csport

"... but this is what we think this bike is best at."

smadsen

Yes, exactly, it depends what they mean by "hybrid". I have a Sirrus as well, and they're more of what used to be called a flat bar road bike, set up for longer and faster rides. I regularly do up to 60 miles on mine. Although if I were to try the same thing with my wife's hybrid/city bike I'd definitely be a lot slower and therefore would keep it closer to home.

ClydeClydeson

'Flat bar road bike' was a marketing term that came around in the mid-00s, and tried to cast off the geekier and slower, less performance-oriented, image of hybrids, which itself had been a marketing term to try to make regular non-specialized bikes (like road racing or mountain bikes) seem cool. Before the mid-late 80s, what we call a 'hybrid bike' was just called a 'bike'.

In reality, the only difference between a 'hybrid' and a 'flat bar road bike' was really mainly slightly narrower and lighter high pressure tires on the FBRB. Any hybrid can be adapted to faster tires, and maybe a small adjustment to rider position, to become a 'flat bar road bike'.

Also,

prj71

Please point out where you are seeing this nonsense. Never heard anything like it before.

Hypno Toad

It's not PBP, but it's a DAMn long ride with a fatbike ... https://www.bikeforums.net/22195497-post28.html

Long story short: a fatbike can ride long distances too

ThermionicScott 

Oh yeah, I've enjoyed your DAMn posts. Hey, now that your mid-Augusts are free, you should put some slicks on that thing and come along to France in a couple of years (fingers crossed that it happens)!

jkbrooks

Fatbikes on PBP? That seems like totally next level crazy . . . hey! let's make a hard thing even harder!

In terms of 30 mile limit on flat bars, I dont think the issue is the bars per se. I think it's likely a wrist angle thing. I've got a couple Ti roadbikes that I spend a bit of time on; +/- 150 miles/week. I've also got an Ebike (Pedago) that I swapped the sweep bars for flat bars on. That was probably dumb. If I'm on the thing for more than 30 minutes or so, my hands/wrists start to hurt. Might be that I just hate the bike so I'm looking for things to not like.

I'm looking for a used hybrid as a kickaround/grocery getter. I'll likely put some variation of the Velo Orange sweep/rando bars on it.

Bholz

I can easily ride 30 miles on road with my mountain bike. 30 on a hybrid should be no sweat.

hipslo

I completed my first century (Bourbon Country Burn in Lexington Kentucky, Day 2) a few weeks ago on my Cannondale Quick 3, no problem at all. Did the Medio route (metric century) in the Maryland Gran Fondo a few weeks before that, finished in the top 40%, and so far as I could tell, was the only one there on a hybrid. I don't really understand why folks say hybrids not meant for long distance riding.

Reynolds520

Only two people come to mind when I hear 30 miles is the maximum for a ride on a hybrid. My mother in-law, and an over zealous shop owner trying to push a road bike on me.

If the bike properly fits the rider, is well maintained, and the rider has a specific destination of interest in mind, then nothing should stop the rider at 30, 40, or whatever mileage. I routinely do 20 and 30 mile rides and get in one or two 40 or 50 mile rides in each week except in the winter--when my mother in-law heads to Arizona.

jaxgtr

I did 105 miles on this bike.... aka, my commuter

bmwpowere36m3

Its all about proper bike fit and fitness level... a drop bar style bike has certain advantages, but a flat can do the distance as well. Especially if you add ergonomic grips and/or bar ends to allow multiple hand positions.

Riveting

I've done 75 miles on my hybrid commuter, on a recreational ride. All the hype is simply about the lack of hand positions of a hybrid flat bar (assuming horns/bar-ends were not added). That and the fact that your hybrid wheels will fall off at 30.1 miles .

But if you feel no pains and/or numbness in the hands at 30 miles, then go ahead and ride that hybrid UNTIL your hands or the wheels DO fall off.

Carbonfiberboy 

Yup, ride your bike as far as you want. There's a group of folks who ride their balloon-tired, coaster brake bikes on a local double century. Admittedly it's pretty flat, only about 4200' of gain, but still. When I was like 10-14, I used to ride my flat bar 3-speed 50 miles, no problem. It was a good gravel bike too, for what it was. In jeans, of course.

Russ Roth

Although I've never heard anyone here actually espouse a real rule, 30 miles is a reasonable limit depending on the bike. If you're talking about the lower end versions with the cheap suspension forks and the 26" wide tires, while it can be done, to me it wouldn't be enjoyable to go further. They're just to slow and stodgy for my liking. If you're talking about something like the old trek FX7.7 which had road wheels, a slightly compact road triple, carbon fork and weighted 20lbs, I'd happily ride that the length of the Erie canal and think nothing of it. Higher end performance and fitness hybrids can be very similar, excepting the bars, to an adventure or gravel bike (more goofy terms) and a pleasure to ride long distances. The cheaper the parts, the wider the tires and the heavier it gets the less I'd prefer to do so, but that does for any kind of bike.

ScreamingB

I see why they say 30 miles limit.. my ass starts to hurt after 30 miles point.. i wanted to cycle longer distance but cant. Ordered another saddle, the Giant Approach saddle. Hopefully this can prevent the ass pain... Will report back.

Hypno Toad

I feel your pain! I took this resort bike out for short ride (up a Cat 3 climb) 6 miles and 30 minutes and my ass was hating this saddle. For refence, I've completed The DAMn 3 times (240+ miles in one day, taking 17 to 18 hours on the saddle) with less pain than the saddle on the 'comfort' bike. I repeat, the bike in this picture is not a good set up for 30+ mile rides, it could be modified/updated to do longer rides, but this is the kinda 'hybrid' bike I would advise against for rides over 30 miles.

gpburdell

Did you happen to note the model? That seat doesn't look to be stock.

Hypno Toad

I didn't get too attached too this resort bike, but I think they have Trek Shift 2 ... and they seem to come with a tractor seat saddle.

gpburdell

Hybrid is a wide category. I'm sure you can find some models that are a pain after ten miles and others that are fine for as long as you wish to go.

I'd say anyone telling you such a categorical is trying to sell you something other than a hybrid.

Me? I've done multiple over-30-mile rides on my hybrid and was just fine. Only limiting factor was time. Trek 8.6 DS

gpburdell

Thanks - that explains why I couldn't find anything with a similar looking frame & headset. Doesn't seem to be a current model.

The beach cruiser styled Townies do seem to have similar saddles but those are a different animal.

OldRailfan

Following the thread and looking at a few of the definitions one can find, I would say the term is a lot of "gobbledegook" to sell the gullible yet one more bike.
I really don't give a hoot what they call it, getting me where i want to go and being comfortable enough to go whatever distance I decide on going is what counts.

BTW my "e-MTB" from RBSM has almost the same geometry as my "Stellar Sport" from DeVinci. I can also push hard enough on the e-bike to come up with the same intensity minutes as the m-bike.

"gobbledegook"

Dragum

I cycled 50 miles, with lunch break, 3 times with hard aluminium hybrids without suspension or special pants. A good saddle and, some times, without hands... I can make much more, if i need.

Dragum

AND... hybrids with MTB transmition and without suspension are perfect to cycle tourism. beyond 1000 miles.

Ryan_M

Damn I guess I shod stop doing centuries (metric) on mine then