Man, third hybrid in two months! Flip flop much?

I bought a 2013 Quick 4 several days back, and have had a very hard time liking it. The biggest problem was that although it was a large, Cannondale sizes their bikes much smaller than other manufacturers, so even with a long stem, I couldn't fit it well. The other issue I had was the derailleurs sucked (especially the front one!), given the price of the bike. I got it for a sweet deal and was able to sell it for very close to what I paid for it.

I hate that I have changed my mind so much, but I feel like I really need several miles and many hours through different riding to decide if I like a bike or not.

I ended back up where I started, with what I should have taken home in the first place: A Giant Escape 0. I had ordered this bike in, but passed on it before. I went back to the shop to pick up a warranty saddle for my wife, and noticed all remaining 2012 bikes were marked 20% off. I went ahead and picked it up.

The good:
-SRAM X5 drivetrain is fantastic! It just humiliates whatever was on the Quick in operation speed, quietness, and precision. I'd say it shifts as nice as the Apex stuff on my road bike.
-Geometry and fit are great.
-Brakes are a little better than what was on the Quick.

The bad:
-Grandpa saddle isn't comfortable
-Worst grips I have ever used on any bike in my life. Center of right thumb completely numb in five miles.

I rode this bike for a few hours, and decided that I'm keeping it and modding it based on the fact it has nice components and gearing for pulling my son in his trailer.

I took it to my favorite LBS, Moab, and asked them to address my concerns.

Let's get the embarrassing one out of the way first, I put a kickstand on it. I have my road bike in a Rakk Feedback, but it seemed like a waste of money for the hybrid because my wife and daughter are tired of holding my bike up when I'm attaching the trailer to it. The shop had a nice black one for $9. Plus I can run errands on it now and not have to lay it down.

Next was the saddle. My road bike has a Bontrager Affinity, which is great because I have narrow sitbones. The stock saddle was wide and way too soft, creating pain. The Affinity colors match the Escape 0 well, and I already know I love it.

Then, a velcro Bikase for my iPhone in case of emergency, Waze if I get lost while roaming, and Strava if I'm wanting to check speed and distance.

Last, grips. I sprung a little on these, because this was the biggest flaw with the bike. I got some large Ergon GP2s.

After set up, I took the bike outside the LBS, and could not believe how much the bike was improved. It went from good to pretty much my ideal hybrid. I rode it for like 30 minutes through a nearby park there, and just left my car in front of the bike shop.

I am so happy with everything, and intend to keep this bike for years. Fourteen miles on these grips today, and the numbness is gone. I highly recommend these grips!

Here's a pic, and I'm putting a nail in the coffin of my flip flopping, as I have two bikes I love now! Thanks for reading.

LOL that you can't see the kickstand in the pic. Magic holds this bike up.

Yeah you know you situated that crank just so j/k

Now time to get a quality water bottle. I have a cheap one that ice melted in like half an hour in. Picked up a Camelback 21 oz. insulated bottle last week at the LBS before a group ride and that ice lasted like 3 hours! I highly recommend them. Now just have to get a 2nd one to go with the first one, and then I'll probably toss the cheap bottle.

Man I wish I could afford some nice new whips...

Yeah, my water bottle sucks. 15 minutes and the ice is gone. I drink a lot, though, because I sweat like a pig, and am often looking for places to fill it up. Thanks for the suggestion, I'll check out a better bottle.

Great looking bike! My fiancee really enjoys her '12 Escape 1W.

I second the CamelBack bottles. I use the 25oz Podium Big Chill bottles, and they're great.

Stopped in and picked up a Camelbak bottle today, thanks Pat! Kept my water icy for the entire two hours I was out!

I also got some cheap Serfas Seca tires, but kept the stockers in case I ever need to do something with gravel. I am 99% pavement. Not a bad score- $48 for the pair! Hopefully they won't flat easily, at 70psi, it almost felt like the giant rubber (comfort wise).

Horrible phone night pic, but you get the idea.


I thought more about flat potential, and bumped them to 105psi. The difference in acceleration is nuts, I'd say it's not far off my road bike now in that regard. That rear X5 derailleur is doing work, upshifts are telepathic when pedaling hard. I thought the V brakes would cause the wheels to lock easily, but its all modulation and moderation, of course. It stops so much better than my road bike, it's almost sad. I need to upgrade the pads on that bike, but would not on this one, because I think it would throw me off pretty easily with any more stopping power.

Lastly, got some super cheap gel gloves at Target, which are great for long rides or when I'm riding somewhere weird and over grip. I've ridden excessively the past two days, I'm exhausted. Thanks for reading!

Yeah the Podium Chill is what I have, awesome bottle. I like the valve in the top, too. Won't spill out even if the "spout" is open.

I replaced my knobby tires with Serfas Drifters 26 x 1.5 with flat protection. I run them at 60-65 psi (65 max on the tire), been working great since I got them back in May and put almost 300 miles on them.

I have very similar story...this year I decided to replace my classic MTB (Giant Rincon) with hybrid bike to gain some speed and comfort. So I went to Giant dealer and ordered Roam XR1. On the paper it all seem perfect (full SLX group), large wheels, semislick tires....but in reality the bike did't fit me at all.
Took it back and bought Seek 1. After few weeks I changed tires, grips, handlebar and couple of other bits and pieces...

The point is no metter how good bike looks in LBS you don't know what you're buying until you make few (hundred) miles on it. And even then everyone will find couple of things to change. Like yours, my Seek is now fully made by my needs and I just love it.

Great bike you have now, enjoy it!

regards

Day shot. Didn't mention, tires are 700x25c

Awesome... man that chain ring guard and spoke protector look so fredly

and dammit I still love your car hahah

*edit* mmm black spokes look awesome too.

I actually love that chain ring guard! Sometimes I'll use this for quick errands, or if I need to go down the street and talk to one of the neighbors, etc. If I am in jeans and only need to go an 1/8th mile or so, it saves me from having to peg long pants or jeans like an 80s dork to prevent them from getting caught. (I actually did this on a test ride a few months back at lunch on work, was mortifying). Sometimes you need to run somewhere close fast and aren't dressed to ride. I do need to pull that spoke protector, haha.

nah I was j/k I'd kinda like to have some kind of chain ring guard myself. My chain rings are so dang dirty all the time.

Heh, I differ here quite a bit. I am not too fond of icy water, so my bottle has no insulation at all. However, I like to be able to fill up the bottle at any place, so it has a filter - it's a Brita.

Nice looking bike! Your report on the grips is good, I must look into those!

Very nice bike. I never ever looked at a Giant. Then I bought my son an Escape 2 this year. I was really impressed at what $400 bought. My brother liked it so much he bought the Escape City. I'm actually looking at the 0 like yours. I really like the CF fork. Keep us posted.

I yanked the 25mm Secas and went back to stock rubber just now. Better ride, better stopping power, better traction all around. I'm sure the fact I'm running 50 less psi helps a bit with that first part. Major pedal power efficiency loss, though!

I already have a road bike, and it doesn't make sense to try to make this one too. I figure I'll get in better shape pulling my son with these tires and get it's versatility back.

Thanks for the review N4. I'll be joining the club in a few days, my LBS was offering 20% off the 2012 models as well so I went ahead and put one in for layaway. I'm super pumped to bring it home. It's been nice seeing your journey since the Sirrus and Quick were on my radar as well.

I put 25's on my Jamis Allegro 1's and after a week of rides, swaped them out for 28's, which seem almost as quick but do a LOT better job of absorbing road imperfections, jmho. I still have the 32's that came stock with my Jamis Coda, they work well with "tugging a trailer" and handle the "hard pack dirt" of some of the rail trails portions here in Colorado Springs better. So what you did make total sense to me, ENJOY!!

Very cool! Did you get a 0, 1, or 2? I think you'll love it.

Thanks! I actually already went back to the 25mm tires, so I'm getting great experience swapping them. The reason is that my dad was in town, and I wanted to ride with him. With the 32mm dirt friendly rubber, the Escape just can't keep up with my road bike at all on the street. With the 25mm, its not nearly as bad, and we were able to ride together. I need to get some tire tools so my fingers don't have to do all the work. I just can never remember when I'm at my LBS.

The 0. I just loved how smooth it rode and how smooth it shifted. Plus the color scheme is beautiful!!!