Originally Posted by
Panthers007
I think it sprang from putting beefy touring wheels & tires on a mountain-bike. Then someone put together this idea of a bike with a looooong wheelbase, and touring wheels. Instead of the 26" wheels found on most mountain-bikes of the 1980's. This could somewhat define a 'hybrid' to someone who hasn't seen one, but is familiar with bicycles. You can, at least, visualize the concept from this description. But variation is the spice of life - so these "rules" can be modified at any time.
In my opinion, the Hybrid-Bicycles is a truly distinct form that is neither a mountain or road bike. It is a Hybrid.
Good stuff. Was the idea to put beefy wheels on a mountain bike frame a good idea, or was it just an idea to sell more bikes? Long chain stays are nice for panniers, but who needs the high BB? Why did we need to go through that phase (I owned several), when we can now drive away from the showroom floor on a flat bar crit bike or cyclocross racer? I guess the hybrid category will continue for people like me who can't afford the nicer types of bikes.