The Hybrid Bicycle Blog

Do you ever sleep in your bicycle clothes since they are so comfortable?

If I’ve been cycling before hand, the answer would be no.

What with cycling knicks having close comfort with the skin, and the issue of sweating, it wouldn’t be the best idea.

What brand do you recommend for a hybrid bike- Raleigh, Cannondale, Giant, Trek, Bianchii, Specialized. All priced between 300-400. Cannondale is at 400 while all the other hover around 300. Please rank in order from best to worst (any any ties in-between) as well as any other input you have. Of course I need to test ride them all, I know that.

Thanks so much

"Which is a better bike, a Trek or a Specialized?

Or Cannondale or Orbea or Scott or Schwinn or Cervelo. We’re asked "Which brand is better?" almost daily. While each brand has its diehard fans, we can’t answer the question. It’s not because of any political reason, but because it’s not the right question to ask–you’re buying a bicycle, not a brand. .."

Bike Buying Tips: Buyer Be Wise;…Here we answer 10 of the most common queries to help you find the right bike.
By Bicycling Staff

http://www.bicycling.com/article/0,6610,s-3-12-16913-1,00.html

Bicycling & Mountain Bike reviews

http://www.bicycling.com/gear/channel/0,7992,s1-16-0-0-0,00.html

I am trying to decide between 3 different bicycles…

First choice is the Cannondale Adventure 4 for $450.

Second is the Specialized Crossroads Elite for $480.

Third is the Trek 7200 for $480.

If you could tell me which you would choose and why I would appreciate it.

Thanks.
The price of the Trek 7200 may be wrong.

Cannondale is an American company, the other two outsource their labor to other countries. Cannondale is also a great bike, I have not idea what that other user is talking about.

Also I know that you said that these were your options, but you could get a bike that was just as good for less from a different company. Try: Raleigh, Giant, or I commute to work on a Jamis Explorer, that I love.

I ride on bike trails and the road with hills. I currently have a cheap mountain bike but was told a hybrid would be best for me. In researching I found both hybrid and comfort bikes but can’t really distinush between the two. Also, who makes the best hybrid and comfort bikes.

CHOOSING A BIKE

If you’re in the market for a new bicycle, you may be overwhelmed by the variety of bikes available. Walk into a bike shop and you’ll find mountain bikes, road bikes, hybrid bikes, "comfort" bikes, cruisers, and BMX bikes. You’ll find bikes made of aluminum, steel, and other more exotic materials with anywhere from 1 to 30 "speeds," and prices ranging from about $200 to over $6,000. While performance depends mostly on the engine (i.e., the rider), having the right bike for the kind of riding you plan to do does make a big difference.

Most people on our "A", "B", and "C" rides use road bikes. On "D" rides, mountain and hybrid bikes seem to be more popular. Each type has advantages and disadvantages depending on what’s most important to you. The information below provides an overview of the various options available with a particular emphasis on road bicycles.
Where to Buy

Where you buy your bike can be as important as which bike you buy. Bikes sold in department stores and sporting goods stores are often of low quality and are almost always poorly assembled and prepped. Some only come in one frame size, and there is usually no one available to help you choose an appropriate model. Most of the better bike brands are only sold in bike shops. When you buy a bike at a reputable bike shop, you can be confident that it was assembled properly, and that the shop and manufacturer will stand behind it.

Look for a shop that will patiently answer your questions, help you select an appropriate bike, and fit you properly. (It’s best to go during their off-peak hours.) You will likely find that some shops are much more helpful and friendly than others. They should spend a significant amount of time on the fitting process. Remember that a bike that seems OK in the shop may not feel so comfortable after a long ride unless it’s the right size and adjusted properly for your proportions.

A good shop should be willing to swap a component for you if necessary. For example, you might need a shorter handlebar stem, different style pedals, or a more comfortable saddle. There may be a small charge if the replacement part is more expensive than the original.
Road Bikes

Road bikes are efficient due to their light weight and their narrow, high-pressure tires. In addition, their drop-style handlebars put the rider in a more aerodynamic position. These characteristics make road bikes better suited to long and/or fast rides.

On the other hand, road bikes tend to be expensive, and some riders find the drop bars and narrow saddle uncomfortable. The lightweight, high-pressure tires can feel harsh on rough roads and are prone to flats.
What to Look for in a Road Bike

When shopping for a road bike, the three most important things to consider are fit, fit, and fit. Seriously, even the most expensive bike will be unsatisfactory if it doesn’t fit you properly. And there’s MUCH more to fit than being able to straddle the top tube. (Click here to read our recommendations for getting the right size bike and setting it up correctly.) Resist the temptation to buy a bike on sale that "almost" fits. You wouldn’t buy the wrong size shoes to save a few dollars. Bikes are no different.

Road bikes come in a variety of styles. At one extreme, you’ll find ultra-light, short wheelbase racing models with tightly spaced gears. At the other end of the spectrum, you’ll find rugged touring models designed to carry heavy loads with long wheelbases, medium-width tires, and wide-range gearing. (True touring road bikes are becoming rare, but there are a few available such as the Trek 520.) For most recreational riders, a bike somewhere between a tourer and an all out racer makes sense. Sometimes called "Sport Touring" models, these bikes are relatively light, stable, and durable.

Many modern road bikes have very tight clearance between the tires and frame. This can be a problem if you break a spoke or if you want to use slightly wider tires. Wider tires (e.g., 700 x 28 mm vs. 700 x 23 mm) have several advantages. They are less prone to pinch flats, and they provide a more comfortable and stable ride. The difference in rolling resistance is often negligible. On long rides, comfort is often the most important consideration. Avoid bikes that limit your tire options.

As for gearing, road bikes are available with either double or triple chainrings up front, and eight, nine, or ten cogs in the back. If you struggle on the hills, or plan to tour, consider a triple. Even if you rarely use it, it’s nice to know you have that "granny" gear.

Try not to get too hung up on bike weight. Ultra-light wheels and frames probably aren’t going to be very durable. Remember that the typical pro racer weighs about 150 lbs, has a team mechanic looking over his bike each day, and will be handed a new bike if trouble arises on the road. For the rest of us, durability is a bigger concern. Weight makes a difference when climbing hills. But what matters is the combined weight of the bike, the rider, and anything being carried. A difference of a pound or two in bike weight isn’t going to make a great difference in performance, but "stupid light" equipment can adversely affect reliability. Getting stuck far from home with a mechanical problem is no fun.

Wheels are a subject of of keen interest among cyclists. The trend among several manufacturers is to equip their high-end bikes with "paired-spoke wheels" by Rolf, Shimano, or Bontrager. These wheels definitely look cool and typically use only 20 or 24 heavy gauge spokes instead of the usual 32 spokes. However, while they may well be reliable, they can not be easily trued by the home mechanic. And if a spoke breaks during a ride, you’ll probably need to get picked up. Most "boutique" wheels use non-standard parts that may not be available when that model is discontinued. Good hand-built conventional wheels with 32 (or 36) spokes are reliable and maintainable, and will get you home even if a spoke breaks. For more information on wheels, including how to build and true your own, click here.

The right saddle can make a big difference on a long ride. A "racing" style saddle is a must for a road bike to avoid chaffing. Make sure you’re positioned such that your weight is supported by your "sit bones." Women generally require a wider saddle, and several saddles designed specifically for women are available. Some saddles have gel embedded in them for comfort while others have cutouts designed to reduce pressure. Unfortunately, a saddle that’s right for one person may be uncomfortable for another. It’s usually a process of trial and error until you find one you like. Some bike shops will let you try a saddle for a few days and exchange it for a different model if it isn’t right for you. Ask about their exchange policy before you buy. Ironically, a soft "cushy" saddle is usually not a good idea because the soft material compresses and exerts pressure in the wrong places when you ride. The most popular saddles have a firm foam padding over a nylon shell, and a leather or kevlar cover.

Finally, let’s consider frame materials. Frames can be made of steel, aluminum, titanium, or carbon fiber (or a combination of these materials). The tubes can be joined by welding, epoxying, or brazing (with or without lugs). Some folks have an almost religious devotion to one or another material. While each material has unique properties (strength, stiffness, density, ductility, etc.), great frames can be made from any of these materials by choosing the proper tube diameter, wall thickness, and frame geometry. Beware of generalizations like "aluminum has a harsh ride" or "titanium has a smooth ride." In fact, some of the early aluminum frames were as flexible as a wet noodle; others were so stiff they’d loosen your fillings. It all depends on the tube dimensions and frame geometry. A good frame is mostly the result of good design and construction, not the material used. Tires have far more "compliance" than any frame when it comes to vertical shock transmission. As a result, tire width and inflation pressure have much more effect on ride quality than frame material.

Before you choose a road bike be sure to take a test ride. For some pointers on what to look for during a test ride, click here.

If you have an older 12 or 14 speed road bike with downtube shifters, don’t despair. If it’s of good quality, in good mechanical shape, and fits properly, it will probably give you at least 90 percent of the performance of a newer bike. Newer bikes have more gears and "integrated brake/shift levers" that let you shift easily and precisely without taking a hand off the bars. But they don’t necessarily ride any better. (If your old bike is made of steel, it can be retrofitted with a modern 9 speed drivetrain by having the rear dropouts spread to 130 mm.)
Mountain Bikes

Mountain bikes (MTBs) can be ridden on or off road. The upright riding position is easy to get used to and lets you see where you’re going without straining your neck. MTBs have wide-range gearing, and the better ones are very durable. They also tend to be heavy. MTBs designed for serious off-road use usually come with wide knobby tires, and either front shocks (hardtail), or front and rear shocks (full suspension). If you ride mainly on the road and/or smooth "easy" trails, you’re probably better off without any shocks. And switching to narrower, high-pressure "slick" tires will definitely improve on-road performance. MTBs may be suitable for short, casual club road rides, but will require more effort than a road bike.
Hybrid Bikes

As the name implies, hybrid bikes are a cross between a road bike and MTB. They tend to be lighter than an MTB, while still offering an upright riding position. The upright position is sometimes preferred by casual riders since it places less strain on the back and neck. However, it offers fewer hand positions than a drop bar road bike, and places more weight on the saddle (which can cause discomfort on longer rides). Most hybrids come with 700C wheels (similar to a road bike) as opposed to the slightly smaller 26" MTB wheels, and the tires have a less aggressive tread pattern. These bikes are good for commuting, running errands, and casual club road rides. They can be used on dirt, gravel, or paved roads.
© Art Harris, 2002

I’ve been a road rider for several years on a classic 10 speed Bianchi. The tires are much too narrow for dirt/woods trails where my 10 yr old son likes to ride, so I’m looking for a more appropriate ride. Considering a used mountain or hybrid bike for less than $150. Any suggestions on where to start? Features? Brands?

Why draw the line @ $150? If you were to pay 150 for a used bike it would probably make sense to get it tuned up by a bike shop (to make sure it is safe) which would probably cost around $45. So you’d end up paying $200 for a used bike when you could probably buy a brand new one (trek, specialized, giant) for about $230. Especially this time of year, the bike shops are dead! That’s not to say you couldn’t find a deal @ 150 if you were to look for a while. Maybe try cragslist.

I have an old Huffy Cruiser that I bought waaaaayyyy back in 1986. It’s the kind you push the pedal back to brake, one speed, etc. It’s been ridden all over the place! I also have a mountain bike I bought about 10 years ago, but haven’t used it much at all since it’s not very comfortable. I’d like to get a nicer bike to ride on the bike path by work at lunchtime, and wondered what other people were riding. Something comfortable that can also handle gravel and occasional dirt paths would be great.

I have done a little research and found Sedona by Giant. It’s supposed to be comfortable, but have mountain-bike-style tires, so can go on dirt paths too which would be just about perfect. Has anyone tried this or a similar bike out? Where did you purchase your ride?

Thanks so much, in advance, for your time!

Thanks so much guys. There’s a family-owned bike shop by work that carries Trek, and I’m pretty sure they have the Soho. There’s another shop that carries the Sedona, so I’m going to take them out and see which seems like the better fit. Plus a trip to Target to check out the Devon (woman’s version) won’t hurt either.

We go camping a lot, and there are some fun dirt trails to ride (no five foot drops into air or anything) so definitely want the ruggedness but then also the comfort for a daily ride on the bike path.

** I’ll update this by Saturday.

**** Thanks again each of you.
** Hey, just REALLY checked out the Trek Navigator, and it seems like it may be an awesome choice. **

Very excited, thanks again! And will update on which I go with.

Just bought the Giant Sedona DX about a month ago and really am enjoying it.Very comfortable and easy to ride.Great on trails or pavement.Has a hybrid tire for different surfaces.So much more comfortable of a sitting position compared to a mountain bike but at the same time it looks pretty much like a mountain bike.

online? for under £400

Please stay away from online purchases of bikes unless you are a pro and piecing a bike together yourself.

The assembly of the bike will make or break your experience and I can tell you that most consumers are not able to assemble their bike properly and safely. Even if you are a good mechanic remember that we assemble many, many bikes per year. We are good at our job just like you are at yours – because we do it over and over again. Also, we get some annual technical orientations and regular publications that you don’t see. We often work on racing team bikes and others that see super heavy duty so we know what things to look out for the average back yard bike mechanic does not know. We are familiar with the parts on your bike and familiar with all the earlier generations of parts that have been made by that manufacturer for many years back. Some of our mechanics have gone away to school and acheived certifications for their expertise. Others are just folks from other super qualified mechanic who moonlight at the bike shop. People that are race car mechanics and others. One of my mechanics worked on Bonneville land speed record car and motorcycles.

Any savings you have on the bike will easily be offset by the expense you incur when you have to take the bike into a local shop for work.

Mail order bikes are recognizable and shops will not do this for free like they would be doing for their customers. On bikes we sell we give away a package of free adjustments. We will charge you. The average tune-up is about $30-$50USD minimum. When we see a mail order customer coming we want to help teach them a lesson on what a poor idea their purchase was so we will be meticulous in pointing out what they need. We don’t make up things but we don’t have to either. Also since the bike is now coming into our umbrella for work, it is our responsibility for us to assume you didn’t put it together correctly. In this day of litigation we must assume you are an idiot. This is for your protection and ours so you don’t sue us when your handlebars come off from you not torquing the bolts correctly when you only wanted us to adjust your shifting.

Bikes are not toaster ovens. You don’t set it and forget it. They will take adjustments and repairs. We don’t mind sharing all we know with you freely. We hold free classes to teach you how to work on your own bike, how to ride your bike safely and how to compete if you wish. We visit employers in your area to do the same classes for their employees to help them ride safer and keep the air cleaner.

When the mayor or city counsel is wanting to cancel that bike path that will make riding safer in your city we and our friends are the first people down there to remind them that a bike path is a good thing for you and your children. When you fall off your bike because of a dangerous set of railroad tracks we are the ones organizing the petition drive to get them fixed.

We show up at the bike race events and tech inspect bikes to be sure they are safe. We set up a complimentary repair area for bikes at local events and work on bikes all day for free. Some of our mechanics ride the following vehicles and perform lightening wheel and bike changes when competitors require assistance.

We are the people that help local cyclists, like you or your kids, learn how to race. We take them under our wings and help them learn to ride fast and safe and have a sport that can last a lifetime. Some of them get good – very good. We sponsor the cycling teams that they ride for. We pay their entry fees and help give them a discount on parts when they don’t have the money to do that. Even if they never become professionals, they learn about teamwork, sacrifice and discipline. A few of them end up with a jersey on their back representing their country at the Olympics.

Just go buy your bike at a local shop. Isn’t the few dollars worth it…

I noticed that hyrbid bikes have lower speed ratio like 7-8 speed and mountrain bikes have 18-24 speed. What is the difference? Are hybrid bikes lighter than mountain bikes therefore faster?

both could be faster but it depends on the wheel size and type of tires you use

are you riding on or off road?

I am looking for anyone who has ridden this bike and can comment on it’s ability to climb hills, the difficulty of pedaling with the extra payload, etc.

I saw it while shopping for a new bike for moving around a busy college campus with lots of hills;

http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_constraint=0&search_query=e-zip&Continue.x=0&Continue.y=0&Continue=Find&ic=24_0

I recently bought the other bike on that page – the E-Zip Mountain Trailz bike. The two are almost identical. I wrote a pretty thorough review of it here on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/E%252dZip-Mountain-Trailz-Electric-Bicycle/dp/B000MSDKOI/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-0603160-1961532?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1188436525&sr=8-1

Basically it makes going up hills much easier, as long as you’re not going too far (because that will drain the battery pretty quickly). It’s pretty hard to pedal with a dead battery because of the extra weight. Read my review for further details.

I just want to spend a several hours a week to shed a few pounds. I visited couple stores in my area and they offered hybrid bikes made by Giant or Fuji. Also I saw bike on line made by Gazelle (Dutch compamy). I would appretiate any advise from experianced person who rides and or sell this tipe of bikes.
Thank you!

Buy the bike, not the brand name. Go to your local bike shop and tell them where and how you want to ride as well as how much you have to spend. The business is so competitive today that any two bikes at the same price point are very likely to be equivalent values. Let the bike shop match you up with the bike that best meets your needs. Then test ride the bike. Go to other bike shops and test what they have to offer. One bike will fit you and feel better than the others. You’ll be able to tell that quickly after sitting on the bike and test riding for just a few minutes. Buy that bike regardless of the name on it. A properly fitting bike is a joy to ride.

HTH