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It was a major change in in the bicycle marked and -culture, when the hybrids struck trough. And why wouldn't it have been, after all, a wholly new product class entered the marked, that's what I'm saying.
Before, it was either heavy frame rugged utility bikes, let's calle them "commuters" with very simple transmissions, and then there "touring" and "road" bikes witch both had either 10 or 12 speed transmission (range optimized for intended use).
This is what hybrid means, bringing the expensive-deluxe road/tour (disregarding the fact that the major commuter bicycle manufacturers did have entry level touring and road bikes on sale too - with added benefit of interchangeable parts with more common commuter models) derailleur transmisssion with large number of gears near the baseline commuter bicycle price class.
I regard that as a beginning of the silver age.
