I see quite a few bikes on this forum that appear to be "flat bar" road bikes. I was under the impression a "hybrid" was a blend of road and mountain bike components. Perhaps some clarity from others will answer my question.

I have a Trek 7.2 which is considered a hybrid. To me, it's simply my bike. I use it to commute, exercise and tour. Some people use flat bar road bikes, others use mountain bikes and some have franken-bikes.

Therefore, as long as it's not used as a single purpose bike, I have decided (for me) that a hybrid is darn near anything you want it to be.

I have a bike.

Good answer.

Each time this question comes up, it's interesting to see the responses and the reasoning behind them. A lot of it seems to reflect what point in time a person learned about "hybrid" bicycles. For me, that was the mid-90's and a hybrid was basically a mountain bike with 700c wheels and skinnier tires. That's still what I think of when I hear "hybrid". Now, many people consider comfort features like fork and seatpost suspension to be critical components of a hybrid bicycle.

I think now the "hybrid" category is quite broad and includes a multitude of different styles of bikes with some blurring into the "comfort bike" category while others blur into the "flat-bar road bike" category. Now, we even have some that are blurring back into the "mtb" category, although I'm not sure if they are considered "hybrids" or not.

I'm not too familiar with the current market but I still classify bikes as:

road
mountain
touring
hybrid
comfort

Cyclo-cross might even warrant it's own category at this time but I'm not familiar enough with the sport to know the specifics of the bikes.


The bike I'm building up was designed as a commuter/tourer/cyclo-cross bike, which is a very popular combination these days, and I can't decide if it will be a hybrid or a flat-bar road bike. The frame has road bike geometry but with longer chainstays, wider tire clearances and canti brake posts. The drivetrain and brake systems will be MTB, the wheels are touring and the tires are long-distance (Randonneur).

Once it's done, I'll probably post it up in the hybrid sub-forum because that is the category it most resembles, at least superficially. Personally, I lean towards considering it a flat-bar road bike but I don't think that interpretation would go over too well in that particular sub-forum. "All-Rounder" might be the best way to describe it.

All I know is its something that got me back into biking after not throwing a leg over one in 30 some years!

I'd say a hybrid bike is analogous to an SUV, comfortable on the road and okay on a path!

a hybrid, to me, is a bike with road characteristics that allows for a more comfortable ride than a "road" bike.

If the trail suddenly turns to gravel or dirt, you're ok. if the road is smooth and flat and you want to travel at 20mph, it's also ok.

Strap bags and fenders on her for 100 miles, again, it's ok.

That's a hybrid to me.

it's any bike not accepted in the 41

"Flat Bar Road Bike" is a made up definition, that I'm guilty of using also. When I first started posting on this forum, a Hybrid had to be able to handle both light off road, plus still maintain some speed on the street. (BUT) I lived in the country and did a fair amount of trail riding, so to me anything smaller than 38c, could not be a Hybrid. Now I live in the city, and feel 700 x 32's are pretty wide. Take my FX for example, has flat bars, road bike compact crank & derailleur in the front. But the shifters and brakes are MTB group, Tektro linear pull brakes, with Deore shifters, MTB rear cassette, and Deore rear derailleur. This would constitute a definite Hybrid, now change the tires to 700 x 38 and there you go. But I only ride on the street, and love 23's, 25's 28's & have 32's on the Giant. "Trust Me" neither one comes remotely close to a ROAD BIKE, or an MTB. But are well suited for my riding style.

Hybrid is a road bike with front suspension and flat bars.
Flat Bar Road Bike is a road bike with flat bars.

I never heard of a hybrid before I bought my Kona. (they called it Asphalt changed now to Commuter) Then I got my Trek Sawyer fully rigid mtn bike that seems more hybrid than my Motebecane Jubbilee with front suspension (called comfort bike). I think its ok to say all 3 are hybrids. And If I ever put flat bars on 1 of my road bikes I sure as hell won't post it in the 41!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJB1gMaB2aQ Rule #9// If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.

Fair-weather riding is a luxury reserved for Sunday afternoons and wide boulevards. Those who ride in foul weather – be it cold, wet, or inordinately hot – are members of a special club of riders who, on the morning of a big ride, pull back the curtain to check the weather and, upon seeing rain falling from the skies, allow a wry smile to spread across their face. This is a rider who loves the work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTpVTadGvXo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENRiw...ture=endscreen

What's an MTB disc frame with rigid forks and 700c disc rims, which you can swap at will with 26" wheels? ie. from road to single track etc.

Hey guys you know after reading this thread i got a great idea from it! I bought a trek 2300 road bike many years ago i used it for long rides (centuries) ms tours and alot of duatholons but now I don't want that roadbike stance anymore so I put a stem riser and got almost two inches of lift, now I'm alittle more upright, I also put a nice padded fuji seat on it, but now i'm thinking if flat bars would be in order to give it a more Hybred look and ride, only thing I can't go any bigger than700X28 as far as tires!! any of ya'll ever do that ????

Specialized Allez

What size tires you got on there???

700 x 23c GATORHARDSHELLS WH R-600 wheel set.

I would call it a "chopper".

are you talking about? Hardly an MTB frame and hardly a 700 rim.

You just described my Marin Muirwoods 29er. It is a 29er frame, but maybe scaled back a bit because it will only take tires up to 700x50 for knobbies or maybe 55mm Big Apples or other smooth tires. The fork is rigid, but suspension corrected so it's very strange looking. I can probably get a raccoon caught on the front wheel and it will still clear the fork.

and my hybrid

Of course one can just check out wiki to find out what a hybrid is. I'm just having a bit of fun.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_bicycle

By the way, sadly my bike doesn't appear to fit the wikipedia definitions of a hybrid, but in my world it is, and you guys are the friendliest bunch on bikeforums so I'm staying no matter what.

Wikipedia's general definition of a hybrid bicycle is pretty much exactly what my new bike will be so I guess it is a hybrid.

I think a hybrid is something thats light as a racer but able to cope with city streets and commuting plus less stressful on your back

A car that has electric power in addition to gasoline is called a hybrid. Why do we not call a bike with electric power a hybrid?