One important point that you have not considered is who the bike is for. We have just bought a Dawes Synthesis hybrid with 17″ mountain bike frame and 700c wheels. We will not be doing much (if any) off-road work so I have changed the tyres from pseudo-knoblies to Conti top tours. This has also allowed me to use narrow Esge mudguards. BUT the REAL reason for choosing a hybrid frame was simple:
My wife could not fit on a standard 19″ diamond frame, and due to their lack of rigidity, I would not consider a ladies frame. So there we have it: a good ladies tourer for someone with a shorter inside leg measurement. Two bonuses: She loves the grip shift and bar ends and more importantly.
The longer seat post means that I can just about fit on it when she isn’t about! ( I normally ride a 22″ tourer)Where can one find a good deal on Specialized mountain bikes? Or, is there such a thing? I’m beginning to believe that discounting is not allowed. (Very sneaky marketing, if you ask me) LBDs provide a much needed service and only get a small profit for the parts and bikes they sell (30% profit margin is standard – many industries charge full “keystone”, which is 100%). How would you feel if your employer suddenly told you that you were being paid too much and fired you to hire someone willing to work for half your salary?