Road bike or Hybrid?

[Lakerider]

I have been riding a mountain bike for over a year and have loved it. Now I would like to buy either a road bike or a hybrid. I would love to get recommendations from you ladies.

A little about me -
I bought a mountain bike last year thinking I would just be riding off road. Now I only ride on road - yes on my mountain bike and I'm ready to get a bike made for the road. I know it will make a tremendous difference! I like to take road trips of usually 20 - 50 miles with some rolling hills. I've done one century and plan to do more. I would like to have a light bike because I'll be getting it in and out of my van for rides.

Please give me your opinion on what kind of bike would suit me best, a road bike or a hybrid. I look forward to hearing from you!

[emily_in_nc]

Road bike for sure! If you are already riding a mtb on the road, you are already using it as a hybrid. Now you need a bike that is even lighter and faster for longer distances! There's just not enough difference in a mtb and a hybrid (imo) to justify buying one of each. You could always put 1.5" slick tires on your mtb, and there's your hybrid. If you want something that will really make a difference, go for the roadie!

[Lakerider]

Hmm...
The guy at the bike shop the other day told me definately a hybrid would be better for me. I'm kinda thinking road bike right now. I'd like to hear from someone with a hybrid and what you like about it.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Guys in bike shops often tend to think all women need hybrids because they are not 'serious riders' enough to be on road bikes, or some such cliche. And sometimes it's true, some of their women customers are new hesitant riders who might feel more comfy on hybrids --especially if they do not do long rides.

But if you are always going to be on paved roads and aim to ride over 30 miles at a time- I'd say definitely go for a road bike. Or a touring/road bike. A road bike will feel very odd to you after riding a mtn bike, but you will get used to it quickly. Important to get a frame that fits you to start out though. Go to a bike shop that does thorough fittings of the bikes they sell.

[mayanorange]

Guys in bike shops often tend to think all women need hybrids because they are not 'serious riders' enough to be on road bikes, or some such cliche. And sometimes it's true, some of their women customers are new hesitant riders who might feel more comfy on hybrids --especially if they do not do long rides.

But if you are always going to be on paved roads and aim to ride over 30 miles at a time- I'd say definitely go for a road bike. Or a touring/road bike. A road bike will feel very odd to you after riding a mtn bike, but you will get used to it quickly. Important to get a frame that fits you to start out though. Go to a bike shop that does thorough fittings of the bikes they sell.

+1 Yeap, bike shop guys love to steer us to the hybrids!

And +1 on the fittings!

[Biciclista]

I had two hybrids in a row before I caved and bought a road bike. helped me go faster; it took some to get used to it; but now it's second nature, just like the old hybrids were.

[Cataboo]

Hmm...
The guy at the bike shop the other day told me definately a hybrid would be better for me. I'm kinda thinking road bike right now. I'd like to hear from someone with a hybrid and what you like about it.

Test ride both. There's no comparison... Quite possibly if you get a hybrid bike, you'll just decide in 6 months to a year to buy a road bike.

Lots of people like flat bar road bikes - trek fx series is very popular on here... It's more serious than a hybrid but not full on drop bars like a road bike.