Hi, Questions re bike features...

[JorAl]

Just deciding what kind of bike to buy, I am leading towards a Hybrid due to wanting to do lots of road riding but also some off road, my concern with that is that most places say you can take them on easy going tracks... Would it be a bad idea to take a hybrid over a rugged field/rocky path every now and then?

With a hybrid, is it really the best of both worlds or as I suspect, just a world that's not as good as either?

I have had a full suspension steel mountain bike on the roads before and found to to be incredibly hard work (I don't know if it was the bike or my fitness do road bikes actually make a noticeable difference on roads?) so id rather avoid one if I can manage a bit of off roading on a more road suited bike.

Regarding the wheels, what are the advantages/disadvantages over the bigger wheels?, (700c over 26") does one make riding up hills easier?

Does having suspension on a bike make harder work during the ride when on the road?

For road riding is a high number of gears better suited or is a lower number fine?

Is the potential danger of taking road bikes off road to the person or the bike?

Advice appreciated.

 

[defy-one]

Just deciding what kind of bike to buy, I am leading towards a Hybrid due to wanting to do lots of road riding but also some off road, my concern with that is that most places say you can take them on easy going tracks... Would it be a bad idea to take a hybrid over a rugged field/rocky path every now and then?

With a hybrid, is it really the best of both worlds or as I suspect, just a world that's not as good as either?

I have had a full suspension steel mountain bike on the roads before and found to to be incredibly hard work (I don't know if it was the bike or my fitness do road bikes actually make a noticeable difference on roads?) so id rather avoid one if I can manage a bit of off roading on a more road suited bike.

Regarding the wheels, what are the advantages/disadvantages over the bigger wheels?, (700c over 26") does one make riding up hills easier?

Does having suspension on a bike make harder work during the ride when on the road?

For road riding is a high number of gears better suited or is a lower number fine?

Is the potential danger of taking road bikes off road to the person or the bike?

Advice appreciated.

A hybrid with 700c wheels will give you a decent turn of speed on the roads. As you pointed out a 26" wheel will always be slower and you'll have to put a Lott of effort in.

Front suspension or full suspension adds weight, which slows you down. If you must have a bike with front suspension,hen go for one where you can lock the forks out.

Some folks want a triple, some want a double - don't get hung up on how many gears

A road going hybrid with carbon front fork will be more susceptible to damage with proper off roading, but fine going down a tow path etc.

If your going predominantly on roads, then consider a hybrid with 700 x 28 tyres as the minimum.

 

[MrJamie]

Its all compromise and trade-offs. As you say a hybrid is the best of both, every step towards a racing road bike you go the faster itll be on roads, but will be drastically worse offroad and likewise if you go full suspension massive tyre mountain bike itll be a lot worse on the road.

From my own experience full suspension is terrible and is meant for downhill mountain biking and is like riding a blancmange on a road of custard I like my front suspension though for comfort, although I probably ride on light trails as much as I do roads (and occasionally through the woods), I dont think the extra weight affects me given itd be like 2% increase of rider+bike weight, but itd be a little less efficient on the roads depending on preload/lockout.

Im not sure about the wheels, I always thought the bigger wheels were just to increase the effective gear ratios, ie one turn of the pedal turns a bigger wheel so goes further (obviously takes more effort) and 26" wheels were made to be smaller for lower ratios offroading.

The number of gears has little relation to the gear ratios, you could get maybe a 27 speed road bike with all relatively high ratios or a 27 speed mountain bike with relatively low ratios, or a 27 speed hybrid with a very wide range of gears allowing for a super low hill gear right through to faster road riding gearing, but with much wider gaps between gears as a result.

When i got my hybrid, it came with 40mm offroad tyres which were alright for riding through quite bad muddy trails, i think i even tried a freshly ploughed field that sustrans kindly suggested and tolerable riding through the snow/ice 18 months ago. I switched to 35mm slicker tyres, which feel smoother better on the road wet or dry, but theyre seriously terrible offroad, towpaths are alright, but theyre useless on mud and dry sand especially inclines where they were previously passable (due to tread not so much width). If i were riding mostly on roads id try 28mm road tyres, but id rather be a tiny bit slower on roads - as im only racing myself anyway - and be able to blast round the woods like a loon. Rememeber that tyres are relatively cheap ~£60 to replace, so no need to base bike choice on it too much.

 

[Brommyboy]

Have taken my Brompton over hard rough trails: the number of gears is irrelevant - what counts is do you have the correct range of gears. Many road and hybrid bikes come with rather higher gears than you would use. One problem with hybrids is that the bottom bracket (hence the pedals) are too high for road use. If your saddle is at the best height for riding, then you will be unable to touch the ground for stopping! A good touring bike is a better all-rounder, but regrettably these are not fashionable so are hard to find. The Dawes Galaxy is about the only one left in our market.

 

[lulubel]

You haven't said how much you've got to spend, so I'm not sure if this is viable or not, but have you considered a cyclocross bike? They look like road bikes, and they're quite popular with people who want a bike that's quick on the road, but can take chunky tyres and handle off-road stuff.

 

[BrumJim]

I'd go for a hard-tail mountain bike with lockable front suspension, possibly even a 29er, and then get some decent road tyres.

The problem with a hybrid is that it is neither one thing nor another. Its the bike that you believe that you want until you get it. Then you realise that it does nothing well.

Mountain bike with lockable front suspension (or even none at all) will be easier to ride on the roads, particularly with road tyres, but will be pleasant enough for cross-field, trails and occasional forest fun. With a set of nobblies in reserve, it can be made into an almost go-anywhere bike that can be fun as well as practical.

On the other had, a cyclo-cross bike is always a good idea too. Road geometry, dropped handlebars, suitable for on and off-road, and with a quick wheel change, can be a decent Audax/Sportive/Saturday Social Ride bike too.

 

[derrick]

I'd go for a hard-tail mountain bike with lockable front suspension, possibly even a 29er, and then get some decent road tyres.

The problem with a hybrid is that it is neither one thing nor another. Its the bike that you believe that you want until you get it. Then you realise that it does nothing well.

Mountain bike with lockable front suspension (or even none at all) will be easier to ride on the roads, particularly with road tyres, but will be pleasant enough for cross-field, trails and occasional forest fun. With a set of nobblies in reserve, it can be made into an almost go-anywhere bike that can be fun as well as practical.

On the other had, a cyclo-cross bike is always a good idea too. Road geometry, dropped handlebars, suitable for on and off-road, and with a quick wheel change, can be a decent Audax/Sportive/Saturday Social Ride bike too.

I would have to agree to all of that.

 

[sidevalve]

'Pends on how serious you want to be on the rough bits. If it's just for a little explore of the woods/paths it doesn't matter what type you use or what size tyre. I've taken 700X20 tyres [not that I'm suggesting this as a regular option] down local seriously muddy rocky bridleways with no problems, you just have to keep the speed down and look where you're going. If you just want to blast through like a demented farm tractor then by all means buy a MTB and ship it there on a large 4X4.
As to gears the above really hits it, it isn't the number but the range that matters. I manage with 12, [many get by with 5 or 3 although how this would be off road I'm not sure].
I find [and others may disagree] that suspension [unless for full blown downhill stuff] is just extra weight. It may only add 2 - 3% to the overall bike + rider weight but if you're going to lock it out anyway on the road [where you intend to do 95% of your riding] is it worth pushing it around just for the other 5% ?
One last thought, DON'T get too hung up on types of bike, tyer sizes, gears etc remember ANY bike will do ANY ride [maybe not well, but it will do it]. Cycling is supposed to be fun, buy the bike for what you want it to do MOST. Be that road,off road, race or whatever then just be carefull and you may be surprised at what else it can manage.