Hybrid Bicycles

What Hybrid Bicycle will get me the best bang for $350?
My wife and I are planning to purchase Hybrid bicycles and need advice on how to best spend our money.
I like the test ride I took on the Trek 7300 but that is pretty much out of our price range. Consumer Reports suggested the Specialized Crossroads Sport ($330), but they said that it lacks index shifting and I will be that knuckle head you see on the side of the road putting the chain back on.
I am willing to consider the Trek 7100, so if anyone owns one that could offer insight I would really appreciate that as well. Thanks in advance!
I would recommend against Consumer Reports when it comes to researching a bicycle. Check out Bicycling Magazine or Outdoors or the like – they typically run a buying guide at the start of the year. At least you’re fairly certain that the people who write reviews for these magazines actually know something about bikes or have to answer to an editor who does (unlike CR).
I’d also personally check out that Specialized Crossroads – I’d be shocked if it didn’t have indexed shifting (it’s so common that I didn’t even think non-indexed shifters were still made).
Take a look at Giant – they have a big factory that makes a lot of the bikes, at the price point you’re looking at, for a number of the different bike manufacturers. They tend to offer a good bang-for-the-buck (although my personal experience with them is with mountain bikes so I’m not sure what they have in the way of hybrids).
Are you intent on buying new? I’d suggest looking at a bike that you’d like to get, even out of your price range, then check craigslist, ebay, classifieds, etc. for that bike or something close. For ebay, I’d stick with local listings as shipping costs on a complete bike will likely add big $$ on your total costs. Not that I’m typically for circumventing your local bike store, but, unfortunately, $350 doesn’t buy you that much bike anymore.
Good luck.
Bicycle Tips & Maintenance : How to Buy a Hybrid Bike
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Delta Leonardo Single-Bike Rack $14.99 Convenient storage for any bike with elegant space-saving design. Welded construction with padded wheel hook . Maximum load 40lbs…. |
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Kryptonite Kryptolok Series 2 ATB Bicycle U-Lock (5-Inch x 9-Inch) $45.99 Rated 8 out of 12 in Kryptonite’s 12-point security comparison system, the Series 2 Bicycle U-Lock provides security that you can count in just about any situation–at an affordable price point. The 4 by 9-inch lock is equipped with a 13-millimeter performance steel shackle with Kryptonite’s patented deadbolt locking mechanism. The shack and deadbolt combine with Kryptonite’s high-security Bent Fo… |
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Kryptonite Kryptolok Series 2 LS Bicycle U-Lock (4-Inch x 11.5-Inch) $45.99 Kryptonite Series 2 U-Locks offer a 13mm hardened performance steel shackle with classic bent foot design and a patented deadbolt locking mechanism.High security, pick and drill resistant disc-style cylinderRotating dust cover protects and extends cylinder life2 keys – new “I” keys for easier usageIncludes versatile EZ Mount transportation bracket$1,500 anti-theft protection13mm hardened performan… |
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Schneider Electric Bike $1.99 … |
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Polar Wear Link Hybrid Transmitter Set The WearLink?+ Hybrid transmitter picks up your heart?s signals and transfers that data into a compatible Polar training computer. The soft fabric chest strap seamlessly adapts to your body shape, bringing full freedom of movement to your training. With its hook mechanism, the transmitter is just as quick to put on as it is to take off…. |
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Bicycles Blue $8.48 Designed for Timeless treasures, this novelty fabric features bicycles in colors of green, turquoise, yellow, orange and red on a denim blue background. Use for quilting and craft projects. |
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HYBRID COT $45.99 HYBRID COT |
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Michael Miller Flannel Bicycles Bloom $8.98 Designed for Michael Miller Fabrics, this double napped (brushed on both sides) flannel features pink and white bicycles on a grey background. Use for quilting and craft projects. |
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Michael Miller Flannel Bicycles Aqua $8.98 Designed for Michael Miller Fabrics, this double napped (brushed on both sides)flannel features grey bicycles on a blue background. Use for quilting and craft project. This is not flame retardant. |
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Michael Miller It’s a Boy Thing Bicycles Grey $8.98 Designed for Michael Miller Fabrics, this fabric features blue and white bicycles on a grey background. Use for quilting and craft projects. |
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Michael Miller It’s A Boy Thing Bicycles Haze $8.98 Designed for Michael Miller Fabrics, this fabric features aqua and grey bicycles on a white background. Use for quilting and craft projects. |
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Michael Miller It’s a Girl Thing Bicycles Bloom Grey $8.98 Designed for Michael Miller Fabrics, this fabric features pink and white bicycles on a grey background. Use for quilting and craft projects. |
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Michael Miller Citron Gray Bicycles Citron $8.98 From Michael Miller Fabrics, this cotton print fabric features white and citron bicycles tossed on a grey background. Use fabric for quilts, home décor accents, craft projects and apparel. |
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Hybrid Headcovers $5.95 Hybrid headcovers fit all hybrid clubs. Black and red fitted body with embroidered Pinemeadow logo club numbers and clear piping. Single headcovers for the 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 and PW are sold separately. |
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HYBRID CASE FOR IPHONE 4-IPP-HYB-53 $40.99 HYBRID CASE FOR IPHONE 4-IPP-HYB-53 |
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XM Hybrid for iPhone 4 Green $26.99 XtremeMac Hybrid for iPhone 4 Green |
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Carmen Sandiego Hybrid Mac/Pc $22.99 CARMEN SANDIEGO HYBRID MAC/PC |
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XM Hybrid for iPhone 4 Pink $26.99 XtremeMac Hybrid for iPhone 4 Pink |
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XM Hybrid for iPhone 4 Black $26.99 XtremeMac Hybrid for iPhone 4 Black |
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IPLDK-60 EXPANSION CARD-3CO 8 HYBRID $260.99 IPLDK-60 – EXPANSION CARD (3CO, 8 HYBRID) |
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Tour Leader Hybrid Irons $29.95 The Tour Leader Hybrid set is your complete hybrid solution for instant game improvement. The innovative hybrid shape is designed to be as easy to hit as your fairway woods but with the accuracy you need in your irons. The unique smooth sole design reduces the chance of digging into the ground and lowers the center of gravity to ensure that the ball gets out and gets airborne fast. Never hit a #1 iron in your life? Well now you can! See what our customers have to say about this set and see why it will change your golf game forever. Add a Pinemeadow Wedge to your hybrid set and you have the complete package. This club is available in custom lengths and flexes. Click for more info. |
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Bicycles in the Park Children’s Birthday Party Invitations $1.81 From the charmingly rugged sketch font to the cherished first tricycle, these birthday party invitations simultaneously capture the innocence of childhood and the significance of this milestone. |
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Hybrid Power Tube Amplifer Slv $226.99 GRACE DIGITAL HYBRID PWR AMPLIFIER IPOD DOCK SLVR |
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Hybrid Power Tube Amplifer Wht $226.99 GRACE DIGITAL HYBRID PWR AMPLIFIER IPOD DOCK WHT |
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IPLDK-60 – EXPANSION CARD (PRI/T1, 8 HYBRID) $622.99 IPLDK-60 – EXPANSION CARD (PRI/T1, 8 HYBRID) |