onespeedbiker

Funny, I am a bike builder also. But a drop bar and does not a road bike make. It makes more sense to say that your hybrid is just a mountain bike with 700c wheels.

Bikedued

Some hybrids look like mountain bikes with 700c wheels, which confuses the matter more. Case in point the Specialized Crosstrail, and the Giant Roam for example. I agree there is something going on from the crash, and the bike was not thoroughly looked over. The only time I notice a complete lack of speed from a hybrid is too low tire pressure, brake or fenders rubbing(if equipped with fenders) or chain rubbing or not lubed. Being that the derailleur shows signs of damage, I would probably guess that the hanger is possibly bent? The front derailleur may have been moved out of position. Overall, your knees should not hurt. That s a sign of bike not properly set up for the rider. Saddle height, etc.,,,,BD

Myosmith

Sweet. The older chromo main triangle Treks are among my favorite bikes. I've got a Trek 700 of about the same vintage. I'd love to find a 790 frameset for the upgraded tubing and chromo fork.

On another note, there is a lot of ambiguity in bike terminology, especially in the term "hybrid". Some hybrids look like MTBs modified for use on pavement while others look more like road bikes outfitted with wider tires and set up for commuting. Cyclocross framesets are being used as crossover roadbikes, so does that make them a "hybrid? Even when you say "road bike" what does that really mean? Is it any bike primarily designed for use on paved surfaces? or is your definition more narrow? I personally don't see the MultiTracks as MTBs but rather as multi-purpose frames suitable for setup as commuters, touring bikes, or even as a relaxed geometry road bike. Will it ever be a road racer, probably not, but with the proper setup can it hold its own against a Surly Crosscheck? Yup.

corwin1968

Another Trek Multitrack fan checking in!! I've loved Onespeedbiker's 790 since I first saw it and a different photo of it is my current desktop! I would love to have found a 750 from the same year as mine as it was double-butted with tapered stays. I don't know how much difference that would make from my "custom butted" full cro-mo frame and fork but it would be interesting to find out.

I recently had a similar experience with my bike feeling "slow". I've been riding this make and model since 1995 and I knew that wasn't normal so a quick check showed a brake pad rubbing. I was amazed that it wasn't at all obvious expect for that annoying dragging feel while riding.

spathfinder3408

That bike isn't mine, but the same model and make, its a fellow bike forum poster. Mine is a work in progress and hope to have it look this good someday.

Mondo734

Here is my take on this.
1. have your bike checked by a good bike shop for issues related to your crash.
2. Get fitted for your bike; the knee pain thing is seriously bad
3. A hybrid compared to a road bike is night an day at any speed; for beginner especially
-semi slicks, slicks and thinner tires will help but will not replicate a road bike feel

For the past 3 years I have been riding an old 30+lb mtb. For the first two years I rode with standard knobbies 26x2.25 tires; at the time didnt know I could get thinner tires. The last year I rode the same bike with semi slicks 26x1.75 tires and instantly gained 1-2 mph on my speed. Just recently I bought a cyclocross bike (700x33 tires) its is soo smooth, fast, and easy to pedal compared to my mtb. I rode my cyclocross bike the other morning on a 16 mile joy ride and then switched to my mtb for commuting to class later that day ( an 8 mile ride rt). I felt like I was barely moving, pedaling much harder, experiencing way more fatigue compared to the ride I had earlier. Its also worth noting that my commute to school is along the same path I did my joy ride on.

spathfinder3408

Actually this bike has the same geometry as a Trek 520 road bike and can easily be converted with drop down bars. Lighter then mountain bikes by at least five pounds. this is no mountain bike with 700 wheels.