WTB: Hybrids

[sethpo]

A couple of guys in the office are looking to get their first “grown up” bikes. Both live in NoVa near the W&OD and so we think a basic Hybrid is the way to go for general rec riding, errands and beginning commuting. Both are about 5-10 and are averaged sized fellows.

If know of any used but in good riding condition hybrids that might be looking for a new home, let me know.

Next step: Get these bros commuting to work!

[dasgeh]

@sethpo 87870 wrote:

A couple of guys in the office are looking to get their first “grown up” bikes. Both live in NoVa near the W&OD and so we think a basic Hybrid is the way to go for general rec riding, errands and beginning commuting. Both are about 5-10 and are averaged sized fellows.

If know of any used but in good riding condition hybrids that might be looking for a new home, let me know.

Next step: Get these bros commuting to work!

They’re coming out of the woodwork. I just had an email conversation with a guys at work about this. I convinced him to go the LBS route.

[sethpo]

I hesitate to share this feeble attempt at a bike buying guide for newbies with this esteemed group, but here’s something I threw together for my co-workers. Maybe it can be improved upon and be of some use.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1afjHsFI_fIkc-1N3eC6Jvog7prwi1_lFWKtNLD_DC20/edit?usp=sharing

[americancyclo]

@sethpo 87870 wrote:

Both live in NoVa near the W&OD

Then they live near Bikinetic, Freshbikes, Phoenix Bikes, Spokes Etc, Bikes @ Vienna, Revolution, The Olde Bike Shop.

Many of these places can get you in to a beginner bike for under $500. Some for a fraction of that!

[Rockford10]

Hey – I know someone who just picked up a new Surly and has a couple of hybrids to spare. He’s about 5’11”.

:rolleyes:

[ShawnoftheDread]

@Rockford10 87903 wrote:

Hey – I know someone who just picked up a new Surly and has a couple of hybrids to spare. He’s about 5’11”.

:rolleyes:

Spare? Does not compute.

[sethpo]

@Rockford10 87903 wrote:

Hey – I know someone who just picked up a new Surly and has a couple of hybrids to spare. He’s about 5’11”.

:rolleyes:

Sent you a PM. Thanks!

[ebubar]

Excellent guide that you created! Perhaps a page with some specific bike suggestions from the riders on here would help?

My general advice would agree that they will want a hybrid or a road/cyclocross. Having ridden a hybrid for a year and switching to a road/cross bike this/last month, the road frame with drop bars is MUCH more comfortable and easier to ride. I really notice the difference after my 30 mile round trip (i.e. exhausted after hybrid, ready to ride another 30 on the road frame). The road bike entry price can be much steeper however, which is hard to justify for many (myself included!).

My specific commuter suggestions:
Hybrid bike: Trek 7.2 FX.
My trusty old commuter. It was great until I realized what I was missing with the drop bars and road bike geometry. I’m cleaning and tuning it sometime this week. Would consider selling for $300 (I’m 5’9), which is probably unreasonably overpriced for a bike with 3000 miles (though the chain and cassette are new)!

Road/Cross bike: Giant Defy 5.
Nice entry level road bike that I seriously considered. Comes in at around $700 new, has lowest grade Claris components, but they’re now integrated brifters without those nasty thumb buttons. As you mention, the lower components are probably fine for a beginner. In fact, I think Sora or Tiagra is probably the sweet spot for a beginner on a budget for something that will last and work well!

[sethpo]

@ebubar 87928 wrote:

My specific commuter suggestions:
Hybrid bike: Trek 7.2 FX.
My trusty old commuter. It was great until I realized what I was missing with the drop bars and road bike geometry. I’m cleaning and tuning it sometime this week. Would consider selling for $300 (I’m 5’9), which is probably unreasonably overpriced for a bike with 3000 miles (though the chain and cassette are new)!

I completely agree about going from a flat bar to drop bars with a more forward positioning. I actually started with a Trek FX 7.2 myself and then “out grew” it when I started riding a lot of miles. I sold it a few months ago when I got my CX/commuter. I showed them both my bike and some other hybrids in the office and both guys want to start w/ a less expensive hybrid and see how it goes (which I can’t really argue with). One of them wants to be able to tow a child trailer as well.

So, if you are interested in selling your Trek, hit me up direct w/ some details and I’ll pass them along and make the connection. Email me sethrpollack at yahoo dot com.

Thanks!

[cvcalhoun]

I know I’m in the minority on this board, but I have never actually understood how a road bike is practical–and I’m far from a “beginner.” Some reasons:

• I bicycle at least once a week on the Georgetown Branch Trail, which is unpaved, subject to erosion, and generally not suitable for road bikes.
• I want to be able to bike with my granddaughter in her bike trailer.
• I want to carry my purse with me at all times, and be able to pick up groceries while I’m out. I keep a rack and a couple of large panniers on my bike for these purposes. (About half the weight of my bicycle come from them, and from what I keep in them.)
• I want to be able to look around at the scenery while I’m riding.
• Going slowly and looking ahead of me makes me safer.
• I want a bike sturdy enough so that I almost never have to deal with repairs. I don’t even bother to carry inner tubes with me, since it’s been years since I had a flat. Having the latest and greatest bike would be no use to me if it were broken when I needed to get somewhere. (And I don’t have the money or the storage space to keep multiple bikes as spares for this purpose.)
• My wrists are already what gives out first on a long ride. There is no way I want to be putting more of my weight on them.

I suppose if I had an interest in racing, or even long recreational rides, I might feel differently. But I use a bicycle primarily for transportation, and seldom need to go farther than my hybrid will take me. And every time I start thinking I want a road bike, I ask myself what I’d use it for–and go back to my trusty overweight hybrid.

[cyclingfool]

@cvcalhoun 88030 wrote:

I know I’m in the minority on this board, but I have never actually understood how a road bike is practical–and I’m far from a “beginner.” Some reasons:

• I bicycle at least once a week on the Georgetown Branch Trail, which is unpaved, subject to erosion, and generally not suitable for road bikes.
• I want to be able to bike with my granddaughter in her bike trailer.
• I want to carry my purse with me at all times, and be able to pick up groceries while I’m out. I keep a rack and a couple of large panniers on my bike for these purposes. (About half the weight of my bicycle come from them, and from what I keep in them.)
• I want to be able to look around at the scenery while I’m riding.
• Going slowly and looking ahead of me makes me safer.
• I want a bike sturdy enough so that I almost never have to deal with repairs. I don’t even bother to carry inner tubes with me, since it’s been years since I had a flat. Having the latest and greatest bike would be no use to me if it were broken when I needed to get somewhere. (And I don’t have the money or the storage space to keep multiple bikes as spares for this purpose.)
• My wrists are already what gives out first on a long ride. There is no way I want to be putting more of my weight on them.

I suppose if I had an interest in racing, or even long recreational rides, I might feel differently. But I use a bicycle primarily for transportation, and seldom need to go farther than my hybrid will take me. And every time I start thinking I want a road bike, I ask myself what I’d use it for–and go back to my trusty overweight hybrid.

Sounds like you need a good touring bike. Or do like I ended up doing and put drop bars and 2″ slick(ish) Schwalbe tires on a MTB frame. Meets all your criteria, plus has (what I agree to be) the added comfort of drop bars.

Or, of course, stick to the status quo, which it sounds like you’re happy with.

For my part, I understand the greater attraction of drop bars (or at least not flat/riser bars). I haven’t used straight or raiser handlebars on my own bike for almost three years if memory serves. That was when I first tried butterfly trekking bars and realized how much more comfortable I could be w/ more hand positions. I’ve since moved on to drop bars, and do find their comfort unparalleled. Of course, when I first started riding again five years ago, I thought drop bars were only for racers. Why would I need them?

But to each his/her own. It’s part of what make’s cycling so beautiful, right? The simplicity of the machine and the large number of permutations and variations on a basic, time-proven concept.

[dasgeh]

@cvcalhoun 88030 wrote:

I know I’m in the minority on this board, but I have never actually understood how a road bike is practical–and I’m far from a “beginner.” Some reasons:

You found a bike you love to ride for what you do, and that’s awesome. I think when people talk about switching to a “road” bike, they often mean something broader than what roadies race on. They’re generally referring to drop bars, lighter bike, and a more aggressive position. There are bikes that meet those criteria that can handle pretty much all of your points — unpaved trails (cross, touring bikes), bike trailers (in fact, most road bikes work with some type of trailer), racks and baskets, upright position (though not as much), they all have brakes, sturdiness (e.g. steel), drop bars should be more comfortable on wrists, because they allow you to change hand positions. The reason a lot of people have this revelation after they’ve been riding for a while, I think, is that switching to a “road” (or cross or touring) bike allows you to go faster and get a better fitting bike. Faster + better fit = more willing to stay on the bike longer and go farther. It’s all about expanding the radius, going farther, having more fun.

[dkel]

@dasgeh 88038 wrote:

The reason a lot of people have this revelation after they’ve been riding for a while, I think, is that switching to a “road” (or cross or touring) bike allows you to go faster and get a better fitting bike. Faster + better fit = more willing to stay on the bike longer and go farther. It’s all about expanding the radius, going farther, having more fun.

I’m now four days into making the switch to a road bike (in this case a cross bike), and all the comments from dasgeh and cyclingfool apply to me. The bike interests of cvcalhoun are precisely what I was looking for (minus the purse!), and so far, my Surly Straggler fits the bill (still working on being “able to look around at the scenery while I’m riding”–the forward position is pretty new for my neck muscles). I’m definitely a utility cyclist, and not interested in the road racing angle (currently…). I’m running a rack, lights, sturdy tires (knobby 41s on the Straggler), and two panniers stuffed to the gills (fenders are going on ASAP, and I’m already mentally planning for the dynohub). I would say, cvcalhoun, you don’t need a road bike…but you might enjoy one without losing any of what you already have.

[dkel]

@sethpo 87870 wrote:

If know of any used but in good riding condition hybrids that might be looking for a new home, let me know.

Next step: Get these bros commuting to work!

Well, one of those bros just bought my Trek! I’ve never done n-1 before…I’m a little sad to see the old gal go, but I’m just thrilled that someone will be using it the way I used it! Thanks, sethpo, for the connection.

In case anyone is wondering, my wife (Rockford10) assures me that this will go a long way towards future n+1, so the sale seems to be in proper perspective. :p

[Anonymous]

@cvcalhoun 88030 wrote:

I know I’m in the minority on this board, but

Actually I doubt that part is true. I think a majority of people on this board have a hybrid, CX, or some other not-pure-road bike that is used for commuting/utility.

I will say… my *road bike* (which I believe was intended by the manufacturer– and certainly by its first owner– as an entry-level race bike) is not particularly practical for many of the reasons you state. It doesn’t have rack mounts– can’t carry a darn thing on it. No clearance for wider tires. It’s twitchy (aka “responsive”) as heck (well, by my standards, which are probably not the same as the standards of people who actually race bikes:p). Riding over potholes makes my bones rattle. I wouldn’t recommend it as an only bike for a new rider unless new rider was quite sure s/he only wanted something to ride on paved roads/paths as exercise/sport but not going to to any transportation riding. It’s also a LOT of fun to ride. My BF last year bought a road bike as his first “real” bike. He didn’t want transportation, he wanted an alternative to basketball that his trashed knee could handle. It was a perfect choice for him.

My cross bike, otoh, which looks an awful lot like like a road bike, weighs about as much, but is intended by the manufacturer (and its owner-me) as much an all-round utility as potential cyclocross race bike, can take wide tires, front and rear racks, and fenders if one wants. It’s way more stable than either the road bike or the hybrid. Can go off pavement without disintegrating (or making *me* disintegrate which is the bigger danger w/ the other bikes). Says “eh” to potholes. Disc brakes are awesome. Drop bars are MUCH easier on (my) wrists that my hybrid’s flat bars. It’s a great general use bike. I would recommend it to someone looking for a general use bike, with a couple caveats, which are- price, it didn’t exactly come cheap; and gearing, the hybrid has more range/lower gears which if your legs are not super strong and you want to carry groceries (or granddaughters) up hills does come in quite handy.

so, it all just kind of depends on what you want from your bike:).

[Author]

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