Hybrid bike in Kansas City.
 

I feel like a freak on this web site,every body rides these exspensive road bikes, I havn't seen any hybrid bike riders on these threads. I ride to work and on urban bike trails, and around the neighborhood.

There are many forumites who commute by bike on normal el cheepo bikes. I'm not one, however. I commute on a Trek 520,most of the time, but I'm thinking that I'll switch to a single speed for the snowy, salty, winter, here in the frozen north.

I would hardly describe my Fuji Cambridge 21 speed as an "el cheapo",but compared to the high end road bikes,its in a different class. Its a good quality bike, and it works for me. I wonder about riding a single speed,Iceratt, don't you get worn out riding those things?

I have both a hybrid - Gary Fisher Utopia - and a road bike - Bianchi Veloce. I ride them both depending on the circumstances. If the weather is crappy or if I'm riding with friends that also have hybrids, I'm on the Utopia. I can go a lot more places on the Utopia like dirt roads, easy trails, and the Trail of the Hiawatha's. Don't feel intimidated or like less of a cyclist because you don't ride a road bike. The important thing is to be out there riding and enjoying yourself. If it's not fun, you won't do it.

slotibartfast-muchas gracias. Don't worry, I'm not intimitated by the road bikers. I only am expresssing what I have noticed, since I am new to this web site:a derision against hybrid, almost every body talks about rode bikes.

I have a hybrid, I think? it's a Trek Multitrack 7300, I love it. My other bike is a GT Palomar Mountain Bike, my favorite. I get to borrow a trek road bike here and there.

I have a Trek 7500 as one of my bikes. I got it in 2001 and have ridden it about 8000 miles. For my money, as long as you're riding something you're OK in my book. I don't get intimidated by anybody - road bikes, single speeders, fixies, unicycles. Just ride and enjoy.

Unless you're racing and need cover lotsa miles quickly, having a comfortable bike is your priority.
Never worry about your "cool" factor.
There will always be somebody faster and somebody who spent more than you.
Just keep riding, your body is growing stronger every time you go out.

Hey Chicharron!
I feel like a freak most of the time, and I'm not even riding. I enjoy your posts, man.

Come up to St. Joe and try out our parkway. You'd fit in just fine. :)

I ride a Peugeot hybrid and like it. I would rather have an Airborne Carpe Diem, and if I did have one, I am sure I would brag about it, like all those with fancy bikes.

I don't think that I'd consider a single speed if I didn't need to replace the drive train of my 21 speed every spring. Single speeds can take a lot of punishment, and if they need replacing, will cost much less than multiple cogs. I still haven't gotten one, but I'm likely, before the first of the year.

As far as getting worn out, I only have a 6.5 mile ride to work. Maybe it'll take 35 mins to get to work, instead of 25. I always race, because I'm late. Nothing will alter my going all out.

Scottogo, I never could follow the crowd and be like everyone else. BTW, you do ride a bicycle, don't you?

JoeTown, are you in St.Joe,Missouri? Home town of Emminem? (spelling?)

iceratt, you must be a hard rider(whew)to be replacing drive trains like that. Six miles to work every day is pretty good. I only ride about about a mile to work.

Hello Chicharron!
Thanks for the encouragement.
Yes, I know how to ride. I have had a bicycle sitting in my garage for a year but it's uncomfortable so I don't ride it. Before that haven't ridden for about 20 years. Looking for a new bike now because I'm fat and ugly and I figure riding will take care of both those problems. I looked in the mirror yesterday and noticed my face was changing... you know it's starting to look like the generic "older" person so I plan to get a bike to ride this weekend.
Weeeelll...I might take a train ...I might take a plane... but even if I bike... I'll get there just the same.

Fat and ugly on a bike > fat and ugly in a car. At least the guy on the bike can lose weight and get plastic surgery, cars just suck.

I'm in wichita with 4 bikes, the one i usually ride is a SS cruiser that weighs about 40 pounds.

Ride on sir!

No plastic surgery for me! I'm going to get urethane surgery. Cheaper and it has air in it!

Lots of us have both a road bike and some sort of a mountain bike to ride. This time of year, I generally ride my mtn bike (with slicks) which is somewhat similar to a hybrid, only slower.

I bought my mtn bike in 1998 for $300 (when I was 58yo), and have ridden it over 9,000 miles since, including using it for a week long supported ride in the Colorado Mountains called "Ride the Rockies." So it was not expensive.

A year later, I bought my Lemond Buenos Aires because I wanted a different riding experience and for another "Ride the Rockies." I also have about 9,000 miles on that. That cost about $1,600.00

Then I bought a new road bike from EBay for $290.00, on which I have about 1,000 miles, and it rides just great. I used it for my trainer and to throw in the back of my hatch back for after work rides. (I had a great trail just 1 mile from my school, and could get a good ride in before it got dark, as my commute was 35 miles by car). Since retired and using the $290 as a trainer.

So, my point, after this wind up, is that you will find all sorts of bikes and costs for those bikes on these forums.

A hybrid is a good compromise for many folks, and has features of both a road bike and a mtn bike, but is neither. It does great for many folk's uses. Check out the "Recreational Forum" for more on hybrids.

Any bike that gets you out riding is a good bike. Just prior to buying my mtn bike I was riding a $15.00 ten speed that I got at a garage sale. It was a great bike also, because it got me riding again.

On this forum, you will find

Fixies
Single Speeds
Hybrids
Cross
Road
Triathlon
Mtn
Collectibles
Vintage
Touring
Recumbent
Tricycle
BMX
Comfort
Folding
Tandems
etc.

Whatever works for you! It is not unusual for folks to start out on a mtn bike or a hybrid, and after a year or so, to want a different riding experience (I got tired of being passed!).

DnvrFox,hmmm.Now I remember,your the poster who made the comment about hybrid bikes being like Buiks and were for "older people". I sounds like you're older than me, by at least a decade. My point in this thread was the attitude by "some" road bike riders, who try to impress with how much they spend on their 1400 titanium frame custom built road bikes, and look down their nose at the rest of us.

I Have Owned Peugeots All My Life And Never Heard Of A Pugeot Hybrid. Please Tell Me More About It. I Own A Mid 80's Peugeot Road 12 Vitesse' For Which I Need A Rear Derailleur (simplex 610) Any Ideas? Thanks Fred C- South Florida

Just ride your bike!

Trek 7200 hybrid, Fuji Roubaix road bike. Ride them both. It's always interesting to get on one bike after a long time of exclusively riding the other. They have significantly different qualities, and they are both fun to ride.

ditto, I know what you mean