What Next

[OakLeaf]

You can absolutely ride 30 miles on a hybrid. My max on mine is probably 25, but that's mostly because I don't have any place farther to go on it. If it fit me better, it would be even better.

I hate to say it, but there are two women in my club who've gone from hybrids to their first road bikes, and they've been very disappointed. I think they were counting on the bikes to "make them faster."

The bottom line is you need strength, you need endurance, and you need technique. When you have those, you'll be able to take advantage of the weight and power advantages that a well-fitting road bike offers. Find a good training plan - there are plenty of basic ones free online, though unfortunately I don't have any to recommend - and stick with it. You'll get faster.

[marni]

I did my first two cross country rides on a hybrid. Not easy but it can be done even at 13 mph. All the road bike has done has given me more endurance, but it only added 2 mph an hour to my general speed although at times, with the rare tailwind I can get an average of 16.5 mph level and even higher going downhill.

I will say that the road bike is easier to get in and out of the car because of its weight.

marni

[PamNY]

I do rides longer than 30 miles on a hybrid all the time (not hilly). I never knew you weren't supposed to.

[pll]

I agree with what Marni, Owlie and OakLeaf have said -- your endurance and strength, even skills, come from riding more time, in whatever bike you have.

However, I will add one confounding, psychological, factor: fun. If you like your bike and it is fun to ride, you will ride more. If you decide to go the road bike route, I would suggest you don't go overboard. As you ride more and develop as a cyclist, you may outgrow your first bike.

Welcome to the fellowship of cyclists!

[pinsonp2]

I applaud you doing so many miles on a Trek Navigator. I have a Navigator 2.0 for cruising the neighborhood. I have tried longer rides, but would definitely need a different saddle and DH along if to put it on a bike rack!! I consider the Navigator more of a comfort bike rather than a hybrid (my hybrid is a Trek FX), but for longer rides, one of the road bikes would be my choice. I think if you want a different bike, look at lots of styles, including performance hybrids (flat bar road bike) and road bikes. Buy the one that makes you want to smile and ride, and comes from a great LBS that you click with.

Enjoy the rode,
P2