A "hybrid" is mountain bike geometry + road tires, 26" or 700c

A flat-bar road bike is a flat bar road bike or, in marketing speak, a "fitness bike" or "performance hybrid" :rolleyes:

A cyclocross bike is a cyclocross bike.

EOT.

From my research it appears that the Hybrid bike is a complicated thing.

Originally the Hybrid bike was introduce for the more casual bicyclist. Why they didnt bring back the English 3-speed is beyond me, but I imagine they just wanted to save money by using frames that they have in stockpiles and modify them for a more upgright and comfortable ride. So essentially you have road bikes with flat bars and mountain bikes with skinnier tires.

Some hybrid bikes are a great value, because they're essentially the same frame of a previously high end bike with different components. Others were crappy, because the manufacturer didnt know what to do and they created something that's a compromise in every possible way.

Nowadays the Hybrid bikes are being sold as 'Commuters' or 'Urban' bikes. Personally I think they would be more successful selling Dutch Bikes, which is probably the most comfortable bikes to ride outside of bents. But I think the market isnt there yet, because most of the money in Bicycles in the States is in road bikes, mountain bikes, and the fixed gear sub-culture.

I also think that the facilities aren't there yet.

What I mean is, either the rider wants to move as fast as possible to match traffic speed on the street (that's what I try to do) or maneuver over sidewalks and other alternate routes. The former seems to dictate a road bike, and the latter a smooth-tire'd mountain bike.

I'd say that we'd be more open to Dutch/English-style bikes if we either weren't in such a hurry or didn't feel the need to go off-roading. If there were more separate bike lanes, especially heavily-marked and/or physically separated, riders can go more by bicycle rules & speeds, and the easier-cruising bikes make more sense.

well I don't think hybrids are useless, but upon reflection I also would rather have a road bike. Trouble is I couldn't afford it and so now I have my hybrid and make do the best I can with it :P ... Added trekking bars and some other small things... I will buy a roadie when I can and turn this one into a commuter with racks, etc
http://i31.tinypic.com/jr4k5v.jpg

My hybrid was originally used solely for commuting back and forth to work 7.5 miles each way. This is my first bike since I was a kid. Since that time I have been very motivated, and riding longer, farther, and at a much faster pace. In time, when my financial situation (Unemployed right now, and trying to make the rent is enough of a struggle!), and health, allows it, I'd defintely love to invest some money and get a good road bike, or a cyclocross, and start really using it for racing, and speed purposes. At this point I have no desire to do off-road, or trail riding, so I won't be buying a mtb. Nothing against it, just not my cup of tea right now. Maybe in the future. Who knows? Right now I'm still overweight (310 lbs., or so). My torso is also very long (I'm 6' 2", and my pant inseam is only a 29). The upright position of the Hybrid is much easier on my back. I know my Fuji isn't the best bike in the world, but for now it's suiting my purposes, and I'm enjoying it. I'm sure that if, and when, I make that move to road bike I'll enjoy it even further. In time, my friend. There's a season for everything.

It really all depends on what bike you have. I have a trek 7000, and I've done 20+ mile recreation rides on it. then again, i looked long and hard on these forums for a decent entry level bike, so i think i got one of the better ones out there :)

The hybrid was really a replacement for the city or commuter bike and never caught on in Europe. I'm talking here about the Dutch roadsters with 28" wheels and their lighter British urban cousins, the classic three speeds with 26 1 3/8" wheels. These came with front and rear racks, a full lighting system, a coat guard, sealed all weather brakes and a dynohub or bottle-mounted lighting system. They were true workhorse bicycles. In my opinion, its the only true bike category outside of mountain and road bikes because people need to get to and from work and the store. The car has led to the city bike virtually disappearing in America but they have always been around in Europe where gas is expensive and space is at a premium.

I've heard the word "cross" or "crossover" to refer to these bikes. There are a new classification of bikes with electric assist motors that are being called "hybrids". The coolest is from Giant which has no throttle. There is a torque sensor in the cranks that simply amplifies your pedal input on the front electric drive.

A road bar should be like a beautiful women. You want to put your hands everywhere.

I have a hard time understanding all of this mockery and hatred for somebody else's bike. It's not like they're forcing you to ride it.

I mentioned this on my commuting blog last week: "a bike that is a bit of a cross between a road bike with a rigid diamond frame, and a mountain bike with flat handlebars and an upright seating position. The wheels are narrower than a mountain bike's, but wider than a road bike's, and the tires are also somewhere in between in terms of tread pattern."

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...cture003-1.jpg

+100, but sometimes, a "jack of all trades" is exactly what's needed...that's why we have Swiss Army Knives and Leatherman-ish tools.

I need a commuter that:
1) has all the eyelets and braze-ons for a rack and fenders,
2) has the capability to handle lousy road shoulders and 1/4 mile of soft dirt,
3) has flat bars for a good heads up position thru the 16 stop signs, 11 stop lights and 2-3 miles of busy MUPs,
4) is comfortable and reasonably fast/light.

That sounds like my hybrid. ('01 Sirrus Comp)

Not everybody needs a race bike or a mountain bike.

A hybrid is a 3-spd. bike for adults. Upright riding position = nice views of the surroundings and a feeling of calm and nonchalance. Faster than a mountain-bike. Slower than a road-bike.

I like 'em.

I don't see whats so hard to accept about hybrids. For a casual biker, it seems like the right compromises have been made. A more upright riding position, wider tires to handle gravel paths and absorb bumps, some have suspension seat posts or forks. I was able to hop on a rental hybrid (trek 7.3fx? or similar) a couple years ago and ride ~3-4 hours that day (with some stops for walking/resting/activities). Getting fitted wasn't needed and I was comfy riding in street clothes. I didnt need extra hand positions, padded gloves, bike shorts, or shoes. It was just easy to ride (and I hadnt ridden a bike in years).

For the common consumer I think they make sense. I had a mountain bike in grade school/high school, but a hybrid would have made a lot more sense. Mostly streets and gravel paths, a little bit of grass. The mountain bike was overkill for the "off-road".

Hybrids make sense as long as you realize what they're designed for.....riding on paved bike paths and maybe some flat dirt paths.

My friend has a Schwinn comfort bike/hybrid similar to this:

http://www.schwinnbike.com/usa/eng/P...GSL-Sierra-GSL

It's good for what he has used it for, which is riding around campus and occasionally riding with friends on the weekend. The bike can go places that a road bike would not.

BUT, he has also tried using it on rough single track, and that quickly ruined his rear wheel. So now he wants a mtn bike when he can afford it.

And I have a Trek 7.5 FX, which is basically a flat-bar road bike that has indestructible 700x32 road tires on it. It allows me to fly through these debris-ridden bike lanes without worrying about bumps or flats, and it's also very comfortable. I might eventually get a race bike if I get more serious about cycling, but for now I really like the 7.5.

You mean 3 front gears I'm assuming? Mine has 21.

Yeah. Ditto.

I find snobs tiresome. For some of us, the so-called hybrids are perfect for our needs. No doubt the roadiesnobs will be horrified to learn that I've turned the Bianchi Premio that Beanz and Gina gave to me into something much like my Giant Cypress--upright position, rear rack, handlebar bag. Yes, I can make better time on Orion, but Radagast the Beige-and-Black is my errands bike, the one I take on Sundays when I ride SGRT, maybe some LART, and cruise by the farmers' market and Whole Foods at Alamitos Bay, because that's the bike I have the grocery panniers on.

I love my Specialized Crosstrail Hybrid!

It does everything I bought it for, and quite well.

High enuf gearing to go fast. Wide enuf tires to use on pavement, gravel, chips, and dirt. Low enuf gearing to ride up a wall. Very comfortable for my old bones. Excellent ride. Carries lots of stuff from clothes to groceries well.

Hybrids are a great all around bike.

Two other flavors of "hybrids" --

The Bianchi is nearer to the English 3-speed, but with flat bars (with just a touch of sweep) and a 9-spd drivetrain on a compact double. Not quite an aggro riding position, but not perched upright like when Peter O'Toole brings a bike to the Last Emperor.

The all-black Cannondale is what you'd get if you put skinny 700c wheels on a mountain bike frame -- which is what it really is. It's at its best when ridden like a MTB or even a fast BMX bike.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...e/IMG_0307.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...nMonument1.jpg

I think people who are over the age of 30 and are getting back into biking fear the narrow tire road bikes and do not see a need for knobby tired mountain bikes. The hybrid then is the perfect balance of a lighter faster rolling yet stable and forgiving then a road bike. My hybrid got me into biking again and I actually find myself riding my hybrid more often then my road bike. The only time I do not like my hybrid is in heavy head winds....

No - I meant that it's like a 3-spd. in terms of riding position. Upright and looking around. It's a more relaxing ride than when I take out my road-bike, which is an out-and-out speed-demon. I, too, have what was a Trek FX 7.5. I have done extensive customization as the frame on these are worthy of the expenditure. It's now, aside from not being carbon (thank something!*), it is better equipped than the FX 7.9. And it has 27 gears.

When I want to blow some yuppies, in their lycra-spandex couture, clean off the extensive bike-paths we have here - I take my racer out for a terror-spin. Speed is the desired method for that day. If I want a relatively laid-back ride for many miles and passing scenery, I take the Trek. My average speed on the Trek hybrid is 14+ mph - which isn't exactly slow.

So I suggest that, if you can have two bicycles, make one a hybrid for plain, old fun. And a road-bike for looking like a scene out of Breaking Away.

Happy Trails!


* I can't see why someone would want a carbon-framed bike that's designed for off-paved road usage, as well as paved.

What all have you done to the 7.5 FX? Pics?

Pix later, perhaps. But I'll tell you.

Wheels: Mavic A719 rims, Ultegra hubs, Wheelsmith 14,15,14 DB spokes. Rol-y Pol-y 700 X27C tires by Rivendell. Built X3 laced.

Brakes: Avid SD 7's.

Shifters: SRAM Attack 9 spd.

Grips: Ergon with horns.

Pedals: MKS GR-9's w/MKS leather-toed toe-clips.

Seat-Post: Ritchey light-alloy.

Saddle: Terry Fly.

FD: Shimano XTR - long cage.

RD: Shimano Ultegra GS.

Cassette: SRAM PG-970 9 spd.

I like the stem, but the headset may be in my sights shortly. The handlebars are good as is. And the Shimano Octalink crankset/BB - I'll run that into the ground before going knutz with a replacement.

Any suggestions for a GOOD headset are welcome.

Happy Trails!

I fear narrow tires and with good reason. On group rides, I'm the outcast on the hybrid or maybe on the vintage steel roadie. Either way, I'm the outcast. Anyway, a friend of my who's a full-blown roadie (just bought a Specialized Roubaix) and I were on a group ride, and even though everyone was going pretty slow, his tires just slid out from under him on a turn. Why do I want that kind of instability under me?

+1 on the headwinds. I was heavily leaning toward putting a drop bar (or drop extensions) on my hybrid for that reason. I think I've backed off now since I do have a decent vintage roadie but we'll see.