Hey Crankykentucky:

Thanks for that. Comparing the TCX and the Defy I tried at the store, I found those to be the noticeable differences:
(1) the Defy did go (much?) faster than the TCX, for perhaps the same amount or even less effort.
(2) the Defy was a tad lighter in weight than TCX
(3) the Defy transmitted all of the road cracks and any asphalt imperfections to my body. This was particularly bad when I rode on the sidewalk.
(4) the TCX rode higher (for the same frame size) than the Defy. The store owner said that since TCX was cyclocross, they are made with a bigger cranck clearance from the ground.

From the two times I tried the bike, I absolutely love it. The paved trail I use has cracks, broken twigs on the ground, etc. which the TCX seems to handle well enough even for a vastly inexperienced rider like myself. I am still wobbly with the bike when maneuvering right spots, but hope this would improve with time. Cheers.

What ever you get you will like, and in the not too far future you will get another bike. We all do eventually.

Hi.
I went through the same thing a few months ago (returning to cycling - the new midlife crisis - after 20 odd years of little or no exercise). I agonised for MONTHS over what and what kind of bike and ended up with a hybrid. A beautiful Forme Peaktrail 1.0 which is fantastic and I love it. Cycled lots, going further, getting faster, hurting less!
HOWEVER, I had seen comments saying that a hybrid was the worst, rather than best, of both worlds and, although I would not agree, I do understand that sentiment because since I started going out, I haven't stopped browsing longingly for road bikes on the Internet!
My local bike shop has a CAAD8 down from £850 to £600 which fits me perfectly (yes I've even been in and tried it out!!) and chainreaction have some full carbon jobbie reduced from £1900 to £750, also in my size!!! If I had that kind of money knocking about I would buy one of them, or even both of them, TODAY!! lol
So, not helpful at all I know, but hopefully interesting.

Hahaha!! That is SO true.

This thread is one of the best I have read on this forum, even though it's a year old. Let's bump this back to the top...

I too was looking for a hybrid, do-anything-go-anywhere, type of bike to go along with my old "free" Schwinn Alum Comp mountain bike that my brother-in-law gave me. But then after talking to a lot of well versed, knowledgeable riders on here, I did a lot of comparisons and will be getting a road bike (i.e. an endurance bike). I even went as far as creating an Excel spreadsheet on various styles of bikes in different categories and have them sorted out, most expensive/high end, to cheap priced/not as good. That way, I can figure out the best bang for the buck.

I plan on keeping the Schwinn mtn bike for days when I want to get silly and splash around in the mud on singletrack trails, and slalom around trees in the woods - and hope I don't end up in a hospital ER! The old mtn bike can do anything and go anywhere, but is not the best choice for road riding. I don't need a comfort/hybrid or light trail bike, as the old Schwinn would still do that with ease. So, that leaves road bikes where I can comfortably ride 20-25 miles (or more!) and not have a problem at all.

Now that leaves me with dozens and dozens of choices. Giant, Trek, Specialized, Fuji, Cannondale, etc... The one that I want to seriously look at is the Fuji Sportif series of drop bar, more upright, type of road bikes.

The 2 bikes with trekking bars get the most use, in my house, the 2 with drop bars look good hanging up .

The old touring bike , it also with drop bars , is also un used in a couple years, since my last long bike tour.

Boy what great advice. LBS is first. Second is you are a moving target as until you ride for a few months or longer you don't know how you will react. I started with a hybrid after over 40 years of little activity. Did the hybrid thing for three years and the graduated to the road bike which I find like many of the above posters as the preferred set up. Will do 5,000 miles this year, 85% on road bike.

So most important to me is to get the bike you like and push off from the dock! Enjoy the journey and see how you like it. Sidewalks are dangerous, getting on and off your bike is not. Find some grassy areas and practice. Repetition helps.

So saying look to get engaged with riding rather than buying your last bike. Now find the best LBS in your area and spin!

Ed

I've decided that I will get a hybrid next year for the longer trips that my mtbs make harder work of. In the shed I've got a bike's worth of XT/XTR gears, cassette, levers/shifters and brakes, a good Cook Bros Racing chainset, plus a pair of decent 700c road wheels and have decided to buy a Roadrat steel frame and carbon fork from a small UK company, Cotic and build my own.


I've ridden one and was very pleased with it, it rides well and is very light. It has wide-spaced stays and can also be used as a 29er if the mood takes me.


I know I could go with a full road bike but when I've tried them they're just not for me any more. Besides which I look silly in Lycra.

I can't say as I 'get' the either/or "which one is best?" thinking that I see throughout this thread....

Mountain bikes do what mountain bikes do...
Cyclocross do what cyclocross do...
Road bikes do what roadbikes do...
Hybrids do what hybrids do...

... And there is a lot of overlap between all of them...

I think which is 'the best' is mostly related to what kind of riding your are doing that particular day...