ColonelSanders

I certainly wasn't trying to rain on your parade or anything like that, it's just that I was looking very hard at getting a Trek DS 8.5 a few years ago, so became very familiar with the models on offer.


I think I made a mistake in not getting one myself, as everything I have heard suggests they are pretty good.

Jac of Hearts

I was not offended, well maybe a little at 1st, but I'm very glad I found this one. I think the DS is going to be a very good bike for my riding style.

giantcfr1

Still the same after all these years


Still the same after all these years

t_e_r_r_y

can i even still call this a hybrid? i don't know



2011 sirrus elite disc

giantcfr1

Looks like one to me. A mixture of a bit of this, a bit of that...Hybrid.

nuxx 

Well @t_e_r_r_y the Sirrus series are hybrid geometry frames to begin with, you got platform pedals on there... no front-derailleur and a fairly upright riding position (dat lift on your dropbar)... yeah definitely not a racer so if not a hybrid then I dunno what to call it

If yours didn't qualify I don't know that mine would either.

t_e_r_r_y

yeah, i'm still playing with the bar height/reach. switching from a flat bar has been taking me some messing around to find what's comfortable. i've lowered it some since the picture, but the bars are still pretty high.

what's funny about this bike is that i've lusted after a crust evasion for years, but i'd never be able to swing one. i got this sirrus cheap and have been replacing worn out parts/upgrading it as i've been riding it. i put both the sirrus and evasion into bikeinsites.com and they have almost identical geometry - especially if i were to put 43 width tires on this, which is the plan.

geometry comparison -
https://i.imgur.com/SRkAvpl.png
https://i.imgur.com/j1HHnEZ.png

i basically ended up with the geometry i've always wanted wanted by accident, though the aluminum sirrus will never ride as nice as the steel evasion would. the long carbon seat post makes up for some of that, and the high volume tires will help too once i get those.

camjr

My 2013 Fuji Absolute 2.1 in the pre-dawn hours before I jumped on to ride this morning. 2100 miles on the original tires (finally getting to the point of being replaced), new pedals and cages a couple of years ago, Ergon GP2 grips and bar ends, better illumination, Avenir bar bag and Transit saddle bag. Still a fast, smooth ride.

Sceadu498

Here is a pic of my Diamondback Insight 1 along the Rock River in Illinois.

StuBerger

Here’s my thing on 2

nuxx 

@StuBerger - that looks like a very comfortable and efficient ride - I've been wondering - how well does that IsoSpeed decoupler thing actually work in praxis? Neither my Madone road bike nor FX 7.6 have that feature.

fat2fit

2019 Trek Dual-Sport 2


2019 Trek Dual-Sport 2

hokiefyd 

Great-lookin' bike, and scenery!

subgrade

In today's world that would be called a gravel bike (which per se is a hybrid, of course)

t_e_r_r_y

it does see 30/70 off/on road, so i guess that makes sense. i really need to get some higher volume tires to help with that off road aluminum frame harshness though.

SD70

What brand of platforms are you running on that Specialized? How do you like them? I'm thinking of going platform myself.

nuxx 

Looks a lot like Race Face Chester pedals to me.

VK_Rides84

Here is my Hybrid/Family fun roller...

nuxx 

Hmmm... this is in no way a critique, merely curious discussion; I appreciate that even Giant is marketing the Roam 3 as a hybrid'ish bike... but it's making me question how far it really is from my hardtail MTB; Giant XTC Composite 2 - the geometry looks quite similar, and I would definitely not categorise my XTC as hybrid by any means - even if it rides quite fast. I mean... you have 28" rims... shorter front suspension... and well... that's the main configurative difference? Yours even has MTB front and rear mech... what actually makes this not simply an entry level hardtail MTB regardless of Giant's marketing positioning?

"Side by side": https://images.giant-bicycles.com/b_...cGE_ColorA.jpg vs https://giantcdn-qu2qwwv2de7wv85rz.s...r_2_2000px.jpg

I incidentally rode mine to the office today... probably why I noticed :

VK_Rides84

I agree greed with all your points I believe the Roam was made as a poor mtn bike, the front suspension is minimal and locks to be static on the road. The tired are ok for easy trail riding but still good quality road use.

I think “hybrid” is becoming a catch all for those bikes or are not specificity great at one thing but good/decent at all.

Not to say your mtn bike wouldn’t make a good commuter but I will say I don’t think the Roam is hitting any heavy trails.

Just my 2 cents.

nuxx 

Makes me wonder why you don't upgrade/replace it with a more efficient option - unless your commute includes gravel? But even then an actual cross bike might still be preferable?

I think you're right... it certainly smells of advertising.

Specifically the XTC is actually surprisingly comfortable even in an urban setting like my commute is - but that's largely thanks to its relative low weight composite frame, quality components and hardtail acceleration. Hence I sometimes pick it when I'm in a more casual mood over my ridiculously speedy urban hybrid build I've already posted here before:

VK_Rides84

So I actually bought this for light use with my daughter as she starts riding, (she’s 3).

I actually wanted more of a road bike so I bought an actual road bike 4 weeks later (oops). I don’t plan on doing much trail riding.

Orkun KnighTR34

nuxx 

Aha, that's more like it... but granted, also not very hybrid-y

t_e_r_r_y

if you were asking about the platforms on my bike, they are by fooker, a far-east inexpensive brand you'll find all over amazon. i don't have much in the way of an lbs around here, and these were cheap to test the waters of riding flats. i like them a lot!