Is a hybrid suitable for light off roading?

Kenpokicks

Hi

I was looking at purchasing a hybrid as I will will be doing some on road cycling for fitness but would like to do some light off roading too, like on forestery roads as opposed to tracks.
I was advised that a hybrid like a Trek 7300 or a Giant Roam 2 with lockable front suspension would be sufficient but then I was advised by another that I would need hydraulic disk brakes for off roading which you don't get on a hybrid and so would be better off with a mountain bike and put road wheels on it and change the TYRES for off roading?

What would you recommend, Thanks in advance

Kenpokicks

DirkVoodoo

I reckon you probably could. You don't need disc brakes for light off roading, that's salesman talk. Obviously discs are better but I used a mountain bike with v brakes (I think) on my first trip out and aside from the odd bit of mud collection they were strong enough for my slow speed.

Just don't go taking it off any jumps and maybe buy some more MTB tyres for it, if anything it might save your wheels.

The MTB experts will be able to better advise you, but as long as you are talking about fire roads then I can't see it being too bad.

How tall are you? What size bike you looking for?

blorg

You can certainly cycle a hybrid on fireroads, will not be a problem. If you want to do singletrack (which is the fun bit) then realistically you do need a mountain bike.

For your intended use primarily on road I think a hybrid with lockable front shocks like the ones you mention would be a good choice.

You don't need disc brakes. Yes they are better off road but for fireroads not really necessary. Mountain bikers actually survived for years without the things and up until very recently you still found V brakes in use at high level cross country for the weight savings.

droidus

Anyway, you can get Hybrids with disc brakes. Ive got one.

madrabui

Kenpokicks – your style of cycling is like mine. I tested out a Giant Roam, it’s a nice bike. I don’t know how I survived without remote suspension lock out. Changing tyres is easy. Both the wheels pop off and you can change the tyres pretty quickly. If you are just doing trails and not off roading you can go for a larger size that you would normally would with a mountain bike that does off-roading. This size will allow you do long distances on the road.
You don’t need disc breaks. They are nice to have, but not essential. I’d go for the remote lock out suspension before I’d get disc breaks. That said in the lashing rain, disc brakes are the business on the road.
The Giant Roam would be a great all rounder. I saw a Specialized with a similar spec/price. I think it was the Rock Shox suspension that I was drawn to, but the Suntour (I think it was Suntour) suspension on the Giant is fine. I’m happy with it. You can always upgrade bit and pieces in the future.

Lumen

Difficult though it may be to believe in this age of softness, mountain bikes once had no suspension at all.

madrabui

Lumen wrote: »

Difficult though it may be to believe in this age of softness, mountain bikes once had no suspension at all.

I was on my 15 year old moutain bike the other day. It brought back sweet memories, but they were shuddered away when I decided to bounce off the kerb.

blorg

Lumen wrote: »

Difficult though it may be to believe in this age of softness, mountain bikes once had no suspension at all.

It's a reasonable consideration, I think you could do without suspension entirely for your intended use. Suspension is a big negative on the road even with lockout (lockout is not 100% compared to a rigid fork, and it adds a lot of weight.) I would certainly do fireroads and rougher with my cross bike which has a rigid fork. Depends on how much you think you would be using it on fireroads; suspension is certainly nice to have off road but if you are going to be 90% on the road I would do without it.

Kenpokicks

Thanks for all the advice guys.
DirkVoodoo- I'm just shy of 6ft so a I think a size large frame, can't remember what that equates to in inches?
Madrabui- Glad to hear about the Giant as that is the one I was most drawn to with it's chunky frame but the Trek I was looking at for similar money had a higher spec gear set up. Choices, choices.
Blorg- I think for the moment anyway I'll be mostly on fire roads so as you said the hybrid should do the trick.

Indeed Mountain Bikes once had no suspension and v brakes as standard. I biked down the "Worlds most dangerous road" in Bolivia a few years ago. Was packpacking at the time and didn't have much money so I went for a low spec bike as mentioned above and I managed ( didn't die anyway ).

Thanks again
Kenpokicks