Some of us ride hard and some of us hardly ride.

Yes, and given that you know that I've been off the bike because of a serious medical problem (brought on by the exhaustion of having to cope with three serious illnesses in my family - two ending in death, thank you) that's a ****ty thing to say.

It's also a stupid one. Firstly because it has nothing to do with I'm right or wrong to suggest that you select components for you hybrid based on reality, rather than your pathetic ego.

Secondly - I'm an ex-courier. I doubt you've ridden all week when a tropical rain storm hits Sydney, in traffic and roads slick with diesel, and visibility down to the distance you could throw your bike. Or pulled the energy out of yourself to do a 15 minute hot-shot at the end of a day riding San Francisco hills. I doubt if any of riding you have ever done compares to pushing a crosser fast over tree root booby-trapped singletrack, knowing that a second's loss in concentration with have you over the bars. In fact, I doubt if you've ever even done a proper training drill, like doing hill repeats, as opposed to bimbling around until you get a pleasant cardiovascular buzz. ***You have no idea what riding hard is!*** As for the idea that you are the John Wayne Of Bicycle, I can only quote Joan Rivers.... "Puh-leeze!"

But as I say, that's irrelevant. What matters is that you are opinionated and utterly ignorant and prefer to use mythology and abuse to back up your opinions rather than facts. I can back mine with page and paragraph numbers from MIT Press's "Bicycling Science," one of the handbooks of the bicycle engineering industry. And that, rather than any "I have seen assault ships burning at Tannhauser Gate" rant is what matters.

incorrect

Sadly, I do know one person with one. I did have a photo but having trouble finding it. Although it doesn't say "Shimano" I believe it's something like a Shimano rear cog.

Ouch!

..Wait - you can look at a rear cog and say who the manufacturer is???

At the risk of qsm telling me I'm an elitist, can I suggest that if the OP does find his Trek is slow then he should -

- Take it in for a service, or give it one himself (mostly you need to make sure the chain is clean) and check that his saddle position is good (most people have them too low, which reduces pedalling power)

- Fit 28 to 35mm Marathon Racer or Supreme tyres (assuming he is riding on the road only) and pump them up to the proper pressure. Or some non-Schwlabe equivalent if that's what you prefer (I always think in terms of Schwalbe because they're one of the best tyre companies with the biggest range and they're clear on what each tyre does.) And fitting latex inner tubes can reduce rolling resistance by about 10% - although bike physics mean the speed up you get will be a lot less than this.

- Cut a couple of cm off each end of his bars and fit a 2cm or so longer stem??? Or even a 4cm longer stem, if experimenting says this will be comfortable. It would be a nice idea to put Ergon grips on for comfort at the same time.

The rolling resistance and aerodynamics of the bike will be significantly improved by the above, this will cost hardly any money (well, unless he buys Supremes..) and he should be happy. If he needs more oomph again, then fitting aerobars is an option if he doesn't need to be on the brakes all the time.

Oh - and if you're riding platform pedals, get Powergrips. Or replace them with BMX pin pedals or clipless ones.

LOL, do you hang out with Charlie Sheen ? You got the tiger blood and warlock DNA, too ?

Yes, please heed Meatwhile's advice so you too can experience the bliss of a state of the art "bike". I mean, just look at this beauty that he painstakenly laboured to create. Looks like the holy grail to me ... LOL.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...whilesbike.jpg

Actually, that's a pretty literal definition of what a hybrid is to me.

Given that it was built for a friend with a chronic wrist injury that means he needs an extra upright position and extra steering leverage, yes. Since then balloon tyres have been added, so that his wrists and very upright spine won't take pothole shock, so the bike looks even weirder. The tape and mismatched cosmetics were added to "uglify" the bike, so at least the dumber type of loser-junkie-bike thief would pass it by. They weren't to fool anyone intelligent, of course - just people who aren't any smarter than you are.

And, my word, what is it with people who store up grudges because someone politely explained that they were talking nonsense in a thread a year ago? I remember getting mail at the time saying that I shouldn't worry, because you're always "like that" - which sounds pretty dreadful for you. My sympathies.

General engineering lesson: criticizing a machine before you know what it is supposed to do is dumb.

General life lesson: showing someone that you hold a longterm grudge will just make them feel superior to you, which probably isn't what you want...

Congratulations on proving that you're too dumb to understand irony...

Talking of DNA, perhaps medical science could splice in a few extra base pairs for you?Trim down that sense of resentment, boost the sense of humour a little?

Ah yes the tape, built for Red Green I presume .... but I don't think it really needed the tape to uglify it.


I don't have an old grudge. I just think your perverse compulsion to insist that you are always right, and an equally bully like obsession with calling people names, is both pathetic and entertaining (among other things). It is a rare combination that provides fertile ground for unbridled laughter and ridicule at your expense.

And congratultions for proving that you're too dumb to even get the joke, LOL.

An FX can be a Hybrid if it wants to, or a Flat bar road bike. Just as much as my MTB can be a Hybrid also !
LOL Group Hug ), Richard : )

a flat bar road bike is a hybrid. ;)

Some people seem to be gravely offended by this quote but I think it's clever and funny ... gotta remember that one :)

No argument from me, ( Laugh ) some of our best threads are on the subject of what is a Hybrid.
Never any real winners, and I am just as guilty of being right in the middle of them, but they always seem
to get to heated, then locked, or just removed. Just was trying to lighten up the mood. Richard : )

Haha, nice bike, meanwhile! :rolleyes:

"***You have no idea what riding hard is!*** As for the idea that you are the John Wayne Of Bicycle, I can only quote Joan Rivers.... 'Puh-leeze!'"

Not only do I train on one, Joan, I've actually raced a hybrid, if a drop bar mountain bike counts.
http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/DSC09226.jpg

That's me getting passed by a guy on a beach cruiser. :( When's the last time you were on the cover of a bicycling publication? It's been 24 years for me. :o My best finish was third place (sport vet) in an XC at Wisp. What was your best result, meanwhile?
http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/DSC09225.jpg

Your assumption that a hybrid rider can't be a serious rider and that I'd be impressed with the messenger work you did on your year abroad further reveals your attitude towards hybrid riders.

It is very possible that I have done more bicycle deliveries that anyone else in the history of Washington, DC. Very few have been working as long as I have here and I have been the longest at the company best known for giving it's riders the most work (I typically did thirty plus jobs for many years). Photo from Washington Post, captions added by my boss. Larry, Lance and I are not excouriers, strictly speaking, but I believe the other four here are.
http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/r...MS_Friends.jpg

It's also very possible that I have delivered the most in our city measured by weight or volume, as I have been a dedicated freight hauler for the last five years after 20 as a regular bike messenger.
http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/r...h/IMG_1470.jpg

Very impressive resume, your hired ! Richard

Haha, thanks.

Trek FX 7.5 Link : http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/bike_path/fx/75fx/ It has no suspension, very small rear cog 26T, I think it really depends on the terrain you ride, city, country, hills,
groomed, non-groomed trails Etc..On what Hybrid works for each person, that bike would be of no use to me,
where this Hybrid would be perfect,http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/...11/7244/43949/ and might be a dog to someone else. But both are Hybrids. Just with Giant
you get more for your money. ( LOL ) If I lived in Florida ( Flat ), and rode groomed trails and city streets, the FX would be the better
choice, but if you live in the country and ride rural roads, gravel roads, non-groomed trails, the Giant would be the better
option. Just My Opinion, Richard


http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=192174

:twitchy: :crash: :cry:

MTB legend and hall of famer John Tomac used to use drop bars early on in some of his cross country (and downhill) races in the early nineties. That was kind of a hybrid at the time I suppose. He came from a BMX and road racing background via Team 7-11 and Motorola but really made a name for himself in NORBA XC and downhill racing with Yeti and Raleigh. Maybe it took him a while to adapt to the flat bar at first.

Great pic on the mag cover. Thanks for sharing that. Brings back memories of that era. My old motocross racing partner was on the ground floor of the MTB boom in the early to mid '80's and introduced me to them at the same time. Still got my old Bell "salad bowl" helmut, LOL.

Same as "work hard or hardly working." Not exactly original material.

Whoa, just read thru all the posts since someone awakened this sleeping giant of a thread. The road forum doesn't have all the fun afterall. The pointed comments about one poster's modifications for a rider with particular physical limitations sets the thread afire. Then we learn how your coincidental (and possibly unavoidable) background appearance somehow makes you the cover story in the regional 'zine. And this is only to upstage someone that just touted himself as a cyclist of superior experience. Hilarious. Congrats on ruining a thread.