mountain, hybrid help

[radkid2]

so this is my first post. please give as much advice as you can!

I've had a mountain bike for 4 years. I ride it most always in the city or on well worn trails, a lot of commuting, a lot of biking in the rain cuz its Portland, OR. Due to upper back pain, I am considering
a) getting a full body fit to my bike (I just learned about this option)
or
b) purchasing a hybrid

Here are my questions:
1. is is true that hybrids are lighter than mountain bikes?
2. are hybrids similar enough to mountain bikes that I should just get a fit to my current bike and move on with my life?
3. if hybrids are significantly different from mountain bikes then can anyone reccomend a good one to look at?

thanks--

[Irulan]

Originally posted by radkid2
so this is my first post. please give as much advice as you can!

I've had a mountain bike for 4 years. I ride it most always in the city or on well worn trails, a lot of commuting, a lot of biking in the rain cuz its Portland, OR. Due to upper back pain, I am considering
a) getting a full body fit to my bike (I just learned about this option)
or
b) purchasing a hybrid

Here are my questions:
1. is is true that hybrids are lighter than mountain bikes?
2. are hybrids similar enough to mountain bikes that I should just get a fit to my current bike and move on with my life?
3. if hybrids are significantly different from mountain bikes then can anyone reccomend a good one to look at?

thanks--

I"ll do my best. Never heard that hybrids are lighter than mountain bikes.. that's such a generalization as to be useless. Considering that hybrids are mostly for comfort and town riding, I'd think not. Of course there are #45 pound moutnain bikes, and there are 24# mountain bikes... maybe some one else knows?

I'd work with your current mountain bike for fit if you have back pain. Is it a fairly "laid-out" (agressive/race) type frame on the mb, or is it more recreational? I started mtn biking just after I had been in the second of two car accidents and my neck and upper back were really messed up. We just went with a real upright riser and stem, which gradually I was able to shorten(lower) after time.


Now, if the frame on your mtb is inappropiate to convert to comfort, then you might want to look into an actaul hybrid. But maybe just changing out the stem, getting rid of knobby tires and and getting more of a comfort saddle (?) might be all you need to do.

There are lots of Portland riders here, maybe someone can refer you to a good shop.

Irulan

[administrator]

Hi Radkid2,

If you're looking for a good shop in Portland, try either:

Bike Gallery
http://bikegallery.com/

or

River City
http://www.rivercitybicycles.com/


Both of these shops have excellent reputations.