Looking for the fastest hybrid I can buy
 

related threads i started are
here http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...=571601&page=3 and
here http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=573108


I bought a Trek FX 7.2 and sold it a couple days ago realizing that I need something faster while still sticking to the Hyrbid/upright riding position.... i do not commute with it. i use it for fitness for 20-30 mile rides, sometimes in jeans and a tshirt.



I've narrowed it down to a few options....

1) An Orbea Diem - all carbon bike. http://www.orbea-usa.com/fly.aspx?la...d=167&taxid=74 cost = $2k

2) Buy an fx 7.3 and upgrade EVERYTHING on it to make it comparable to the fx 7.9 (looking at upgrading wheels (open pro with ultegra hubs), cranks, f/r drailers and shifters to everything shimano/ultegra) cost: bike + upgrades + tuneup at a shop = $1600

3) buying a trek 7.7 or 7.9 cost: was quoted $1770 for a 7.7 ............


Since we now have a hybrid forum, i suppose others are in my same/similar position or can give me a good idea on what i should be getting..... and yes, i understand a lot of the speed depends on the rider but i am simply looking for something that gives me similar speed to a roadbike minus the hunched back position that would kill me in manhattan traffic.

Maybe all your bike needs is a better motor.;)

Option 1. You'd probably like it.

Option 2. This makes no sense at all.

Option 3. May as well.

You seem to be impetuous and I'm guessing have a fair amount of disposable income. The issue is not so much what you need as what you want. Flat bar roadbike perhaps?

Check out the Giant FCR. Feels and rides much more like a road bike than most hybrids I've thrown a leg over.

not impetuous - just got into biking and don't want to make another wrong decision. my fx 7.2 was great so i bought it but i quickly got addicted and wanted something much quicker/higher end.....

this is why im not jumping to buy another bike so soon. i am still narrowing down options. if i was impetuous, i would have a 7.9 already and i would not be on this forum looking to learn more about bikes ;-)

i decided im spending up to $2k on a new bike. i simply want to be sure that the one i choose is the best use of my $2k. i would prefer the dollar to value ratio extremely high so i would not second guess my purchase the following day ;-D

I really like the appearance of the Obrea Diem and the geometry is pretty close to the Trek. If i had it to 'do over' I might well have purchased the Obrea but no local shop supports the brand.

Now I am researching upgrading the wheel set on the 7.7 FX.

Best of luck solving your dilema..

^ This is sort of my dilema... I have not heard of Orbea but the bike shop told me if you're spending that kind of dough, it should be all carbon. Orbea's high-end bikes are really popular and highly rated but i have not heard of anything on this model... so i am hesitant to put $2k into a bike i literally have no information about. ALSO, the wheels that come on this high end carbon $2k bike are.... maybe $200 at best.... really cheap wheels... so that makes me wonder why they would put such high end parts/frame together with such low end wheels...... this tells me i have to spend $2k and another few hundred to get nicer wheels.... if that's the case, i may as well just jump to the 7.9 ......................

why are you upgrading the wheels on your 7.7? any reason?

Take a look at the Specialized Sirrus. I have the Expert with carbon seat stays and fork. It is more of a flat bar road bike than a hybrid tho. I put 23c tires on it instead of the 28's it came with. If what you want is speed you might be happier with a road bike than a hybrid/flat bar. I went with the sirrus because I wanted as fast a bike as possible but I have back problems and found the more upright position better for me.

I think the poster wants a flat bar fast road bike. A hybrid is not built for speed. Its built for getting people and things from point A to point B. If one is looking for speed, the road cycling forum is more suited to checking out that option.

The 7.1 - 7.7 FX bikes are plenty fast as hybrids go. Maybe you should be looking for a road-bike that can be adapted to flat bars.

^ panthers, #1 congrats we have a hybrid forum. #2, i love your bike! ;-D

re: flat bar road bike -- bingo. that's exactly what i want but i am unable to find a model like that.... there are some fast hybrids out there. i simply would like to average about 15mph on my trips and have a top speed of like 35mph..... on my lower end trek 7.2, i was averaging 10-11mph and my top speed was 26mph... so i know i am in the right class of bikes... i just gotta get one with the components that will make achieving those speeds easier.... it would be nice to coast at 15mph....

+1 for a better motor then. I average 16 mph on my hybrid.

The idea of a better wheelset intrigues me. What sort of wheels do you run now?

I am a 232 lb masher. I expect the Bontys to crack within the next 500 miles.

He is looking at the variety of hybrids that are of marketed as "flat bar road bikes". Anything from Orbea is nice, but a real Orbea road bike converted to hybrid would be much nicer. Many who choose "flat bar road" style hybrids would prefer a top end road bike fitted with flat bars, but the cost is much, much different even before you look at swapping out the bars, shifters/brake levers, grips and probably stem.

I agree with 007, if you are thinking about spending $2000, a road bike conversion would be worth looking at.

the speeds i mentioned were on the stock wheels on my 7.2 with 35mm tires... since the bike was brand new, i didnt want put another $50 or more into getting 28mm tires.... i was fixed on getting a new bike altogether with 28's on it which is why i sold the 7.2 ;-D

when i had the tires pumped to max psi, the bike rode like a dream. so smooth, so fast and it just kept rolling and rolling and rolling....... i'm getting either 25mm or 28mm on the next bike im getting and im going to inflate the bejesus outta them to achieve the best rolling speed... lol :roflmao2:

that Orbea Diem looks like a road bike with straight bars. I think you should be looking to buy that instead of a "fast hybrid". sounds like you have the budget. Good luck!

^ the lack of reviews, durability feedback among other things is what makes me really hesitate on getting the diem... if i spend $2k on a trek, i know it's a quality bike with a great warranty.... with the the orbea, i dont know.... plus, the wheels that come on this bike are $179.99 on universal cycles which makes me wonder is it worth paying that much for this bike.......

with the treks, any fx model, has outstanding reviews on the whole. people have had fx models for 2-3 years with great things to be said about them..... if i put $2k into the orbea, i am literally placing a $2k bet, IMO.... i know orbea has other models with rave reviews but this particular model doesnt have any

08 C-Dale Road Warrior One. I got this before the company got new ownership and
started making the Quest.

no matter what modern bike you buy you'll be wearing out the chain; rear cog and crank after 1000 miles or so, right?

Carpe Diem. Seize the day! Orbea>Trek. Dude, it's a carbon Orbea. Ride the cheap wheels until they bust, then upgrade. Thank me later.

^ okay.... $2k for the bike and then replace the wheels with good ones.... for maybe $500-$700....

that's $2700 - the price of the trek 7.9.........

i have not completely ruled the orbea diem out but i am listing my pro's and con's for and against all the bikes i've listed.... i wish this decision was easy to make.... i'm about to collapse on my laptop thinking about this.... LOL

yes but i would gladly be willing to pay $300-$400 to replace components than to pay $700 to replace wheels or even more to replace a 'bad quality' carbon frame.... the treks have enough history where i can put even $5k into a trek bike and not doubt it's quality. since orbea is 'new' to the US compared to trek, they dont have that history and therefore, they do not have my trust. LOL


moreover - even the 'lower end' trek carbon frames (TCT carbon) are used on their top of the line Madone series bikes... that says something right there... even their low end carbon frames are quality since they are not afraid to put the madone name on them....

let's see if this helps ...: why not buy a nice old steel road bike and put straight bars on it? I think you can do it for a lot less money, huh? like thousands less, right?

Not if you keep them clean and lubricated........

I think those components wear regardless of how well they are maintained. Kinda like brake pads/shoes on a car, you know?

Oh, I didn't realize the Trek was carbon also. Nice wheels wear out as fast as cheap ones, so you are looking at new rims down the line anyway. You know more about these bikes than me, but the Orbea looks cheap compared to the carbon Trek.