What would you recommend… a hybrid or a road bike?
I am a complete beginner looking to buy a decent bike which I would use on the roads to get fit and to also commute to work. There is the odd occasion where I might take it onto mud tracks, but not often. I like the Claud Butler Chinook or Levante (both road bikes) or a Claud Butler Urban 100 (a hybrid bike).
Apart from the obvious (road bikes being faster and unsuitable for off-roading and hybrids being abit of everything) whats the difference? And which would you reccommend??
Any advice on this would be really really appreciated! Thanks!!
I started the same way, and went for a hybrid with smooth tires (slicks). They have much less rolling resistance than knobbies. Your bike shop should do the switch, or you can do it yourself for not much $. I used by hybrid for several distance rides (Boston to New York) and did just fine. Hybrids are a good way to start.
I strongly dislike using my road bike for commuting. Road bikes get beat up on city streets with pot holes and debris. Sooner or later, a rim gets bent. Of course, they can’t do mud or trails.
That having been said, once I tried a road bike for distance rides, I never went back. The road bikes are lighter, faster, and require less work per mile. I recently gave away that 7 year old hybrid, it served me well, but got forced out of the garage by my four road bikes. (That’s another story.)
Seeing as how you’re a "complete beginner", I would go for a hybrid because of its upright position. You will probably feel better being able to see traffic more easily on your commute. I started with a mountain bike in the beginning and then upgraded later to a road bike. Although the road bike is fast and light, in traffic, I feel much better on my mountain bike. I feel like I can see cars better, and maybe be seen better (as opposed to being hunched over the handlebars).
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Comment by m — September 2, 2010 @ 5:28 pm
i dont like hybrids or even mountain bikes if i am putting any amount of miles in. you have few hand positions to use and a lot more rolling resistance. i have commuted, and i always use a roadbike. the dropped bars are more efficient in various winds, allow a wide range of hand positions so you dont get numb hands, and the lower rolling resistance means doing less work over a given distance. i believe in the right tool for the right job. i have a mountain bike. it is fun come winter when i can’t get out on the pavement. when i’m on trails there is nothing better, but when i am riding stictly asphalt, i want my road bike.
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Comment by ohiojeff — September 2, 2010 @ 5:33 pm
Not sure about the brands you are talking about. But, by and large hybrids are boat anchors.
A road bike can be set up for comfort – shorter & higher stem and wide tires. If you have to have one bike to do everything, than a cyclocross bike is the way to go.
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Comment by galen_52657 — September 2, 2010 @ 6:00 pm
I started the same way, and went for a hybrid with smooth tires (slicks). They have much less rolling resistance than knobbies. Your bike shop should do the switch, or you can do it yourself for not much $. I used by hybrid for several distance rides (Boston to New York) and did just fine. Hybrids are a good way to start.
I strongly dislike using my road bike for commuting. Road bikes get beat up on city streets with pot holes and debris. Sooner or later, a rim gets bent. Of course, they can’t do mud or trails.
That having been said, once I tried a road bike for distance rides, I never went back. The road bikes are lighter, faster, and require less work per mile. I recently gave away that 7 year old hybrid, it served me well, but got forced out of the garage by my four road bikes. (That’s another story.)
References :
Comment by Food Doc — September 2, 2010 @ 6:32 pm