MikeRides

Like mrodgers, I started out on an old Walmart mountain bike with horribly worn out parts. I was only looking for something new to replace it to ride for recreation and fitness, I had no idea that I'd be riding it to run errands or even to commute on. I had rode my father's Schwinn Continental (road-oriented bike) a couple times, size-wise it was an okay fit but I found myself staying on the hoods every time so I knew right off I wasn't ready for a road bike. I still itch for speed, but I've got ~1500 miles on my Detour in under a year that tells me I'm more than comfortable with this bike.

Wanderer

My back and shoulders wouldn't take the roadie any longer....... the Hybrid resolved the problem, and I'm still riding. Then, sold the road bike when I didn't ride it for more than a year............

krobinson103

To be honest I'm not sure what my bike classifies as. It will function as a decent xc mtb with the rack gone and mtb tires installed...



Or Lock down the shock, shorten it to 80mm, add slicks and I have a really nice touring/commuting hybrid with hydrolic discs. Hybrid is such a wide term.

AdelaaR

Exactly.
I use my road bike for group rides and fast sportive riding but I use my hybrid for more recreational riding around town or with the family.
Use the right tool for the job and the job will be safer and more fun

AdelaaR

Your fit depends on many things including how much comfort you are willing to give up for a more aggressive and faster position.
This largely depends on what you are going to be using the bike for.

AdelaaR

It is actually much fun ... you should try it sometime
I often even take it a step further and ride with a funny helmet, even funnier clothes, a funny handlebar and funny wheels!
I care little for other people's opinions though ... it feels great for me

yote223

Typical European response.

SPiN 360

I love both moderate trail-riding and also frequently go on-road.
I'm not competitive.
I have a small place with room for only 1 bike.

The conclusion is obvious.

badger1

Most sensible response in this entire thread.

daihard 

Took my hybrid for today's commute. It was actually quite nice. After riding a road bike exclusively for two weeks, I've realized an upright position does help me pay attention to my surroundings.

2702

Same here. Last few rides were on the FX and today rode the road bike and wow- how far do I have to reach for the brakes? All in all if I only had to have one bike it would be a hybrid with a low stem and barely a rise in its angle.

AdelaaR

slorollin

Mine is a flat bar road bike or "Cafe" bike as some are now calling them. Riding the drops kills my neck with it's 3 fused vertebrae, but I still enjoy going fast when I can.

TakingMyTime

• Comfortable riding position
• Price point I was looking at afforded me what I would consider a nice bike.
• My days of trying to beat everyone to the next stop light are long behind me.

mehlertmj

I bought a hybrid, mostly because it was comfortable at the time. Now as I have gotten into it more and longer rides, I feel the need for more hand positions. Just ordered drop bars, levers, and shifters last week. I cant wait to see how it feels when everything is installed.

Walpurgisnacht

Similar story to others, I'd imagine: started out on cheap mountain bikes, but found that I was riding primarily on paved trails and roads. I wanted something that would allow me to go faster, but that I could still use to get a good workout. Road bikes were more expensive and I worried that the tires might not stand up to the rougher parts of the trails, so hybrids became the option to go for.

I've never ridden a road bike and admit that I'd like to own one some day, but my wife and I are thrilled with our hybrids (2007 Specialized Sirrus and 2013 Cannondale Quick 4 Women's). Road riding is faster and easier than it was with our cheap mountain bikes, and as far as speed goes, we tend to be the fastest on the bicycle trails, passed only by the guys on road bikes (it's fun to try and chase them). For our uses at this point in time, hybrids are perfect.

mwl001

Haven't owned a bike for many years, since my 1991(?) GT Timberline was stolen in college - first bike I bought with my own money. Loved the pushbutton shifters and upright handlebars. So when the GF and I started tossing around the idea of getting bikes, I immediately jumped to the idea of cruisers, never having ridden one of course. They seemed like a perfect fit for riding into the downtown area near our house; just for casual use. I was surprised however, to find that I just didn't like the ride at all. Felt very strange to be seated upright, like I didn't have enough control of the steering. Moved on to comfort style bikes, like the Giant Cypress and Specialized Crossroads and Trek Verve; liked them much better; but now we're thinking, will these types of bikes be comfortable for a long ride? In the end, I think I realized those comfort bikes might be great for me 20 years from now; still want to ride something capable of performance-type riding (speed and/or maneuverability) yet more comfortable than a road bike. So the hybrids with 700c wheels really were the best ride/fit. Waiting for delivery of my Giant Roam 2 this week, super excited to get riding.

MickeyMaguire

My particular Fuji Absolute2 (2012 model) had the same chainrings as the racing bikes Fuji produced that year. The Tiagra components shift very nicely, too. The tires are 700x28, which I prefer rather than 700x25 (durability). The frame is their higher grade of aluminum. The bike is the largest frame-size Fuji makes and weights 23.3 pounds. I added a rear rack and an upright bag, two bottle cages (alloy), and I am thinking of changing pedals to rat-traps. It really is a roadbike with a flat handlebar.

I enjoy the visibility of riding a bike with upright position.

Mattyb13

Really simple for me. I wanted the quickness and road worthiness to be able to efficiently commute 10-15 miles one way during the week and I wanted the durability, versatility and stance to be able to take it on the gravel paths and the occasional dirt road if I need and want to. Specialized Crosstrail Comp Disc does it all for me.

simplybao

I chose hybrid because I've always like the upright position more. In my college days I rode mountain bikes and loved it. I got back into it and found that my mountain bike feels like a tank riding around on paved trails. I don't do club rides. I ride with my partner and we usually do anywhere from 10 - 25 miles of casual riding. On the longer rides, we usually ride half way, stop for a drink/beer/coffee and continue on.

I do like nice components -- shifters/derailleurs and so my choice was to get a cheaper bike (Giant Escape 1) and then upgrade the parts. I did test ride some drops and just didn't like it. I didn't like the riding position, any of them and I tested a few makes/models. So for me, it's all about recreation and the "hybrid" suites me more.

abrianb

I have back problems. I strained a piriformis and found I just could not ride in the drops at all and riding the tops helped but was not quite high enough. I put on a flat bar and new controls and it helped alot. So I started looking at hybrids. Not much love for the ones with springs in the seat or the taller stems (just too upright cruiser bikeish). So I bought a Raleigh Cadent (which some would say is a flat bar road bike) because it is comfortable. No pain was my gain. It is quick and nimble. I don't ride much on crushed stone or gavel but when I do the 700x32s grip so much better than the 700x23s on my roadie.

raqball 

I chose mine because flat bar road bikes and Hybrids ROCK!

blacksapphire08

Agreed, I wanted a road bike but found drop bars to be uncomfortable for my back and sensitive areas. Flat bar was the way to go for me.

ACrowe25

This is ME exactly.

Except I know I would end up with N+1.

I commute everyday, year round, and don't melt in rain/snow. My hybrid was cheap ($530 or so) and therefore I don't mind taking her out. This was my first "serious" bike purchase.

Now, I know I want a road bike, just not sure which one. Benefit of a GREAT hybrid is I don't have to hurry. My road bike's use will be to take out everyday on good weather when I get home from my commute for a nice ride.

So really, I bought a hybrid because I NEEDED one. I just WANT a road bike lol.

2702

I love my new hybrid so much I keep it in the living room.