Advice for first hybrid
 

I am in the market for a hybrid, and am hoping for some helpful direction. Don't anticipate much trail riding, but the more upright position will be better for my lower back. I am aspiring to be able to use it to commute to work (15 miles or so each way) when the weather is not too foul.

I plan/expect to test ride, but was hoping for advice on narrowing the bikes I consider. I'm a dude in my late 40s, a hair under 5'11" with a healthy weight

My ideal budget is under $600, but I am willing to go up to $800 if the benefit is there.

I am able to get a discount on some Diamondback bikes, while the savings would be nice, it is not a driver for the decision. I'd willingly pay more and at list to get a better ride. FWIW, I think it is roughly 30% off of list for the Insight series (Clarity, too if "gender" for hybrids is marketing fluff).

Thanks in advance from this n00b.

My advice would be visit a few different LBS in your area, and test ride bikes in your price range. They will figure out what size of bike will work for you once you decide what price range and type you want. Once you narrow it down to a couple bikes you like, see if you can rent one at a time for a couple days, and ride your normal route. Most LBS will do this, I would look at Fuji, Trek, Specialized, Giant.

Just don't buy one from a box store unless you are very good at wrenching on bikes.

I would say there are two main categories of "hybrid" bike, though lines are blended all the time. The "fitness" type (look up a Trek FX or Raleigh Cadent) generally have a slightly sportier riding position and quicker handling. They will feel very connected to the road and very quick to maneuver. The "comfort" type (look up a Trek Verve or Specialized Crossroads) will typically have a more upright riding style and may offer greater riding comfort at the expense of maneuverability and agility. Obviously, "comfort" is subjective, and different bikes will feel different to everyone. I would encourage you to ride a few different models from each brand. In Trek, an FX and a Verve will ride very differently. In Specialized, a Crossroads and a Sirrus will probably ride very differently. Above all else, you need to find something that is comfortable FOR YOU.

I personally ride a 2015 Trek Verve 3 as my "daily driver". Our daughter has a Raleigh Alysa (the "female version" of the Cadent) and I like riding it also (though I find the Verve's geometry to be more comfortable to me). My dad has a Trek DS, and I think that's a comfortable bike as well -- it has more of a comfort/mountain bike setup than a "fitness" geometry. In general, the more aggressive the riding style, the less comfortable I am on it. Upright positions aren't for everyone, though, and trying various models from multiple brands will be the best way to find what you like.

In general, I would recommend you get one with a rear freehub and cassette vs. something with a freewheel. Most bikes with freewheels will come with a low-line Shimano Tourney drivetrain. These are serviceable bikes (it's what our daughter's Raleigh has), and very usable. They just aren't as refined as ones with better drivetrains, and the freewheel design isn't quite as robust as a freehub, mostly due to the freehub putting the drive side wheel bearing out at the end of the freehub, rather than near the center of the axle, as is the case with a freewheel. The freewheel design results in a greater potential of bending an axle, just because of where the load is supported. Freehubs and cassettes are much less prone to axle problems. Something with a freehub and cassette will likely also come with a Shimano Acera or Alivio drivetrain, which is a step up from a Tourney drivetrain, both in refinement and durability. Base model bikes, with Tourney stuff, will also likely have twist shifters vs. trigger shifters. In general, trigger shifters are regarded as superior to twist shifters, especially the Tourney-grade Shimano Revoshift twist shifters.

Otherwise, components are fairly standardized. It's not like cars where Honda uses Honda parts, Ford uses Ford parts, etc. Treks, Cannondales, and Giants will all generally be using Shimano derailleurs, KMC chains, Suntour cranks, and Formula hubs. These are very standard components at this price point. You will find some variation depending on brand and model, but most of this stuff is interchangeable in terms of physical fitment and quality level.

Let the bike comfort guide your purchase rather than a specific brand.

Make sure you're 100% sure you want a hybrid.

Are there any hills to climb during the commute? If so, are you a masher? Do you know how awkward it is climb hills off saddle with flat bars?

Normal road bikes offer the same thing with alternate positions for long rides and are offered in more flavors than hybrids.

You can also look at gravel/cyclocross/light touring bikes which are more upright/relaxed than a road racing bike but have drop bars.

Glad to hear your decision on getting a new bike and also that you want to start commuting back and forth to work with it that is awesome to hear. i live in a very small town and rely on my hybrid to get me around town (bank store, lake to go fishing) as well as work but my commute isnt nearly as long as yours. i have maybe a mile and a half which is uphill on my way to work. when i went searching for the perfect bike for me i was at 3 different LBS and test rode 4 different bikes and then narrowed it down. i know a 15 or so mile ride in a car for me is like 25 30 minutes where i live. so on a bike thats gonna take some time and effort. I would get to every LBS you can find in your area and start riding around on what they have to offer in your price range. if it isnt comfortable for you or cant be made comfortable for you i would simply just move onto the the next one. i know kind of generic advice but with your post saying 15 miles each way thats alot of pedaling.

Lots of choices. Trek FX, Specialized Sirrus, Kona Dew, Jamis Coda, etc...

I just saw a Fairdale Archer at a LBS in light green. Looks way better in person than in pictures. Nice steel frame, practical 1 x 9 SRAM drivetrain. Disc brakes, clearance for wide tires if that is your thing. Available in both flat bars and drops all for around $850 retail. IMO an almost perfect all around bike.

Is it really that awkward climbing hills on a hybrid bike? I mean a hybrid bike with flat bars and bar ends seem like an easier way to climb. The wider bars open up your chest area more so you can breathe better and the bar ends allow you to pull up on the bar as you pedal. The main benefit road bikes have for climbing is that they are generally a lot lighter than a hybrid bike.

i think really the only major difference is body preference and how your positioned. if climbing upright on a hybrid bugs you and the lower body position of a road bike fits you then i can see it. but i wouldnt be planning on going for a bike ride thats 10 miles up hill both ways. i prefer my hybrid with bar ends over my road bike just in general.

I would agree. If climbing hills with flat bars while out of the saddle were such a hardship, the mtb genre would have gone to drop bars, or something else too.

I'm not too likely to get stand while climbing hills on any of my bikes, the gearing on them has been more than sufficient to spin my way up with reasonable cadence whether road or hybrid.

Maybe not, but I certainly don't like it. I compromised by extending the stem by 20mm so I can get more leverage off saddle. Most hybrid frames have longer top tubes to make up for shorter stems with an ideal "more upright" position for the rider.

OP, I'm on a 2017 BMC AC01.

this time of year, bike rental shops opening up near bike trails, might try a few of those

Thanks for all of the useful advice. Interesting thoughts about impact of hills and bar type. It may have been premature for me to assume that a hybrid is the only feasible option.

Just remember back "in the day" that a bike called "hybrid" can mean in its basic form, was a bike that you sit upright on and has a comfortable ride and easy gearing. Now there's a lot of bikes that fit that definition but aren't necessarily "hybrids" or might be called a hybrid but are just road bikes with flat bars.

If you're looking to ride upright, look at all bikes with flat or raised handle bars and ride them to see how they feel. Some people like a bike that is heavy and handles slowly with a spongy soft suspension. There's some that want a lighter, fast handling bike with a slightly stiffer suspension. They both can fall into the "hybrid" category, it's up to you to decide what you like. Just don't focus strictly on a bike that's called a hybrid, look at "fitness", "cross trail" and others that look to fit your need. :)

Once you figure out what you basically want, then it just comes down to how much you want to spend. To me that's where it really gets fun when looking at a new bike.