What bike - hybrid for my wife - light frame - up to £600

What bike - hybrid for my wife - light frame - up to £600

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AC43

Original Poster:

11,435 posts

207 months

Friday 20th June 2014
quotequote all
Hi All,

My wife wants a new bike. (City) road use and canal paths. She'd like something as light as possible. Feels her current 2010 Trek 7.3 is a bit heavy. (It's also got a woman's frame and feels like it's hinged in the middle but that's more my complaint than hers).

I'm assuming no front sus. Not needed, too heavy esp at this price point.

V brakes fine. (I'm assuming the discs at this price point might be a bit rubbish?)

It's CTW so needs to be Evans.

Has anyone got the inside line on who does the lightest frame in the £500-£600 price range?

All suggestions welcome.

Thanks

TwistingMyMelon

6,385 posts

204 months

Friday 20th June 2014
quotequote all
Trouble with bikes (esp Hybrids) in that price range , is they are much of muchness, as you are spending as much as the bike originally cost then you will end up pretty much the same. Even if you could get something lighter for £500 it would only be by a couple of pounds. I'm assuming the Trek has no susp and an Alu frame?

AC43

Original Poster:

11,435 posts

207 months

Friday 20th June 2014
quotequote all
TwistingMyMelon said:
Trouble with bikes (esp Hybrids) in that price range , is they are much of muchness, as you are spending as much as the bike originally cost then you will end up pretty much the same. Even if you could get something lighter for £500 it would only be by a couple of pounds. I'm assuming the Trek has no susp and an Alu frame?
Yes aluminium and rigid front

Watchman

6,391 posts

244 months

Friday 20th June 2014
quotequote all
I'd have said this one - I'm buying it for my wife. Thing is, it won't take spuddy cyclocross tyres if she thinks she needs them for the towpaths. The chainstays are simply too narrow. Well, it won't take the ones I bought (Continental 35mm). If you can get something no more than 30mm, you'd probably manage. The current tyres would be OK if it was dry packed dirt but not mud.

http://whyte.bike/gb/models/commuterroad/r7-fast-u...

But for every other consideration, it's light, has hydraulic discs, and is £550.

Watchman

6,391 posts

244 months

Friday 20th June 2014
quotequote all
Assuming you can convince Evans to get one in for you...

AC43

Original Poster:

11,435 posts

207 months

Friday 20th June 2014
quotequote all
Watchman said:
I'd have said this one - I'm buying it for my wife. Thing is, it won't take spuddy cyclocross tyres if she thinks she needs them for the towpaths. The chainstays are simply too narrow. Well, it won't take the ones I bought (Continental 35mm). If you can get something no more than 30mm, you'd probably manage. The current tyres would be OK if it was dry packed dirt but not mud.

http://whyte.bike/gb/models/commuterroad/r7-fast-u...

But for every other consideration, it's light, has hydraulic discs, and is £550.
Aha! Whyte again. Love the idea of these.

(if Evans would do one...)

Magic919

14,126 posts

200 months

Friday 20th June 2014
quotequote all
I bought my Whyte from Evans. Might be worth asking.

AC43

Original Poster:

11,435 posts

207 months

Friday 20th June 2014
quotequote all
Magic919 said:
I bought my Whyte from Evans. Might be worth asking.
Excellent, ta.

Having done a bit of Googling there' s also the Hoy Shizuoka .002 which is a bike along the same lines (9 speed, carbon fork, light).

Also a Pinnacle or two along the same lines.

PAUL RUN

136 posts

162 months

Monday 23rd June 2014
quotequote all
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/si...
/
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/scott/metrix-3...
.
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/trek/74-fx-201...

.
Looking around at a new hybrid myself...i have an even heaver trek 7.1fx (12kg)
.
when you look around they seem to have 28-35c tyres....
the 3 bikes above use 28c and 32c tyres.
.
my bike currently used "marathon" puncture resistant tyres but at 890g each...
.
compaired to race 28/32 tyres i'm lugging an extra 1kg up the hills!!!!!
example....
.
"This item: Schwalbe Marathon Plus 700X35C Wired Tyre with Smartguard Reflective S/Wall 890g (37-622) - Black £19.99 "
.
vs
.
Continental Ultra GatorSkin 700 x 28C DuraSkin Tyre formerly known as the Ultra Gatorskin into a real long distance runner; Constructed from 3 plies, totalling 180 TPI; Weight: 360 grams

.
I cycled 70.3miles on mine yesterday...over took 3 guys (over the 4:45hrs) with punctures and damaged wheels on the road bikes (potholes and gravel punctures) offered to help them out best i could..
but even though i'd like a bike thats a couple of kgs lighter...i still enjoy the heavy old bike with 35c tyres i've got..oh...changing the handlebar grips make to huge difference to me...no aches or pains..worth £35....

Edited by PAUL RUN on Monday 23 June 10:41


Edited by PAUL RUN on Monday 23 June 16:25

AC43

Original Poster:

11,435 posts

207 months

Monday 23rd June 2014
quotequote all
PAUL RUN said:
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/si...
/
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/scott/metrix-3...
.
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/trek/74-fx-201...

.
Looking around at a new hybrid myself...i have an even heaver trek 7.1fx (12kg)
.
when you look around they seem to have 28-35c tyres....
the 3 bikes above use 28c and 32c tyres.

.
I cycled 70.3miles on mine yesterday...over took 3 guys (over the 4:45hrs) with punctures and damaged wheels on the road bikes (potholes and gravel punctures) offered to help them out best i could..
but even though i'd like a bike thats a couple of kgs lighter...i still enjoy the heavy old bike with 35c tyres i've got..oh...changing the handlebar grips make to huge difference to me...no aches or pains..worth £35....

Edited by PAUL RUN on Monday 23 June 10:41
Cheers PL.

Of those three the Trel looks good - like the carbon fork

Had a look at one of these today and the carbon for on the .003 made a big difference over the .002

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/hoy/shizuoka-0...


insurance_jon

4,054 posts

245 months

Monday 23rd June 2014
quotequote all
my mrs fell in love with the specialized vita which is bang on 500 quid

Kell

1,708 posts

207 months

Monday 23rd June 2014
quotequote all
Have you thought about upgrading parts to make the current bike lighter?

A really good set of wheels will make a load of difference to the way a bike rides.

AC43

Original Poster:

11,435 posts

207 months

Monday 23rd June 2014
quotequote all
Kell said:
Have you thought about upgrading parts to make the current bike lighter?

A really good set of wheels will make a load of difference to the way a bike rides.
Hadn't thought of that. And too late TBH.

The logic was to flog the old one for £100-£150 and do CTW for £600 (therefore at a cost of £350-ish).

So get a £600 bike for £200 (man maths) or £250 (reality)

Mr E

21,583 posts

258 months

Monday 23rd June 2014
quotequote all
Watchman said:
I'd have said this one - I'm buying it for my wife. Thing is, it won't take spuddy cyclocross tyres if she thinks she needs them for the towpaths. The chainstays are simply too narrow. Well, it won't take the ones I bought (Continental 35mm). If you can get something no more than 30mm, you'd probably manage. The current tyres would be OK if it was dry packed dirt but not mud.

http://whyte.bike/gb/models/commuterroad/r7-fast-u...

But for every other consideration, it's light, has hydraulic discs, and is £550.
I bought similar (a Whyte Victoria) for Sarah.
It's really a very nice thing indeed.

AC43

Original Poster:

11,435 posts

207 months

Monday 23rd June 2014
quotequote all
insurance_jon said:
my mrs fell in love with the specialized vita which is bang on 500 quid
Intersesting - the Elite with carbon fork is indeed £500

So we have the Hoy Shz-whatever at £750, the Trek 7.4 at £550 and the Specialized Vita Elite at £500.

All with carbon forks.

I have a shortlist.

Thanks

272BHP

4,960 posts

235 months

Monday 23rd June 2014
quotequote all
Have you considered the Islabikes beinn 29?

Everyone I show it to wants one and I have yet to find anyone with a bike < £1000 that can match its lightness and overall feel.

Only 450 and your wife will be the talk of all her friends. I have the Islabike and my wife has a £600 cannondale quick and there simply is no comparison between the two, which she grudgingly admits.


Edit: apologies I did not initially see that it was a CTW

AC43

Original Poster:

11,435 posts

207 months

Thursday 3rd July 2014
quotequote all
Watchman said:
I'd have said this one - I'm buying it for my wife. Thing is, it won't take spuddy cyclocross tyres if she thinks she needs them for the towpaths. The chainstays are simply too narrow. Well, it won't take the ones I bought (Continental 35mm). If you can get something no more than 30mm, you'd probably manage. The current tyres would be OK if it was dry packed dirt but not mud.

http://whyte.bike/gb/models/commuterroad/r7-fast-u...

But for every other consideration, it's light, has hydraulic discs, and is £550.
Aha. Just been to yet another Evans and they actually stock these.

In fact they also stock these

http://www.cyclesurgery.com/whyte%20shoreditch%202...

The wife's CTW voucher has become mine and I'm very tempted....

Watchman

6,391 posts

244 months

Thursday 3rd July 2014
quotequote all
Well, I've ordered the Carnaby for my wife (1 month delivery - 2015 bike in limited supply) and I'm now looking at selling my 2011 Portobello so I can buy either the Shoreditch or the Whitechapel. Haven't decided which yet. Not a massive difference but just fancy "new".

AC43

Original Poster:

11,435 posts

207 months

Friday 25th July 2014
quotequote all
Update; finally got round to trying out a Trek 7.5 FX and Hoy Szhwhatsitcalled 002 today.

Preferred the Trek. It was very comfortable despite very narrow tyres (the isolator thing in the rear dropouts worked well) and the (v)brakes were much better (the discs on the Hoy don't get good press and I really didn't like them).

On top of that I preferred the riding position of the Trek. Higher, narrower bars worked for me.

Looks like it'll be the Trek then.

Magic919

14,126 posts

200 months

Friday 25th July 2014
quotequote all
I like the Treks too. We've got the 7.6 which is WSD and a 7.7 men's version and they are both good machines.