Anyone else

[shades.5]

Hi all been cycling about 6 months now , have a hybrid claude butler urban 200 , i cycle 20 miles each day round trip to work and have done a 100 miler 2 months ago and whilst training for that done a couple of 40-60 milers whilst training for that , all pretty flat , but last week done a 60 miler in the brecon beacons ( ouch that was tough ) but what i really want to say is im not into fast racing cycling but prefer long distance touring cycling , but does anyone else do these long rides on a hybrid havnt seen any one on my travels , mainly always racing bikes ,

your views please

 

[Dayvo]

Horses for courses, I s'pose!

I have a hybrid which I use for touring, and, when practical, hope to buy a road bike to take part in sportifs, as a hybrid is hard work on a day's trip of 60+ miles.

With a road bike, you'll have a faster average speed, but with possibly less comfort, and without panniers, bar bags etc.

Having a road bike isn't just about going fast, but you get more speed out of the effort you put in.

 

[xilios]

We both use Hybrids to tour around Europe, doing about 100kms per day.
Check out our link below.

 

[vernon]

I've toured with a Ridgeback hybrid and have completed day rides of 60+ miles each on it. At one time I was faster over longer distances on my hybrid than I was on a 12 speed road bike.

My Dawes Galaxy changed all that. For 100km rides day in day out on a 3 week tour I found the Glaxy to be superior.

While doing LEJOG and JOGLE, I saw quite a few hybrids and mountain bikes used as tourers.

There's nothing intrinsically wrong with hybrids used for touring but folk tend to gravitate towards bike labelled with a purpose that matches their intended use.

At the end of the day it a matter of whatever floats your boat.

 

[Titanium]

Probably most bikes are OK for touring, excepting obvious unsuitables like lightweight racers (usually anyway) and maybe one or two others. If a bike can take panniers, is comfortable, and won't crumple into bits whilst on extended tours... then that's pretty much it.

Naturally a proper tourer is ideal for long touring journeys, but plenty of cyclists have instead used hybrids, recumbents, mountain bikes, folding bikes; the list could include quite a few more.

If you live in the Cardiff area, Shades, we could do the odd ride together now and then. I live in Penarth. A nice ride is out to Cowbridge and back.

Anyway, as long as you're having fun, that's the main thing.

 

[Cathryn]

I did lots of short tours (50 miles/day) on a dawes hybrid and had no issues at all. Not even a puncture.

I now have a Thorn that I adore, and, if I'm honest, it's shown me how much better a 'good' bike is. However don't let not having a 'good' bike stop you touring...it's awesome on any bike! Just get on and cycle!

 

[shades.5]

I did lots of short tours (50 miles/day) on a dawes hybrid and had no issues at all. Not even a puncture.

I now have a Thorn that I adore, and, if I'm honest, it's shown me how much better a 'good' bike is. However don't let not having a 'good' bike stop you touring...it's awesome on any bike! Just get on and cycle!

I gather a thorn is a racing bike ( drop handlebars )

 

[vernon]

I gather a thorn is a racing bike ( drop handlebars )

Not necessarily.

Thorn make several dropped bar bike that are classified as Audax or Touring machines:

EXP - fast tourer 26" wheels
SHerpa - expedition/tourer 26" wheels
XTC - fast tourer 26" wheels

Club Tour - touring 700c
Cyclosportif - racing bike -ish 700c
Audax Classic/Mk3/853 Audax range 700c

Have a look at the full Thorn range and be mazed at its diversity. They don't float my boat but others are disciples of Robin Thorn and own several of his bikes.

 

[Cathryn]

Sorry..didn't meant to be all jargony.

Most Thorns are touring bikes (no racing, old sluggard, me) but they generally have drops. I struggled enormously with drops for a few months and talked to bike shop people about changing it to flat bars. I'm glad I stuck it out...but it can be done without too much grief.

Check out the Thorn website and it might be worth phoning them. They're really helpful on the phone.

Lots of people here think they're ugly but I just don't see it. I think they're beautiful.

 

[Tony]

For the benefit of the OP....
drop bars are simply a way of getting multiple possible hand positions on a bike to avoid discomfort, etc. Other solutions are mountain bike style bar ends, or butterfly bars.

 

[hubbike]

I have been touring on a Specialised Expedition Duluxe. The name is very grand but its just a hybrid. Did LEJoG in 9 days, doing 80-150 miles a day. Also done a tour in France and lots of weekend trips in Scotland to the hills and the islands.

It will be replaced by a black trek mtb that I am building up, but I think its done well for a cheapo bike. . . Although the back wheel is knackered now, keeps breaking spokes. . .

 

[MarkF]

I use a Discovery 501 for long trips, I've got long bar ends and can't understand why a hybrid should be "hard work". Noticed quiet a few touring in the Dales near Settle a few weeks back.