hybrid bicycles

[vincedea]

Hello I am going to get my first decent bike and I plan to order the bike tonight. but i was wondering between these 2 bikes. is the extra $100 worth it? I plan to use this bike for riding around and exercising really.

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products...oad-bikes/rapide-disc-hybrid-flatbar-road.htm

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products...rid-road-bikes/rapide-hybrid-flatbar-road.htm

 

[drteming]

Looks like the differences boil down to carbon vs steel fork, and mechanical disc brakes vs caliper brakes. The carbon fork should be a bit lighter and possibly more comfortable, and the disc brakes should be better in wet conditions, but can be more fiddly to adjust. Otherwise, everything else appear to be equal. Are those two differences worth $100 to you? Only thing I can say is that no one ever regretted buying the better bike. BD bikes can be a great deal. I personally ride one of their titanium offerings. If you are not mechanically inclined, be prepared to take the bike to a bike shop to get it set up properly.

 

[IeraseU]

I'm an avid cyclist, so I will try to answer this for you.

I actually recommend the cheaper option. The benefits of a carbon fork are lighter weight, and that it absorbs road vibration better in some cases. However, it is also more prone to breakage and failure than a steel fork (especially budget carbon forks) and besides, those 700x32 tires are wide enough that they are going to absorb most of the road vibration on their own.

As for disk brakes, they are better in rain or icy conditions, but newer riders are unlikely to want to ride in those conditions anyway, and furthermore disk brakes are notoriously difficult to adjust (especially budget models), prone to 'creaking' unless you have hydraulic disks and/or a solid thru-axle, and can make changing flats more cumbersome.

Finally I will add that no matter how much you love your first bike, you are going to outgrow it fairly quickly if you become serious about cycling. If that happens, eventually you are going to want a nicer bike anyway. If cycling does not become a serious hobby, then hey, you saved $100 and you can still use the bike for the occasional ride or trip to the grocery store.

Look at this bike as a way to get back into riding, to learn how to 'wrench' and do your own maintenance, and to familiarize yourself with the style of riding that you prefer. Keep in mind that you are probably also going to need to buy some other stuff to go along with your bike, including a floor pump, a mini C02 inflator or 'frame pump', extra tubes, a patch kit, tire levers, lights, a multitool, and maybe a helmet.

 

[vincedea]

Thanks for the replies. I will give it some thought and see if I can find a better deal.

 

[FleshLight]

I would lean towards a drop bar road or cross bike as it gives you much more hand positions.

 

[insa80]

Heavy and slow. Not suitable for competition unless you like to finish way, way, way at the back.

Designed for middle aged moms to ride up and down a groomed rail-trail.

If you want off-road & on-road + suitable (more or less) for tri racing, look at a cyclocross bike.

 

[senseamp]

I would lean towards a drop bar road or cross bike as it gives you much more hand positions.

That's what I would recommend as well.
They have one here with similar spec but drop bars.
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/gravity/liberty_cxd.htm

This kind of bike really gives you a lot of range, and would be comfortable for longer rides.