FWIW
I was going to buy a hybrid for me and my wife to share as our first bicycle
late last year (2003)......
In my research on various bicycle types I have found that the problem with
all so called hybrid designs is that they are not driven by competitive
cycling sport as much as say pure MTB and pure road/racing bicycles are. And
they sell far fewer hybrids than MTB bikes according to what I could find.
I also found that hybrid bicycles often cost more than more or less
equivalent MTB bikes. This all is probably due to low volumes they sell to
re-coup their investment. Not sure. And often, but not always, hybrids are
as heavy or heavier than MTB too. Check out Trek MTB versus Trek hybrid
prices and specs, on the web as example.
All this made me buy MTB than a hybrid as first bicycle. But then I also
bought a road/racing bike as well but that is another story! You can say the
cycling bug bit me 8^)
good luck regardless
"kingsley" wrote in message
news
an.2004.07.15.22.04.55.277748@maddogsbreakfa st.com.au...
On Thu, 15 Jul 2004 19:47:57 +1000, Comfort Gusset wrote:
Seriously, spend a little more and get a Road and MTN bike. The thief
has
given you the perfect opportunity.
I don't get the whole "master of none" anti hybrid arguments.
Around here (rural-urban fringe) you get everything from fresh hotmix
to fairly dusty dirt roads. Which bike should I take for my ride - the
roadie that gets me to the backroads, or the MTB that performs
(supposedly) better once I get to the dirt?
The ride position (more upright) argument is a complete wed herring,
since damn-near all mass produced bikes have oodles of flexibility with
seat positioning and handlebar height. You can ride sitting up or as
aerodynamic as you choose.
And where does the Road | Hybrid | Mountain bike distinction
start and end... What about something like Trek's 1200 "road bike
with flat bars" Is that a hybrid? Is it a roadie? What about touring
bikes like Cannondale's T2000 - it has the drop-bars, yet that longer
chainstay, does the chainstay make it hybrid and no good?
Of course one of the traditional MTB Vs Road distinctions was the sloping
top-tube. How many bikes in this years TdF _don't_ have this. Are all
700C wheeled bikes with a sloping top tube hybrid bikes?, what if they
have a triple chainring? Flat bars? Are ridden on mountain trails?
Just because a bike is particularly specialised for either riding on road,
or riding on mountain trails doesn't make it good or bad. A bike is
perfect when the _rider_ finds it suitable for the intended purpose.
-kt
PS sorry if this sounded like a rant, although I guess it is a bit.
--
Kingsley Turner,
(mailto: )
http://MadDogsBreakfast.com/ABFAQ - news:aus.bicycle Frequenly Asked
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