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Conference noted::bicycle

Title:	Bicycling
Notice:	Bicycling for Fun
Moderator:	JAMIN::WASSER

Created:	Mon Apr 14 1986
Last Modified:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	3214
Total number of notes:	31946

2743.0. "Long rides on hybrids...?" by ASIC::RDAIGLE () Tue Apr 05 1994 17:43

    At the risk of being flamed for starting yet another hybrid note,
    I'd like to ask a specific question or two.
    
    Like many others, I'm getting back into cycling after a long hiatus.
    My old Fuji Grand Tourer 12 speed (1979 vintage) has seen better days
    and I am now in the market to buy a new bike. My riding will probably
    be 80% road/20% off-road (bike path, cart road). 
    
    Scenario: I plan to do some 5-7 day touring in S. New England this summer,
              at a leisurely pace of 50-60+ miles a day.  
    Question: Will a hybrid cause undo strain and fatigue over this 
              distance? What about riding a century? Unthinkable on a
              hybrid?
    
    PS. A friend is a Bridgestone lover and is really pushing them, like
        others here. BUT....hasn't Bridgestone announced that they are
        stopping ALL U.S. distributing? What could that mean?

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
2743.1	Works for me...	USHS01::MOFFITT		`Tue Apr 05 1994 23:36`	6
	I've done a couple of 50-70 mile rides on my Trek hybrid (the high-end one) and haven't suffered unduly. I'd recommend going to reasonable narrow tires (the ones I ride have a smooth center section and mild knobs on the sides -- smooth on pavement), and would also strongly advise on some sort of bar ends. The flat bars don't offer a whole lot of options for hand placement.
2743.2	TOURING BIKE	AKOCOA::FULLER		`Wed Apr 06 1994 09:15`	5
	I recommend moving towards a touring bike with wider tires, or adapt a hybrid with drop bars. There are a number of new interesting styles recently on the market. steve
2743.3		FXODEV::CRANE	I'd rather be on my bicycle!	`Wed Apr 06 1994 10:27`	7
	Like I told you Dick. Get a Mountain bike! ;-) JC
2743.4		TOOK::C_PEREZ	The InFAMous Eight	`Wed Apr 06 1994 11:37`	16
	I also have a Trek hybrid and I replaced my orginal handle bar with a Scott AT-4 Pro bar last season. This made all the difference in riding on those 35+ mile days... I highly recommend at least some type of bar ends if you plan to ride longer distances. I don't typically ride more than 40 or so miles on a given day but this year I'm thinking about getting into the 50-70 mile ranges. My hybrid still has the orginal knobby tires which are now starting to wear to the point I should be replacing them this season. I plan to get tires that are more road oriented which should help me out on longer jaunts... Overall, after 3 seasons and for my type of riding, I'm completely satisfied with my selection of a hybrid. There's also been a number of occasions where due to the roads and/or road conditions I was glad I had a hybrid! Craig
2743.5	crazybars	MKOTS1::LELLOS		`Wed Apr 06 1994 13:35`	18
	I also replaced the original flat bars on my hybrid. I think the bars I have now are called crazybars. At the points where the flat bar would normally end, the crazybar curves up and then out, so I have three hand-positions to choose from. I chose this bar type so I could stretch forward into a less upright position. Check the side-view illustration to see what I mean. O is the bar end. ,__ / O Peter Lellos
2743.6	My back doesn't hurt with a hybrid	RANGER::SCHLENER		`Wed Apr 06 1994 18:14`	12
	I have an cannondale hybrid, avocet tires (they're smooth like car tires and have treads just like car tires), and handlebars that aren't flat but are raised. I like the cannondale because I do alot of road riding so I didn't want a mountain bike and the avocet tires are pretty good on the road. I've done a metric century with the hybrid - that's the furthest I've gone on it. The only problem I had was I was out of shape so it had nothing to do with the bike. Cindy
2743.7	more thoughts	SOLVIT::MEREDITH	another hill? ugh	`Fri Apr 08 1994 12:24`	9
	I've got a Pro-Flex Hybrid that I've done a couple of 80 mile rides. I was more than comfortable (but the bike has a Girvin flex stem AND rear suspension). I also agree the Avocet tires work very good. They have a little more drag, but they absorb some of the bumps and handle surprise pot holes with more durability. Handlebars do become an issue after 40 miles for me, I've changed to the type that wraps back around and give a little aerodynamic positioning (can't remember the name). Paul
2743.8	Hybrid/Touring	NEMAIL::EAGAN		`Mon Apr 11 1994 10:26`	6
	I've done a century and a two day 150 mile trip on my hybrid.. It was Ok but found my back got a little sore.. Two years ago I bought a touring bike.. The hybrid is still in the garage!! Ron
2743.9	UPDATE...bought a TREK 750	ASIC::RDAIGLE		`Wed Jun 08 1994 16:02`	17
	Thought it was time for me to update my base note. I looked at a LOT of bikes and rode most of them but the winner turned out to be a TREK 750 hybrid. I bought the bike at Bicycle Alley in Worcester, Mass. Great bunch of folks there, Neil and Tim especially. This bike fits me like a glove! I've already done several 50+ mile rides and noticed no strain or pain attributable to the hybrid. I did have bar ends put on and this seems to make all the difference. Thanks again for all the advice and info. It helped make my choice easier. ~Dick D.