Hybrids, they don't exist!

[snorri]

but a lot of road bikes are not for racing - you use a 'race bike' for that - but what about sportive bikes, and audax bikes, and CX bikes? They have drop bars too - and TT bikes, which don't have dropped bars?

Oh! Don't go confusing the issue further.

 

[MartinC]

What! There are more types of bikes than an ordinary or a safety?

 

[Davidc]

What! There are more types of bikes than an ordinary or a safety?

Motor?

 

[Moodyman]

If we look at all the different bike categories - Trekking bikes, City Bikes, Utility bikes, Audax bikes, Sportive bikes, hard tail, rigid fork, dual suspension, full suspension, British Tourer, Dutch tourer, jump bike, bmx, racer, cross - it's no wonder the newcomer to cycling becomes bewildered.

 

[dellzeqq]

I'm sorry, but the non-existence of hybrids is their most precious quality. Hybrids simply aren't - they are bikes that have no other definition. They will be geared, because they are not singlespeed or fixed bikes, they will have straight bars because they are not road or racing bikes, and they won't cost a lot because nobody is going to pay a fortune for a bike without an identity.

Mine's yellow, by the way

 

[mickle]

Mine's yellow, by the way

You can get ointment for that.

 

[youngoldbloke]

I'm sorry, but the non-existence of hybrids is their most precious quality. Hybrids simply aren't - they are bikes that have no other definition. They will be geared, because they are not singlespeed or fixed bikes, they will have straight bars because they are not road or racing bikes, and they won't cost a lot because nobody is going to pay a fortune for a bike without an identity.

Mine's yellow, by the way

I know someone who just handed over £2K for a Trek 7.9FX ........... but it is a VERY nice bike, even if it has straight bars (carbon - of course!) - oh - it's black as well, very understated.

 

[gbb]

Am i going against the grain here, personally IDGAF what theyr'e called . The myriad of other categories they could fall into would bewilder the average bike buyer....and me.
Ive got a 7.2FX...what the hell else would you call it other than a hybrid. I await enlightenment

 

[Norm]

The problem with the name, imo, is that it obscures the basic question which the people who these very bikes are aimed at should be asking, which is "do you want to ride on or off road?"

By putting both in the same category, people are buying the wrong bikes on the basis that they've been told they should look at a hybrid.

 

[potsy]

My Trek 7.1FX hybrid has been renamed 'The Shopper'

 

[MacB]

My Trek 7.1FX hybrid has been renamed 'The Shopper'

'The Pub Bike' has a little more oomph to it

 

[Norm]

My Trek 7.1FX hybrid has been renamed 'The Shopper'

Indeed, one of mine was, 20 years ago, a rigid MTB.

20 years of neglect and slapping road tyres on it has turned it into The Hack, although its complement of guards and racks mean that it's also been The Commuter for the past few weeks.

 

[Hover Fly]

Anyone mentioned "roadster" yet?

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

The problem with the name, imo, is that it obscures the basic question which the people who these very bikes are aimed at should be asking, which is "do you want to ride on or off road?"

By putting both in the same category, people are buying the wrong bikes on the basis that they've been told they should look at a hybrid.

Norm perhaps I have misunderstood what you are saying, isn't it more likely that many if not most people want a non-threatening/simple (read flat bar) yet versatile (read road/mountain mixed componentry) bike when asked, hence the popularity of hybrids? or are you suggesting that such people would usually be better served by either drop bar CX or mtbs?

 

[Norm]

Norm perhaps I have misunderstood what you are saying, isn't it more likely that many if not most people want a non-threatening/simple (read flat bar) yet versatile (read road/mountain mixed componentry) bike when asked, hence the popularity of hybrids? or are you suggesting that such people would usually be better served by either drop bar CX or mtbs?

No, that's not what I'm saying.

I'm saying that people directed towards a "hybrid" for road use might end up with a rigid mountain bike with 26x2.1 mud tyres, or someone looking for a hybrid for canal paths might be directed to something with 700cc wheels and 23mm tyres.

To use an example I've posted before...

For example, this comparison came up recently. All three are marketed as "hybrids" but they range from a rigid mountain bike with road tyres in the Specialized Crosstrail to the Charge Mixer, which would be pretty fragile away from tarmac, IMO.