What do I need? Hybrid or Road?

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jessculter

Well-Known Member
Location
Aberdeen
Bought a cannondale bad boy fatty urban bike in February. Been building up slowly over the months commuting to work. 26 x 2.0 schwalbe kojaks.

Went crazy a month ago and bought a giant defy 2, been on it quite a few times when weather allows.

I hate to admit it but I prefer the cannondale for comfort and speed. Thinking of selling the giant already. Only time I really notice a difference is downhill. I got suckered into thinking the road bike is the best thing since sliced bread but it's not for everyone.
 

fudgepanda

Active Member
Location
Manchester U.K.
Having not really ridden a bike since 1974 I bought one a year ago and, acting on the advice from experienced riding colleagues at work I bought a hybrid. In this case a Bianchi Camaleonte 3. I must admit I was aiming for the sub £500 category but missed.....by about £300. I do think it was the right choice however as the aforementioned colleagues reckoned that with my lack of experience a hybrid would be more stable. It also has some very good kit which probably accounts for the price difference compared with some contemporaries: Shimano Deore LX triple chainring & Shimano hydraulic discs as well as Selle Viper perch. The paint finish is first class and more like that found on a prestige car than a push bike. I had it fitted with mudguards which, unfortunately, give very little clearance for mud such as might be found on a canal tow path or disused railway line, although it's great on wet roads. It also has quite wide tyres, 35C, and as long as they're not inflated to maximum (about 125psi) the ride is surprisingly comfortable. After 12 months, I've just paid the final £56, I can only find one minor criticism, and that's the lack of clearance which makes it only really viable on off road journeys if there is absoulutely no mud.
 

burndust

Parts unknown...baby
boardman cx on 28s is what i run...plenty quick can avg around 19mph on my commute...and comfy...ive done 90milers on it....great bike
 

jowwy

Not here offten enough to argue
Nobody 'needs' a hybrid.

Get two wheelsets with different tyres, and your cross bike will do it all. Far better to spend a grand on a good cross bike, than 2 x £500 on two heavily compromised bikes.
isnt a cx bike a hybrid???????
 

VamP

Banned
Location
Cambs
isnt a cx bike a hybrid???????

Absolutely not! Cross bikes are a distinct species, having been around for more than a hundred years.
 

jowwy

Not here offten enough to argue
Absolutely not! Cross bikes are a distinct species, having been around for more than a hundred years.
surely they do the job of two bikes if tyres are changed same as some flat bar bikes can do mud with tyre changes
 

VamP

Banned
Location
Cambs
surely they do the job of two bikes if tyres are changed same as some flat bar bikes can do mud with tyre changes

We could discuss till the cows come home what constitutes a hybrid, but the most common definitions include 'bastard child of road and MTB bikes with some of the features of both'. Cross has heritage and class. Hybrids have neither. How's that?

Otherwise why not say that mountain bikes are hybrids too? And road bikes for that matter.
 

Helidoc

Active Member
I suppose both Cross and Hybrid bikes are versatile, in terms of the tyre options available. One will have drops, road gears, and road brakes, and the other is upright with a flat bar, has MTB gear and brake options.
 

jowwy

Not here offten enough to argue
We could discuss till the cows come home what constitutes a hybrid, but the most common definitions include 'b****** child of road and MTB bikes with some of the features of both'. Cross has heritage and class. Hybrids have neither. How's that?

Otherwise why not say that mountain bikes are hybrids too? And road bikes for that matter.
not convinced - just cause a cross bike has heritage it doesnt mean it doesnt fall into the hybrid class of bikes. A hybrid doesnt just have to be a flatbar roadie/mtb. butif it makes you feel better call it whatever you want.
 

jowwy

Not here offten enough to argue
I suppose both Cross and Hybrid bikes are versatile, in terms of the tyre options available. One will have drops, road gears, and road brakes, and the other is upright with a flat bar, has MTB gear and brake options.
not all cross bikes have road brakes, the also have disc and cantis, same as a hybrid, but also some hybrids have road gears, road brakes and tyres.
 

VamP

Banned
Location
Cambs
not convinced - just cause a cross bike has heritage it doesnt mean it doesnt fall into the hybrid class of bikes. A hybrid doesnt just have to be a flatbar roadie/mtb. butif it makes you feel better call it whatever you want.

A hybrid between what and what? You are not making sense. Maybe you need to look at what the word hybrid actually means.
 
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