FXjohn

how about the cannondale bad boy?

https://www.cannondale.com/bikes/08/cusa/model-8BS.html

Gustavo

Five pages and I still don't understand the purpose of these ugly looking bikes. If you want to ride to work, and the roads are good, why not use a ROAD bike? The are optimized for use on smooth roads, and will cheerfully accept reasonable gravel paths and even some grass. If road or conditions are rougher, use a 'cross or even a mountainbike. I do all my fair weather commuting, bicycle holidays and leisure rides on my '84 Chesini 12 speed. When it's really snowy, I want to go offroad or I anticipate lots of cobblestones, I take the mountainbike (which accepts fenders). Why would you even consider a 'hybrid'? It's like getting the worst of two worlds, plus you look dorky.

gascostalot

From my research it appears that the Hybrid bike is a complicated thing.

Originally the Hybrid bike was introduce for the more casual bicyclist. Why they didnt bring back the English 3-speed is beyond me, but I imagine they just wanted to save money by using frames that they have in stockpiles and modify them for a more upgright and comfortable ride. So essentially you have road bikes with flat bars and mountain bikes with skinnier tires.

Some hybrid bikes are a great value, because they're essentially the same frame of a previously high end bike with different components. Others were crappy, because the manufacturer didnt know what to do and they created something that's a compromise in every possible way.

Nowadays the Hybrid bikes are being sold as 'Commuters' or 'Urban' bikes. Personally I think they would be more successful selling Dutch Bikes, which is probably the most comfortable bikes to ride outside of bents. But I think the market isnt there yet, because most of the money in Bicycles in the States is in road bikes, mountain bikes, and the fixed gear sub-culture.

rickyaustin

If a crackhead needs a fix, he'll steal a Huffy or a Colnago.

Black Bud

You have got it!

As for all of you who are complaining that "hybrids" are "ugly"? Who in the heck cares what the bike looks like, as long as it does the job one wants it to when one wants to do it?

Think of a "hybrid" as the often the best "tool for the job at hand" for everyday use when speed and looks may not be a factor, but urban "toughness" and load bearing capacity is (not everyone feels comfortable on a full-out heavy load touring bike, after all).

Gustavo

Well, many people do actually care about how things look. "Beauty saves the world" as Stepan Trofimovich put it. I for one enjoy looking at beautiful things, like an Italian high-end vintage lightweight.

The problem is that not only are the hybrids ugly, they AREN'T fit for purpose. If the purpose is to ride in the street, a road bike is quicker, lighter and looks better. If you want to ride to work through a rough forest or something, you might want to get a cyclocross. Most people, at least around here, don't carry any loads, except their generously proportioned behinds, on their dorkomobiles. The only thing that hybrids are optimized for is dorkiness...

FXjohn

Gustavo do you just oppose flat handlebars?

Bikepacker67

I haven't read thru this whole thread, but I was just wondering if anyone pointed out to Gustavo, the similarity between opinions and azzholes.

ObjectAgnosia

If you own a road bike, I suggest you take a closer look at it. Does it have room for fatter tires? Space for full fenders? Mounts for racks? Room for panniers? My road bike sure doesn't, It barely has enough room to remove the rear wheel when the rear tire is inflated. My commute is 34 mi r/t and I would be stupid to carry a full panniers worth of work clothing, food, and tools on my back for that distance. Yes I'll go faster on my road bike, but my back will pay for it the whole time. I can mount fenders and racks on my hybrid/commuter and ride comfortably to work, letting my bike carry the load.

Gustavo

It doesn't have room for fat tires, but why would I want that? I use it on asphalt. There is always room for fenders, on all road bikes. Also, you can always mount racks if you want, perhaps not using standard mounts, but it is always possible. But that is not really an issue here, because most people I see don't use panniers or racks on the hybrids.

I work in an office, so I don't carry tools. The clothes are on my back, in the sense that I wear them. If it is raining, I sometimes wear jeans and put the suit trousers in the bag. But my commute is very much shorter than yours, as is most people's. Also, since bicycling is so much more common here, and not seen as a "lifestyle choice", most people just ride in their normal clothes.

To be honest, I think that people often buy hybrids because they are afraid of road bikes. Growing up, I never liked the look of drop bars, and thought road bikes were uncomfortable. Now I know I was wrong, but most people tend to believe that you need to be really serious about biking to ride a road racer. Even the more athletic people around me would never even consider using one, just because they haven't tried. Somehow they feel it's more natural to ride around on perfectly smooth asphalt on a mountain bike designed for rough off-road conditions. To be fair, a lot of people do ride racing bikes, perhaps 20% or so.

FXjohn

yeah, so? Some people ride rough roads or gravel. what do you care if they use fatter tires or carry tools? What's wrong with non drop bars? *(nothing)*

Gustavo

I am not saying you shouldn't use non-drop bars, I am just saying that hybrids are an expensive way to get something that is not optimal for anything. I live in the city and I see lots of people on hybrids, even mountain bikes. Most of them carry no loads at all, except their backpack. Most of them only ride smooth asphalt. I think they should get a road bike, or a three speed or a single speed granny bike. If you are only going to ride in the city, at a leisurely pace, you don't need a shiny new expensive "hybrid". If you are in a hurry and more athletically inclined, get a road bike... It is a marketing ploy. "Hybrid" sounds cooler, to some people, than "rusty old grandmother bike I found in the shed". Having said that, riding a hybrid is infinitely better than driving a car, and can be a stepping stone to getting a proper bike.

Dahon.Steve

Well... I just bought a brand new hybrid. I'll post pictures just to make you guys envious! ;-)

Why would I buy a hybrid if I already own a road bike? Here's why.

1. My road bikes are too expensive to take out in the rain. They are nice day bikes.

2. I refuse to put fenders or a rear rack on my road bikes. Not so with my new hybrid.

3. My new Hybrid will come with rack and fenders. They will remain on.

4. My $700.00 dollar hybrid was purchased at $400.00 dollars

5. My new hybrid comes with the Sram Dual Drive! Need I say more. ;-)

6. My hybrid will be my new shopper and won't be so painful if it gets stolen or damaged. Not so with my road bikes.

7. My hybrid will be far more efficient than a mountain bike.

8. I fully expect to receive many good comments on my new hybrid.

9. The engine will enable my hybrid to past many road and mountain bikes.

10. I bought a hybrid because I like bikes. A new bike is like Christmas day!

That's all.

FXjohn

what bike make and model is it exactly?---^

sykerocker 

I consider the hybrid the successor to the traditional English roadster. I used a Raleigh Sports at work for lunch time running until the wife found me the GT Passage. The Raleigh was sold a short time later. It definitely couldn't compete.

Actually, I see the compromises in a positive light. A fairly responsive frame, but will take a lot more inner city beatings than the average quality road bike. The tyres (700x35's on mine) are narrow enough to take reasonable air pressure and give fair responsiveness, but are still better over rough city streets than the usual 700x23's or 25's. I prefer the flat bar riding position for errand running, as I'm never going to go more than 4-5 miles in any one direction. Cantilever brakes are a big plus in my book. And there's plenty of room for mudguards on the frame.

The only thing I don't like about the modern hybrids is the effort to clutter them with sprung forks and seatposts. C'mon, no city street is THAT bad. Save that stuff for the trails.

sykerocker 

+1. And Christmas is better when you get a variety of presents.

talleymonster

I love my hybrid!

But I'm scouring Craigslist for a road bike

ObjectAgnosia

I must be mistaken then, I apologize. There is less than 1 cm clearance between my tires and the frame, I can't even fit my pinky finger in between those spaces. Please be careful when you make general assumptions in the future. I may take your post seriously the next time around.

bragi

I love my hybrid (it's actually an old hardtail MTB with road tires and newer trigger shifters), but I can understand why some people don't like them. Modern cheap hybrids with heavily sloping top bars and shocks are possibly the stupidest thing I've ever seen, and you're carrying around a lot of weight you don't need. Right now, I'm on the verge of breaking down and getting a touring bike. Touring bikes have the advantages of hybrids, and then some. They can accommodate racks and fenders, can handle heavy loads, and they are better on hills and in headwinds than hybrids. I still think that hybrids are a good choice for utility riding, though; they're certainly better than most road bikes.

Sixty Fiver

I am planning on riding a century this weekend and the ride of choice will be my hybrid which I will admit, has been pretty heavily modified to make it a great long tour bike.

As far as city streets go... being able to run higher volume tyres that can take hits and still roll fast is a definate plus as our streets can be a minefield... the Canadian winter is not kind to pavement.

I also have to agree that some road / race bikes will not take fenders due to the tight clearances between the wheels and the frame.. I built one up for a customer the other day and there is simply not enough clearance between the tyres, frame, and brakes to accommodate fenders.

A touring bike or sport bike will usually have the room and eyelets for mounting fenders, racks, etc.

Gustavo

There are fenders for all bikes, believe me! if you can't find one, modify one. Clearance is only an issue at that particular point. You can always take a regular fender and cut it in two, reattach at each side. It's been done! I assure you it is possible, with some imagination.

Of course, I realize you can't expect everyone to buy vintage road bikes and start making their own fenders.

But this is really beside the point, because good old three-speeds usually have fenders too.

I remember ten years ago or so, when they tried to peddle "city-bikes" to the unsuspecting public. Hybrids are just city-bikes with some unneeded extras. To me it seems like just another way to sell us expensive things we don't really need. For most people, a good old three-speed, which they already have in the garage, would do just as well.

wahoonc

Maybe...but it sure doesn't ride the same. I have been searching for an updated version of the old Raleighs, the closest I have come so far is my Redline R530. Most hybrids I have ridden have to aggressive a position for my tastes. I agree on the assesment of suspension seatposts and forks. The bicycle industry would be well served by making those optional, along with the ability to chose saddles and pedals. FWIW I bought a R530, first thing to go was the VeloPloosh saddle and the suspension seat post. Replaced with a fixed alloy post and a Brooks B67, not sure what I am doing with the fork yet.

Aaron

Cyclaholic

If hybrids are dorky..... what are commuter recumbents?

KrisPistofferson

I think the OP was true...about 5 years ago. The bicycle industry has really stepped up to the plate as far as good, non-fugly options for practical commuters in the last few years. I remember when I was first car-free, it was either a mountain bike, a road bike or something like a Giant Sedona, (even the Sedona looks pretty cool nowadays, BTW.) It's a good time to be a cyclist.

Gustavo

Those bars look so high you'd fall over backwards...

So they are "specially designed for utilitarian use"? As opposed to non-utilitarian use? Anyway, why not just get an old Raleigh then? Why the "update"? Do you actually think that this sloping monstrosity looks better than this?