32 miles round trip, Hybrid or Road bike?

Strider590

I've been getting back into my cycling recently (after health problems), with the intent of riding to work 2 or 3 times a week.
I currently have a Kona Kikapu Deluxe, a brilliant XC bike, but incredibly hard work on the roads, way too big for filtering between cars and a thief magnet.



Really screams "STEAL ME!!!"

I'm in the market for a 2nd bike, possibly a 700c hybrid or full on road bike, hybrid because of it's ability to nip through 3+3 miles of traffic or a road bike for flat out speed on the 10 miles of clear roads between here and work.

Does anyone here do that sort of distance on a hybrid?

Johnmcl7

There's probably going to be no clearcut answer on this as it's going to depend on people's preferences and fitness and hybrids seem to vary from very close to road bikes to much closer to mountain bikes. 30 miles is a bit of a slog on my hybrid but it's not a particularly fast one as I wanted a good day to day one so although it has an aluminium frame and carbon fork, it has an integrated gear hub and carbon belt which slows it down a bit. 30 miles on the road bike (mine is nothing fancy, Trek 1.5) is comparatively easy as the bike just flies along.

At the moment I mainly use the road bike for leisure but while the weather is good also for work however will probably stick with the hybrid once the weather gets worse. If I was starting from scratch and had a 32 mile commute I'd probably look at a CX bike to get something close to the speed of a road bike but a bit more durable and with disc brakes.

John

Strider590

The important thing to note is 32 round trip, 16 miles to work, 8 hours, then 16 miles back.
I'm not some nutter

joolsybools

TBH *anything* less mountain bikey is going to be a bonus for a 30 mile round trip. I have managed the same sort of mileage on a cheap Decathlon hybrid (no longer made https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=decathlon+btwin+triban+trail+3&rlz=1C1SKPC_enGB343&hl=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=7kb0UanvCerb0QWuhoGwAg&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1280&bih=709#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=mw5DQD5JlSVyIM%3A%3BqrIr6KLOhHam4M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fimages04.olx.es%252Fui%252F3%252F64%252F86%252Ff_57945886-d49fd314.jpeg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fvalencia.olx.es%252F140-bicicleta-btwin-triban-trail-3-paseo-ciudad-todo-camino-iid-57945886%3B600%3B450) and more recently on this (with thinner tyres) http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/road/product/review-specialized-bicycles-globe-comp-ig8-womens-07-20530

The key is probably just to get out there and do some test rides or do you have any mates with the sort of bike you might be interested in who are willing to let you have a go?

Marco_Panettone

Personally I'd look at a road bike or tourer. Faster, more hand positions, and a sensible range of gears.

Strider590

Unfortunately none of my mates have anything other than mountain bikes, so that's a no go.

What I have found through some research into road bikes, is that it's not so simple as I first thought, I'm now thinking of going down to my local bike shop to look at some cylcocross bikes as a more roady alternative to a hybrid.

Marco_Panettone

You could always get new mates... ;-)

If the CX bike has 700c wheels you can put slick tyres on it for road use/commuting and then the knobblies on for off-roading.

Fishingtime

Marco_Panettone wrote: »

You could always get new mates... ;-)

I agree what type of mates are they if all they have are mountain bikes

TheMiner

Personally for that distance I would go for a road bike. I used to do a 22 mile round trip and the difference between my road bike (for triathlons) and my road bike (for commuting c/w panniers and Marathon plus tyres) was over five mins each way. I didn't use my commuter very often for that journey!

I now have a hybrid to replace the commuter and the journey is down to six miles each way but I still prefer the road bike. The hybrid does have its uses especially for the trip home where I can use a canal tow path and if I need to stop at the shops.

If the CX bike has 700c wheels you can put slick tyres on it for road use/commuting and then the knobblies on for off-roading.

I find the hybrid really doesn't work for either option, but that's just my opinion. I don't do much off roading so don't own a mountain bike

crumpetman

Road bike definitely.

I do 25 miles round trip and it is way better on a road bike than a hybrid. The road bike is more comfortable and quicker and/or easier than the hybrid depending on how much effort I want to put in.

I don't see how a hybrid is going to be better for nipping through traffic though? Because you will be slightly more upright or your head will be a little higher so easier to see over the cars?

Cycrow

a road biek will be better.
i currently have a Hybrid. But its more of the mountain bike hybrid, just with slick types and ridged forks.

i only do a 15 mile round trip to work, but on the weekends i tend to go out on 50-60 mile rides.

I would prefer a road bike (and i plan to get one at some point)