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Hybrid Bike comments/suggestions!

Started by Mee Too · · Last activity · 13 posts · 398 views

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01 / Original postHybrid Bike comments/suggestions!Mee Too · 24 Mar 2005 02 / This pagePosts 1–13Page 1 of 1 · chronological order 03 / Latest replyPost #13Patrick Lamb · 27 Mar 2005

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Road Cycling
Published
24 March 2005
Last activity
27 March 2005
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Mee Too
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  1. Original post
    Mee Too
    Archived post
    #1

    I am looking at buying a Hybrid Bike for riding around town, and commuting
    to work. One thing I am really looking at is a light weight bike that is
    durable enough for some trail riding, and the ability to ride up steep paved
    roads fairly easily. I live in a mountainous area, and have a 2 mile ride up
    hill, that can be difficult for many people to even walk up, yet alone ride
    a bike up.

    I have found two bike that could fit these requirements without breaking the
    bank.

    1) Kona Dew Deluxe, I kinda like the granny gear of the Shimano CS-HG40-8
    cluster, and the Sun MZ 14 Rims appear to be better quality than the WTB's
    on the Gary Fisher.

    2) Gary Fisher Utopia, this bike has alot of updated parts, but I am not
    real familiar with the Bontrager Parts, are they better, or worse than whats
    comes on the Kona? It is a real fun ride, and I am starting to lean towards
    this bike more!

    My question is, what do you experts think would be the best ride?

    Thanks,,, SW

    Report
  2. Zoot Katz
    Archived post
    #2

    Thu, 24 Mar 2005 13:40:58 -0700,
    <1111696861.7ff47412947f6dfeea01bb50ce68b47b@teranews>, "Mee Too"

    Quoted message said:

    My question is, what do you experts think would be the best ride?

    Thanks,,, SW

    The Dew Deluxe has a rigid fork, is ~$150 less, comes with toe clips
    and straps and it's black. I'm sold.

    How often do think you'll really need that heavier bouncy fork that
    could complicate mounting fenders?
    --
    zk

    Report
  3. Bill H.
    Archived post
    #3

    Bontrager is okay in my limited experience with them. I have some
    Bontrager cranks, a seatpost, and a handlebar on my GF bike. They work
    well so far.

    You say "occasional trail riding" so I reply with "what kinds of
    trails?" and "define occasional". If it's maybe once a month or so on
    mild offroad trails that aren't very technical, go rigid. You'll give
    up some comfort on bumpy trails without it, but you can probably get
    by. And as the other poster pointed out, a suspension fork is usually
    much heavier than a rigid fork.

    -Bill H.

    Report
  4. Mee Too
    Archived post
    #4

    Would not be much trail riding, since I have a Hard Tail mountain bike for
    that. Just that some of the local paved access trail have portions that are
    dirt/gravel, and I don't want to have to worry about damaging a wheel or
    such.

    ....SW

    "Bill H." <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Bontrager is okay in my limited experience with them. I have some
    Bontrager cranks, a seatpost, and a handlebar on my GF bike. They work
    well so far.

    You say "occasional trail riding" so I reply with "what kinds of
    trails?" and "define occasional". If it's maybe once a month or so on
    mild offroad trails that aren't very technical, go rigid. You'll give
    up some comfort on bumpy trails without it, but you can probably get
    by. And as the other poster pointed out, a suspension fork is usually
    much heavier than a rigid fork.

    -Bill H.

    Report
  5. maxo
    Archived post
    #5
    Zoot Katz said:

    The Dew Deluxe has a rigid fork, is ~$150 less, comes with toe clips and
    straps and it's black. I'm sold.

    Agreed. If you're one to count "weight points" 😉 for the price of that
    fork in weight points you can have fenders, a full lighting system and a
    rack.

    All of which you should have on a town bike anyway. That's what the
    remaining $150's for. :P

    Report
  6. Colorado Bicycler
    Archived post
    #6

    Don't sweat the gravel.

    I do gravel on my road bike (700x25's) with no problem.

    The hybrid will take it easily in stride.

    Personally, I can't stand the feel of "suspension" on a hybrid (my wife
    has one). To me it is like riding in an old Buick Roadmaster from the
    50's.

    Report
  7. Email address hidden
    Archived post
    #7

    Bontrager select wheels are great on my Lemond. Not out of true in two
    years.

    Report
  8. Pat Lamb
    Archived post
    #8
    Colorado Bicycler said:

    Don't sweat the gravel.

    I do gravel on my road bike (700x25's) with no problem.

    The hybrid will take it easily in stride.

    It really depends on the size of the gravel. 1/4" gravel is no problem
    on almost any tire. 2" gravel, well, I haven't ridden anything with
    less than four large tires that feels safe, if not comfortable.

    Pat

    Report
  9. maxo
    Archived post
    #9
    Pat Lamb said:

    1/4" gravel is no problem on
    almost any tire. 2" gravel,

    2" gravel!?

    At what point do they just become "rocks"?

    Btw, I find I can ride dirt roads just fine with a 28mm tire--but with
    gravel, anything over pea sized--the more float the better.

    Report
  10. Colorado Bicycler
    Archived post
    #10

    I did one inch gravel earlier this week, successfully, on 700x25's.

    Just depends on your riding skill, I guess!

    (I have never seen 2 inch "gravel?"😉

    Report
  11. Tom Sherman
    Archived post
    #11
    maxo said:
    Pat Lamb said:

    1/4" gravel is no problem on
    almost any tire. 2" gravel,

    2" gravel!?

    At what point do they just become "rocks"?

    3" to 12" nominal diameter is a cobble; greater than 12" diameter is a
    boulder.

    --
    Tom Sherman - Earth (Downstate Illinois, North of Forgottonia)

    Report
  12. maxo
    Archived post
    #12
    Tom Sherman said:
    maxo said:
    Pat Lamb said:

    1/4" gravel is no problem on
    almost any tire. 2" gravel,

    2" gravel!?

    At what point do they just become "rocks"?

    3" to 12" nominal diameter is a cobble; greater than 12" diameter is a
    boulder.

    Oh great, I make a wiseass post and somebody has to slap me around with
    dirty rotten facts.

    LOL 😄

    Report
  13. Patrick Lamb
    Archived post
    #13
    maxo said:
    Pat Lamb said:

    1/4" gravel is no problem on
    almost any tire. 2" gravel,

    2" gravel!?

    At what point do they just become "rocks"?

    Fair question. When I ride to one of the LBSs, I like to sneak in the
    back way (it faces a major road/highway), and the parking lot in the
    back has huge gravel. The other place I've seen it is on unpaved
    mountain "roads," perhaps better called overgrown bear tracks. My
    guess is the engineers keep going up on gravel size until they find
    something that won't wash off the steeper sections.

    Pat

    Email address works as is.

    Report

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