Hi, I just joined this forum. Long time biker but still consider myself a newbie especially when it comes to buying a bike. I usually rent mine and use it on flat (for the most part) bike/dirt trails.

What are the major differences between a hybrid vs a road or mountain bike? I know it falls in the middle, but is it more because of the frame/body (hope I'm using the correct term) or is it because of the tires? Are the gears or other parts any different? I'm just wondering if it's better to just get a mountain bike and swap it out with a road tire if I need it for the road.

I plan on using this on pavement roads and also on dirt roads.

I was looking at bikes from Walmart but hear that their bikes are not that good. Not a hardcore biker but I do want one that won't break down on me in a few months. I was looking at the Schwinn Avenue 700c Men's Hybrid Bike. I was also looking at the 700c Schwinn Fifth Avenue Men's Hybrid Bike but don't like design. From what I read these are similar to 26' bikes so at 5'7" I think it will be a good fit.

Are there any other bikes that you recommend preferably around the same price range? I actually wanted to buy one from Walmart and assemble it myself to get more familiar with how everything works but afraid I might screw it up.

Thanks.

Though I'm loathe to point you in their direction, BD will be a better option if shopping at the Wally World price point. The components should be a step up and you stand a better chance of getting something that fits, as opposed to the OSFM sizing typically used by big box outlets. Scroll down to the bottom to find your price point: https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/hybrid_bikes.htm

Thanks no1mad. Looking at this bike here. It mentions that it's a "Comfort" Hybrid bike. I'm getting a little confused with the terms. I thought comfort bikes are more for the road? Why don't they just say Hybrid or am I missing something here?

Kinda have to take the BD marketing terms with a grain of salt. They may be calling the GT Traffic as a comfort bike, but GT calls the entire Traffic series as 'urban'- which is closer to the truth, IMO. Pay close attention to the sizing if you order that one- it's a close out and only sizes S and XL are in stock. The XL will be way to big for you. You *might* be able to make the S work, but could be a little off fit wise, no matter how much tweaking you do. Take a look at their sizing chart for the geo info.

Another option for you to possibly is buying one of those rental bikes you've been riding. May not have the OEM parts any more, but at least you know it's rideable.

Hybrid and comfort are often used to describe the same bike. A hybrid is often described as a comfort bike because of the upright riding position. A hybrid usually has gearing similar to a mtn bike.
I usually recommend buying from a bike shop but if thats out of your budget than go with bikesdirect rather than wallyworld or a big box store.

I view "compfort bikes' as a type of hybrid -- meaning that they are a subset of the group. Comfort bikes usually have an extremely upright sitting position and big pillowy saddle... And, clearly, they are built for one thing: comfort.

Conversely a regular hybrid, as you know, tends to do all things pretty well. It can go on the road or off. I would not want to take a comfort bike on anything but a smooth trail for any extended period of time. I think the most notable part of the comfort bike is its upright position. And, for myself, I would only go that route if I couldn't get down over the bars a little.

As for where to buy: one advantage of WalMart over Bikes Direct is that you can at sit on the bike before you buy it.

I think every experienced cyclist will agree that the single most important feature of any bike is how well it fits you. And, at least in the higher end bikes, every model comes in a variety of sizes: 15", 17.5" 19", 22", etc... First you want to be looking at the right size for your body. But, even within that size, there are significant differences in fit amongst the various models -- and you can't discern that by reading a description. You can only discern the differences by riding on them -- the longer and further the better.

A good local bike shop (LBS) will be able to steer you in the right direction and most have lower end bikes that, while not in the WalMart range, may still be affordable. And, while not all LBS's are good LBS's, the good ones will take the time to match the model and the size you and your needs -- and then work with you find the one that is just right for you -- and THEN get it setup they you need it or prefer it.

So, my order of shopping for a first bike would be: LBS, BigBoxStore, Online

Most people recommend the LBS route because not only do you get a bike that fits, but it will be of high enough quality that you won't get discouraged and disgusted with it.

ps. Some hybrids are closer to mountain bikes and some are closer to road bikes. For instance, the Trek FX line are essentially road oriented but they can go on a smooth trail. Or, the Trek DS line can go on a rough trail but can also deal with roads to a certain extent. The differences however are kind of subtle. But, I would not go with a mountain bike unless you intended to ride it on rough trails, through woods, and so on. I find them too heavy and too slow on smooth bike paths.

Have you looked at Dicks or Sport Authority? They tend to have bikes higher end than Walmart and you can sit on them and try them out first. Sport Authority bikes tend to run around $250 to about $600.

Your LBS should have a few lower end bikes for you to test ride. This will give you an opportunity to ask lots of questions and to take time to think about your purchase. Also the LBS may have a lay away plan and also may have older models on sale, given that they are receiving 2013 models right now.

I like 700c Schwinn Seventh Avenue mens Hybrid Bike,the 700c is much smoother when riding in the paved roads

Here are some things that I would look for if I were buying a budget bike for riding on paved and dirt roads. Relatively light weight bike with a frame made out of aluminum or chromoly steel. That will eliminate the lowest end bikes. Next I would want a 21-speed or higher (3 speeds in front, seven in the back). "Tourney" level components are the lowest end I would accept and would recommend Altus or Acera if you can get it. I would make sure I had indexed shifting (not friction shifting). I would look for a tire that is "32" or "28" with a psi of 80 to 115. I would spin the wheels to see how well they spun around the hub and to make sure there was no wobble in them. I would squeeze the brakes to make sure they grip hard and spring back. Finally, I would sit on it and see if it fit. In addition, I would check with Amazon and Nashbar bikes.