Hybrid for the country roads

James Santry

Hi Guys,

I was thinking about buying a bike for spins around the local country roads. After listening to some advice, I was told that I would be better off looking for a Hybrid, but I don't know what I should be looking for. I am 5'9" and so I think I need a 56cm frame or a 19" frame if it has the short suspension on the seat pedestal. I am hoping to buy something that would be used twice a week for maybe a 16 mile round trip. The reason why I mention the country roads, is that the surface wouldn't be too great unlike the roads within the city. Thanks in advance for any advice.

James

Raam

Hi James, road bikes are perfect for country roads. Many of us here do hundreds of km a week on country roads and we have no issue. Sure there will be bad roads, but for the vast majority they are fine. Potholes are easy to spot and easily avoided. Have another think about what bike to get. If you have your heart set on a hybrid, then that's fair enough, but I think it would be a good idea to reconsider getting a road bike.

short circuit

I am 5'9 and ride a 54cm ..

There is very little difference between hybrids and road bikes ... apart from the flat bars ... hybrids still come with thinner wheels.

If roads around you are really really bad ... as in more like a canal tow path than roads .. you might be better served with a cyclocross bike or a proper mountain bike.

I personally haven't seen the point of hybrids.

boniver

short circuit wrote: »

I am 5'9 and ride a 54cm ..

There is very little difference between hybrids and road bikes ... apart from the flat bars ... hybrids still come with thinner wheels.

If roads around you are really really bad ... as in more like a canal tow path than roads .. you might be better served with a cyclocross bike or a proper mountain bike.

I personally haven't seen the point of hybrids.

The whole hybrid end of the market has kind of exploded out into so many sub categories that you really need to focus in on what kind of 'hybrid' you really want. For example the Giant FCR range are very close to being straight handlebar versions of the Defy range of racing bikes, using the same frames etc. But Giant's CRS range, although still using 700c wheels, use wider rims and tyres that are not only wider but also deeper in profile so you end up with 'more rubber' between you and the road, giving a more cushioned ride than the FCR series. Then there are front suspension versions of these so it can get a bit bewildering.

BostonB

Some hybrids also have more of a relaxed position, you sit more upright and others where you're more forward. For the reasons above.

Most people on drops seem to ride constantly on the brake covers. Which isn't too far off riding on end bars on a hybrid. Neither has great access to the brakes in traffic.

I've seen some fixies/single speed with bullhorn bars and reverse brake level. which is the solution to this.

http://bikesarethesolution.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/6-1-2008-003-large.jpg

Raam

BostonB wrote: »

Most people on drops seem to ride constantly on the brake covers. Which isn't too far off riding on end bars on a hybrid. Neither has great access to the brakes in traffic.

I find the access perfectly fine.

blorg

Riding on the brake hoods on drop bars gives you good brake access, it is similar to the position on flat bars with bar ends (but with no brake access there.)

If you are mainly hands on the flats a hybrid is a fine idea, it is grand for general around town sort of stuff and I have done longish distances myself and indeed long tours before I converted to drops. Drops are better no doubt but a hybrid is a good choice starting out.

OP- something with around 32mm wide tyres might be a good bet for rough roads, thin enough to be fast but enough cushioning for the surfaces.

James Santry

Thanks for all the info. Unfortunately, now I am wondering if it is actually a road bike I should be looking for after reading some of the comments. I was out for a spin this morning with my family and I asked the lads in the back seat to count how many bikes they saw on the roads. They counted 30 on a 25 minute round trip to Mass, and all of them were road bikes! Not one hybrid to be seen! The main reason why I thought a hybrid was the way to go was because my local shop recently told me that a Hybrid was 30% easier to ride on the road than a mountain bike and a road bike was another 30% easier again. As I am new to cycling (even though I have used a the same mountain bike for the past 20 years on the road for short spins), I don't want to make a mistake of spending too much money on the wrong type of bike. I hadn't even considered the position of my hands until reading the comments. Maybe it would make more sense to look out for a half decent road bike to start with, as there is bound to be more of a choice in the second hand market. Any advice on particular models and age, would be appreciated.

DirkVoodoo

James Santry wrote: »

my local shop recently told me that a Hybrid was 30% easier to ride on the road than a mountain bike and a road bike was another 30% easier again

I wouldn't put too much stock in such crap reasoning, it's bordering on "speed hole" territory. The only way to judge such things is to TAKE A TEST RIDE.

Yes, a road bike is better than a hybrid which is in turn better than a mountain bike for general road use, don't be listening to people giving you approximate values of actual energy saving though. Take a hybrid out for a spin from your LBS, then ask to take a road bike out on the same spin (30mins to 1hour would be nice) and judge for yourself.

This should improve your decision making by at least 62%.

Húrin

I find that country roads are more often in better condition than the roads in Dublin, since they take less punishment.

NeilMcEoigheann

my gf's brother recently got a giant fcr with flat handlebars. it also has 700x26c tyres so a bit more cushioning but still very nice