Originally Posted by
linnefaulk
It's funny. I never think of my 820 as a mountain bike. The salesman told it was a "hybrid" back in 1990 when I purchased it. I have since raised the handlebars and hotter thinner tires and it is still not a true hybrid. But I think of it as much.
I just started riding my 820 again after a 17 year break. I know I can't keep up with those road bikes but it is helping me lose weight, get in shape and rekindle my cycling love.
Compared to modern MTBs the 1980s-90s Trek 800 series bikes do look like hybrids. My Trek 700 definitely has a hybrid vibe to it. Whatever you call them, those old chrome-moly steel bikes are still reliable as they come and a lot of fun to ride. I just squeezed some Schwalbe Smart Sam tires onto the 820 (2.3 in front and 2.1 in the back due to chain stay clearance issues) and can't wait to try it out on some dirt trails.