Oakleyguy89

Hi everyone, I've decided that my truck eats up too much of a hole in my wallet lol. Anyways, my work is about a mile away but I would like a nice bike to ride around to a from work and for leisure riding and I was wondering what would be my best options? I have 2 local bike shops around here. One offers giant and specialized and the other I believe offers trek bikes. I used to have a specialized big hit but Ive never taken it up in the mountains and it was mainly used on the road and to jump off of curbs etc.. I probably wont use my bike with rack and panniers but I would like to have the option to get some if possible. Also, ive got a budget of 600 for the new bike and the ones I were looking at were the specialized crosstrail disc or possibly the hardrock. Any advice would be helpful!

BHOFM

If you already have a MTB, then putting slicks on for street use makes sense. If you
are getting a new bike and don't plan on rough trail use, then get the hybrid.
I am a Trek fan, so I shouldn't really make any recommendations!
I ride an old 720 Multi Track and couldn't ask for a better bike at any price. Old
Chromoly has a feel all it's own. Like an old leather jacket. I thnk it knows what
to do before I do?

Check out the HB's!

Oakleyguy89

Any trek hybrids you recommend? Also, is the $80-90 more for the disc brakes on a hybrid a justifiable purchase?

BHOFM

Check the Trek site and look at the fitness bikes. I don't think the disc brakes are all that great
unless you are riding in water a lot.

I have a set of Aztec pads and the wet doesn't seem to bother them.

Mine ain't all that pretty, but the ride and handling are top shelf!



When I brought it home!

dougmc

So, the Big Hit is a high end mountain bike with full suspension? (That's what looking it up tells me.)

If so, get a hybrid. Mountain bikes with slicks do make great commuter bikes, but on the road suspension hurts you more than it helps. And from what I can see, a Big Hit costs several thousand dollars -- might not want to lock it up while you work.

But if you had a cheaper mountain bike with no suspension -- I'd say go for the slicks.

Oakleyguy89

Well, my big hit is in denver with my step dad right now. Its a 2002 bighit comp so its fairly old and probably not worth much these days since all the components are probably outdated. If I took a guess, its probably only got about 20 miles on it and its been garage kept the whole time.

Retro Grouch 

I think that it all comes down to use and frankly, style.

My beater is an old hard tail mountain bike frame no suspension fork and 2" wide tires. It's got SPD flip-flop pedals for short carefree trips to the hardware or convenience store but it's still suitable for 20 mile recreational/exercise rides. I love it.

One could argue that a hybrid would serve those same purposes equally as well, but I prefer the mountain bike style better because it seems a little more "manly".

Tundra_Man 

Practically speaking, there's very little difference between a hybrid and a non-suspended mountain bike with slicks.

And non-suspended is what you want for riding back and forth from work on pavement.

So IMHO get whichever style speaks to you and meets your budget.

Myself, I have both. A mountain bike I leave set up for winter commuting and a hybrid which is my main non-winter workhorse.

Roody

The term "hybrid" is meaningless, since so many types of bikes are called hybrids. Ride as many bikes as you can and get the one that feels best. The main thing for you is to get a bike that will take a rack and fenders, since you are thinking of panniers at some point.

Disc brakes are a luxury. Get them if you like, but you don't NEED them.

fietsbob

Trek Portland is a nice commuter , 700c-35 wide tires operate at a higher PSI, than a fatter 26"

which may help,, disc brakes save rim wear and tear in the winter, water + road grit
grind off the aluminum where the brake pads grip.

Oakleyguy89

Thanks for the information guys, I called the other lbs and they said that they just barely got in the dual sports. Im looking on their website now and they seem like they would do what I want. Its also rack and fender ready.

fietsbob

the Dual Sport are good , the 'portland' seems to be in short supply
perhaps pre season orders, emptied the warehouse.

Oakleyguy89

The portland would definitely be a nice one to have if I had that much, dont think the wife would like me breaking the bank for a bike.

Burton

After alternately using a high end mtb bike with 2.5in road slicks, a carbon frame and 130mm/lockout carbon front end, hydraulic disk brakes and a cromony hybrid with 700 x 2in road slicks and cantis, my conclusion is that (1) suspension is a waste on asphault if you have wide tires already (2) disk brakes are a waste on asphalt regardless of tire size.

So save some weight and dollars and go for the hybrid. Just put the biggest tires on it you can. I went for Schwalbe Marathon asupremes - everyone thats tried it wants to buy the tires.

NightShift

If you're determined to buy new I'd say get a hybrid. If buying used older rigid mountain bikes offer great value.

wiredfoxterror

You need to sell the big hit - see what they're going for?. Or even just have it shipped to you and use it - it would cost under $100.00 to have it shipped to you. OR sell it on ebay and have it shipped to someone else and then use THAT money to buy yourself a nice bike for commuting and riding around town.

bluefoxicy

Trek Portland is a $1700 bike, he said $600.

Captain Blight

Trek Belleville is a pretty darn nice value. Total Fred (Frieda?)-mobile, though.

fietsbob

Trek has the 'PDX' too at a lower price point, for same niche,


OP? turn off the computer and go to your LBS...

they will show the range of bikes in your price point.

Oakleyguy89

Yeah, I ended up checking both LBS out. The one LBS has the Specialized Crosstrail for $525, I wanted to test ride one but they only special order them. The other LBS had a Raleigh Misceo 1.0 which was a really sweet bike for $550 (I think it was 550, maybe it was 525 too) and they also had the trek dual sport for the same price as the raleigh. Really the only bike I was able to see in person that was a hybrid was that misceo, the LBS mostly special order hybrids.