Bike Forums - giant hybrid

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roody (Post 6557408)

Hybrid is a poorly defined term.

As I understood it, a hybrid was originally supposed to combine some features of a mountain bike (brakes, flat bars and somewhat more upright posture) with other features of a road bike (light weight, skinny tires,).

But nowadays the definition seems to have stretched a lot. People also call certain bikes with 26" wheels a hybrid, and also bikes like the Giant FCR and the Specialized Sirrus, which might be better described as flatbar road bikes.

My impression is the opposite. I think the original hybrids were what Giant calls comfort bikes, and then the flat bar road bikes came along and took over the term (at least by some).

I wonder which of us is right on this?

At any rate, I use the term to mean, "anything between a drop bar road bike and a mountain bike." :)