want MTBers opinions on hybrids

formerlyknownasbonj

I know this might be slightly off-topic but would like the opinion of mountain bikers.
We've been looking around for a bike for my mum, and coming to the decision that she wants a hybrid is fairly easy, because she goes off road a bit on paths but never anything that difficult, would prefer a fairly comfortable upright riding position, and doesn't want to spend too much (£250 max.), she also would like suspension forks. - however the decision as to which hybrid has been harder, because looking at the hybrid market makes me wince to recommend anything because all hybrids seem to be adorned with everything I, coming from a MTB background, have grown over time to associate as being the work of the devil: namely, the following:
* suspension seatposts
* threaded headsets
* RST / SR suntour forks
* adjustable stems.

basically, she seems to quite like the look of this, and i'm really looking for somebody to convince me that the sr suntours and threaded headset aren't going to be letting her in for a world of mechanical pain every time she rides it! Being a good brand like spesh and the fact that she's not exactly going to be hammering it down downhill tracks makes me think they'll be ok, but would be interested to hear others' opinions...

also any recommendations of similar bikes to consider welcome.

alfablue

The suspension is probably unnecessary for riding on paths (and probably not much use if it gets rougher) so why not just look at bikes without? You will get a better (and lighter) bike for your money.

Fab Foodie

Forget suspension.
Threaded headsets are excellent IMO,better than these threadless systems.
Look at basic non-sus hybrids from Specialized, Trek Giant etc. Plenty choice, fatter tyred ones will be great on paths etc. No worries.

passout

Sus forks are pointless with these bikes although the seatposts are kind of OK actually. My wife has a trek hybrid which I've tried - not bad. Good for commuting and very gentle offroad eg well maintained forest roads.

PrettyBoyTim

I recently got a Claud Butler Urban 100 for commuting on, for around £200 from my LBS, although you seem to be able to get them from about £180 online. The Urban 200 has suspension forks and a suspension seat post, and comes in at about £225 online.

I've had no real complaints with my Urban 100 so far, except that I've found it very difficult to get the front gear switcher not to rub a little when on the highest two gears on the outer ring.

I guess it's a fairly heavy bike compared to the more expensive offerings, but fun to ride nonetheless.

Looking at their website, they also do a Women's 'urban comfort' which has the lower women's crossbar, if your Mum prefers that style of bike. It also seems to have a more upright posture.

timbooth

Nothing wrong with suspension seatposts (where did this MTBer hatred come from - I've been riding MTBs competitively since 1990 and have never heard that they are cr*p?).

Suspension forks are unnecessary - if she finds it uncomfortable, buy some Continental Contact tyres in a 37c size - that'll do it.

Threaded headsets are not a problem - they worked fine for a hundred years?

Adjustable stem - they creak and groan and weigh the same as your best bike, but I assume that your mum isn't going to be launching off 30ft drop-offs or hammering out of the saddle, so it's not an issue either.

Have a look at the Ridgeback Speed - I've been asked to recommend a bike for c£250 three times now and it is always amongst the best-riding that I can find.

formerlyknownasbonj

nah, she wants suspension forks - for comfort purposes, that's already decided. The type of paths she rides on aren't completely smooth and she's ridden front-suspension bikes on them and rigid-forked bikes (as she's got now), and definitely prefers the former, so there's no point saying forget suspension 'cos that's already decided, it's just are "SR Suntour" really that bad?

timbooth

No, at this level, they are all similar (SR, RST, etc). Most are made by the same people, including Rockshox and other major brands. Those people are Spinner - massive producer.

You would wreck them on their 1st outing, but on towpaths, etc they aren't subject to twisting lateral forces or landing heavily, so they can be built more slightly and with less damping.

She is your mum - I would just get her what she wants. And remember...you have to maintain it for her!!

Blundell

I had a pair of rsts ages ago... they were great.... but I swapped 'em for a pair of dukes

Blundell

They were well jazzy though!

Blundell

Yes they were.. you know

timbooth

Blundell wrote:

Yes they were.. you know

Love your Scott - that's an amazing bike!

supersonic

Sus is personal preferance, 50mm of travel can make a big difference to comfort for some, esp older people. A cheap threaded headset is awful - badly sealed, poorly made and need constant adjusting with gert big spanners, not ideal when out and about.

The Big Cheese

(Queue theme tune) think 2001 'a space odyssey' when the chimps first discover the power to kill with a bone. If you look closely in the background you can see Chris King coming to the conclusion that thread less is the way to go .........

supersonic

Threaded has died for a very good reason on MTBs - they are heavy and basically poor. Much heavier when you factor in the fact the quill stem has to clamp inside the steerer, not a particularly great method of achieving a light and stiff stem. Add to that the complications of adjusting and them working loose, and you can see why threadless has so many advantages.

timbooth

supersonic wrote:

Threaded has died for a very good reason on MTBs - they are heavy and basically poor. Much heavier when you factor in the fact the quill stem has to clamp inside the steerer, not a particularly great method of achieving a light and stiff stem. Add to that the complications of adjusting and them working loose, and you can see why threadless has so many advantages.

Yes, all excellent reasons for insisting on the definitely superior aheadsets...

...on mountain bikes.

On hybrids, there is less need for 'on the fly' adjustment, they are less likely to work loose and weight is not much of an issue on a bike that already has many weighty elements. They are more easily adjustable for height and don't forget - people rode Paris-Roubaix and the Grand Tours for decades with them, so they can't be that 'poor'!

supersonic

One point of a hybrid is that it weighs less than an MTB... The sets found on top end racers are a little different to those found on a 250 qquid hybrid.

timbooth

supersonic wrote:

One point of a hybrid is that it weighs less than an MTB... The sets found on top end racers are a little different to those found on a 250 qquid hybrid.

Good point, about the racers having better sets, but if that was a major issue, you wouldn't buy a £250 hybrid in the first place!

I notice that many of the MTB-based hybrids (ie MTBs with slicks) have aheadsets, whilst the 700c-wheeled bikes don't.

supersonic

Threaded headsets have the potential to be better, but at 250 quid its always a cheap generic unit - luckily cheap generic aheadsets tend to be better! Threaded headsets were the bane of my life when working at Halfords, lots of people coming in to get them adjusted.