Originally Posted by
Higgs_Zaphod
I bought a cheap and very used mountain bike off of facebook market place and over the past few weeks of riding it, I found that I REALLY like cycling.
I don't see any reason to buy an "interim" or "transition" bike if the OP already knows he loves cycling. He already bought a "transition" bike, the “very used mountain bike.”
I am not anti-hybrid … they are perfect for some people in some situations. But repeatedly suggesting the Wrong bike for the Wrong person …….
Originally Posted by
Higgs_Zaphod
So far I have found that I think I prefer pavement. I wouldn't be opposed to some off road trails now and then but on road is what I really enjoy.
The guy doesn’t want to ride a heavy bike which is not focused on a specific type of terrain but instead is built like a do-it-all multi-tool. He isn’t talking about tough singletrack, so suspension is pointless.
He says he thinks road bikes look really cool, so he is looking for a drop-bar bike. He wants to ride almost exclusively on paved roads, but sometimes the pavement isn’t so good, and he wants the option of riding some mild trails …..
The bike he is describing is NOT a hybrid, and the type of riding he is describing would NOT be best done on a hybrid.
Not putting down hybrids … but if a person told me “I need to transport six or seven people at a time” I would not suggest a two-seat pickup. If person said “I need to travel long distances, solo, on highways” I would not suggest a AWD SUV. The job determines the tool.
Hybrids are great for people who are not top-speed oriented, who want a very comfortable and relaxed ride, who want to be able to ride very mild trails with almost no technique---just sit on the saddle and let the fork do the work. Great for mild urban riding because the fork and wider tires soak up all the bumps, giving an old-school Cadillac land yacht-type ride.
However … you don’t see a lot of people racing in 1974 El Dorados …..
The guy obviously wants a road bike which can handle wider tires or a gravel bike and set of road wheels … with a lot of modern endurance frames, there is clearance for 34s …. Which would work for packed gravel.
BUT …. The guy Says he wants a road bike or a road-style bike and says he prefers pavement.
The guy is Not looking for a Hybrid. So maybe consider What the OP Says He Wants when making suggestions?
I mean, this thread is about helping the OP right? Not about promoting our own preferences or defending ourselves or winning debates among ourselves or any of that … we are trying to help the OP get the ride which will make him most happy …. Right?