Hybrid bikes, are they ok?

[Marty Wallace]

Is there any reason why a hybrid bike couldn't be as good as a Mountain bike?

If the bikes were set up the same with the exception of larger wheel size on the Hybrid, wouldn't they both be pretty much the same?

[MarkB]

Marty are you the one that was going to run the hybrid down a Downhill
course?

If so let us know when you get to the bottom if it's the same as a
Intense M-1.

Mark

[Kathleen]

I had a hybrid before I got a real mtb. I thought it would be the best
of both worlds. In fact, it wasn't much good for anything except riding
around the neighborhood. I took it off-road a few times, and came to
the conclusion that mountain biking sucked. Then I tried it on a decent
mtb, had an absolute blast, and realized that, in fact, it was the
hybrid that sucked. The geometry was different from an actual mountain
bike, and it was just plain awkward.

Kathleen

Marty Wallace wrote:

> Is there any reason why a hybrid bike couldn't be as good as a

> Mountain bike?If the bikes were set up the same with the exception of

[Doug Eli]

>Is there any reason why a hybrid bike couldn't be as good as a
Mountain bike?

Several. Assuming you will be using the bike to do off road
trails (not paved paths, gravel walking paths, or other
'road-like' trails) there are many advantages to a true MTB. One
very important one that most people are not aware of is the
geometry of the frame. The Hybred will have more relaxed
geometry. What this means is that while it will be comfortable
to ride it will not have the same handling characteristics. Your
turns will be wider (like taking a slalom course in a SUV
compared to a sports car).

Another is that the frame will be less rigid and strong in most
cases. A hybrid will not be as durable as a bike designed to
take rock feilds at 20mph+. It will also not transmit your
pedaling power as well.

Newer MTBs can take 100mm+ suspension forks which makes a huge
difference on the rough stuff. A hybrid's geometry may allow for
a 40-60mm fork. That isn't much and any more will slow down its
already sluggish corning charateristics.

Tire selection is another consideration. There are not many
tires that are off road worthy that fit 27" wheels. While we're
on the subject of wheels I don't know if there are many 27" rims
that will hold up as well as the leading 26"ers.

>If the bikes were set up the same with the exception of larger
wheel size on the Hybrid, wouldn't they both be pretty much the
>same?

A stock hybrid has poor brakes (generally), lower end components,
skinny tires, weak wheels, 'comfy' fitted parts (high rise stem,
heavy riser bar, huge padded seat usually). IF you wanted to do
real trail riding you'd want to get the front end in a more off
road position reqiring a new stem (and bar likely), brakes that
actually work well, shifters and derailluers that work well under
the rough conditions MTBing presents, tires that would grip and
maybe even new rings to give you lower gear ratios. Basically
you'd spend more upgrading than the bike cost you in the first
place. And again we get back to geometry. The frame is the
heart and soul of any bike. If you put the best MTB components
on a hybrid it still would not be a very good off road bike.
Unsafe even.

If you are thinking of buying a bike and want to have one that is
good for roads and trails an MTB is very easy to convert to a
road worthy bike, but to convert a hybrid to a real trail bike
just won't happen.

Marty Wallace wrote:

>

[Jon Isaacs]

>Is there any reason why a hybrid bike couldn't be as good as a Mountain =
>bike?
>If the bikes were set up the same with the exception of larger wheel =

>size on the Hybrid, wouldn't they both be pretty much the same?
>

NO matter what you do to a Hybrid, upgrade the components, the real problem is
that you are stuck with 700C wheels. With 700C wheels the largest tires I have
ever found are 700C x 42 Kendas which have a road tread and are 1.5 iches wide.

Since one of the most important factors in serious MTBing are the tires, this
pretty means a Hybrid will never be much good off road.

I am a great believer that the Universal bike is not a Hybrid but rather a
fairly simple mountain bike, maybe a bike like an Raleigh M80. With a change
of tires, it can do about anything with reasonable competence.

Jon Isaacs

jon isaacs

[Baxter]

"Hybrids" are the worst of both worlds.  They make inefficient road bikes and unpredictable mountain bikes HOWEVER they are a great all around campus or around town bikes for many riders.  They are more comfortable than many road bikes for casual riders and built better and genuinely more rugged than dept store bikes. 

 

Assuming you're looking at a quality bike shop bike, some companies are putting together decent component groups on their hybrids but trail riding usually requires a much lower center of gravity and better geometry that offers the ability to get behind the seat on occasion to descend some hills and the frame set ups on hybrids are often too high. 

 

Just my two cents.

 

Greg

[ozarkmtbr]

<RING RING>

'HELLO?'

It's Baxter!!!

 

"Meow Meow Meow Meow

Meow Meow Meow Meow"

 

[Jeff]

not when he gets to the bottom...*IF* he gets to the bottom
MarkB <Mbar...@fmtc.net> wrote in message
news:3948D92B...@fmtc.net...

[sven]

You should consider a cyclo-cross bike. I take mine on some of the most
technical trails in the NW, including chutes and ladders in Bellingham, WA.
The drop bars make it challenging,but everything is rideable. The key is the
larger diameter wheel.700c wheels roll over obstacles easier than 26" wheels
do. 26" wheels are a lot stronger though, so make sure you have something
strong like spinergy's. They are great on the road too. I commute on mine
and it rides better than any of my road bikes. If you want the best of both
worlds, go cyclo cross, but make sure you have a mountain bike too.
T

"Marty Wallace" <ma...@geo.net.au> wrote in message
news:_1225.2$oL...@wa.nnrp.telstra.net...

Is there any reason why a hybrid bike couldn't be as good as a Mountain

bike?
If the bikes were set up the same with the exception of larger wheel size on

[sven]

I used flat bars on my cross bike for a while and it screamed! If you have a
true cyclocross frame then I'd say build it up. You will truly be surprised
at how versatile the bike will be. The frame geometry should be off road
specific if the frame is new enough. Some older cross frames were simply
road racing frames with canti mounts. These can get a little sketchy on the
trail because of the steep angles. Sounds like you have a fun project to get
started on!
T

"Marty Wallace" <ma...@geo.net.au> wrote in message

news:7Yz25.2$C_....@wa.nnrp.telstra.net...
> Well I do have a mountain bike but I also have a titanium cyclocross
frame.
> I was wondering if I could use mountain bike components on the frame,
> including handle bars and still have a good bike. I don't think the frame
> would break and it's got the fixtures for mountain bike brakes. As you
said,
> it should roll better with the larger wheels.
>
> "sven" <old...@u.washington.edu> wrote in message
> news:kOx25.530$RY6....@news.uswest.net...

[Marty Wallace]

[Jon Isaacs]

> As you said,
>it should roll better with the larger wheels.

The largest OD 700C tire available is a 42 and has an OD of 27.5 inches. A
large MTB tire has an OD of 26.5 inches. IF those 42's would actually fit your
frame, I doubt that the 1 inch difference in diameter would make up for the
loss of cushion afforded by the larger tire cross section. 1 inch of diameter
makes little difference in rolling over things.

Of course those 16 x 1.5 that the BikeE "Off road" recumbent uses probably do
not roll over large rocks or even small rocks too well.

jon isaacs