Hi Marc,
I know this isn't an answer to your exact question but if you are in the
market for a new hybrid, let me tell you a few things I don't like about the
2005 Specialized Crossroads Sport I bought this past February:
- the seat is horribly uncomfortable, after just 2 or 3 miles, my butt
hurts. I think they must have subcontracted it's design to the Marquis de
Sade.
- after a few weeks the seat started to squeak badly. I thought it was the
front suspension and oiled the heck out of it. I took it back to the dealer
and they were completely puzzled and wanted to give up on finding the
problem. When I insisted they either fix it or take it back and refund my
money, they played around for another hour or so and found out the squeaks
were really coming from the seat (it has lots of springs.) They sprayed a
bunch of lube on the under side of the seat. This got rid of the problem
for about a week and it came right back. Knowing the root of the problem, I
sprayed the heck out of the underside of the seat several times with several
different lubes and the squeak finally went away.
- The pedals are incredibly cheap and flimsy. One broke and the other was
deformed after just a few months (I didn't abuse the bike and always rode it
on trails or the street). My dealer dug through his take-off bin and
replaced them with much sturdier ones.
- I hate those new highly slanted top bars. Unless you buy a fairly large
size, most of the hybrids now have slanted top bars. This makes it
difficult (and funny looking) to transport on a car rack, to store on many
bike racks, and there was no room for my bike lock ( or a 2nd water bottle
or air pump) inside the frame.
On the other hand, other than that absolutely awful seat, it is more
comfortable to ride. I do think you loose some of the power you put into
the pedals in the suspension.
Maybe other brands are better, but if I had it to do over, I don't think I'd
buy a Specialized Crossroads Sport again.
-Pete
<
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:
[email protected]...
> Hoping for advice...........I use a Hybrid bike casually. I ride once
> a week usually - about 30 miles or so. Sometimes a little longer.
> Almost all on paved bike trails. I am thinking of upgrading my hybrid
> bike.
>
> I have a trek multitrack 730 in great condition. Are there any
> substantial advantages to upgrading to one of their newer versions
> (aluminum frame, suspension fork, etc.). I don't want to just waste
> my money but some of the newer models really feel good.
>
> I know hybrids aren't popular for enthusiasts. But for the riding I
> do, they are ideal. So, I won't be getting a road bike for now.
>
> Thanks!!!!!!!
> Marc
>