Hybrid Bikes

[Mendoza]

Are they worth it, and much better than mountain bikes? I need to get a new bike, but was thinking of a hybrid bike instead of a mountain bike.

My majority of cycling will be on roads in town, and between Brighton and Lewes, oh and the London to Brighton.

Do these bikes withstand the pressure of the occasional venture onto the South Downs?

Also what are the best manufacturers and models to buy at a reasonable price? Or is it better to stick to a mountain bike?

Thanks

 

[Lokki 7]

What is a "Hybrid bike"? Is it half bike half quadrupedal? In my day we called them tricycles.

 

[Napper]

well worth it although if you have a decent mountain bike I'd reccomend putting slicks on

 

[hans kraay fan club]

I have a hybrid. For most people its probably the best and most sensible compromise. Basically you get a bike that rides like a racer, but with wheels that don't buckle first time you bump up a kerb...

Mine's only cheap. A 'Giant' something-or-other. Cost about £200.

 

[Badger]

I used to have a hybrid, they give you a pretty comfortable ride on the road, the only trouble is they are pretty useless if you want to do any kind of off road biking. I now have a mountain bike and a set of road tyres which I always use until it comes to tackling the South Downs.

 

[¤DãŃn¥ §êãGüLL¤]

I really, really want an American style cruiser/chopper.


Like zis...

 

[Stat Brother]

I can never understand people who ride mountain bikes, anywhere other than mountains.
It's not like there isn't a clue!.

The effort needed to move a MB on tarmac is amazing, compared to a road bike.
As the geometry on a roadie isn't for everyone, hybrids are perfect.
Although as stated, not as cheap as just putting slicks on.

Have a good look around, Evans at Gatwick has loads from different makes. As hybrids do fill the gap from MB to roadies, you should be able to pick a good one up from the mountain bike end of the spectrum.
Sadly being a roadie that's as far as my knowledge goes, other than NOT actually buying a bike from Evans, although hopefully London Calling will beg to differ.

 

[sten_super]

I bought one just last week. Paid £295, but that was probably a bit over the odds as it was a bike shop as preferred to online. What I can say so far is that it's far better than my cheap old mountain bike. Not that that really helps you. If you are sticking to roads or relatively well marked paths you should be okay.

 

[Notters]

I have a hybrid. For most people its probably the best and most sensible compromise. Basically you get a bike that rides like a racer, but with wheels that don't buckle first time you bump up a kerb...

Mine's only cheap. A 'Giant' something-or-other. Cost about £200.

Mine did! A specialised, but they gave me a new wheel for free and I've had it for 7 years now. Absolutely love it but no use for off road. The other word for them is "touring", for those who don't know. If you want to go off road at all you should just put slicks on your mountain bike... Or have a road bike and a mountain bike.

 

[REDLAND]

I can never understand people who ride mountain bikes, anywhere other than mountains.
It's not like there isn't a clue!.

The effort needed to move a MB on tarmac is amazing, compared to a road bike.
As the geometry on a roadie isn't for everyone, hybrids are perfect.
Although as stated, not as cheap as just putting slicks on.

Have a good look around, Evans at Gatwick has loads from different makes. As hybrids do fill the gap from MB to roadies, you should be able to pick a good one up from the mountain bike end of the spectrum.
Sadly being a roadie that's as far as my knowledge goes, other than NOT actually buying a bike from Evans, although hopefully London Calling will beg to differ.

Me neither we are so fortunate to have the downs on our doorstep, the North Downs is only 40 mins way and even in a few hours you can be in the alps or Wales !!!

screw Evans, support you local bike shop, check out Rayments in Preston Circus, Feedom Cycles on George Street, Baker Street bikes on the Level and also Sydney Bikes in the South Lane .

 

[Stat Brother]

screw Evans, support you local bike shop, check out Rayments in Preston Circus, Feedom Cycles on George Street, Baker Street bikes on the Level and also Sydney Bikes in the South Lane .

Deffo, but Evans is the place to go to get a good overview across many ranges. Pick the one you like and buy it from somewhere (anywhere) else.

 

[Marc]

Me neither we are so fortunate to have the downs on our doorstep, the North Downs is only 40 mins way and even in a few hours you can be in the alps or Wales !!!

screw Evans, support you local bike shop, check out Rayments in Preston Circus, Feedom Cycles on George Street, Baker Street bikes on the Level and also Sydney Bikes in the South Lane .

I ride my bicycle over the Downs to WORK and back...its brilliant fun

 

[Stoichkov]

Scott make, imo, good-looking hybrids

 

[Notters]

Me neither we are so fortunate to have the downs on our doorstep, the North Downs is only 40 mins way and even in a few hours you can be in the alps or Wales !!!

screw Evans, support you local bike shop, check out Rayments in Preston Circus, Feedom Cycles on George Street, Baker Street bikes on the Level and also Sydney Bikes in the South Lane .

got mine from rayments *smug*

 

[Mendoza]

I ended up in Baker Street bikes who were brilliant. They gave me a chat on what I wanted, let me test ride a few, and after I picked one, gave it a 20 minute mini service, added on mini bull bars and a drinks cage for free. Saved me £20

I ended up with a ridgeback cyclone and I love it. Looking forward tovehw ride to work and a brief stop at falmer

 

[SirDouglasLoft]

I'm in need of a new bike as some **** knocked me of and broke it. They didn't even offer to pay for repairs either .
I'll probably just get a mountain bike though, unless a find a Hybrid thats fairly cheap.

 

[Beach Hut]

I've got a Kona hybrid and it is the dogs bollox

 

[REDLAND]

I'm in need of a new bike as some **** knocked me of and broke it. They didn't even offer to pay for repairs either .
I'll probably just get a mountain bike though, unless a find a Hybrid thats fairly cheap.

Intense VP Tracer, Ive just got one and its the SEX !!!

 

[Cian]

Road/Race hybrid or Road/Mountain hybrid? I've both, the road/race is a very expensive Trek and the road/mountain is a very cheap Saxon. Both do their respective jobs as well as you'd expect a bike not solely designed for them to - the Saxon can take in potholed back roads and dirt tracks in the local forest without a bother and the Trek is a fine road bike but without the extra drag of thick tyres. It has a propensity to eat a wheel a year on me though.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Are they worth it, and much better than mountain bikes? I need to get a new bike, but was thinking of a hybrid bike instead of a mountain bike.

My majority of cycling will be on roads in town, and between Brighton and Lewes, oh and the London to Brighton.

Do these bikes withstand the pressure of the occasional venture onto the South Downs?

Also what are the best manufacturers and models to buy at a reasonable price? Or is it better to stick to a mountain bike?

Thanks

My advise is to get a hybrid. Unless you are doing some serious hard-core riding over rocks and tree-stumps you do not need a mountain bike. For road-riding and off-road on paths etc then a hybrid will more than suffice and certainly strong enough. In fact most hybrids have mountain bike components and rims but have skinnier tyres and a lighter frame.