Hybrids are dorky
#51
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I don't do the "this vs that" thing, don't understand cliques and stuff. All I can say is that my hybrid bike is, in my opinion, the best type of bike for what I need out of a bike.
#52
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So there's no status. If I'm playing that game, my status is hanging on the garage wall, and comes out on the weekends when I've got the time for 50-60 mile days. What's at work are tools, very efficient and revered tools. I can't see anything better than a hybrid for worktime needs, as I'm always going to be on pavement, need to periodically trackstand in traffic (I find flat bars are easier at that), have to ride in what I'm wearing at work, and still need to fly in my limited free time.
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H.L. Mencken, (1926)
Syke
“No one in this world, so far as I know — and I have searched the records for years, and employed agents to help me — has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.”
H.L. Mencken, (1926)
#53
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However, I've found the 15 or so year old, bottom line, GT hybrid my wife found me at the dump is superior to the Sports in almost every way. It's lighter, faster, handles better, accelerates better, the rattrap/toe clip combination gives me better power and control over the old rubber pedals, and I find the riding position slightly more comfortable. The latter point, however, probably has a bit to do with the Raleigh being slightly small to me (the alternatives were slightly small or slightly large - they didn't make them in my exact size), while the GT matches my road bikes in frame size.
I'll give the Raleigh the lead in being able to gear down while standing still at a light (kinda negated by my usual habit of dropping down to the small chainwheel automatically when coming to a stop - I'm rarely caught moving out in too high a gear), it's a bit more comfortable on rough city streets and cobblestones, it definitely has the advantage on wet roads (but the GT is getting mudguards in the near future), and it's probably a stronger bike for decades of use. The way I like to fix and flip bikes, that's probably a non-issue.
Yeah, I love the 3-speed and have wonderful memories of them, but since the GT arrived, it's gathering dust. I have a feeling it's going to be seeing Craigslist come early spring.
By the way, any bike shop worth it's salt is interested in your bike because it's a bike. It doesn't matter if it came from WalMart or the local Colnago emporium. A bike shop that can't give you the time of day due to what you ride is rapidly heading for insolvency - once the word gets around.
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Syke
“No one in this world, so far as I know — and I have searched the records for years, and employed agents to help me — has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.”
H.L. Mencken, (1926)
Syke
“No one in this world, so far as I know — and I have searched the records for years, and employed agents to help me — has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.”
H.L. Mencken, (1926)
Last edited by sykerocker; 02-06-08 at 08:18 PM.
#54
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Depending on your budget...I would suggest Brompton or Bike Friday. I have been researching for the past year and trying various bikes. The Brommie is my first choice. Expensive but from what I can tell well worth it in the long run. If you are below 6' in height and not over 200# you probably can get a way with a Dahon or Downtube. Those are less expensive than the Brompton but this is one of those cases where I feel you get what you pay for.
Aaron
Aaron
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Hybrids are easily the most unattractive, most unfashionable bikes in existence at the moment. Many of them are very poorly made, they tend to be a bit slow, you can't take them offroad, really, and even the good ones are sort of ugly. If you ride a hybrid, you know that roadies will view you with utter disdain, cool urban fixie-riders will be more polite and pretend you're not there, more because of your attire than because of your bike, and mountain bike riders will blow past you in their SUVs on their way to, well, the mountains. A hybrid rider is clearly at the bottom of the (ill-defined) bicyclists' social hierarchy..
#56
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If being a dork means that i get to ride around on this then let me be a dork. Personally i love when someone with a road bike looks at it and says, "oh, a comfy bike", almost as if it could not possibly be fast if it doesn't have drops. I just laugh as i pass them. These bars really allow you to get good leverage when starting from a stop or getting up the hills.
Fixed gears can be fun, but i don't see what practical purpose they serve for someone living a car free lifestyle. Pushing up the hill from the grocery store with 40+ lbs of groceries on a fixed gear just doesn't seem like fun to me. As for road bikes, a good quality road bike is at least $1000 IMO, and i can't imagine leaving it locked up and letting in get banged the way a city bike does.
Fixed gears can be fun, but i don't see what practical purpose they serve for someone living a car free lifestyle. Pushing up the hill from the grocery store with 40+ lbs of groceries on a fixed gear just doesn't seem like fun to me. As for road bikes, a good quality road bike is at least $1000 IMO, and i can't imagine leaving it locked up and letting in get banged the way a city bike does.
#57
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#58
In the right lane
Nice bike! The handlebars are very similar to what I use on my commuter. They aren't quite as comfortable as drops, but they are a close second. My hybrid shipped with a set of mountain bike bars and I replaced them with something like you have. Somehow I find MTB bars most uncomfortable.
#59
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Nice bike! The handlebars are very similar to what I use on my commuter. They aren't quite as comfortable as drops, but they are a close second. My hybrid shipped with a set of mountain bike bars and I replaced them with something like you have. Somehow I find MTB bars most uncomfortable.
#60
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
"Fixed gears can be fun, but i don't see what practical purpose they serve for someone living a car free lifestyle. Pushing up the hill from the grocery store with 40+ lbs of groceries on a fixed gear just doesn't seem like fun to me."
It's more fun than you would think...
It's more fun than you would think...
#61
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"Fixed gears can be fun, but i don't see what practical purpose they serve for someone living a car free lifestyle. Pushing up the hill from the grocery store with 40+ lbs of groceries on a fixed gear just doesn't seem like fun to me."
It's more fun than you would think...
It's more fun than you would think...
#62
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The term hybrid is pretty stilly IMO. Very loosely defined. Popular definition now just seems to apply to any flat bar road bike
The frame style that has a super short seat tube and super tall stem is kind of ridiculous. People seem to like them though.
The frame style that has a super short seat tube and super tall stem is kind of ridiculous. People seem to like them though.
#63
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They use less metal, so they're cheaper and more environmentally friendly. They're also easier to size. Once you get used to them (about 5 minutes) they ride just as good as a full-size frame, IME.
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In any case, sloping frames are hideous, nothing could be uglier. What does it matter if they are easier to size, that is not to your advantage, but to the producers. You just end up riding an ugly bike. Just buy a second hand roadie for $200 and a second hand mountainbike for $300 if you want to ride in the woods. Why get a new bike anyway?
I find that hybrid bikers are almost always people that don't know anything about bicycles and can't be bothered to do some research, or look at the classifieds. Also, they are so insecure that they believe you need to buy tons of clothing, shoes, helmets, lamps and whatnot. If they had some imagination, they'd just get what is needed, a cheap bike to start with, and ride in their normal clothes.
Nothing makes me angrier than hybrids! They are even worse than those unbearable posengers...
#66
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Well, it's only natural to go berserk over other people's chosen bike type.
--J
--J
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#67
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And as for helmets and lamps, they are things that one needs. If you're going to ride at night, lamps are not only a good idea, they are required by law in most states. As for helmets, I prefer to keep my brains inside my head, and I don't like the idea of my skull bouncing on the pavement without some sort of protection.
Last edited by Elkhound; 02-20-08 at 12:31 PM.
#68
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Seriously though, I haven't fallen on a road bike since I was 9 or so. My Newfoundland knocks me down on a fairly regular basis though. We crossed paths at a jog two days ago and I went down in the middle of the street pretty hard.
Yes, I do wear a bike helmet, but I honestly believe my risk level is considerably higher while walking the dog, trail running, tree climbing, or with any number of normal activities than it is on the bike. Don't tell the safety nannies that though, or they'll pass another ridiculous law.
[edit] Not that I think Gustavo doesn't have issues... I definitely do.
#69
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Nothings "cooler" than a guy on a single speed with a messenger bag. Of course, they usually end up driving a lot due to lack of equipment.
I'm a full on nerd. Hybrid, fenders, giant mud-flap, many lights, trekking bars, racks (front and rear) wear coveralls in the winter, trek trunk and to top it all off I wear an orange safety vest for added visibility. I also often pull an 8 foot long trailer and put chains on my tires in the winter. If accessories and practicality make you a dork then I am Captain Dork of the Dork patrol.
Of course I have had no need for an automobile in some time either.
I'm a full on nerd. Hybrid, fenders, giant mud-flap, many lights, trekking bars, racks (front and rear) wear coveralls in the winter, trek trunk and to top it all off I wear an orange safety vest for added visibility. I also often pull an 8 foot long trailer and put chains on my tires in the winter. If accessories and practicality make you a dork then I am Captain Dork of the Dork patrol.
Of course I have had no need for an automobile in some time either.
#70
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Sometimes it is unavoidable. Like if your chain breaks when you are going down a hill very fast. Or if you hit a bit of black ice or an oil slick. Or if some idiot pulls out in front of you and you have to make a sharp turn to avoid running into him. All of these things can happen to even the best, most skilled riders, and all can result in a fall. Helmets are not full protection, of course; but they provide a h*ll of a lot more protection than one's hair, even if one has one of those big 70's-style bouffants.
#71
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
I don't think metal use in bicycle frames is an issue. If a frame uses 10% more metal, and is used for 5 years, that doesn't really add much waste. Hopefully, the metal is recycled anyway.
In any case, sloping frames are hideous, nothing could be uglier. What does it matter if they are easier to size, that is not to your advantage, but to the producers. You just end up riding an ugly bike. Just buy a second hand roadie for $200 and a second hand mountainbike for $300 if you want to ride in the woods. Why get a new bike anyway?
I find that hybrid bikers are almost always people that don't know anything about bicycles and can't be bothered to do some research, or look at the classifieds. Also, they are so insecure that they believe you need to buy tons of clothing, shoes, helmets, lamps and whatnot. If they had some imagination, they'd just get what is needed, a cheap bike to start with, and ride in their normal clothes.
Nothing makes me angrier than hybrids! They are even worse than those unbearable posengers...
In any case, sloping frames are hideous, nothing could be uglier. What does it matter if they are easier to size, that is not to your advantage, but to the producers. You just end up riding an ugly bike. Just buy a second hand roadie for $200 and a second hand mountainbike for $300 if you want to ride in the woods. Why get a new bike anyway?
I find that hybrid bikers are almost always people that don't know anything about bicycles and can't be bothered to do some research, or look at the classifieds. Also, they are so insecure that they believe you need to buy tons of clothing, shoes, helmets, lamps and whatnot. If they had some imagination, they'd just get what is needed, a cheap bike to start with, and ride in their normal clothes.
Nothing makes me angrier than hybrids! They are even worse than those unbearable posengers...
Some folks like a bike that can do many things well.
Been riding for 36 years and wrenching for over 20.
Cheap bikes suck.
Helmets and lights and whatnot can save your ass.
Some clothes are better for cycling.
Posengers are people too, even if they are sometimes unbearable.
#72
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Sometimes it is unavoidable. Like if your chain breaks when you are going down a hill very fast. Or if you hit a bit of black ice or an oil slick. Or if some idiot pulls out in front of you and you have to make a sharp turn to avoid running into him. All of these things can happen to even the best, most skilled riders, and all can result in a fall. Helmets are not full protection, of course; but they provide a h*ll of a lot more protection than one's hair, even if one has one of those big 70's-style bouffants.
Again, I'm not necessarily anti-helmet (I wear one every day), but if you started trying to mitigate your health risks, starting with the highest ones, it would be a LONG time before you got around to bicycle helmets.
It's more about being politically and costume correct for most of us.
#73
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#74
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
I build up a lot of bikes and do a lot of riding so started thinking that a hybrid would serve as the perfect platform... I found a Trek 7500 in nice original condition replete with riser bars, an adjustable stem, and some flexy cranks and made a few modifications.
The 7500's ZX frame is nearly identical to the frame on my 6700 HT which rocks the trails but isn't the best bike for commuting.
The riser stem and bars were replaced with a new stem and drop bars, the cranks were replaced with new Shimano 440's, and the fat tires were replaced with cross tyres.
Now I have a bike that keep up with all but the fastest of roadies and I routinely pass folks on the trails and singletrack as this bike does that exceptionally well too. I have even ridden loaded centuries on this bicycle and had no complaints whatsoever.
I have often said if I could only have one bike (god forbid), this would be it.
#75
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"I'm thinking about getting a folding bike for travel use (planes, boats); any suggestions?"
How about a surly traveler's check? I am looking at getting one and am pretty excited about having a bike to take with me when I go places.
How about a surly traveler's check? I am looking at getting one and am pretty excited about having a bike to take with me when I go places.