Can you change a Hybrid bike into a Mountain Bike?
Tom L asked:
i have bought a hybrid bike and have tried scrambling on it but the gears buckle could you change it into a tougher mountain bike?
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Filed Under Cycling |
Tagged With Buckle, Gears, Hybrid Bike
Comments
2 Responses to “Can you change a Hybrid bike into a Mountain Bike?”
Yes, but not a perfect mountain bike.
My wife has a Trek Navigator 200 bike, which is a comfort bike. As is, the bike can handle mild dirt trails.
In order to make it trailworthy I would:
-Replace the front suspension with a real mtn fork
-Change the gearing for mountains and not streets
-Swap the seat for a real mountain saddle
-Possibly change the handlebars
The seating position is poor for climbing since you are very upright, but I’m sure some handlebar, stem, and fork adjustments could correct it to an acceptable level.
Then again, the cost to upgrade is marginally less than buying an equivalent beginner mountain bike.
Yes, you can, but it seems like you’re trying to do more than a hybrid is capable of even with serious modification.
AndrewW’s advice was spot -on, and he’s right that it still won’t give you the agility or gearing you need for a real MTB.
My advice; go the other way. TRade the hybrid in on a real MTB, then invest in a pair of smooth tires for when your planning on extended road riding. You’ll get the wider gear range, and versatility you’re looking for.