price of US$700, which is much less than the Trek site, and less than the Crosstrail. Perhaps Trek posts inflated prices to help the stores look like they have great pricing. Can't hurt to check actual store price.

steve_cay

Not all hybrids are created equal!

Many people are only familiar with "Fitness" hybrids with their road style body + flat bars, and skinny tires ... or "cruiser/comfort" Hybrids with their tall handle bars, fat seat, and usually seen with a basket and rack! So when you talk about going off-road, people usually have a funny look on their face.

When you hear: "No way a Hybrid can handle that", always need to understand if the person is referring to a "Dual Sport" Hybrid, or some other type of hybrid which are VERY different!

GDive

+1 I would also add be prepared to replace the stock saddle. I gave it about a month but found the discomfort wasn't getting any better.

Wanderer

Saddles are always butt specific. I find Body Geometry saddles quite comfy.

madurotiger

I have pearl izumi padded bike shorts that are great so that'll help a lot with comfort.

badger1

Sorry, but seriously ... a whole lotta overthinkin' goin' on round here! Get bike; ride bike lots; make changes to suit; ride some more; figure it out.
/thread??

madurotiger

I'll have one by next week but asking questions has helped a lot.

badger1

Get that completely, mate; I'm prone to over-analysis myself!! That said, my experience (for what it's worth) is that at the end of the day, in cycling, experience really will tell you what you need/where you want to go, and you really won't know until you get into it. To get into it, you need a bike. The one you get might be 'the one', or (more likely) not ... but if you get into cycling it will be the best one you could buy no matter what it is/how long you keep it

JG1967

I just went through this. Bought a Trek 8.5 DS in 2012 and road it around for a while, both on and off road. Got bit by the MTB bug and bought a full suspension Trek Fuel EX8 29er. Then converted my 8.5 DS to all road duty. Couldn't be happier. I say get the hybrid and see if it does what you want it to. If it does then that's all you need. If not then look for a MTB that fits your budget. Look for clearance bikes or last year models. You can get killer deals on them if you shop around.

ColonelSanders

Where does one find rule # 12?

ColonelSanders

I'm guessing your main concern would be that the Trek FX's wheels aren't robust enough to take the punishment and that the wheels aren't wide enough, but does your concern extend to possibly breaking the frame or forks of the FX?

I often wonder how sturdy the frame of the FX is, in comparison to the DS.