Making a road bike into a hybrid

[richie244]

Madness or genius you decide. I have an old Aluminium Scott bike that I was thinking of selling. The thing is I would like a hybrid for family cycling.
Could I / how much hustle would it be to convert this to a hybrid? Or is it even possible?
I'm guessing the biggest restrictions will be getting a higher stem, for a comfortable riding position and fatter wheels.

 

[vickster]

IME doesn't work, I converted a Planet X RT 58 into a flatbar. The bike was much too small for me once done even with 3cm more stem. I kept the same wheels, but did have to buy shifters, brakes, bars, grips, cables (and pay an LBS to do the work as I'm inept and time poor). I've just sold it to a friend who's probably 3-4 inches shorter than me

I haven't lost too much cash, the bike was a good deal initially, I bought it to upgrade the groupset on my carbon. The mechs, brakes, cranks, cassette, chain from the carbon went to the flatbar. I still have the brifters somewhere

Would fatter tyres fit in the frame on the same wheels? If so, can't you use drops for family cycling and just keep broadly as it? You may well find the frame geometry is all wrong. You'd be better off selling and buying a cheap hybrid off eBay, or even seeing if Halfords have one of their deals on the Carrera subway soon

 

[steveindenmark]

I have a Koga Roadchamp.

Not really a roadbike to a hybrid, but not far away.

It may help you start your project.

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q...&thid=OIP.M2cd92c1aec4e74c670df5fbb02579ec1o0

 

[Cycleops]

You don't say which Model it is or if it's a road or MTB. A pic would be good. Might just be worthwhile.

 

[Ajax Bay]

how much hustle would it be to convert this [road bike] to a hybrid

Quite easy, assuming you don't worry too much about sizing and position (you'd only be using it for 'family cycling' YMMV) but significant expenditure on shifters and derailleurs, possibly wheels if you're going from, say, 23s to 37s (wider rim needed - yes I know you could 'get away with it') as well as the tyres and inners. Bars, probably stem, mudguards (or wider mudguards (for the wider wheels), brakes (the road ones won't open far enough to get the wheel/tyre in and out). New cables. Hope that informs if not helps.

 

[Cycleops]

possibly wheels if you're going from, say, 23s to 37s (wider rim needed - yes I know you could 'get away with it') as well as the tyres and inners. Bars, probably stem, mudguards (or wider mudguards (for the wider wheels), brakes (the road ones won't open far enough to get the wheel/tyre in and out).

If it's a drop bar road bike you likely won't be able to fit very wide rims or tyres due to the limitations of the frame. Probably 28c max, but that's fine for a hybrid.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Because a thing can be done, it does not mean it ought to be done, nor that the best course of action is doing it.

 

[richie244]

You don't say which Model it is or if it's a road or MTB. A pic would be good. Might just be worthwhile.

The Title of the post is Making a Road bike into a hybrid.

Its a Scott AFDPRO Superlite

 

[Cycleops]

The Title of the post is Making a Road bike into a hybrid.

Its a Scott AFDPRO Superlite

How stupid of me. In which case my comments would apply.

 

[TheDoctor]

IME it can certainly be done. Whether it's worth it is another matter.
I've got two near-identical Ribble frames, one set up as a road bike with 105 parts, one as a flat-bar bike with a gripshifter, MTB rear mech and cassette, and a single chainring. Double or triple chainrings become problematic due to trying to match the differing cable pulls of MTB front levers, and road front mechs, so a single chain ring is the easiest way to go. I'm running a 36T chainset with 12-32T cassette.
One caveat - you need brake levers designed for cantis, not V brakes.

 

[Brandane]

It can be done perfectly well, depending on the frame. I converted a Specialized Secteur to a flat bar. The frame is exactly the same as the Specialized Sirrus (flat bar hybrid). Thread here. Cost was about £90 for bars, shifters, brake levers, new cables, and bar grips. It can be done cheaper using lower spec parts. It also freed up a spare set of Tiagra triple 9 speed shifters as spares for two other bikes I have with that set up.

 

[jefmcg]

If it's just for family pootles , maybe just add interrupter brakes . The you can pootle around with your hands on the tops but still be close to the brakes

 

[bigjim]

It depends on on the definition of family cycling. For me it's usually off road on gentle gravel trails. If it's that I'd sell and buy a cheap s/h hybrid or even cheaper MTB off ebay or gumtree. I got a 90s totally unused. as new steel MTB off ebay for £16. 15 speed thumb shifters and crap brakes. Fitted some V brakes from my spares box and it's a cracking little trail bike.

 

[Pale Rider]

A stem raiser is cheap and should work provided you have a bit of slack in the cables which most bikes have.

Fit some wider tyres and you could make a reasonable and easy job of it for under fifty quid.

http://www.lightinthebox.com/gy-alu...214569159674&gclid=CLm18ZT1_88CFQsUGwodMG0AxQ