Hybrid for commuting

Apocalypse

Hi guys

Recently I started cycling into work , which is about 12.5 km in and the same back , so a 25km round trip.
Some people have told me that a road bike is the only way to go and that you have put in more effort with a wider tyre.
I don't really know that much about the mechanics of cycling but I assume the hybrid can accommodate thinner tyres ? , does the frames weight make a difference etc ..
Any pros and cons to this ?
My bike is a albion gepida 700 crs

Thanks

darkvalley

I am newly back to cycling after 20 years and am commuting 25km to work on a hybrid. I'm only 3 weeks in, so my opinions should be viewed with that in mind, but I find the hybrid perfect for the job.
I dont think the weight is a issue for the distance you are doing. The manufacturer of the Albion states a weight of 13.5kg for that bike which is light for a hybrid. Mine is a Trek 7.5 and the weight is 18kg but I find it responsive and fast. That weight is before you add mudguards, lights, carrier, lock, bag for clothing etc. A good road bike is going to weigh about 9kg I think, and that is going to be easier to move at speed than a hybrid, but by the time you add everything else I'm not convinced it will make a huge difference. When I started 3 weeks ago I was doing an average speed of about 16kph, but am now up to 19kph with more to come I reckon.
With regards the tyres I like the wider tyres as I feel they may be more reliable with the weight and the road surface I am facing. I ride on back roads to avoid the traffic, but the surface can be very rough and gravely in places so hoping I will have less punctures with them. I have no doubt that narrower tyres will give you less rolling resistance, but to me on a timed run needing to be at work at a given time the less likelihood of stops for repairs the better. However in terms of effort needed to move the bike I would imagine that the tyres are a bigger issue than weight. My tyres are 700x32c and am told that narrower ones will fit, but for now these are working out fine.

In deciding to buy a hybrid rather than a road bike I was considering it as a work horse that would be suitable for a bit of everything and anything I wanted to do on it and so far I don't regret that decision.

The general consensus here would seem to be that a road bike is the better way to go, but I don't agree except in the situation where you are considering going for very long spins or group riding as part of your cycling, in which case I can see the major advantage of a road bike. For everything else the hybrid is, in my opinion, the better option.
hope this is some help
regards
Finbarr
ps: I will publicly eat humble pie if in a few months, as is often predicted here, I regret the hybrid and am in search of a road bike !!

I would say that the weight of the bike really only matters with hills, and I mean fairly long large hills.

The albion gepida looks like a good quality bike and I'd keep it, another bike isn't going to make you that much faster.

I would agree with darkvalley that the road bike would make the most difference for longer rides.

I ride on Continental Sport Contact 26x1.6 and on level ground it is faster than my brothers Trek racing bike which is a lot lighter but the mountain bike has taller gearing.

Best thing ever I did was get the COntinental tyres as it made cycling much easier, I pumped them to 100 psi and made it even easier to cycle. You can't underestimate the difference high pressure makes and ditching those knobbly tyres.

The Continental tyres are puncture resistant too !

If you really want to speed up your cycling you could easily add a small electric motor for boost in wind hills etc or when you want to go on a longer weekend cycle with hills. You still get the exercise but it can take the pain out.

Oh and regularly cleaning your drivetrain will make a big difference, I cleaned mine yesterday after just fitting a new chain a few months ago and it's unreal the amount of dirt it collects and the difference cleaning makes.

Tonyandthewhale

12.5km isn't crazy long, no reason you couldn't do it on a hybrid. I'm not familiar with the albion gepida but assuming you're running 35mm tyres now you could switch to 32mm or maybe even 28mm which would make a difference.

MB Lacey

I commute 9k each way easily on a specialised sirrus hybrid, swapped my 32mm tyres for some Conti gp4000s 25mm tyres and I fly along.
If your commute was 30/40k each way I'd be advsing a road bike, but 12.5k is completely fine on a hybrid.

endacl

Five posts in and no 'what you really want is a road bike OP' posts?!? Lads. Ye're slipping up.

That albion will take rims that can accommodate thinner tyres, but I can't see why you'd need to over that distance. Tyre pressure would be more important IMO. Keep them pumped to the max so you don't get that 'bouncing along with every stroke' effect.

Yep I agree with tyre pressure as I said I ride on 100 psi on my 26x1.6 Continental Sport Contacts.

OP I'm not familiar with your bike, just from looking at pics on the web tells me it's too good to consider replacing it.

Seriously change those tyres for the ones I mentioned above and pump to 100 psi and I guarantee you will notice a big difference. You'll need a decent pump to handle those pressures.

Lock out the suspension for level ground or hill climbing and it should improve efficiency.

Why don't you take a pic of your bike and post it up ?

Planet X

Be careful there with your Sport Contacts. Recommended 65psi. max. 80psi.

I run 26 X 1.75 Schwalbe Marathons at about 60psi. Grand.

Planet X

Planet X wrote: »

Be careful there with your Sport Contacts. Recommended 65psi. max. 80psi.

I'm running 100 psi + for over a year and a half no problem.

Only thing is avoid Halfords own brand tubes as they are rubbish.

Planet X

Sound.
Just quoting Continental website.

If you are worried about pressure just pump to the max recommended 80 PSI.

Even at 80 psi they will make a huge difference over mountain bike tyres.

But I was running 100 psi when I had the leccy motor on the bike without issue too.

Skrynesaver

I use a hybrid for commuting ~25K each way, 80psi wide knobleless tyres, reliable control in the wet over metal drain covers, road paint etc...

I use a road bike for going on longer spins, though I have been known to take the tank out on occasion.

My experience is that you won't want to ditch the hybrid for a road bike, you'll want one as well , then you'll relegate it to training bike and want to get a really fast, light machine, then you're hooked...