Hybrid vs. RoadBike

Hey! I'm new here, well I've been hanging around for a bit...bikeless. I'm finally ready to jump in with both feet! I went to the LBS last week intent on looking at a 7.3 fx but that was before I saw the Lexa.

I guess I should say I'm nearly 44, a shorty that needs to drop 50 pounds and its been about 5 years since I've been on a bike and I don't wanna bite off more than I can chew so to speak. I'm also looking for a low-end bike, both the Fx and the Lexa are pretty close to what I can afford.

Lastly, I've been looking at WSD bikes but maybe that's not right. I just assumed at 5'3" that was the way to go, but I'm more body than legs so maybe I should be looking at the manly frames too? A push in any direction would be appreciated. :)

if you aren't really leggy you might not need a WSD bike, but there aren't a lot of "manly" bikes in our size. so try out everything that kind of fits you.
I started out with a hybrid, rode it a few years, if my husband wasn't an absolute bike maniac I might still be tootling along on my hybrid today.

I think you should go for what you love within your budget, as your legs will catch up with your heart quicker than you think. I've only been riding for a few months at 44, I bought a comfort-hybrid as it looked good for a beginner and best suited to the kind of riding I thought I wanted to do. It did get me started perfectly, and is even better with a new saddle, but it's since been joined by a mountain bike for off-road riding as it turned out I love the off-road riding more than I imagined. I use it for errands, and will do for a few years yet, but ultimately it will be replaced by a Pashley.

Welcome to TE!

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Originally Posted by hebe

I think you should go for what you love within your budget, as your legs will catch up with your heart quicker than you think. I've only been riding for a few months at 44, I bought a comfort-hybrid as it looked good for a beginner and best suited to the kind of riding I thought I wanted to do. It did get me started perfectly, and is even better with a new saddle, but it's since been joined by a mountain bike for off-road riding as it turned out I love the off-road riding more than I imagined. I use it for errands, and will do for a few years yet, but ultimately it will be replaced by a Pashley.

Welcome to TE!

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Those are my thoughts exactly! A hybrid seems like a great bike to start with, but I can only afford one bike per year. So then I could be stuck with something I don't like until next spring. Decisions, decisions!

A year and a half ago, I bought a used hybrid (the wrong size!) and within 6 weeks realized I really wanted a road bike. So I sold it for what I paid for it, and bought myself the road bike. I'm 54 so it's not about your age- it's about what you want to do with it. I took off almost 40 lbs with it- if you start riding a lot you can get rid of some of you excess poundage pretty steadily

I'm 5'1", but I do have the short body, longer legs and bought a WSD. I agree you should try several bikes out and find a good fit, size and otherwise. If you decide you want to ride longer distances, the road bike is a better choice. If you're going to do shorter distances, commutes, any gravel roads, the hybrid might be better.

Good luck and tell us what you decide

I'm 5'1, more torso than legs. I don't ride WSD bikes, because they don't fit me. The top tubes are too short. So I pretty much ride the largest frame I still can barely clear standover wise to get the top tube fit right.

If you are going to go the hybrid route, maybe try picking up one used. So that if you end up wanting a road bike in the next few months, you can still sell the hybrid for about the same price as you bought it for.

If you really get the cycling bug, you'll end up wanting a utility or commuting type bike, which you'll want to keep the hybrid around for once you get a road bike.

I got a road bike first, and I will say that it's harder with a road bike initially fitwise until you build up your core muscles - so in that respect, a hybrid might make you more comfortable till you build up your core.

I know of a lot of people who buy hybrids (with suspension forks) and within months decide they want a roadie. But flat bar roadies like the fx are a good commuter and will do a lot more besides. Have you ridden both? At your height it will be hard to find them, but really, ride whatever you can that might be similar, both for feel and size.

What are your cycling goals and aspirations?

I started with an FX. Two months later, I bought a road bike and haven't ridden the FX since. It is a nice bike, but between the lack of options for hand positions and a more upright position, which can be a drawback in the wind, it just wasn't the right choice for me. That said, test ride all that you can and see what bike most makes you want to ride.

Hi there! I'm a newbie biker too (started biking for a triathlon, but found out I actually like it). Purchased a new Trek FX 7.5 last year and was totally stoked about it... until I rode it in a triathlon. It's a sweet bike for sure-- the perfect hybrid, pretty fast, not too scary, sitting more upright type of bike, but it's not for going really *fast*. I took a spin on a friend's road bike and was totally surprised how smooth and fast it was!

All that said, I think the hybrid is the perfect starter bike! My bike is going to be my training bike, commuter bike, and fun take-a-ride-on-the-weekend-bike. I think going with a fx 7.3 or so is perfect-- you end up saving some cash (instead of buying a fx 7.5), while still getting a pretty sweet bike that will let you do whatever you want! And if you want to upgrade to something else in a couple years, you won't have spent a ton of moola on the first bike.

Happy bike shopping! :)

I started with an FX 7.6 last year, fell in love with the Surly Long Haul Trucker (non-WSD) and bought that as well. Sadly my FX was just a little too big for me and I eventually sold it to upgrade my LHT. My LHT is a touring bike, but I converted it to mountain riser bars and trigger shifters - this works fine for me regardless of the length of my ride.

I do like the advice others have given you about checking into used bikes - if you are lucky you can get a better bike for less money.

For me, my unisex LHT fits me much better than the WSD FX 7.6 did. This may not have been due to the WSD geometry however - I've noted that the FX sizes are not all that small, not where the effective top tube length is concerned . I am the same height that you are.

To cut to the chase, you need to test ride as many bikes as you can in your price range. Hopefully they will allow you to ride around the neighborhood instead of just in the parking lot - everything feels good in the parking lot ;) Have fun with your search and good luck!

Count me as a fellow FX owner and rider. I'm courting a road bike right now after a few months of riding the FX. I'm not saying not to buy, but I'd defiantly try both out, just to be sure what "speaks" to you.

Shannon

Such great input from everyone. Thank you! I'm actually going out this weekend to check out a few different rides. I got so caught up in the WSD bikes that I overlooked some really great looking bikes.

I really do think a 'starter' bike is what I need even realizing that 3 months from now I might be out bike shopping again :) Right now the plan is to test out a few city bikes in addition to trying out the regular Fx. So I guess I'm back to trying not to get too ahead of myself. I mean the goal is to find a bike that fits me so I can be excited about putting lots of miles on it!

So now I'm off to research bike shorts...