Is fit different for different style bikes?

Hi all - I'm looking to buy a new bike, most likely a hybrid. I have a 1989 Centurion Accordo road bike - very nice and comfy, but after not riding for quite a few years, I feel unsteady on it with the drop bars, down tube shifters and 25 mm tires. So I'm thinking of a hybrid with the goal of it being general purpose for hauling baby trailer or trail-a-bike, but still fun enough for me to ride by myself for 45 min or so at a time.

I'm very confused about fit. I know it's really important, at least in road bikes, and there seem to be general rules about how to tell if a road bike fits (i.e., can you see the front hub through the bars, are your shins over the pedal attachment points when your feet are at 3 o'clock, and a lot of others I don't know).

My question is what do I look for to tell if a hybrid is a good fit, besides is it just comfortable? I rode some that felt like my knees were really far up - what does that mean? I am 5'2" and it's really hard to find bikes in stock that might be might size, especially since I need to have some room (2") on the seat post to attach the trail-a-bike.

BTW, I liked the feel of the trek 7200fx, but I wasn't too crazy about the shop. Can anyone recommend similar bikes of different brands? I especially liked the thumb-style shifters rather than the twist ones, and I liked the solid front fork (can't see the need for front suspension for riding paved bike paths and on the road).

Thanks, and sorry this is so long!

DH has a Specialized hybrid and he loves it. As far as fit goes, you have a little more room for adjustment on a hybrid than on a road bike. DH's has an adjustable stem, but the only way to move it closer is to also move it up, so I would make sure your reach is at least close to correct. Lots of hybrids have geometry a little like a compact road bike, so that should give you more seat post to attach the trailer to, as well as plenty of standover height.

I would guess the reason your knees felt high was because the seat was too low. My observation at the bike shop is that when anyone test rides a hybrid, the staff sets the seat too low on purpose. Most people are worried about being able to touch their feet to the ground while still on the seat. Considering the larger tires raise you off the ground even more than on a road bike, I can't imagine you could have the seat at the proper height and also be able to reach the ground from the saddle. Get them to raise the seat to the proper height for a test ride and see how it feels.

Most hybrids I've seen have front suspension. I think Raleigh's lowest end hybrid might not, but I'm not sure. Fuji makes some flat bar road bikes that you might want to consider - they seem to be halfway between the hybrids and a regular road bike. Hybrids are really fun bikes to ride, in my opinion, though. Good luck finding one that meets your needs.

drplasma64,

consider a makeover for the Centurion since it fits you well. Down tube shifters are kinda tough to use, you can't brake and shift and steer simultaneously. Upgrading to STI will be more comfy and feels safer too.

You could even get a flat style handlebar instead and have the low rolling resistance of the road bike with more upright posture.

There are lots of hybrids, some even adequte for centuries/touring. This page for example list some that one of my local shops has

http://cyclepath.com/site/showitem.c...&currentpage=6

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Originally Posted by drplasma64

I liked the feel of the trek 7200fx, but I wasn't too crazy about the shop. Can anyone recommend similar bikes of different brands?

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I also think that you could try STI shifters, but I understand that riding with the trailerbike may be a bit more frightening with a slim road bike than with a hybrid.

However, I must tell you that I own a Trek 7200FX from last year and although I have switched to a road bike I still use it sometimes and every time I am surprised at the quality of this bike. It's amazingly efficient, every step on the pedal seems to be seamlessly transmitted to energy on the road and the shifters work SO well (Shimano Acera). I don't like the hybrid position so much anymore, but wow! when I ride this bike I understand why I got the cycling bug after I bought it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Trek420

drplasma64,

Down tube shifters are kinda tough to use,

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Shifting with down tube shifters is really no different than reachng for a water bottle.

Friction shifters have such an elegant simplicity of design and are less likely to have mechanical problems. Having ridden with both, I prefer friction, granted mine are bar end shifters. :)

V.

Simplecycle- thanks, I'll pay more attention to seat height when I get my bike.

Trek420 - I considered making over my centurion, but it's also a 12 speed and I'd like better gearing, so I think if I wanted a makeover, I'd need a triplizer, and granny ring, new BB, plus the new handlebars, possibly stem, front derailer, shifters, maybe break levers, and wider tires. I figured I might as well buy a hybrid, and if I get really into riding, then makeover the centurion as the road/touring the frame is meant to be.

Grog - glad to hear another good review of the 7200FX. I ordered mine today!!

Veronica - ummm....I confess I have trouble getting the water bottle out of the cage while moving too :o

I ordered a women's frame Trek 7200FX today, after talking to the people at Trek and my LBS again. I finally got it straight that the women's 7200FX frame is NEITHER a WSD nor a step-through like the women's 7200 (which I thought was too retro for my taste). It's just a sloped top tube, and a women's saddle instead of the men's. Very little difference in geometry otherwise. And since those were the only things about the men's I didn't like, I'm hoping this bike will be perfect for me (for right now, at least).

Thanks all for your input. This is a great place.