Will it hurt the bike...or me???

[momsquared]

So...perhaps because I was a bit uneducated in my first major bike purchase, I walked out of the shop with a Giant Escape 2 for women. I had gone in wanting a hybrid bike that could be used on the road and on bike trails in my area. I have used it for both, but after some further reading see my bike is described or classified as a commuter/town bike. My concern is that using it like a hybrid could possibly cause damage to the bike. I am definitely not mountain biking with it, but I also do more riding than to the local coffee shop and back.

I also plan to do some charity fun rides this summer. Did I get the entirely wrong bike????

[tulip]

Looks like a hybrid to me. Just ride it. You'll learn if it's appropriate or not once you get more riding experience. Later on, you may decide you want drop bars, or that you don't like the aluminum frame...but just ride it.

[Chicken Little]

I agree. Ride it to death. Switch out the tires if you want, but ride, ride, ride.

[Thorn]

A bike designed to handle city riding potholes is going to think that a bike trail is heaven. 700x32 tires will not even wimper at dirt and gravel. It will sing.

Ride the bike and enjoy.

[Grog]

Ride the bike!

It definitely won't be hurt by road and light trail riding.

It's actually pretty hard to hurt a bike...

And, by the way, your bike sounds like it is a hybrid.

[MartianDestiny]

Ride it. You aren't going to hurt it.

My carbon race bike has seen dirt roads, washboards, gravel, tree roots, curbs and it's 100% fine. I can't say I recommend doing that consistently on a race bike, but the point is it really does take more than we give credit for to mess up a bike.

And honestly the distinction (if there really is one) between a commuter/city designation and a hybrid designation is blurry at best.

[sfa]

I agree. Just ride it. I think a lot of the classification that manufacturers use has more to do with marketing than anything else. Sounds like your bike shop listened to what you wanted and sold you a good bike for your needs.

Have fun!

Sarah

[momsquared]

All good news! Now I am not concerned about riding the crap out of it. I really do like the bike - just wanted to make sure I wasn't doing something crazy - or crazier than normal. :cool:

[kfergos]

All good news! Now I am not concerned about riding the crap out of it. I really do like the bike - just wanted to make sure I wasn't doing something crazy - or crazier than normal. :cool:This (http://www.metalcowboy.com/excerpts.shtml) is crazy.

So is this:
http://bikehugger.com/images/blogs/santa_bike_shark.jpg

What you're looking to do with your bike doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of crazy as far as biking goes. Go for it and have fun. :)

[Aquila]

I think riding in that salt water might tend to corrode the chain, so if you're going to ride with sharks, be sure to rinse it off.

:)

As everyone else has said, ride, ride, and have fun!

[TrekTheKaty]

You mean like this:

[uforgot]

I just looked up your bike and it's definitely a hybrid. When I think of town/commuter I think of the bikes that are totally upright and this isn't it. Looks perfect for what you are doing with it. I have a Trek fx and it looks like yours. Enjoy!

[nerdgirl]

As long as you don't do this with it, you'll be fine! ;)
(btw, I own this movie on DVD. It is awesome and inspiring)

Wish I could figure out how to imbed this, but standard BB code doesn't seem to work

http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=HUUr27RSvRQ