Hybrid vs Road.

[Racing roadkill]

Over the last few years, I've ridden both my Hybrid, and my road bike quite a few Km's. I've looked at any recorded data, pertaining to the rides. Looking at total elapsed rolling time, top speeds, average speeds, etc. astonishingly (at first glance) there hasn't been as big a difference in the stats, for each bike, on the same routes, in the same conditions, as I would have expected. The road bike kills the hybrid on the downhill speeds (when road / traffic / weather conditions have been conducive). But because of the poor condition of most of the roads I've ridden on, it's very rare that the road bike has been able to justify its existence. The roady cost 3 times what the hybrid did to buy. It's been 3 or 4 times more expensive to run / maintain. I'm finding that I'm using the hybrid, by default now. I'm really starting to doubt that I'll bother replacing the road bike next spring, I think I'll keep it for a turbo trainer hack, and replace the hybrid. There hasn't been a single ride I've done on the roady, that I haven't been able to do on the hybrid. There have been bits of the routes, that I couldn't have ridden the road bike on though. I'm starting to think that road bikes are not really justifiable, unless you compete in races and the like.

 

[Moodyman]

They are perfectly justiable if riding on quiet roads with little interruptions - lights, junctions etc.

For urban riding there are too many others factors so the times are similar.

 

[mustang1]

Someone should make a hybrid bike racing competition.

 

[Banjo]

i dont race but need the different hand positions available on a road bike.

I have seen plenty of people doing 200k plus audaxes with hybrids so the hand thing is obviously not an issue for them.
Theres a picture of someone I know in Arrivee doing the 1000 km mille cymru audax on his flatbar hybrid.

Regardless of the stats I enjoy riding the road bike more.

 

[KneesUp]

I made a 'road bike' out of a hybrid by putting some drop bars on it - it works well for me because, as you say, it's tougher than a 'proper' road bike but not massively slower. Don't get me wrong, it's slower, especially when I'm riding it - but it's quicker than my MTB and I'm so unfit these days that anything approaching 'speed' is merely an illusion. For modern (i.e. badly maintained) roads, commuting on bike paths that have silly sections that I miss out by hopping off onto the road, exploring the woods and tow paths and I daresay for a bit of touring it's ideal. And the whole thing cost less than £200 so if it was stolen I would be upset but not hugely out of pocket.

I'm surprised there aren't more drop-bar hybrids, but I guess you can sell them for more if you call them 'Adventure Bikes' or 'Tourers'.

 

[vickster]

Drop bar rigid "hybrid" = CX (style) ?

 

[I like Skol]

I've been saying this for years. Yes, the road bike is a refreshing change, yes it is enjoyable to ride, yes I get a bit of a buzz from taking it out on a hot sunny day with or without mates, but to be honest I have always known that the hybrid is probably around 98% as quick but 150% more practical.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Over the last few years, I've ridden both my Hybrid, and my road bike quite a few Km's. I've looked at any recorded data, pertaining to the rides. Looking at total elapsed rolling time, top speeds, average speeds, etc. astonishingly (at first glance) there hasn't been as big a difference in the stats, for each bike, on the same routes, in the same conditions, as I would have expected. The road bike kills the hybrid on the downhill speeds (when road / traffic / weather conditions have been conducive). But because of the poor condition of most of the roads I've ridden on, it's very rare that the road bike has been able to justify its existence. The roady cost 3 times what the hybrid did to buy. It's been 3 or 4 times more expensive to run / maintain. I'm finding that I'm using the hybrid, by default now. I'm really starting to doubt that I'll bother replacing the road bike next spring, I think I'll keep it for a turbo trainer hack, and replace the hybrid. There hasn't been a single ride I've done on the roady, that I haven't been able to do on the hybrid. There have been bits of the routes, that I couldn't have ridden the road bike on though. I'm starting to think that road bikes are not really justifiable, unless you compete in races and the like.

I'd wager a fair few people who have bought a road bike wished they'd bought either a hybrid or CX. Road bikes are built to go fast - to my mind they are usually have twitchy handling and anything that runs on tyres about as thick as a chubby Biro is never going to be comfy, regardless of frame material.

Bit like buying a BMW M3 (I did a long while back when I was more rich) and it was quick, with sharp reflexes, but my wife's 'lesser '3' was a much nicer car to footle around in.

 

[KneesUp]

I'd wager a fair few people who have bought a road bike wished they'd bought either a hybrid or CX. Road bikes are built to go fast - to my mind they are usually have twitchy handling and anything that runs on tyres about as thick as a chubby Biro is never going to be comfy, regardless of frame material.

Bit like buying a BMW M3 (I did a long while back when I was more rich) and it was quick, with sharp reflexes, but my wife's 'lesser '3' was a much nicer car to footle around in.

Re: Comfort - all bikes these days seem to be set up in a ludicrous 'racing' pose with yards of seatpost and no stem. Whilst this might be great if you are racing, it's really uncomfortable after a while. I thought this was me getting old, but my mum dug out some old photos the other week some of them are me taking my road bike (decent but not spectacular - 531, Shimano Exage and narrow clearances for the time) out of the garage and it's noticeable that the saddle and bars aren't that far out of level.

It took a bit of shopping about but I've managed to get the bars almost level with the saddle on mine now, and it's much more comfortable. I used to start getting pains in my wrists after about 20 minutes before.

And on cars - there is a reason young men buy fast cars and middle aged men buy people carriers (Alfa Romeo to Picasso in my case, with a few stops in between)

 

[coffeejo]

I've got a Marin hybrid, an Orbea "race" bike and a drop bar Ridgeback touring bike. If I could only keep one bike, I'd go for the Ridgeback as it's the best of all worlds but I love my Orbea. The Marin's barely been touched since I got the Ridgeback and I've really missed the drop bars it when I have ridden it.

 

[pclay]

...but drop bars look cool, (at least to me anyway).

 

[Apollonius]

...but drop bars look cool, (at least to me anyway).

True, but all you get to see is the tread on the front tyre.
(Sorry don't know how to do smilies, but imagine the winky one please.)

Any bike will go as fast as you pedal it. People ride bikes for different reasons. I only ride for pleasure so I want a bike that gives me maximum pleasure. This, for me, is a carbon road bike most of the time (though I do ride my steel classics too).
Horses for courses. Each to their own etc etc.

 

[bpsmith]

I took the Defy out yesterday, after 3 months on the Bianchi. I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was, albeit a shadow of the ride on the Bianchi. Completely different bikes mind you. What struck me was, for my riding, the Defy is the furthest I would want to go away from the Bianchi.

Don't go off road or on gravel paths and most definitely wouldn't want to give up the range of hand positions available on a road bike.

A CX would be my choice, if I did want gravel paths or bumpier, but I don't.

As far as a bike being "as fast as you want to pedal it", I find that very amusing. My Defy is easily 2 mph slower than the Bianchi under the same conditions. A hybrid with chunkier tyres or a CX would be slower again where I ride without a doubt.

 

[vickster]

My genesis isn't twitchy, nor the single speed. The carbon is a bit to be fair especially when windy but that's what makes it fun. I am quicker on the drop bar bikes than the hybrid but it's racked up on slow marathon pluses. Was quicker naked on slicker tyres

 

[pclay]

Perhaps the OP can tell us what bikes he has. It takes more effort to ride a mtb style hybrid with 35c nobly tyres than it does a road bike.