Hybrids v 29er HT

Red.Devil.Ghost

I am thinking about selling my 26" wheeled full sus bike (AMR 5900) and getting something different. Truth be told, I've not used it for anything that I couldn't have done on a HT, and in all honesty probably fairly unlikely to any time soon either. However, I would like the ability to still do some reasonably challenging off road stuff if I so wish.

So I have been thinking - is a hybrid bike actually capable off road, with appropriate tyres? The other option I was considering was a 29er HT, swapping over the tyres to much thinner items, and changing the front cogs to get a faster ratio than MTBs tend to offer. I'd be looking to get this on the cycle to work scheme (be it the hybrid or the 29er) so looking around the £1000 mark really (I'd happily buy the extra tyres and cogs if the right bike was within the £1000).

The only thing holding me back is I think I might regret selling the Ghost, because actually its a decent bike. It's just relatively slow and the rear suspension seems to bob up and down more than it should (the RP23 shock probably just needs a service). I've kind of fallen out of love, and want to really get back into cycling again. The other option is all out on the Ghost with full shock and fork service, fit the dropper post I have in the garage, and see if it can't make a difference. Maybe some thinner tyres on it will make it nice and fast as well. My 2.3 inch wide tyres really slow it down a lot.

So what are people's thoughts on a hybrid's capability off road, or am I better off with a 29er? Thanks.

supersonic

Hybrids vary enormously - from flat barred road bikes to MTBs with slicks. And all that inbetween. So yes and no ;-)

Red.Devil.Ghost

Conclusive. I like it.

supersonic

That's hybrids for you - a poor term used by manufacturers for so many bikes that it is impossible to say a 'hybrid' would be any good for anything. Need to look at the individual model really. But yes, the same could be said to a lesser degree for MTBs, but I do think the XC hardtail MTB is a very versatile machine and would be top of my list for consideration.

How Far is too Far

What about a CycloX bike?

The Rookie

The Voodoo Marasa is a 29er Hybrid, rigid forks, works well on road and off, my Nephewe has one and uses it with 32mm slicks on road and 2.1" MTB tyres on local trails.

mattrixdesign2

I would love something like this...

http://www.koga.com/en/bikes/mountainbi ... tm?frame=H

8)

CitizenLee

mattrixdesign2 wrote:

I would love something like this...

http://www.koga.com/en/bikes/mountainbi ... tm?frame=H

8)

Nice. Looks similar to my Cube Hyde, or the Cannondale Bad Boy.


However for the OP, I think maybe a CX bike sounds ideal.

Red.Devil.Ghost

Thanks for the thoughts. Having been thinking about it, I think it will be stick with what I have or the 29e option with slicks.

Cyclocross seems a made type of bike and is little more than a hybrid with road bike style bars. I still much prefer riding off road than on, so I am just going to make an effort to get back into it and get the interest and the love back (on whatever bike). My brother has an old Carrera Subway in my garage at the moment so I might just use that if I need something faster on road.

I am still liking the idea of a 29er HT though. Or a carbon 26 hardball, and transfer most of my parts over and sell the frame. There are too many options.

rockmonkeysc

CX bikes are better off road than most hybrids. In really muddy conditions they are actually better than most mountain bikes.

mattrixdesign2

It all depends on what "off road" means and what a "hybrid" is. The best choice may well be a fully ridged "MTB" rather than a CX, but a CX would lend it self well to mixing up on / off road, what about rigid 29er vs CX, main differences will be drop vs straight bars, possibly cable vs hydro brakes, high vs lower cross bar. The rigid MTB would take fatter tyres, the CX could be lighter, both could be up to the job.

wide phil

I have an orange Clockwork 29er HT and was using it as my everything bike so last year I bought a Boardman hybrid as a bike to ride to work tool, it had road compact gears and I started enjoying some road riding on it. The Orange was then surplus to requirements really after I also got a Trek Fuel full sus for my mountain biking. But I was hankering for a full spec road bike that I have yet to get, so I sold the boardman to fund one.
My Orange now sports the same 700c x 35 tyres I used on the boardman during the winter and I also use it for 20/30 mile back road farm lane rides and it no slower than the Boardman and just as comfy. I rekon a set of cyclocross tyres and it will be a perfect ride for forestry areas. I cant help but think a 29 HT is the perfect do it all bike, a nice road ride with smooth tyre, a half tidy CX bike, a brilliant cross country bike and a bike that can handle any trail centre as I have use mine for on many an occasion