bitmaster20

I am looking for a under $200 recommendation for a hybrid. Fender and storage rack would be a plus. This is for a male about 66" tall.

I did some cursory research online and have found that people recommend a hybrid bike for casual usage. What's the difference between a hybrid and a road bike with straight handlebars? Stores have a lot of options as far as mountain bikes go, is there a reason not to use those for casual riding? Thanks.

RonH

You'll be hard pressed to find a hybrid for $200. Most hybrids start in the $350-$400 price range. A rack and fenders will add about $75-$100 to the total.
If you know the correct size frame he will need you may be able to find a good deal on craigslist.org.
The difference between a hybrid and a flat bar road bike is mainly components and riding position.
A hybrid allows the rider to sit in a more comfortable position. A flat bar road bike is a lot like a regular road bike. The riding position is more aggressive (leaning over) and the tires are narrower.
A mountain bike is a good option for casual riding. If you'll be riding on the road or a paved bike path you may want to swap out the wide knobby tires for slick or semi-slick tires.

If you are considering any bike brands/models, we can give you opinions on specific bikes.

bitmaster20

Thanks for the response. I see good deals on mountain bikes frequently, so getting one and then just eating the cost of the new tires still would make it a better bargain then getting a hybrid.

Wanderer

Target has them for about $200 brand new (hybrids). Walmart for a $15 rear rack, and a pair of Planet Bike Hardcore Hybrid fenders for another $30.

A good buy for the money, and will be better on the road, than a mountain bike.

road_rash

I was at Target and Dick's last week and was looking for hybrids. To answer your first question, I looked at this bike.
it was a Schwinn with 700c tires, rack and fenders, $159.00

I ended up buying this bike:

A Schwinn Trailway for $200, pretty decent bike for that price.

The problem with dept store bikes is if you don't know how to set up and adjust your own bike, it may not be a good deal at all. I had to adjust front and rear wheel bearings because they were too tight. adjust both brakes, adjust both derailleurs and tighten the adjustable stem.

Question #2, A flat bar road bike puts you in the bent over position, whereas the hybrid will put you more upright.

I find that riding a mtn bike on the road is very uncomfortable, at least on my Trek.

I own one of each:
flat bar road bike
drop bar road bike
mountain bike
and my new hybrid

bitmaster20

Yep, I had also tried the Schwinn 700c at Target. It had all the features that I was looking for, but it was just a tad bit big for my size.