Torn between a Hybrid & Road bike (Boardman)

madandybell
madandybell Posts: 148
edited November 2009 in Road beginners
Hi,

C2W scheme choices need to be in by the end of the day and I'm Torn between a Hybrid and Road bike.

Basically starting up cycling again and want to get the best first bike really!

Comments

  • pottssteve
    pottssteve Posts: 4,069
    Road
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  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    get a road bike.
    Neeermad
    Carbon 456
    456 lefty
    Pompino
    White Inbred
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Road
  • Alex1988
    Alex1988 Posts: 109
    I had the same decision to make a few weeks ago, i went with the road bike. So glad i did :)
    exercise.png
  • bobtbuilder
    bobtbuilder Posts: 1,537
    Bear in mind that you have posted this on a Road Bike forum - Road. :lol:

    Seriously: hybrids were supposed to take the best of both worlds (road & mountain bikes) and combine them, but the reality is the complete opposite. Hybrids are not robust enough for proper off-roading and are not as fast and light as a proper road bike.

    Get a road bike now and if you plan to do some off-roading, buy a mountain bike at a later date.
  • Ben6899
    Ben6899 Posts: 9,686
    Roadbike. The fact you're contemplating it tells me you'll pine for one 6 months down the line if you go for the hybrid now.

    Ben
    Ben

    Bikes: Donhou DSS4 Custom | Condor Italia RC | Gios Megalite | Dolan Preffisio | Giant Bowery '76
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  • madandybell
    madandybell Posts: 148
    Cheers guys,

    Think thats made my mind up for me, Team Carbon it is!
  • Ben6899
    Ben6899 Posts: 9,686
    I've heard and read plenty of good reports about the Boardman bikes.

    Ben
    Ben

    Bikes: Donhou DSS4 Custom | Condor Italia RC | Gios Megalite | Dolan Preffisio | Giant Bowery '76
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  • sicknote
    sicknote Posts: 901
    I would say from having both, get a road bike as my hybrid does not get used much since getting the road bike :D
  • manimal
    manimal Posts: 434
    I had exactly the same dilemma,so i bought both(second hand giant FCR1 and Defy 3).
    I rode both for about a month and then the hybrid got used less and less, the road bike is much nicer to ride. Most people you speak to who buy a hybrid soon move on to a road bike so cut out the middle man and go staright for the road bike!
    Refs here: viewtopic.php?f=40046&t=12901235
  • hodsgod
    hodsgod Posts: 226
    Why does no one talk about a flat bar road bike? That is the ultimate Hybrid in my opinion, there are plenty out there.

    Generally the thing people are worried about is the drop bars, well there is an option.
  • marin_maniac
    marin_maniac Posts: 513
    I've got a Boardman Comp road bike and a Marin hybrid for winter days.

    After sustained periods of riding the hybrid I get withdrawal symtoms from the Boardman.

    Get the road bike.
  • solsurf
    solsurf Posts: 489
    Road bike, if you really want to go off road you'll need a mountain bike anyway and if that is the case just put some slicks on it. Basically there is no need for the hybrid it does everything, but nothing well. :)
    http://www.pogu.co.uk
  • kweehie
    kweehie Posts: 2
    I know it's to late to be helpful, but agree road bike is the way to go, gave up the car whilst at uni so bought a specialized sirrus hybrid, had been a strictly off roading/dirt jumper before this so thought it was amazing at first. Have just given a cube aerial back to mate after having borrowed it whilst he was on holiday, thats not even an amazing road bike an the sirrus feels like its good motocross wheels on it now!! Good workout in the galeforce winds tho!!
  • Garz
    Garz Posts: 1,155
    My preference would be road, after I tried them both. A good comprimise would be a tourer or a cyclo-x if your unsure.
  • chrishumes
    chrishumes Posts: 227
    has anyone tried a flat bared road bike like the giant rapid 1? or are people just jumping in coz they already had a road bike? i think people are biased on here!

    i rode both and think i will be going for a flat bar.
  • sicknote
    sicknote Posts: 901
    chrishumes wrote:
    has anyone tried a flat bared road bike like the giant rapid 1? or are people just jumping in coz they already had a road bike? i think people are biased on here!

    i rode both and think i will be going for a flat bar.

    I think you might want to read some of the posts again, as I and some of the other have had or rode hybrids and said from that get a road bike. :wink:

    By the way I am almost sure that no one has not to get a flat bar, just not a hybrid.
  • Steve_b77
    Steve_b77 Posts: 1,680
    I wouldn't say the boardman was a true hybrid, it's definatley closer to a Sirrus than say a crosstrail.

    It depends on what suits your needs more, are you going to be commuting or going out on club/social rides with friends etc at the weekends. If the former I'd go for a flat bar roadie or the boardman, if teh latter - road bike is the real option.
  • thegibdog
    thegibdog Posts: 2,106
    Steve_b77 wrote:
    It depends on what suits your needs more

    Have you learnt nothing from this forum? Road bike is always best.... :roll:
    https://gibworth.mypixieset.com
  • chrishumes
    chrishumes Posts: 227
    but there is a difference in a hybrid and a flat bar road bike, eg the wheel thickness, and riding position. A hybrid is generally more upright and with bigger wheels. where as the flat bar that i have looked at is road bike frame and riding position and road bike tyres.
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    hodsgod wrote:
    Why does no one talk about a flat bar road bike? That is the ultimate Hybrid in my opinion, there are plenty out there.

    The Ultimate hybrid is a cross bike.
    I like bikes...

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  • nickwill
    nickwill Posts: 2,735
    chrishumes wrote:
    but there is a difference in a hybrid and a flat bar road bike, eg the wheel thickness, and riding position. A hybrid is generally more upright and with bigger wheels. where as the flat bar that i have looked at is road bike frame and riding position and road bike tyres.

    A hybrid is likely to have either smaller 'mountain bike' type wheels, or if it's more road oriented, it might have 700c road wheels. It certainly won't have 'bigger' wheels than a road bike. By having flat bars, you are losing versatility. Drops allow for a much greater variety of position than flats which lock you into one position.
    http://lakescyclist.wordpress.com/
  • bice
    bice Posts: 772
    I reckon I have a hybrid, although it's actually an old five-speed Claude Butler light tourer (531 Reynolds, ladies model, 30 years old) that I have fitted with flat bars.

    It does have a lot of advantages as a London commuter over my three road bikes:

    1/ Flat bars give better control, esp in and out of traffic
    2/ I can leave it anywhere without it getting nicked (or me caring that much if it is)
    3/ It is quite a bit heavier and slower, which is good as I can go too fast for London traffic on the roadies.
    4/ The brakes are way better than one of my road bikes (which has old Shimano 600 brakes - ie does not have dual pivot brakes).
    5/ No obligation to race high testosterone City boys along Kings Road, weaving in and out of traffic.
    6/ I can load the panniers up with shopping, once with 12 bottles of wine. (Don't approve of panniers on road bike).
    7/ In weather like this it gets crudded up and it doesn't matter.
  • ForumNewbie
    ForumNewbie Posts: 1,664
    Everyone is recommending a road bike, but as madandybell is buying under C2W scheme, he presumably wants the bike for a commute to work which may be through city traffic, where upright position from flat bars may be preferable. He may also require a rack for panniers to carry change of clothes and other stuff to work. For both these reasons a hybrid may be better for him than a road bike.
  • Steve_b77
    Steve_b77 Posts: 1,680
    ForumNewbie wrote:
    Everyone is recommending a road bike, but as madandybell is buying under C2W scheme, he presumably wants the bike for a commute to work

    Does Not Compute :lol:

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