Just how rough can a hybrid take

suzyb

I've been looking around some of the mapping sites and found an interesting route that takes you along the river near here.

Looking at the satellite images of the route it is largely dirt track and I was wondering whether my hybrid would be able to take cycling along it.

iclestu

-null- wrote:

I've been looking around some of the mapping sites and found an interesting route that takes you along the river near here.

Looking at the satellite images of the route it is largely dirt track and I was wondering whether my hybrid would be able to take cycling along it.

I weigh 18st and took my cheapo hybrid along a 2 mile section of essentially dirt track. It did it no harm.

I'm sure it will be fine if you take it easy. might be different if you want to rag it along there at 20 mph, but if you go slow enough to avoid the worst holes and rocks, etc I'd be pretty miffed if it couldnt cope.

Jay dubbleU

Depends what your riding - I used to take my Giant M2 (previous bike) on fire roads and bike packing in Scotland without any problems - make sure you have a good set of tyres is a lesson I learned otherwise no problems 8)

Wallace1492

-null- wrote:

I've been looking around some of the mapping sites and found an interesting route that takes you along the river near here.

Looking at the satellite images of the route it is largely dirt track and I was wondering whether my hybrid would be able to take cycling along it.

Hybrid's can take a fair bit of punishment, would be happy to go along canal paths and dirt tracks, as long as there are not too many rocks. Why don't you give it a go, can always turn round if it gets too bumpy. Only taken my Tricross on canal paths so far but looking forward to trying some rougher stuff, as it coped well with the canal even at 17-20 mph. Just had to watch out for neds at Possil/Milton!!

iclestu

Wallace1492 wrote:

Just had to watch out for neds at Possil/Milton!!

Aye. Rich be the man who invents the ned-resistant hybrid.

suzyb

Tyres are the ones that came with the bike (KENDA Khan city trekking tyre 700c x 35). And there's no worry about me going to fast unless the route is all down hill :P

Might just try it this weekend and see how it goes. There's a Halfords at the end of the route if I need it and a train link back home in case I need that.

Wallace1492

iclestu wrote:

Wallace1492 wrote:

Just had to watch out for neds at Possil/Milton!!

Aye. Rich be the man who invents the ned-resistant hybrid.

This would do for a start:

iclestu

Love it! It's the bowler hat and the suit that does it really.

"No point shooting the enemy if you cant do it with a starched shirt and polished shoes old boy"

Wallace1492

-null- wrote:

Tyres are the ones that came with the bike (KENDA Khan city trekking tyre 700c x 35). And there's no worry about me going to fast unless the route is all down hill :P

Might just try it this weekend and see how it goes. There's a Halfords at the end of the route if I need it and a train link back home in case I need that.

Jesus - try and avoid the Halford's..... well to be honest they do sell some allright stuff, but have heard some horror stories about their bike building/repairing prowess.

Incidentally what river is the track on? Heard the Clyde has some good cycling further up. I cycle the Clyde from city centre to Renfew on my commute.

d21dga

I take my hybrid (Felt QX75) on bridlepaths all the time with no problems so far. I guess mostly depends upon where your hybrid falls in the road -> mtb spectrum!

Simonb256

I have seen a group of people riding Bromptons around the trails at Llandegla (including the red route).

They can take a fair bit of abuse, just as long as you dont do anything silly on them.

prawny

I'd take my road bike off road no worries, watch some clips of the paris-roubaix to see what a road bike can cope with.

As long as its not too mudy you shouldn't have a problem and don't worry about it breaking unless you start doing silly things.

My dad used to ride everywhere on a 70's (i think) 10 speed Puch racer, canal towpaths off road, cycle lanes the works

suzyb

Wallace1492 wrote:

-null- wrote:

Tyres are the ones that came with the bike (KENDA Khan city trekking tyre 700c x 35). And there's no worry about me going to fast unless the route is all down hill :P

Might just try it this weekend and see how it goes. There's a Halfords at the end of the route if I need it and a train link back home in case I need that.

Jesus - try and avoid the Halford's..... well to be honest they do sell some allright stuff, but have heard some horror stories about their bike building/repairing prowess.

Incidentally what river is the track on? Heard the Clyde has some good cycling further up. I cycle the Clyde from city centre to Renfew on my commute.

That's the one

It's this route although I'll be starting slightly further down.

Wallace1492

-null- wrote:

That's the one

It's this route although I'll be starting slightly further down.

Looks good, the Clyde valley is lovely though never cycled down that way. I do north of Glasgow, Mugdock, Carbeth, Strathblane, Baldernock. Some great tracks and some nice canal stuff all out to Falkirk and Edinburgh. Also like Aberfoyle and the Trossachs. Great to get away from it all, but my commute is too much in town, down Maryhill Road. But can't wait to get better and get out and about, planning a few days cycling on Mull if I can before the Autumn kicks in.

ride_whenever

I ride off road on my single-speed pompino with 23mm slicks on. A hybrid is designed for rough tracks.