Bike advice please! - hybrid?

[RobM77]

I've just been reading through previous threads like this, but would appreciate a bit of advice too.

I've currently got a Lemond road bike which I love, but was thinking of getting a hybrid to go alongside it for the following reasons:

• I want to cycle on trails and light off road, but retain good road ability for touring.

• I want to go on cycling holidays without carrying two pairs of shoes with me everywhere, so want flat pedals rather than clip ones. I also never got used to being clipped in (even after three years on my road bike), and whilst I love it on the open road, I find it worrying and a pain in traffic.

• I'd like something I can ride to work or to the shops and not worry about leaving it outside in the rain, plus take shortcuts up and over kerbs etc.

• I'd like to be more upright on the bike to appreciate the scenery, and be able to get onto the brakes properly - i.e. flat bars.

I'm going to keep the road bike in its current configuration so I can use it for triathlon and when I'm purely just riding on the road for fitness, but was thinking of satisfying the above by buying a hybrid, probably for up to £500. I don't fancy a mountain bike, even on skinny tyres because they all seem so beefy and heavy and just over designed for what I want to do.

Any ideas, things to look for etc?

[Johnny]

I'm kind of in the same boat... Got my road and mountain bike but now find myself wanting a hybrid for riding to work & light local duties. The MTB will be used for more serious off road fun & the road bike for training & fitness.

Typically my company have, at last, decided to join in with the C2W scheme after me harassing then for some time. I'm leaning towards a Boardman Pro Ltd on the scheme but you can have a Boardman Comp for £500.

Not sure how that compares to other makes & models though. I'm very happy with my Pro C though so would happily buy another Boardman

Not much advice there really!

[Mars]

I'm enjoying my Whyte but I wouldn't want to leave it unattended outside a shop. SPDs were installed by me.

[richardxjr]

Into my 3rd year now with my Carrera Subway Ltd, which varies between £270-370. Ali frame, disk brakes. I do exactly what you propose doing with mine, except the touring bit. It's sitting outside my office in the rain right now.

25 miles a week commuting, 10 at the weekends on downs tracks etc, copes really well, hasn't fallen apart yet. The gearing feels perhaps a tad low if I've any complaint?

Buying at the lower end (dependent on Halfords' sale dates) allows you to get all the touring gear too and still stay on budget.

[clonmult]

Mars said:

I'm enjoying my Whyte but I wouldn't want to leave it unattended outside a shop. SPDs were installed by me.

I could probably do with changing the wheels on my Trek (FX 7.3), those on your Whyte are absolutely stunning - any ideas what sort of price they'd be, if available separately?

[will_]

Rob, I use a Revolution Courier Race as a day to day beater. It is cheap, has generally good components, looks nothing special and does everything it sounds like you'd like it to do.

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLqrymode.a4p?...

[RobM77]

will_ said:

Rob, I use a Revolution Courier Race as a day to day beater. It is cheap, has generally good components, looks nothing special and does everything it sounds like you'd like it to do.

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLqrymode.a4p?...

That looks really good, thanks. I'm happy to spend more, but it does look like a good solid bike. How do you find only having eight gears? And also, how does the weight feel? 12.5kg seems like a lot compared with other quoted weights. I've never weighed my road bike, but I will tonight and compare it with the manufacturer's quote weight..

[will_]

RobM77 said:

will_ said:

Rob, I use a Revolution Courier Race as a day to day beater. It is cheap, has generally good components, looks nothing special and does everything it sounds like you'd like it to do.

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLqrymode.a4p?...

That looks really good, thanks. I'm happy to spend more, but it does look like a good solid bike. How do you find only having eight gears? And also, how does the weight feel? 12.5kg seems like a lot compared with other quoted weights. I've never weighed my road bike, but I will tonight and compare it with the manufacturer's quote weight..

8 gears is plenty for the type of riding I understand you want to do. Ditto the weight - it's not a lightweight racer, but it's not supposed to be. If you're just running down to the pub/the shops it makes little difference in realit, and it does feel "solid".

As to cost - bearing in mind how many bikes get nicked my priority was getting something that will "do the job" and not lose me much if it goes missing. And for that the Courier is perfect. That may not be what you're looking for. In car terms this is my "daily snotter".

[RobM77]

will_ said:

RobM77 said:

will_ said:

Rob, I use a Revolution Courier Race as a day to day beater. It is cheap, has generally good components, looks nothing special and does everything it sounds like you'd like it to do.

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLqrymode.a4p?...

That looks really good, thanks. I'm happy to spend more, but it does look like a good solid bike. How do you find only having eight gears? And also, how does the weight feel? 12.5kg seems like a lot compared with other quoted weights. I've never weighed my road bike, but I will tonight and compare it with the manufacturer's quote weight..

8 gears is plenty for the type of riding I understand you want to do. Ditto the weight - it's not a lightweight racer, but it's not supposed to be. If you're just running down to the pub/the shops it makes little difference in realit, and it does feel "solid".

As to cost - bearing in mind how many bikes get nicked my priority was getting something that will "do the job" and not lose me much if it goes missing. And for that the Courier is perfect. That may not be what you're looking for. In car terms this is my "daily snotter".

Thanks; good point. I would intend touring on it though; perhaps 40 to 50 miles a day around Germany or France, so I want something fairly decent. Their website looks good too; lots of good bikes on there.

[Roman]

I think that the Boardmans or specialized Sirrus range offer the best performing hybrids for around £500.

I agree with Will that 8/9 speeds are enough for the vast majority of riding. I have a 'souped up' Sirrus and it's great.

[will_]

RobM77 said:

will_ said:

RobM77 said:

will_ said:

Rob, I use a Revolution Courier Race as a day to day beater. It is cheap, has generally good components, looks nothing special and does everything it sounds like you'd like it to do.

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLqrymode.a4p?...

That looks really good, thanks. I'm happy to spend more, but it does look like a good solid bike. How do you find only having eight gears? And also, how does the weight feel? 12.5kg seems like a lot compared with other quoted weights. I've never weighed my road bike, but I will tonight and compare it with the manufacturer's quote weight..

8 gears is plenty for the type of riding I understand you want to do. Ditto the weight - it's not a lightweight racer, but it's not supposed to be. If you're just running down to the pub/the shops it makes little difference in realit, and it does feel "solid".

As to cost - bearing in mind how many bikes get nicked my priority was getting something that will "do the job" and not lose me much if it goes missing. And for that the Courier is perfect. That may not be what you're looking for. In car terms this is my "daily snotter".

Thanks; good point. I would intend touring on it though; perhaps 40 to 50 miles a day around Germany or France, so I want something fairly decent. Their website looks good too; lots of good bikes on there.

You may be better off with a proper "tourer" for those sorts of trips then. I've done 50 mile rides on mine and it's been fine (and it has provision for front and rear panniers) but you might want to consider spending a bit more.

They are a really helpful bunch, and I think a PHer has something to do with them too (I will try and dig out who!).

[will_]

Roman said:

I think that the Boardmans or specialized Sirrus range offer the best performing hybrids for around £500.

I agree with Will that 8/9 speeds are enough for the vast majority of riding. I have a 'souped up' Sirrus and it's great.

I looked at the Sirrus and it's a really excellent bike, but I couldn't justify the extra cost over the Courier Race for the sort of riding I do (and the places I leave my bike in London).

One point to add on the gears issue - not having a front derailer means less weight and fewer components to replace. Having 27 gears is all well and good but you're likely to spend 90% if your time in the same 5 or so!

[bga]

I never missed the front mech on my Courier Race. I would definitely consider one again if I was in the position to commute by bike.

[Dave_ITR]

I too have been looking into getting a Hybrid.

I currently have (have only ever had) a MTB which I use for off road.

As Summer is approaching I want to put in a few more miles and my MTB really isnt up to it.
I'd be looking to commute maybe once a week (35 mile round trip) & do a bit of leisurely country lane riding.

Will a Hybrid cope with this type of riding fairly well or should I really be looking to go down the road bike option?

[RobM77]

will_ said:

RobM77 said:

will_ said:

RobM77 said:

will_ said:

Rob, I use a Revolution Courier Race as a day to day beater. It is cheap, has generally good components, looks nothing special and does everything it sounds like you'd like it to do.

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLqrymode.a4p?...

That looks really good, thanks. I'm happy to spend more, but it does look like a good solid bike. How do you find only having eight gears? And also, how does the weight feel? 12.5kg seems like a lot compared with other quoted weights. I've never weighed my road bike, but I will tonight and compare it with the manufacturer's quote weight..

8 gears is plenty for the type of riding I understand you want to do. Ditto the weight - it's not a lightweight racer, but it's not supposed to be. If you're just running down to the pub/the shops it makes little difference in realit, and it does feel "solid".

As to cost - bearing in mind how many bikes get nicked my priority was getting something that will "do the job" and not lose me much if it goes missing. And for that the Courier is perfect. That may not be what you're looking for. In car terms this is my "daily snotter".

Thanks; good point. I would intend touring on it though; perhaps 40 to 50 miles a day around Germany or France, so I want something fairly decent. Their website looks good too; lots of good bikes on there.

You may be better off with a proper "tourer" for those sorts of trips then. I've done 50 mile rides on mine and it's been fine (and it has provision for front and rear panniers) but you might want to consider spending a bit more.

They are a really helpful bunch, and I think a PHer has something to do with them too (I will try and dig out who!).

A tourer with drops as in Dawes etc? Maybe it's the position my long legs and short arms force me into, but I want to keep drops for competition and training rides on my road bike. I can't really see me touring round Austria looking at the scenery with drop handlbars, and certainly not cycling down a tow path or through a forest.

I think rear panniers would be enough, I wouldn't want to carry too much weight with me, and may even base myself somewhere and do circular day rides with just a backpack for that reason.

I've heard good things about that bike shop before from other people - I'll certainly consider it. It would be mail order for me though as I live in the South.

[RobM77]

What are people's thoughts on tyre sizing for a hybrid? The Sirrus mentioned above does look good (http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLqrymode.a4p?f_ProductID=13043&f_FullProductVersion=1&f_SupersetQRY=C432&f_SortOrderID=1&f_bct=c003155c018333c018336). It's on 700x28Cs - would they be ok with light off road and paths etc? For comparison, my road bike is on 700x23, I checked last night.

Next time I'm over at my parents' place I'll have a look at my old hybrid in the shed and see what it's running on. The use I put that through is exactly what I want for this new bike. My Dad had the same bike on thinner tyres, which didn't seem to be as good off road, though it felt faster on road.

[Roman]

I use 32mm cyclo cross tyres (Vittoria XN) on the Sirrus which are very light, fast and perfect for unsurfaced roads so I'd say 28-32 are a good compromise though the standard tyres on a Sirrus may be semi slick. The Specialized Borough is a good compromise - cheaper & harder wearing than cross tyres though heavier & slower.

My Sirrus has a single 39t chainring on the front and a 9speed XT 11-34 cassette on the rear.

This cross bike is a great alternative to a hybrid - £600 for a lightweight Tiagra equipped cross bike - bargain, not sure if it has provision for panniers though:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Raleigh-AIRLite-X-Cyclo-Cros...

Edited by Roman on Thursday 3rd February 13:20

[will_]

RobM77 said:

A tourer with drops as in Dawes etc? Maybe it's the position my long legs and short arms force me into, but I want to keep drops for competition and training rides on my road bike. I can't really see me touring round Austria looking at the scenery with drop handlbars, and certainly not cycling down a tow path or through a forest.

I think rear panniers would be enough, I wouldn't want to carry too much weight with me, and may even base myself somewhere and do circular day rides with just a backpack for that reason.

I've heard good things about that bike shop before from other people - I'll certainly consider it. It would be mail order for me though as I live in the South.

Outside of my limited zone of knowledge now I'm afraid - I think it would make a fine touring bike, but having never done it I can't be sure.

I bought unseen, unridden. In hindsight I might have gone a size bigger, but I bought the last one they had at a really good discount, and it was the cheapest new bike I could get in a hurry, so I went for it. No regrets for the money I paid.

[will_]

Dave_ITR said:

I too have been looking into getting a Hybrid.

I currently have (have only ever had) a MTB which I use for off road.

As Summer is approaching I want to put in a few more miles and my MTB really isnt up to it.
I'd be looking to commute maybe once a week (35 mile round trip) & do a bit of leisurely country lane riding.

Will a Hybrid cope with this type of riding fairly well or should I really be looking to go down the road bike option?

For 35 miles in t'country I'd probably go for a road bike.

In urban areas I think you're safer in a more upright position, and it's more the traffic lights than the aerodynamics which govern your speed. Were I out in the sticks I'd probably go for something more focused, particularly for that sort of distance.

[Mars]

clonmult said:

I could probably do with changing the wheels on my Trek (FX 7.3), those on your Whyte are absolutely stunning - any ideas what sort of price they'd be, if available separately?

Thanks. They look nice in white but I think they're only painted or powder coated, and the colouring doesn't seem particularly durable. I've scratched one already. You could only use them with discs.

According to the Whyte website, they are "Alex Race 28, Deep Section Road, 32 Hole Rear and 28 Front". When I pasted that into Google I only got responses for my whole bike. Couldn't give you a price on the wheels alone. Given that the whole bike was only £700 I wouldn't think they'd be terrbly expensive.