HT Mountain bike or Hybrid ??????? :)

[konamonkey]

Hello all,

I'm planning a few days cycling from Fort William to Inverness soon but want to buy a new bike for this and future trips. I've been riding off-road (Glentress, Ae, Kirroughtree etc) for about 6 years and have a good full sus bike (Kona Dawg Primo 2006).
I want to keep my spend to between £500.00 and £600.00 if possible and have my eye on a couple of bikes but...... I am not sure if I should go for say a Broadman Hybrid or an actual mountain bike that could handle panniers. I'm planning my route to take in both on and off road tracks so the bike needs to be flexible. I also wondered if I'd be better off with an actual tourer but worried it would not be ok on rough Highland trails. I'd appreciate your thoughts!

Cheers

[Roman]

konamonkey said:

Hello all,

I'm planning a few days cycling from Fort William to Inverness soon but want to buy a new bike for this and future trips. I've been riding off-road (Glentress, Ae, Kirroughtree etc) for about 6 years and have a good full sus bike (Kona Dawg Primo 2006).
I want to keep my spend to between £500.00 and £600.00 if possible and have my eye on a couple of bikes but...... I am not sure if I should go for say a Broadman Hybrid or an actual mountain bike that could handle panniers. I'm planning my route to take in both on and off road tracks so the bike needs to be flexible. I also wondered if I'd be better off with an actual tourer but worried it would not be ok on rough Highland trails. I'd appreciate your thoughts!

Cheers

In my experience a tourer or Cross bike will cope as well as a road biased hybrid like the Boardman on tracks (though won't have the disc brakes of the Boardman).

I think you should have a go on a cross bike like a Tricross, Kona Jake, Pinnacle from Evans or Revolution from Edinburgh Bicycle Co-operative. All are great 'do it all' bikes (as opposed to lightweight pure cross racers) capable of light touring & off road.

I think a cross bike (with rack mounts) would give you the most interesting, adaptable and enjoyable alternative to your FS bike.

Edited to add - this Dawes Edge looks a good buy, Tiagra, light weight, carbon forks & rack mounts for £560:

http://www.ashcycles.com/site/index.php?main_page=...

Winstanley cycles are good for cross bikes too.

Edited by Roman on Tuesday 25th January 15:39

[shalmaneser]

Roman said:

konamonkey said:

Hello all,

I'm planning a few days cycling from Fort William to Inverness soon but want to buy a new bike for this and future trips. I've been riding off-road (Glentress, Ae, Kirroughtree etc) for about 6 years and have a good full sus bike (Kona Dawg Primo 2006).
I want to keep my spend to between £500.00 and £600.00 if possible and have my eye on a couple of bikes but...... I am not sure if I should go for say a Broadman Hybrid or an actual mountain bike that could handle panniers. I'm planning my route to take in both on and off road tracks so the bike needs to be flexible. I also wondered if I'd be better off with an actual tourer but worried it would not be ok on rough Highland trails. I'd appreciate your thoughts!

Cheers

In my experience a tourer or Cross bike will cope as well as a road biased hybrid like the Boardman on tracks (though won't have the disc brakes of the Boardman).

I think you should have a go on a cross bike like a Tricross, Kona Jake, Pinnacle from Evans or Revolution from Edinburgh Bicycle Co-operative. All are great 'do it all' bikes (as opposed to lightweight pure cross racers) capable of light touring & off road.

I think a cross bike (with rack mounts) would give you the most interesting, adaptable and enjoyable alternative to your FS bike.

Edited to add - this Dawes Edge looks a good buy, Tiagra, light weight, carbon forks & rack mounts for £560:

http://www.ashcycles.com/site/index.php?main_page=...

Winstanley cycles are good for cross bikes too.

Edited by Roman on Tuesday 25th January 15:39

Yeah, a cross bike is a good call.

[konamonkey]

Thanks for the replys guys! I'm popping into a few bike shops on Saturday so will try a range and see what i like. My only concern was for the need for extra strength and some flexibility in the frame given I'm going to be riding some quite rough terrain with no suspension.

~Cheers