Hybrid vs. Mountain Bike for Clyde
 

Hi all...

Clydesdale here...6'3, 280.

I have an older, incorrectly sized (too small) Giant Ranier and am looking for a new ride. Budget is $1500 or less...

I'm primarily interested in riding with my wife and child around the neighborhood but also want to hit the beach trails around the house (Miami, FL).

I've been to a few LBS in the area thinking I wanted a hybrid (Trek DS, for instance) but all of them advised I go the front suspension mountain bike route instead. Perhaps swap the tires out for something a bit less mountain-bikey.

The last place I stopped suggested a Cannondale Trail 2 so that's sort of the starting point. Have Trek, Giant and Specialized in the area as well. Got to googling and was checking out the Surly Krampus and Kona Honzo (or some variation of it), as well.

Certainly open to other options but wanted to see what the collective wisdom of the forum had to say.

Thanks in advance!

hybrid is a modest width tired 29er, or a 29er, is a wide tired 700c road/touring bike wheel.

buying a 29er you can fit a narrower tire that will be almost too wide for a hybrid... about 42mm wide.

rather than 50 or 60 ..




....

I'm a little smaller than you and I ended up with a Surly Ogre for a versatile flat bar bike. I built mine from the frame up though and have no idea whether you could ride out the door on one and stay within your stated budget.

Thanks for the replies...I'm definitely leaning toward a 29.

The Surly Ogre/Troll are also on the list along with the Krampus.

The Ogre looks fantastic...may be a bit over budget, and no option for front suspension down the road, however.

Came across the Salsa Timberjack, too...in the "compete with Giant/Trek/Cannondale" group.

Any thoughts on Scott?

ever think of Cragslisting something used?
These are by me, and 1200 miles from you, but it's an example of what's out there..
https://kalamazoo.craigslist.org/bik...651504036.html
https://kalamazoo.craigslist.org/bik...650118849.html
https://kalamazoo.craigslist.org/bik...631099510.html
https://grandrapids.craigslist.org/b...651435955.html

Yes...I've been keeping my eye out for XL frames on CL...not too many right now, other than a Specialized Crosstrail that may be promising. I'll keep looking...

The Ogre sounds like it would be a great bike for you and for something that would give off a totally different vibe to the Ogre, is the 2019 Giant Roam 1.

If you don't mind buying used the older Ogre is suspension adjusted although I'm not sure when the changeover was.
I'm an inch shorter than you and it took forever to find a frameset, complete bikes were a little more common.

I don't mind used...but not finding many older frames.

It's down to the Ogre vs. Krampus at this point...thanks to everyone for their input.

Suspension is for absorbing bumps, for the purpose of keeping your tires on the ground and increasing traction, typically while cornering at higher speeds. If you aren't riding bumpy stuff fast, forget the suspension, and use that money to buy a rigid frame with better components.

Great advice...and thanks for bringing the suspension decision into an easily understood description! I don't foresee riding bumpy stuff fast anytime soon.

Leaning toward the Ogre...it feels like the best mix of features and functions for what I'm looking to do.

Thanks all!

Changed my mind...with the release of the new Bruised Ego Purple Krampus frame color, I think I'm going to go that direction!

For your riding a hybrid would be suitable. Get the widest tire clearance as possible (regardless of your weight). Very few can use wider tires (my Toughroad can take 2.25" and is an absolute exception in that regard).
A cheap suspension fork is not useful, and for your style of riding not needed. Especially not with larger tires.
Obviously you have to buy what the market provides and often that meas they only give you wide tire clearance with a suspension fork. but there is no engineering reason for those two to be together.

Well...I picked up the XL Bruised Ego Purple Surly Krampus last week and so far it's been awesome! Took her out for some trail rides over the weekend, and am cruising around the neighborhood with my family.

The bike fits me so much better than my previous L Giant Rainier from 2006...much more comfortable and I am really liking the SRAM components. Riding is fun again!

Thanks to everyone for their advice and input. I'll post a picture once I get a few more posts under my belt!

Hybrid
 

I bought a Trek Verve 2 last year at 270 lbs. The stock tires were 700x45 and has worked well for me. I've even taken it on some mild single tracks with the grandkids. I'm down to to 220 and replaced the tires with something more towards road tires they are 700x35. The bike gets close to 100 miles a week put on it and I believe that it was a great purchase.

I've ridden both the Ogre and and Krampus multiple times..you can't go wrong. You might be surprised how little you need suspension with large volume tires and reasonable pressure.

I don't know why they would be suggesting suspension forks for the type of riding your are planning. Are these beach trails terribly bumpy?

Being a heavier rider does not necessarily mean you are better off with a suspension fork... in fact I find the opposite to be true. My experience is that for rider weights above ~250 lbs, most OEM forks are pretty overwhelmed. .

I ride a 29er now and again. It's a Perforance Access XCL 9r, and it is a fun ride on road, and nice on the mild trails I ride. I could likely swap in a rigid fork, honestly, and keep it locked out when on pavement. I'm 6'1", formerly 378 pounds. Currently 263. I guess I use this bike more as a hybrid, than MTB. And I do have a couple road bikes.

I will say, at my heaviest, I quit riding. I felt so top heavy I was afraid I'd fall over no matter what bike I was on. I've been riding again from 320 down...