Best Hybrid 'All Rounder'?

[Paulq]

This may be an impossible question to answer but I'll ask anyway. Over the years I've had a number of Hybrid type bikes, none of which I've been completely happy with in terms of either comfort (which admittedly is my fault for not being more rigorous with initial fitting) or the ability to cope with different types of terrain.

I did a pretty flat ride on my Specialized Cross trail Sport today of about 16 miles on a converted railway line. At the end my wrists, backside and neck were all sore and the bike seemed extremely heavy. I've tried it on tarmac and its 'OK' but not great and not ideally suited for it.

Is there a brand/style of bike that's comfortable and quick on both tarmac for commuting/winter riding but also for rides along nature trails/cycle network type paths? I've looked at the Giant Roam and Scott Sportster as my LBS do them but am not sure that they are any different.

My Spesh was sold to me as a bike that would do both but its the road stuff that, to me, its just too cumbersome for.

Sorry if that's shooting for the moon but wanted to ask. :-)

 

[vickster]

Put slicker tyres on the Specialized. I am surprised you were sore like that with suspension and fat tyres - is it the right size?

I have a Whyte Cambridge, fab bike, 10kg with disc brakes, carbon fork. I don't ride rougher stuff, but I am sure it'd be ok

CX bikes are another option

 

[Paulq]

Put slicker tyres on the Specialized. I am surprised you were sore like that with suspension and fat tyres - is it the right size?

I have a Whyte Cambridge, fab bike, 10kg with disc brakes, carbon fork. I don't ride rougher stuff, but I am sure it'd be ok

CX bikes are another option

I am surprised also Vickster but it's definitely the right size and I am even more sore today!! The tyres on it are not fat really - Marathon+ 700 x 32c which are admittedly a little heavy but they do roll very well on pretty much ay type of surface.

 

[vickster]

Ah my 2011 crosstrail sport was on 38s I think

 

[HLaB]

I am surprised also Vickster but it's definitely the right size and I am even more sore today!! The tyres on it are not fat really - Marathon+ 700 x 32c which are admittedly a little heavy but they do roll very well on pretty much ay type of surface.

Thats Fat
If your body aint use to it though (you are new to it or don't cycle often) you will be sore for the first few ride in any case and that will natrually subside with greater exposure (increased cycling levels), if it doesn't however, there may be a fit problem like vickster suggests.

 

[Paulq]

I thought you were talking about me til I realised you were referring to the tyres

I definitely think there's a 'fit' problem (both with me and the bike!) but ideally I'd like something that handles the road and the trails (not rough ones - just tracks and light forest trails) with a bit more speed. This one has a sus fork which to be honest I never feel the benefit of and of course that will add to the weight.

Am just not sure if one of the 'faster' hybrids like those mentioned above would handle the non-tarmac well or whether it would damage them in the long run.

 

[vickster]

My Whyte gets ridden on roads that are rougher than most trails! It is extremely comfortable, as good at cushioning the bumps as my carbon road bike.

If you are riding really rough stuff off road, then fat tyres and suspension are good, otherwise, just slow down, which you would need to do anyhow as trails tend to be populated by peds and dogs!

Doesn't the Roam have suspension too? basically Giant's Crosstrail, no? The Rapid is the fast hybrid, like the Sirrus or Trek 7.x

How tall are you, and what size is the bike? How long is the stem?

 

[Paulq]

Hi again

I am 5' 11" tall. Bike is large and stem is 8cm high with a reach of 12cm. TT is 60 cm (sloping) and seatpost tube centre to top is 49cm.

And you are right the Roam is exactly the same - I was actually looking at the Dash, Escape or Seek. I 'think' the Dash is far too road oriented:

Dash: http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/2013.liv.giant.dash.1/11867/56908/#specifications

Escape: http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/2013.giant.escape.1/11838/58056/#specifications

Seek: http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/2013.giant.seek.0/11836/56813/

I'm open to other suggestions - am just looking at these as my LBS do them. It just needs to handle both types of riding and take rack and guards for the winter.

Don't want much do I?

 

[vickster]

Whyte Portobello / Cambridge does all of this and is made by a British company Disk brakes too so will stop so much better in the wet http://www.discountcyclesdirect.co....ID=333&CSS_ID=0&P_MIN=0&P_MAX=10000&MF_ID=231

The Dash is a women's geometry, I am guessing you are a chap - you'll struggle with the sizing at 5'11

The Seek has those funny hub gears, know nothing about them!

 

[Paulq]

I am a chap or was this morning so well spotted about the Dash. You get so wound up with so many choices that you end up missing the obvious. I do anyway.

The Crosstrail has been sold, Sirrus will go this week so I have some decisions to make on a fast hybrid that will take light trails. The Whyte bikes look nice though I don't know a lot about them to be honest. I am going to visit a shop on Friday that sells, Cube, Marin, Whyte, Specialized and Trek and need to satisfy myself around taking one of the following 2 options:

1. Find, as per original post, a fast hybrid in he mould of the Giant Escape/Whyte etc that will handle the road riding I want to do plus the light trail stuff. If I can find one I'm happy to spend up to the C2W max on that bike.

Or.

2. I buy a mid range hybrid, no suspension but robust enough for trail work and winter road riding/commuting. As well as that I then use the C2W Scheme to buy a suitable road bike.

Decisions decisions.

Thanks for the help.

 

[vickster]

Whyte are very well known for their mountain bikes. The r7 are more of a MTB geometry than a road geometry, they also have a cx range. That could be a further option for a single bike. I can ride my whyte as fast as either of my road bikes as it is light, with the benefit of taking a rack and guards

 

[Paulq]

Whyte are very well known for their mountain bikes. The r7 are more of a MTB geometry than a road geometry, they also have a cx range. That could be a further option for a single bike. I can ride my whyte as fast as either of my road bikes as it is light, with the benefit of taking a rack and guards

So if I were to choose a Whyte that needs to be quick, light, able to take rack and guards but also handle the occasional trail which would you recommend from all of them? Bear in mind I need it to be reasonably upright due to the neck problem I have.

 

[vickster]

They are all pretty similar frame and geometry wise. Depends on budget. Cambridge is middle ground with carbon fork and hydraulic discs

Range is here http://www.whytebikes.com/2013/section.php?xSec=53&xPage=1

This retailer has reductions on older and current models if local/happy to buy online
http://www.discountcyclesdirect.co....ID=333&CSS_ID=0&P_MIN=0&P_MAX=10000&MF_ID=231