What makes a good hybrid?

tardington

Caterpillar attack. Nuff said.

philm94

Street riding is the key element not touched on enough, I would say.

Road bikes are great, but they really aren't that great in a city. Poor(er) brakes and a bad riding position (head down) as well as a general lack of agility lead to an easily compromised rider, less able to react to pedestrians (aka Lemmings) doing their thing.

And if your budget is good enough for one decent bike, then a hybrid of some sort is ideal. Even parts of the National Cycle Network are unridable on a road bike, incorporating some hardpack / loose shingle and rocks.

With some slick tyres and a sportative styled geometry they are just as quick through a city, too. i.e. - both can reach the speed which would be safe.

I would say Roadies and MTBs are the masters of their field and the hybrid is the capable adaptee to both.

Kieran_Burns

philm94 wrote:

Street riding is the key element not touched on enough, I would say.

Road bikes are great, but they really aren't that great in a city. Poor(er) brakes and a bad riding position (head down) as well as a general lack of agility lead to an easily compromised rider, less able to react to pedestrians (aka Lemmings) doing their thing.

And if your budget is good enough for one decent bike, then a hybrid of some sort is ideal. Even parts of the National Cycle Network are unridable on a road bike, incorporating some hardpack / loose shingle and rocks.

With some slick tyres and a sportative styled geometry they are just as quick through a city, too. i.e. - both can reach the speed which would be safe.

I would say Roadies and MTBs are the masters of their field and the hybrid is the capable adaptee to both.

All very good points and (bar the head down comment which I disagree with as drop bars have a flat bit ) exactly why I bought a CX bike.

philm94

Kieran_Burns wrote:

... as drop bars have a flat bit ) exactly why I bought a CX bike.

True .. though it's so much narrower you don't get the same turning leverage, especially at 18+mph .. or so I find anyway! It feels much more secure to actually lean and twist.

roger_merriman

philm94 wrote:

Kieran_Burns wrote:

... as drop bars have a flat bit ) exactly why I bought a CX bike.

True .. though it's so much narrower you don't get the same turning leverage, especially at 18+mph .. or so I find anyway! It feels much more secure to actually lean and twist.

to be honest i find drops better at faster speed turns while flat bars on the whole better for slower more tenical stuff, such as you'd expect on a MTB.

i'd certinaly consider a CX at some point, i don't use my MTB and the surrey hills are a little way from london and from what i've seen quite doable on a cross.

rally200

Colleague just picked up a Globe City hybrid - a little upright but perfect for commuting

8 speed hub gears
in hub dynamo
factoryfitted rack,guards, and chain guard - all for under £400 new

functional & low maintnenance -what a hybrid or "standard bicycle" should be all about