want opinion on my decision to buy hybrid

hi all -- i live downtown denver, currently ride an MTB. i mainly use it for city biking, and ride
to work a few times a week - about 10 miles thru city/suburb streets. i've been pouring thru the
group archives on google reading posts about the efficiency of road vs hybrid and the benefits of
each one for different uses.

i'd like a recommendation on a good hybrid to buy for my reasons below, and if anyone feels a road
bike would be better i'd love to hear why:

i ride on a lot on downtown city streets, lots of gravel and traffic, and hop curbs when needed.
from what i've read a hybrid will be more suitable for this.

from what i've read in a city enviroment (traffic and lights) i won't lose too much speed by using
hybrid over road bike. i also prefer sitting up, and if i understand correctly in a heavy traffic
area, like where i ride, this is a safer position. (and i could install drop bars on a hybrid if i
wanted a lower position in the future)

i occasionally take my bike on the bus (using outside racks), would a hybrid be better for the
bumping and rattling?

weight: a road bike is light, but a hybrid would be a heck of a lot light than the generic MTB i
have now...

and of course cost: i'm looking to spend $300-500 (if anyone can recommend something in that range).
i use my current bike for lots of errands around my neighboordhood -like grocery
store/pharmacy/bookstore - and live in a busy downtown area, so i don't care to spend $1,000 on a
road bike and come out and find my seat or more missing.

the posts i've read said MTB bikes on roads ride like "slugs", i'm not complaining, but i'm
definetely ready to move to some slimmer wheels. i've been biking 15 miles a day a few times a week
since october, so can i expect a decent improvement in speed?

i'm going to try out some hybrids and road bikes this week. thanks for reading, an let me know
what'd YOU would do!

thanks - james

tune2828@aol.comfkcuspam (Tune2828) wrote in
news:20040115142644.12710.00000037@mb-m29.aol.com:
> hi all -- i live downtown denver, currently ride an MTB. i mainly use it for city biking, and ride
> to work a few times a week - about 10 miles thru city/suburb streets. i've been pouring thru the
> group archives on google reading posts about the efficiency of road vs hybrid and the benefits of
> each one for different uses.

I think a hybrid would be better for your style of riding. Yes, a road bike would be faster, but if
you're only riding 10 miles, the extra speed will only gain you a few minutes total. A hybrid will
have sturdier tires and wheels for those city pot holes. The more upright riding position on a
hybrid will make you more visible in traffic and also give you more visibility. A hybrid will
usually have room and mounting points to add racks, fenders, etc. that most commuters want.

Get a road bike when you start riding 50+ miles a day.

"Tune2828" <tune2828@aol.comfkcuspam> wrote in message
news:20040115142644.12710.00000037@mb-m29.aol.com...
> hi all -- i live downtown denver, currently ride an MTB. i mainly use it
for
> city biking, and ride to work a few times a week - about 10 miles thru city/suburb streets. i've
> been pouring thru the group archives on google reading posts about the efficiency of road vs
> hybrid and the benefits of
each
> one for different uses.
>
> i'd like a recommendation on a good hybrid to buy for my reasons below,
and if
> anyone feels a road bike would be better i'd love to hear why:
>

If it were me, this bike would be my commuting weapon of choice, no question: http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/03/cusa/model-
3VNBB.html , but being that it's a leftover 2003 model, you may not be able to find one. This is the
*one* bike I have lusted after for over two years more than any other, but I cannot justify it's
price on my budget (without giving up either my road bike or my MTB in exchange, and that ain't
gonna happen anytime soon.) I believe they also had a 2001/2002 model of the same bike with a little
different paint.

This would be another choice: http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/04/c...del-4FSBB.html , but I would
add a nice suspension seatpost. (Yes, I am a Cannondale fan.)

Actually, if it were me, I would get some 'cross or 29er wheels for my full-suss MTB so that I would
still have a fully functional MTB for the evenings and weekends with just a quick wheel change.

For real life, everyday commuting, I couldn't possibly recommend a regular drop-bar road bike over
something else, simply because of the riding position and comfort issues. The only person I would
recommend a road bike to would be to someone who is a racer that needs the miles for training. In
that case, I think a road bike with some stout tires and wheels would be a good choice, but
definitely not in your situation.

Although, I was in the Performance bike shop yesterday, and they had a couple of nice looking road
bikes with flat handlebars that would probably fit the bill, and they were under a grand. No discs
or suspension, though.

In article <20040115142644.12710.00000037@mb-m29.aol.com>, tune2828@aol.comfkcuspam says...
> hi all -- i live downtown denver, currently ride an MTB. i mainly use it for city biking, and ride
> to work a few times a week - about 10 miles thru city/suburb streets. i've been pouring thru the
> group archives on google reading posts about the efficiency of road vs hybrid and the benefits of
> each one for different uses.
>
> i'd like a recommendation on a good hybrid to buy for my reasons below, and if anyone feels a road
> bike would be better i'd love to hear why:
>
> i ride on a lot on downtown city streets, lots of gravel and traffic, and hop curbs when needed.
> from what i've read a hybrid will be more suitable for this.
>
> from what i've read in a city enviroment (traffic and lights) i won't lose too much speed by using
> hybrid over road bike. i also prefer sitting up, and if i understand correctly in a heavy traffic
> area, like where i ride, this is a safer position. (and i could install drop bars on a hybrid if i
> wanted a lower position in the future)
>
> i occasionally take my bike on the bus (using outside racks), would a hybrid be better for the
> bumping and rattling?
>
> weight: a road bike is light, but a hybrid would be a heck of a lot light than the generic MTB i
> have now...
>
> and of course cost: i'm looking to spend $300-500 (if anyone can recommend something in that
> range). i use my current bike for lots of errands around my neighboordhood -like grocery
> store/pharmacy/bookstore - and live in a busy downtown area, so i don't care to spend $1,000 on a
> road bike and come out and find my seat or more missing.
>
> the posts i've read said MTB bikes on roads ride like "slugs", i'm not complaining, but i'm
> definetely ready to move to some slimmer wheels. i've been biking 15 miles a day a few times a
> week since october, so can i expect a decent improvement in speed?
>
> i'm going to try out some hybrids and road bikes this week. thanks for reading, an let me know
> what'd YOU would do!

It sounds like you have all the right reasons for wanting a hybrid. I like my road bike even in the
city, but that's personal preference, and I don't jump curbs. If you think you might like to try
one, Fuji has some decent entry-level road bikes in the price range you mentioned above.

--
Dave Kerber Fight spam: remove the ns_ from the return address before replying!

REAL programmers write self-modifying code.

"HardwareLust" <noone@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:09CNb.17465$4P6.3416@nwrddc01.gnilink.net...
>
> "Tune2828" <tune2828@aol.comfkcuspam> wrote in message news:20040115142644.12710.00000037@mb-
> m29.aol.com...
> > hi all -- i live downtown denver, currently ride an MTB. i mainly use
it
> for
> > city biking, and ride to work a few times a week - about 10 miles thru city/suburb streets. i've
> > been pouring thru the group archives on
google
> > reading posts about the efficiency of road vs hybrid and the benefits of
> each
> > one for different uses.
> >
> > i'd like a recommendation on a good hybrid to buy for my reasons below,
> and if
> > anyone feels a road bike would be better i'd love to hear why:
> >
>
> If it were me, this bike would be my commuting weapon of choice, no question: http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/03/cusa/model-
> 3VNBB.html , but being that it's a leftover 2003 model, you may not be able to find one. This is
> the *one* bike I have lusted after for over two years more than
any
> other, but I cannot justify it's price on my budget (without giving up either my road bike or my
> MTB in exchange, and that ain't gonna happen anytime soon.) I believe they also had a 2001/2002
> model of the same bike with a little different paint.
>
> This would be another choice: http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/04/c...del-4FSBB.html , but I
> would add
a
> nice suspension seatpost. (Yes, I am a Cannondale fan.)
>
> Actually, if it were me, I would get some 'cross or 29er wheels for my full-suss MTB so that
> I would still have a fully functional MTB for the evenings and weekends with just a quick
> wheel change.
>
> For real life, everyday commuting, I couldn't possibly recommend a regular drop-bar road bike over
> something else, simply because of the riding position and comfort issues. The only person I would
> recommend a road
bike
> to would be to someone who is a racer that needs the miles for training.
In
> that case, I think a road bike with some stout tires and wheels would be
a
> good choice, but definitely not in your situation.
>
> Although, I was in the Performance bike shop yesterday, and they had a couple of nice looking road
> bikes with flat handlebars that would probably fit the bill, and they were under a grand. No discs
> or suspension,
though.
>

Sorry, I just realized that my two Cannondale recommendations are way out of your price range!

In article <Xns94717807F43F4fubar123@216.251.47.166>, nospam@no.no says...
> tune2828@aol.comfkcuspam (Tune2828) wrote in news:20040115142644.12710.00000037@mb-m29.aol.com:
> > hi all -- i live downtown denver, currently ride an MTB. i mainly use it for city biking, and
> > ride to work a few times a week - about 10 miles thru city/suburb streets. i've been pouring
> > thru the group archives on google reading posts about the efficiency of road vs hybrid and the
> > benefits of each one for different uses.
>
> I think a hybrid would be better for your style of riding. Yes, a road bike would be faster, but
> if you're only riding 10 miles, the extra speed will only gain you a few minutes total. A hybrid
> will have sturdier tires and wheels for those city pot holes. The more upright riding position on
> a hybrid will make you more visible in traffic and also give you more visibility. A hybrid will
> usually have room and mounting points to add racks, fenders, etc. that most commuters want.

Most touring bikes will also have the mounting points for racks and fenders.

> Get a road bike when you start riding 50+ miles a day.

I would drop the threshold to around 25-30 miles per day, but the principle is the same.

--
Dave Kerber Fight spam: remove the ns_ from the return address before replying!

REAL programmers write self-modifying code.

David Kerber <ns_dkerber@ns_ids.net> wrote in
news:MPG.1a70c214a5f510ad98983e@news.ids.net:

> In article <20040115142644.12710.00000037@mb-m29.aol.com>, tune2828@aol.comfkcuspam says...
>> hi all -- i live downtown denver, currently ride an MTB. i mainly use it for city biking, and
>> ride to work a few times a week - about 10 miles thru city/suburb streets. i've been pouring thru
>> the group archives on google reading posts about the efficiency of road vs hybrid and the
>> benefits of each one for different uses.
>>
>> i'd like a recommendation on a good hybrid to buy for my reasons below, and if anyone feels a
>> road bike would be better i'd love to hear why:
>>
>> i ride on a lot on downtown city streets, lots of gravel and traffic, and hop curbs when needed.
>> from what i've read a hybrid will be more suitable for this.
>>
>> from what i've read in a city enviroment (traffic and lights) i won't lose too much speed by
>> using hybrid over road bike. i also prefer sitting up, and if i understand correctly in a heavy
>> traffic area, like where i ride, this is a safer position. (and i could install drop bars on a
>> hybrid if i wanted a lower position in the future)
>>
>> i occasionally take my bike on the bus (using outside racks), would a hybrid be better for the
>> bumping and rattling?
>>
>> weight: a road bike is light, but a hybrid would be a heck of a lot light than the generic MTB i
>> have now...
>>
>> and of course cost: i'm looking to spend $300-500 (if anyone can recommend something in that
>> range). i use my current bike for lots of errands around my neighboordhood -like grocery
>> store/pharmacy/bookstore - and live in a busy downtown area, so i don't care to spend $1,000 on a
>> road bike and come out and find my seat or more missing.
>>
>> the posts i've read said MTB bikes on roads ride like "slugs", i'm not complaining, but i'm
>> definetely ready to move to some slimmer wheels. i've been biking 15 miles a day a few times a
>> week since october, so can i expect a decent improvement in speed?
>>
>> i'm going to try out some hybrids and road bikes this week. thanks for reading, an let me know
>> what'd YOU would do!
>
> It sounds like you have all the right reasons for wanting a hybrid. I like my road bike even in
> the city, but that's personal preference, and I don't jump curbs. If you think you might like to
> try one, Fuji has some decent entry-level road bikes in the price range you mentioned above.
>
>

I would try the Trek 7300fx or 7500fx. I have the 7300fx and like it for the riding I do. I use 32c
Panaracer Pasela TG tires which really measure 28c and it rolls nicely.

tune2828@aol.comfkcuspam (Tune2828) wrote in message news:<20040115142644.12710.00000037@mb-m29.aol.com>...
> hi all -- i live downtown denver, currently ride an MTB. i mainly use it for city biking, and ride
> to work a few times a week - about 10 miles thru city/suburb streets.

so just buy & mount some 1.5 or so 'street' tires and be done w/ it. (since i just saved you $500,
i expect a reasonable finders fee.)

"HardwareLust" <noone@nowhere.com> wrote in message news:<09CNb.17465$4P6.3416@nwrddc01.gnilink.net>...
> "Tune2828" <tune2828@aol.comfkcuspam> wrote in message news:20040115142644.12710.00000037@mb-
> m29.aol.com...
(SNIP)

> For real life, everyday commuting, I couldn't possibly recommend a regular drop-bar road bike over
> something else, simply because of the riding position and comfort issues. The only person I would
> recommend a road bike to would be to someone who is a racer that needs the miles for training. In
> that case, I think a road bike with some stout tires and wheels would be a good choice, but
> definitely not in your situation.
>
> Although, I was in the Performance bike shop yesterday, and they had a couple of nice looking road
> bikes with flat handlebars that would probably fit the bill, and they were under a grand. No discs
> or suspension, though.

I don't know that drop bars are an issue. The bike I've used most often for commuting is a hybrid,
but I replaced the orignal rising stem and flat bar with a road stem and drop bar. I keep the
handlebar height higher than most road riders, about half an inch below the saddle, and I find it
very comfortable for long commutes, since I can shift hand positions. On the other hand, the wide
35c tires, which wouldn't fit on my road bike, are good for the rough sections of road on the way to
work, and it is easier to mount fenders, too.

tune2828@aol.comfkcuspam (Tune2828) wrote in message news:<20040115142644.12710.00000037@mb-m29.aol.com>...
> hi all -- i live downtown denver, currently ride an MTB. i mainly use it for city biking, and ride
> to work a few times a week - about 10 miles thru city/suburb streets. i've been pouring thru the
> group archives on google reading posts about the efficiency of road vs hybrid and the benefits of
> each one for different uses.
>
> i'd like a recommendation on a good hybrid to buy for my reasons below, and if anyone feels a road
> bike would be better i'd love to hear why:
>
> i ride on a lot on downtown city streets, lots of gravel and traffic, and hop curbs when needed.
> from what i've read a hybrid will be more suitable for this.

Assuming you have a decent but not-high-end MTB now..

I would hybridize the current MTB. Put slimmer slicker tires on it. Possibly change the fork to a
rigid one if it has suspension. You won't notice the weight difference of a new bike too much for
city riding (unless you've got some pretty steep hills) If you're constantly spinning out the
biggest gear on the MTB then maybe you want a more road like bike with bigger gearing (changing too
many things on the MTB just gets too expensive)

Especially since you are riding in the city where it will be locked up you don't want anything that
will be too much of a theft target.

Then with the money you've saved splurge on a nice mtn bike if you like mountain biking, or on a
nice road bike you can use when you want to go longer distances and not have to lock it up.

If you're really bent on getting a new bike for commuting, I think Cannondale actually makes bikes
that they call commuters.. benefits of a road bike, more hybrid size tires, some extra comfort
features (suspension seat post) etc. Their Road Warrior bikes have an upright position on a road
bike http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/04/cusa/flavor/RW.html Touring bikes are good as commuters if
you want to haul a lot of gear. The web site says their sport road bikes are a more "comfortable"
version of the performance road bikes http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/04/cusa/flavor/SR.html I'm not
very familiar with Cyclocross bikes but they look like a road bike (drop bars etc.) but are meant to
handle rough terrain.

So there are more flavors to bikes than just road, mountain and (traditional) hybrid. If you go to
most bicycle manufacturers websites you'll get 6 or more choices of types of bikes to buy.

"Tune2828" <tune2828@aol.comfkcuspam> wrote in message
news:20040115142644.12710.00000037@mb-m29.aol.com...
>
> i'd like a recommendation on a good hybrid to buy for my reasons below,
and if
> anyone feels a road bike would be better i'd love to hear why:

I think a sport-tourer would be ideal. Canti brakes (or front disk), and a frame and fork that
support rack & fenders. I recently acquired just such a bike, after riding mostly mountain bikes for
ages. Mine also has a road suspension fork, which sounds nice (but certainly not required) for your
application.

> i ride on a lot on downtown city streets, lots of gravel and traffic, and
hop
> curbs when needed. from what i've read a hybrid will be more suitable for this.

I have no problems with curbs, potholes, etc. on my 26mm tires. Wider is better for gravel, and if I
had a need I could go wider, no problem.

> from what i've read in a city enviroment (traffic and lights) i won't lose
too
> much speed by using hybrid over road bike. i also prefer sitting up, and
if i
> understand correctly in a heavy traffic area, like where i ride, this is a safer position. (and i
> could install drop bars on a hybrid if i wanted a
lower
> position in the future)

You can sit up with the drops too. Riding on the hoods is a normal position, and you can also use
the straight part ("flats"?, sorry, forgot the term: I'm on my first road bike in over 15 years).
The versatility of drop bars is really nice.

Changing from flats to drops may be tricky, since your reach changes: if the bike fits you with
flat bars, are you sure it would fit with drops? If you change the stem length to compensate it
will change the handling. People have done this swap. I couldn't say how happy they've been with
the results.

> and of course cost: i'm looking to spend $300-500 (if anyone can
recommend
> something in that range).

Mine was, IIRC a little less than that range used. I found it online for my father, and when he quit
riding he gave it to me.

> i use my current bike for lots of errands around my neighboordhood -like grocery
> store/pharmacy/bookstore - and live in a
busy
> downtown area, so i don't care to spend $1,000 on a road bike and come out
and
> find my seat or more missing.

Maybe a sub $50 beater bike would be best.

David

"B.C. Cletta" <bc_cletta@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:add863d6.0401151404.589ede6f@posting.google.com...
> tune2828@aol.comfkcuspam (Tune2828) wrote in message
news:<20040115142644.12710.00000037@mb-m29.aol.com>...
> > hi all -- i live downtown denver, currently ride an MTB. i mainly use
it for
> > city biking, and ride to work a few times a week - about 10 miles thru city/suburb streets.
>
> so just buy & mount some 1.5 or so 'street' tires and be done w/ it. (since i just saved you
> $500, i expect a reasonable finders fee.)

Avocet Fasgrip 1.9" would be nice. His MTB would no longer be a "slug" on the road.

hey thanks for all the replies - and so quickly too. good group

the cannondales are definetely pricy but fun to look at.

upgrading my current bike is out of the question - i bought it used for cheap so i could get a feel
for if i could bike to work regularly. it's a generic brand, the gears slip, and it weighs about as
much as a wheelbarrow full of bricks.

i also started riding again to get some cardio into my workout routine. riding a stationary bike or
jogging bores me - and i love that part of my exercise is taken care of during my daily routine.
also saves wear and tear on my car-especially short hops.

anyway i test rode a trek 720 today and was amazed at how much lighter it was then mine. rode it a
few blocks uphill and back down. bigger rim diameter, higher gears, and did i mention much lighter?

i'll probably do the 720 or a 730 if i can find one in the $300 range. the 720 was $349 which is
what i was looking to spend.

the test ride seemed like it gave me a third more speed with half the effort. yes i've been riding a
piece of junk.

the only thing i didn't care for was the curved handlebars. seemed like i was almost TOO upright.
they have that "going to the european market for some baguette bread" look to them. nice, but the
bike store will install the straight bar types for no extra charge.

thanks again for the help - and feel free to comment! i know if only rode one so far and anything is
probably better than what i have but i really liked the 720

james...

"Tune2828" <tune2828@aol.comfkcuspam> wrote in message
news:20040115142644.12710.00000037@mb-m29.aol.com...
> hi all -- i live downtown denver, currently ride an MTB. i mainly use it
for
> city biking, and ride to work a few times a week - about 10 miles thru city/suburb streets. i've
> been pouring thru the group archives on google reading posts about the efficiency of road vs
> hybrid and the benefits of
each
> one for different uses.
>
SNIP

Have you considered swapping out your 2"+ knobbies for 1.5" or less slicks? You would be surprised
how much difference it makes in your rides. It sounds like you still desire a utilitarian mode of
transport, but something not so slug-like.

Try it - for 50 bills, it just may be the ticket.

Kerry

I've been riding a Trek 7200 for the past 2 years and have been very happy with it. The stock tires
may be too wide and aggressive for your needs, but they've worked well for me since I do a lot of
riding on dirt roads. I've done some touring on this bike and this spring hope to take it on a self-
supported ride of the Katy Trail.

>
> I would try the Trek 7300fx or 7500fx. I have the 7300fx and like it for the riding I do. I use
> 32c Panaracer Pasela TG tires which really measure 28c and it rolls nicely.