Discussion Board

I love my Townie but hubby and I have decided that I'm ready for a bike with smaller tires and maybe one with more gears. I already have 21 but hubby says more would probably be better since my abilities riding are better then they used to be. Just debating if next one will be a hybrid or a road bike. He has his favorites what are you guys's? I'm thinking I want to try out a few of both before I make a decision.

Go recumbent!! I love my recumbent (it's a Giro20 Bacchetta). Since you are used to riding the Townie, you are used to a half-recumbent bike anyway since the Townie is a pedal forward design. But, I rode the diamond frame bikes for years -- so, my question for you is what are your riding goals? If you like the upright position like you have on the Townie, go hybrid -- you can take the hybrid frame and trick it out all you want with upgraded components, wheels, etc. If you really are looking for speed -- then go road bike. But, a good road bike will be a way different riding position that what you are used to -- lots of folks don't like it and the back/neck and shoulder pain keeps them off the bike. But, nothing better for speed than a well designed road bike with great components! Remember, what makes the bike "faster" (other than the engine on the seat!) are the parts that make the wheels go round and round -- the hubs and the other components. Roadies will tell you that lighter is better -- they will spend an extra $100 to shave off ounces (while they lift up their gut to fit on the bicycle!) -- but, the best way to get faster on a bike is to train with a heavier "engine" and then keep at making the "engine" lighter! : )

I love my recumbent -- it's a short wheel base steel frame that I have tricked out with high end components and wheels. It is fast, nimble and so very comfortable to ride. I have shoulder issues that make it impossible to ride my old bikes for very long, but I can ride my recumbent all day pain-free.

Either way, I highly recommend a good pair of bike shorts -- look at the Terry brand. Terry is a great company -- owned by a woman who was appalled at the lack of women-specific bikes and gears, so she started the company. Plus, they sell bike shorts and jerseys in a wide range of sizes to fit everyone -- so much activewear considers a size 10 to be an XL. Terry is one of the few places that I found bike wear that fit me well, and it will last forever. Plus, they have bike shorts with various kinds of padding -- some of the bike shorts I used to have were just too much "diaper" effect. I loved my Terry shorts -- they also make bike short skorts that I love too -- the utility of the padded bike short and lycra, but the look of a cute skirt!

Go ride some different bikes -- go to bike stores, not the big box stores. Make sure you ride ones that are the right size for you -- that's where the bike store folks can help. I know a lot of women find that the women specific sized bikes work better for them (men bikes are the default). I am tall, long waisted with long arms so I always fit pretty well on the men's bikes, but I know I am the exception there...

Whatever you do -- just keep riding! It's great fun and wonderful exercise -- one of my favorite things to do in the whole word!!

Sharon

I started out with a recumbent trike I loved it. Though I was told I wasn't being safe on it. They talked me into selling it and getting a different bike back then. Thinking maybe one of the 2 wheel ones.

At least find a bike store that has them and go do some test rides. The long wheel base bikes are easier to hop on and ride, but are not as fast or agile as the short wheel base bikes.

Or, you know, your problem on the Townie may not be the number of gears, but rather what gears you have. You might consider taking it to a bike shop and seeing what you can do with what you have -- you could probably put narrower tires on it and maybe upgrade the components, change the gearing and then you would be all set!

Happy shopping!

Sharon

I used to work in a bike shop.

Honestly, how many of the gears you have now do you use?

You're going to use one gear for cruising and one gear for climbing... everything in between is just transition.

A hybrid bike would be a good transition. But I think in the end, you'll wish you'd gone ahead and gotten the road bike. You can get a hybrid with road wheels. You can get a flat bar road bike if you're uncomfortable riding something with drop bars.

It's really an evolution. A good bike shop won't pressure you and will let you know your resale options with the bike you are buying. A good hybrid will be 400-600 and a entry level road bike should start around 600-800. I can tell you now, that going from a comfort bike to a road will feel really odd. A hybrid is a transition between the two.

good luck!

I use a wide range of the gears on my bike -- depending on where I am riding (and what my fitness level is when I am riding!). When I start out riding early in the season, I tend to run in the lower gears than I do when I am more fit later in the season, then I tend to run in higher gears. And, when I riding a hilly route, I use different gears than I do when I am riding a relatively flat route. I do not just use 2 gears -- one for cruising and on for climbing -- I use a broad spectrum of gears on my bike. But, I also have consulted with my good bike mechanic to get the range of gears that works best for me and the terrain where I ride. I recommend a good relationship with a local bike shop is a must for anyone with a bicycle.

Sharon

I really use all of them on my 21 speed depending on if I'm on a steep hill a slight hill or just flat ground. My hubby has commented that most people don't use as many of them as I do.

MSMLS wrote:

A hybrid bike would be a good transition. But I think in the end, you'll wish you'd gone ahead and gotten the road bike. You can get a hybrid with road wheels. You can get a flat bar road bike if you're uncomfortable riding something with drop bars...good luck!

I ride a Road Bike and enjoy it very much and can see the benfits of a nice Hybrid with the increase in "Rail to Trails". A big question is what type of riding (and surfaces) you want to do. If you want to go out on club or group rides a road bike is the way to go. But, you can get a good work out with the flexibility of a Hybrid. Either way you can enjoy yourself and get that workout. I recommend buying a bike from local Bike Shop staffed by riders who take the time to listen to your desires and needs. Hybrid or Road bikes are not cheap. Take the time to find the right one and your get years of enjoyment.
A good Bike shop should help you decide and make sure your fitted with a bike. And like any type of exercise program a partner to help keep you motivated and away from mistakes is very helpful.
Good News is most riders and bike shops want to help. Enjoy!

Yeah I've been looking around a lot at different stores. I'm leaning towards a road bike because I'm mainly riding with my hubby on paved bike paths and streets. One of the stores mentioned getting add ons to my handle bars so that I can move my hands from one area of the bars to other areas of the bars so going to try out a bike that has it next time I'm in there. It's going to be a bit before I can get it because had to spend the money on getting truck repaired gah. but gives me more time to make up my mind.

I just recently bought my first road bike since I was a teenager (when there was no such thing as a hybrid).

I had been riding a hybrid for many years, and prior to buying the road bike I was only riding on multi-use trails and paths that can have gravel and dirt mixed with paved parts.

A hybrid is great for this type of riding since the tires are wider and the riding position is upright. But then I realized that I was getting bored with riding on the same paths all the time and dodging people with children and walking their dogs, so I bought the road bike in April and love it (have put 1,300 miles on it.)

So my recommendation is that if you're going to ride on paved roads mostly and only occasionally on paths then go with a road bike. Keep in mind that a good road bike will cost more than a good hybrid bike. But if you're putting in a lot of miles then it's best to get a good bike that you feel comfortable on.

I used to make fun of those "biker types" that wear their bright shirts and tight shorts and wear the funny shoes that clip on the pedals...and now I wear those funny bright shirts with pockets in the back, and just yesterday bought the special shoes and clip-on pedals (I don't wear the tight, lycra shorts though...I wear not-too-baggy biker shorts that I don't feel foolish wearing while walking around in the grocery store.)

BTW, I just joined bikeforums.net, which is a site for bike enthusiasts and you can get a lot of great info there. Some of the older members have an attitude, but mainly the people are very friendly and helpful.

I used to ride Puegeot roadbikes for extended trips, and I was talking about commuting by bike. So for Christmas 2010 my wife bought me a Raleigh hybrid. I had an aversion to it because it seemed to me that real men ride road bikes. But the more I used the hybrid the more I really began to like it. A friend gave me an old 70s era Miyata 10 speed. After using the Raleigh for a few commutes, I figured I'd try out the Miyata and see how much faster I could go on the thinner tires and lighter frame. I expected to hop off the bike, pound my chest and declare myself alpha male. It was faster than the hybrid,... on the downhills. I never realized how much of a friend to me the granny gear on the hybrid had become. There is a big difference between 10 and 21 gears. But even more than that, I was amazed at how much more uncomfortable The Miyata was. Those thin leather saddles look cool, but they are cruel and unusual punishment. I think I was well aware of that from my youthful alpha male days, but some sort of premature ( or maybe not so premature) dimentia must have pushed that knowledge from my memory.

So I happily returned to my Raleigh C330, and commuted two days a week ( 30 miles /day) all summer in 2011. While ascending the brief ~300 feet of the coastside hill that eventually brings you to the downhill into Pacifica, I would compose little odes to my hybrid, particularly the granny gear. They were very nice rides home after the workday.

So I vote for a hybrid. I've never used a non-stationary recumbent, although I notice they are becoming more common these days.

Whatever you choose, I imagine you'll come to love it. And that's good for something you spend so much time with.


Mark

I ride race bikes almost exclusively because I like to go fast. Actually I don't go fast, that's just in my head. But I like the feeling of effciency that leads to speed. It comes from light frames, good components, the right tires for the conditions, feet that are attached to the pedals, and a fit that puts your legs and hips in the most powerful position. It can be uncomfortble at first, but you will adapt. Even switching from my mountain bike (more upright) to my road bike (lower, more aggressive) will feel awkward at times. And when I take my cruiser out for a spin, I hate that my feet aren't clipped in. It's such a waste of energy, as your legs actually fight each other to stay in contact with the pedals.

In the end though, the best bike is the one that you enjoy riding the most. Because then you will ride more, and have more fun.

we have been going around testing bikes and so far I'm liking fit and ride best of a trek road bike that I tried this last weekend. Going to keep looking though see what else is out there too. I've tried Puegoet, giant, Trek, and Scott hybid and road.