"MrGuy" (MrGuy)
10/06/2013 at 19:35 • Filed to: bikelopnik
1
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"MrGuy" (MrGuy)
10/06/2013 at 19:35 • Filed to: bikelopnik | 1
| 29 |
I've been riding my 37-pound department-store full-suspension mountain bike for around 10 years, with most of the 2000 km put on it in the past couple years. In this time, it's been showing signs that it doesn't suit the roads and gravel trails that I spend most of my time on.
The tires still have the sprues at the edges, I've nearly maxed out the pre-load on the rear suspension, and I leave the front derailleur on the biggest sprocket, and find myself looking for higher rear gears. To help the matter, the bottom bracket needs replacement and the grip shift housings are beginning to crack.
From what I've read, a hybrid like the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! or the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! would suit my riding and sub-$700 budget. However, a co-worker advised that either a mountain bike or a road bike would be better, since a hybrid bike would be compromised in every environment. Part of me wonders if this is just stigma about hybrid bikes being for middle-aged people (like my dad, who has a rigid hybrid). Do hybrids have a niche, and do I inhabit this niche?
golferyo
> MrGuy
10/06/2013 at 19:38 |
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hybrid bikes are great bikes for all around. you can ride gravel and road just fine. If you will be riding more on the road you can get road tires put on. also you can get a bike with suspension so it isn't to rough.
The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
> MrGuy
10/06/2013 at 19:39 |
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Hybrids to me are like the crossovers of bikes. They're not great on road (road bike), not great off road (mountain bike), but adequate for most people.
Edit: By "not great on road" I mean they're not exactly "sporty".
Anon
> MrGuy
10/06/2013 at 19:41 |
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I have a Specialized crossroad and I would recommend against it. It's not that comfortable and if you compare it to an automobile it's like crossover. You get all the disadvantages of a mountain bike and a road bike with none of the benefits. You don't have the speed and lightness of the road bike but you do have the much weaker tires. You don't have the extreme off road capability of a mountain bike but you do have the weight.
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MrGuy
> MrGuy
10/06/2013 at 19:41 |
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Hmm, just found this analogy to cars that somebody made. Apparently a hybrid bike with suspension is the beige Toyota Camry of the Bicycle world. Source: http://forums.mtbr.com/general-discus…
thebigbossyboss
> MrGuy
10/06/2013 at 19:46 |
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I used to ride north shore, and now I ride mostly road with the occasional easy level north shore trail. The thing is that you cant ride the tougher trails on a hybrid without changing the tires, so I just go slightly slower on the road with the extra utility. I still can go on roads, just not as fast.
Manuél Ferrari
> MrGuy
10/06/2013 at 19:46 |
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I thought you meant the new bicycles that have a small electric motor :)
Bandit
> MrGuy
10/06/2013 at 19:51 |
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Have you thought about a hardtail mountain bike? I bought a Trek 4300 a few years ago and it has a decently tall final gearing (I rode it 60 miles in one sitting and it wasn't too bad) and you can lock the front fork for better road performance. It is also pretty decent offroad (I've biked forested hiking paths and sand dunes). It is aluminum and will be much lighter than your current bike, they are only around $430-ish.
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MrGuy
> The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
10/06/2013 at 19:56 |
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Yeah, it does seem like it. My dad uses his for general travel, and it seems to suit what he needs, from getting some groceries to some light bike paths.
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MrGuy
> Anon
10/06/2013 at 19:59 |
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That's what I was afraid of hearing. Most of the biking I do is fairly light-duty, but I do like having the option of taking more exciting routes home.
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MrGuy
> Bandit
10/06/2013 at 20:06 |
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I've thought about it, and it seems like the best alternative to a hybrid, and is what my co-worker has. My only concern is that I tend to go for quick 10km, 30-minute rides after work, and find that near 24 km/h I would really like a higher ratio. The hardtails I've looked at have the same sprocket sizes as my current bike, but the hybrids and road bikes have a top ratio that's about 10% higher. What kind of level cruising speeds are comfortable?
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MrGuy
> Manuél Ferrari
10/06/2013 at 20:07 |
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Yeah, that's what I thought too when I first heard the term. That would, however, be cheating ;)
Saracen
> MrGuy
10/06/2013 at 20:07 |
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What about single speed mountain bikes?
Lets Just Drive
> Saracen
10/06/2013 at 20:12 |
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As long as the answer isn't, "Hipster fixie..."
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Manuél Ferrari
> MrGuy
10/06/2013 at 20:14 |
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I agree it would be cheating for shorter rides. It would be interesting though for someone that wanted to use it to commute to work if the commute was more than a few miles. Would still be more exercise than using a car or motorcycle :)
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Bandit
> MrGuy
10/06/2013 at 20:17 |
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Last time I measured, I could comfortably maintain 20-22mph.
D
> MrGuy
10/06/2013 at 20:18 |
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Whoever made this spread knows both their cars and their bikes. Props
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MrGuy
> Saracen
10/06/2013 at 20:18 |
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Maybe a Baja Bug: it works, but I'd expect you to have to be a masochist to pull it off.
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Lets Just Drive
> MrGuy
10/06/2013 at 20:21 |
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Hybrids, rather than combining the best aspects of two things, are all about compromise. There's almost certainly a better platform out there for whatever you're after, I promise.
There is, however; one notable exception and my mother, a commuter bicyclist, falls into this category - those who are physically restricted to hybrid style bicycles. My mom needs the upright ride of a mountain bike, the softness of a cruiser, and the low resistance ride that comes from a lighter frame, thinner tires with less grip and road-friendly suspension which will eat up bumps but not consume her energy. If you're in the same boat, a hybrid is the way to go. But do not cheap out. Go to a bike shop and have a rig set up for you, the bars you want, the seat you want and so on. You'll come away with a very low impact bicycle with reasonable on-road attributes.
In fact, no matter what your needs are, go to a bike shop. Even if they're out of your budget, even if you plan to buy an out of the box, department store bike; they'll take the time to show you some stuff and give you an idea of what's best for your situation. And no, I'm not talking about a chain (pun!) store, I'm talking neighborhood bike shop.
For quite a long time I was riding similarly to yourself, in terms of time and distance. I bought a Brodie Holeshot and a second set of street tires. The way I ride tends to eat up curbs, terrain and whatever the heck else I can bounce off of, over, or through and hopefully save a few seconds doing. The Holeshot was perfect for that. Tough as you can imagine, but still soft enough for a relaxing ride and when I was just shooting to work and back, I'd throw my street rubber on instead of the fatty MAXXIS rubber that was on there and boom. Compromise, true, but compromise that's still badass is badass.
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MrGuy
> Bandit
10/06/2013 at 20:24 |
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Great, that's good news. From what I see on their site, it looks like the extra speeds on the rear compared to my bike are higher, too. Thanks.
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D
> MrGuy
10/06/2013 at 20:25 |
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Your coworker may have a point. From what I understand, it sounds like you want something a little less 'soft' than a hybrid. This is where I suggest taking a bike you might not normally look at and modifying it so that it's perfect for your needs. I think tires and fork and can change the character of a bike most. For example, my hilly city get-around bike is a rigid 90's Mongoose mountain bike outfitted with the closest thing I could find to a 26" road tire (they're close to slick and are very thin). I get the low gearing I was after along with smooth rolling.
If you describe your terrain and usage a little more in depth, I might be able to give more insight.
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D
> Lets Just Drive
10/06/2013 at 20:27 |
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The day we stop linking hipsters and fixed gears is the day fixed gears can be taken seriously once again.
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Lets Just Drive
> D
10/06/2013 at 20:30 |
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Amen!
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D
> Bandit
10/06/2013 at 20:32 |
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Did you buy used? I'm confused because I bought a new 4300 last year for $750.
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MrGuy
> D
10/06/2013 at 20:53 |
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Sure, most of the biking I do falls into two categories. The first is moderate (~20 km) weekend trips with my dad along the flat gravel and dirt paths along the rivers we have in the area. We'll get up to around 25 km/h where it's smoother, but there are some tree roots and wood paths that can get bumpy. This is really where I'm looking for another gear, to keep a comfortable low cadence.
When I bike by myself after work, I'll take 30 minutes and a 10 km ride through some of the hillier and more technical gravels paths through local parks and woods. These paths are pretty short, so I'll spend most of my time on the roads getting to and from them. I'll average 20 km/h, but use all 8 speeds and peak at almost 40 km/h down the hills on the road.
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MrGuy
> Lets Just Drive
10/06/2013 at 20:58 |
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Based on your description, it is my dad and not me that a hybrid is suited for. There's a local shop where my dad got his bike and has had some service, so I guess I should start there. It sounds like mix-and-matching would also be the best way to fill my needs. Thanks for the advice.
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D
> MrGuy
10/06/2013 at 20:59 |
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Okay, well it seems like you're spending a good deal off the road.
A hardtail or full rigid mountain bike sound like it could be good. Maybe it would be smart to tone down the tires a little (like smooth in the center, knobs on the edges) so you could get more speed. And I guess just look for one that has high enough gearing (you could mod this in but it sounds like a hassle).
The other thing that comes to mind is a cyclocross bike. It could be tough to find one in the $700 range, but you'd get great speed on tarmac and light trails. Depending on how technical your paths are though, this might not be appropriate.
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MrGuy
> D
10/06/2013 at 21:15 |
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Yeah, it looks like a hardtail mountain bike is the way to go. It looks like a 9-speed versus my current 8-speed would give me almost the same gain as a larger crankset. Over the past 10 years I have become addicted to front suspension, and not having it even on the road seems jarring. That and price seem to rule out a cyclocross bike. Thanks for your advice.
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Bandit
> D
10/06/2013 at 22:42 |
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Got it brand new back in 2011 at the local cycling shop. I know it was around $430-450 because up to that point it was the most expensive thing I had ever bought. It looks identical to this:
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D
> Bandit
10/06/2013 at 23:23 |
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I guess it was just a helluva model year change. Mine was similar but had some upgraded equipment (discs, etc.) and a much-elevated price tag.
not my pic but this is the one I got