Hybrid bike for my H?

[TR]

I want to get H a new bike for his birthday. He’s been enjoying riding around our neighborhood, I could envision him finding a very light trail to ride on (meaning gravel instead of pavement, not real mountain biking or anything). So I’m thinking a hybrid and I’d like to stay under $1500, even better if it’s under $1000. The multiple lists of best hybrid bikes have almost no overlap lol. But I have seen the Cannondale Bad Boy 2, Specialized Sirrus (I might have that model name wrong) and an REI brand, Co-op mentioned more than once.

I know the BEST thing would be to take him to pick one out, but if I do that it just won’t ever happen, we won’t make the time, he’ll say he doesn’t need one (his current bike is from working at the 1996 Olympics lol), etc so I’m just buying him one.

I went to one LBS today, but they only had one hybrid in an XL (he’s 6’3”) and it was an entry level Raleigh and I’d like to get him one a little nicer.

Any suggestions?

[sadlebred]

Yes, take him to a couple of bike shops and see what they have. Seriously. The BEST hybrid or any bike is the one that fits not the one that is on a list. Don't try to guess which one will fit your husband. As a cyclist, I can't advocate for "surprising" him with a bike. This goes in reverse to for any guy trying to surprise his lady (or a lady surprising her lady or guy surprising his guy).

Be open to entry level gravel bikes if you think he might want to ride gravel. Hybrids do NOT make good gravel bikes for anything other than a light path through a park. They don't have the right tires or the clearance for the correct type of tires for gravel. He'll want a gravel bike if you think he's going to be doing gravel roads. Gravel bikes can also go on the road, the local rail trail, and even a mile or two of mountain bike singletrack. I don't recommend them for "real" mountain biking. Gravel bikes and cyclocross bikes are the most versatile bikes available today. They overtook hybrids in that category a few years ago.

Bikes are starting to come back in stock after being decimated last year during COVID-19, and winter is a good time to buy one. The exact one he wants they may have to order. LBSes haven't seen sales like this since the 1970s.

Don't forget a helmet. I'm sure you both like his brain, and it needs to be protected by a well fitting helmet.

[wanderingback]

You could always get him a gift card to your local shop so then that’d kinda force him to have to buy one. Although, if he says he doesn’t need a new bike then maybe listen to him lol.

It sounds like it’d be best to talk to the shop as well since you’re not sure if he actually wants to bike on gravel or just around the neighborhood, they’d be able to give recommendations about that as well.

You might not have to spend $1500 if he’s just going to be biking around the neighborhood. You could get a gift card to cover the cost of a bike and helmet. I really don’t think there’s a good way to surprise someone with a bike unless their bike got stolen or damaged and you are buying them the exact same bike.

[nicolewi]

Uh, I was going to tell you they had one at Costco for a couple hundred bucks, but looks like you are going for a totally different level of bike! (I'm totally not a biker)