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Hybrid
Example:
Crosstown
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700x35
to 42 tires, upright handlebars, usually $350-$600. These
are very upright -posture bikes that carry most of your
weight on the saddle, so the saddles are wide and cushy
and often have spring seatposts. Hybrids also have spring
front forks, so they are good for poor roads and dirt
roads. |
Short
(<10 mi.) hops on paved roads and the occasional dirt
road. Never trails in the woods. 700c wheel bikes have
one or two higher (faster rolling) gears than 26"
wheel bikes have, but often don't work for smaller riders
(under 5'3"). |
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Trail
Hybrid
Example:
Traverse
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We
are excited about these because they are the REAL hybrids
for Windham County. Essentially a mountain bike frame
with touring bike wheels. Lighter and faster than a
trail bike, better balanced and sturdier than regular
cushy hybrids. Fisher calls them dual sports, Fuji calls
them trail hybrids, we call them the one bike that almost
does it all.
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Light
trail use (like the Marina trail by the West River,
or the paths at Acadia), road touring with the right
tires and bar ends, commuting, all-around pleasure riding.
Really,
anything that's not technical trails or performance
road riding.
|
|
Mountain
bike
Example:
Nevada
|
Entry-level
bikes ($300-500) are good for this purpose, as long as
you choose tires with a smooth center tread. They always
have stout frames and spring forks, and will likely be
heavier than dual sports. Bikes over $400 have cassette
hubs (don't suffer bent back axles) and disc brakes (lower
maintenance costs over time). |
Before
there were hybrids and comfort bikes, we just took the
lower priced mountain bikes and fitted higher handlebars
and faster rolling tires and voilà, a "hybrid".
This is the way to go if you like balloon tires and stronger
wheels. If you want a street bike and it doesn't have
to roll fast, and you like being able to bang around on
Class 4 roads and Town Trails, choose this type. |
