New to cycling

[Herzog]

As I'm new to all the abbreviation does LBS stand for Local bike store?

It does indeed

 

[Norm]

I'm in Slough and travelling to Sunbury on Thames. It is mainly roads, but there are a few trails etc.....

Then get yourself over to Stows in Dedworth and have a word with Sam.

A flat bar road bike is one form of hybrid, and that is exactly why I hate the word hybrid so much. But a road bike of some sort would be my suggestion, although I'd be looking at drops for 14 miles each way. The extra positions and the chance to get out of the wind will make a noticeable difference over that distance.

I use a flat barred bike during the winter for 10 miles and I'm happy when the salt goes.

 

[Rafreg]

Apologies if I sound silly I do not know much about bikes. So is there much difference between a "hybrid" and a road bike? I mean I know the tyres are probably different but aren't the frames on the "hybrid" a lot stronger? I ask as my route to work will involve some paths/trails, and I was lead to believe that a road bike will not be as suitable as a "hybrid"

 

[Norm]

The word" hybrid" is used for such a diverse range of bikes that it is completely meaningless - just about anything with flat bars has been called a hybrid, from a lightweight racing frame with 23mm tyres and no gears to a heavy duty unsuspended MTB with chunky 45mm rubber.

Avoid the word and you will avoid the confusion.

Here's something I've posted previously. Check out the three bikes in the link, all described as "hybrid"...

And the reason that I despise the word hybrid, which manages to be meaningless, useless and positively harmful at times. These three are all described as "hybrids" and they range from the Spec Crosstrail, a rigid mountain bike which would be good on all surfaces, to the Charge Mixer, which would struggle on even rough tarmac.