Commuting etc. - road or hybrid?
activentures
Posts: 15
I put some slick tyres on my hardtail mtb and was using it for commuting to work. Its only a five mile journey so it wasn't too bad and the drawbacks from it being a mtb weren't enough to justify getting a more suitbale bike. thats all changed now some little oxygen thief has nicked it.
I basically only use it for travelling to and from work, to town, the supermarket etc and occasionally on a bit of touring in the summer ie generally between country pubs. Realising I don't need a MTB I've been looking at a hybrid, specifically the boardman hybrid team which is currently reduced and has pretty good reviews. It seems to me to be at the road bike end of the hybrid scale but with flat bars making it more comfortable and safer in traffic. It would also allow mud guards and panniers which would be helpful for work and with touring which I keep promising I will do more of, inspired by Mark Beaumont! However, having read similar threads, there are a number of people suggesting it is better to go for a road bike, saying they are better for commuting and that hybrids are pointless in that they are not particularly good on road or off road. I also like the thought of cycling as a means of getting fitter and the suggestion is a road bike would be better for this purpose also. furthermore the boardman road comp has had great reviews and is also on sale.
My query is two fold - are the boardman bikes any good, am I right in thinking the hybrid is at the road-bike end of the hybrid spectrum anyway?
Are hybrids a waste of time or are they exactly what my needs require?
I basically only use it for travelling to and from work, to town, the supermarket etc and occasionally on a bit of touring in the summer ie generally between country pubs. Realising I don't need a MTB I've been looking at a hybrid, specifically the boardman hybrid team which is currently reduced and has pretty good reviews. It seems to me to be at the road bike end of the hybrid scale but with flat bars making it more comfortable and safer in traffic. It would also allow mud guards and panniers which would be helpful for work and with touring which I keep promising I will do more of, inspired by Mark Beaumont! However, having read similar threads, there are a number of people suggesting it is better to go for a road bike, saying they are better for commuting and that hybrids are pointless in that they are not particularly good on road or off road. I also like the thought of cycling as a means of getting fitter and the suggestion is a road bike would be better for this purpose also. furthermore the boardman road comp has had great reviews and is also on sale.
My query is two fold - are the boardman bikes any good, am I right in thinking the hybrid is at the road-bike end of the hybrid spectrum anyway?
Are hybrids a waste of time or are they exactly what my needs require?
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The Boardman Hybrids are a lot more like road bikes than the Giant FCR for example. It has a different frame than the road bikes with a longer top tube so the reach is similar to a drop bar.
The general consensus on here is drop bars all the way but it definately comes down to personal preference, personally I like to have a MTB and a drop bar road bike so I have the choice but if you can only have one, a hybrid is a good compromise. Unfortuantely thats what they are , a compromise tho and you'll end up wanting a road bike and a new MTB.Saracen Tenet 3 - 2015 - Dead - Replaced with a Hack Frame
Voodoo Bizango - 2014 - Dead - Hit by a car
Vitus Sentier VRS - 20170 -
activentures wrote:
My query is two fold - are the boardman bikes any good, am I right in thinking the hybrid is at the road-bike end of the hybrid spectrum anyway?
Are hybrids a waste of time or are they exactly what my needs require?
My commute is 6 miles (each way), I have a hybrid ...... but I use my mtb with dirt/off-road tyres.
My commute on the hybrid was becoming far too easy , I love my mtb for short distances, shopping (big double panniers) and it's great during the winter months.
Ideally you need 2 bikes, depends how serious about touring you are if you are just keeping one bike.
Personally I wouldn't use a road/hybrid bike during the winter , especially this winter :?
.Specialized Hardrock Pro/Trek FX 7.3 Hybrid/Specialized Enduro/Specialized Tri-Cross Sport
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I started commuting by bike about 5 months ago and bought a Specialized Tricross - a cyclocross style bike. Its basically a tough road bike, more upright riding position, with bigger tyres and the ability to have full mudguards and panniers. It was perfect for me as it had bar-top brake levers (as well as the drops) which gave me some confidence in the traffic and allowed me to gradually move onto the drops fully. Also great for a bit of sustrans cycle path / towpath riding.
However, just to throw the preverbial spanner in the works, it got nicked from work after a couple of months :roll: and i bought a 'proper' road bike to replace it - which i totally love!
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