Hybrid vs. Road ??

[harralsont]

I've had a hybird for about 10 yrs. I've done miles and miles on rails to trails types of paths. I also tug up an occasion steep hill ( I'm in Penn). Now I'm looking for a bike that can a do a little more mileage and speed and also want to do a Tri. Should I purchase a road bike or get a better hybrid? Thanks for your advice.

[Owlie]

If you're looking for something to make you faster...I hate to say it, but a new bike won't do that by itself.

I'm inclined to say that if you've already got a hybrid that you're otherwise happy with (you don't mention being unhappy with it), I'm not sure what you'll be gaining by buying another one. The road bike will give you more "zoom" gears than the hybrid does, but you might sacrifice hill climbing ability (at least temporarily while you learn which gear combinations work best on that bike). It'll also be lighter.

That said, you can do miles on a hybrid if you want to--people also do tris on hybrids. What sort of surfaces do you ride on? (Asphalt? Crushed limestone? Gravel?) You also can consider swapping the tires and/or wheels.

[KnottedYet]

I did a tri on my hybrid.

Kicked butt, if I do say so myself!

My hybrid had geometry fairly similar to cyclocross geometry. Of the 3 bikes I have now, 2 are cyclocross and 1 is "sport-touring." Honestly, I don't go much faster on them than I did on my hybrid, if at all. What is different is the positioning with my bars, the lack of road buzz, and the lighter weight. (all my bikes are steel, and all are much lighter than my aluminum hybrid)

The weight makes NO difference to my ride, but it does make it much easier to haul the bikes up and down my steps. The road buzz is huge. Steel is like butter, and soaks up the buzz. I can ride MUCH farther on my steel than I ever could on aluminum. It just feels like magic. Some folks feel road buzz, some folks don't. My Kona Dew hybrid was the only aluminum bike I've ever had (all the others have been steel). I will probably never buy aluminum again.

Being able to change positions on the bars is also huge. There are more options now for hybrids than there used to be. You could consider switching out your hybrid's bars for things like mountain touring and moustaches if you find the bars on other bikes are what appeal to you.

I'd suggest trying a Jamis Aurora and a Surly Cross Check. See if they feel like flying. If you don't feel much different, try a more aggressive bike like the Surly Pacer.

But please don't sell your hybrid! It's always good to have an all-rounder bike and a sexy-go-fast bike.

More bikes, more better!

[Miranda]

More bikes, more better!

^^^
Yea... what Knott said! lol...

If you can afford to keep it in the stable, do it.

I tried some hybrids, it just felt wrong without drop bars. I tried a Trek fx flat bar... same thing. And I'm very sad to say this... but after getting my cyclecross bike this year, I am not sure I really care for my moutain bike anymore either.

I love my carbon roadie. And I love my cross bike. Yes, a lot is about the rider... but lighter does generally make things faster / perform better. Just think of it in terms of your body. I used to be a much heavier person. My heart, joints, etc. all had to work harder with that extra weight. Post weight lose, everything is easier / better.

Good luck with your shopping!

[Susie Derkins]

If you already had a hybrid and were asking whether you could meet your goals on it (i.e. finish a tri, etc.), the answer would be sure. But if you've already decided you're in the market for a new bike, I'd go road bike, hands down. I'm not sure what you'd hope to accomplish with a different hybrid.

I went from hybrid to road bike this spring (also for tri's) and I can't say enough about how much more fun the road bike is. I enjoy riding so much more. I haven't sold the hybrid yet, but I haven't ridden it either

[ZenBiker]

Except for the tri goal, I was in your position about a year and a half ago. I had a hybrid I liked, used it to commute to work and run errands, but was thinkng about doing some longer rides purely for fun. I bought a road bike and love it. It is faster, I'd say by 2-3 mph for the same effort on the same roads vs my hybrid. Being able to change hand positions on a long ride is great. And it's just plain fun to ride. I still love my hybrid too, and need it for days I have to haul stuff (like groceries). I also prefer it for commuting on the rare rainy day here. So I agree - more bikes, more better!

[Brina]

you will learn that the answer at TE is always 'both'.

I have a hybrid that I like for riding with my kids, going to the farmers market, running around town, etc. For workout rides and tris I like my road bike.