-=> Quoting Steven Mcfarlane to Richard Glazer <=-
 RG> Do you enjoy the hybrid? 
 SM> I live in the middle of rural Japan with some fairly steep hills.  I
 SM> use  the middle range of the gears mostly when I'm on the flatter parts
 SM> but  have to drop down to the lowest to climb some of the hills around
 SM> here.  A  hybrid is the only road-designed bike that has a low gear low
 SM> enough.  A  mountain bike would have the same gears but it would not be
 SM> as  comfortable.  
 SM> On the minus side, upright riding with the straight handlebar limits
 SM> my  speed.  Between that and the fact that my highest gear is lower
 SM> than a  true road bike means that I can't race.  Bar ends with Lizard
 SM> Skin  neoprene grips make a big difference in terms of comfort. 
Check out a touring bike.  Or a sports touring like the Trek 1420. 
Essentially a road bike frame and drop handle bars with a triple.  
Incidently, Trek is putting triples on several of its road bikes now.  The
difference between a touring bike and a sports touring or road bike (with a
triple) is that the touring bike will have cantilever brakes (because of the
load) and a somewhat more relaxed geometry including a little bit wider tire.
    ===  ==== =   _@
    Ken Peck +  _ \<._
    =========  (_)/ (_)   Kenneth_Peck@clr.com
 SM> OTOH, I'm not a racer.  I go out before breakfast and ride for
 SM> exercise.   On weekends, if The Girlfriend has to work, I try some
 SM> longer rides.  I've  done one of 120 km and was practicing for a
 SM> century ride last fall but  took ill and had to stop (then it got too
 SM> cold and dark in the morning for  me)
 SM> Do I enjoy the hybrid?  Well, around here, it's the only choice that 
 SM> allows me to travel long distances.  I keep thinking about getting a
 SM> bike  with dropped handlebars but my current bike is in good condition
 SM> and I  really can't justify the expense.  I picked up some catalogues
 SM> last week  and spent a few hours dreaming but I think I'll hold on to
 SM> my current  machine for another year.
 SM> Tailwinds to you,
 SM> Steve
 SM> ... Computer Rule #1:  You cannot have too much memory.
 SM> ___
 SM> * Freddie 1.2.5 * The first full-featured QWK reader for the Mac.
 SM> -!- GEcho 1.00
 SM>  ! Origin: Shizuoka Echo BBS: Home of JAPAN_LINK International Echo
 SM> (6:730/40)
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