About a month ago, I did something I never thought I would do. I traded in the beloved, battered hardtail downhill bike that Ive used as my daily commuter for the past three years and took home a hybrid.
Its not that I hold anything against hybrids. Ive always thought they were most likely the best all-round option for an urban commuter. But for some reason, Id never really considered owning one myself. I grew up riding downhill bikes and the front suspension smoothes out rough patches on the way to work.
Besides, a hardtail gave me the freedom to ride pretty much wherever I wanted, whenever I wanted.
A quick ride on Pacific Spirit Parks trails after work? No problem.
A spin through Stanley Park at lunchtime? Easy.
But since Ive gotten more serious about road riding, the slowness and heaviness of the hardtail weighed down my commute and started to feel limiting. I also upgraded to a full suspension bike for trail riding, which meant the poor hardtail rarely saw dirt anymore. It definitely seemed time for a change.
After much fun researching and test riding bikes plus a small amount of soul-searching as I posted the Craigslist ad for my hardtail I settled on a Cannondale Bad Boy 9 as my new commuter. It retails for about $600.
With each ride to and from work, Im happier about my decision. The Bad Boy, with its ideal balance of speed and comfort, couldnt be a more perfect commuter bike. This is one of the great things about modern hybrids: there is a wide enough range to find a style that meets your needs.
In the Bad Boys case, the bike has flat bars and a downhill riding position. This isnt quite as versatile a set up as drop bars, but I much prefer it on a commuter bike where Im in heavy traffic the entire ride and prefer a slight upright position. It also has disk brakes, which I consider non-negotiable on a year-round commuter bike. As well as the extra braking power, disk breaks provide peace of mind in Vancouvers often inclement weather and I really appreciate being able to stop on a dime when the unexpected occurs in rush hour traffic.
In spite of the extra weight from the beefier components, a combination of skinny rims, slick tires and 700c wheels make the bikes speed and handling resemble a road bike much more than a downhill bike. The Bad Boy isnt an especially high-end hybrid, but Ive been truly impressed by the performance. While its certainly not comparable to the acceleration and handling of a true road bike, its quick and responsive and fun to ride and its more than capable enough for quick middle-distance routes.
The one drawback that isnt especially enjoyable after years on downhill bikes is the rigid fork, which makes for a comparatively harsh ride.
Overall, though, Ive been very impressed with this bike. My fear was that a hybrid would try to be all things to all cyclist and consequently do nothing well. In fact, modern hybrids are configured to do almost everything well.
The market has a huge combination of frame shapes, components and wheels, so its possible to find a bike thats a great fit for your individual riding needs. For a new commuter or someone looking to focus on city riding, a hybrid might just be the perfect bike. It is for me.
Kay Cahill is a cyclist and librarian who believes bikes are for life, not just for commuting. Read more at www.sidecut.ca, or send a comment to [email protected].
