Halfords Carrera vs Evans Pinnacle bike?
Discussion
Yes, I know that these bikes won't set the world alight for any serious bike enthusiast, but Halfords and Evans are both convenient to me, both bikes "feel" right (I've sat/touched/prodded them!), they're about what I want to pay, and probably suit my needs (some road riding, a small bit of off-road, accompanying my kids on fairly sedate bike rides, a good way to get me some exercise!!).
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/lithi...
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes...
Is there a compelling reason to get 1 or the other? (or to NOT get one of them?).
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/lithi...
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes...
Is there a compelling reason to get 1 or the other? (or to NOT get one of them?).
Adrian E said:
The Pinnacle for me - although I'd spend a little more on the Lithium Two to get hydraulic discs. The Carrera has mechanical disc brakes, which are pointless/worst of both worlds.
Cable discs like that are a pain to set up, but once working will still work better than rim brakes. And like yellowjack said, just put some cheap shimanos on once you get bored of faffing with the cable discs. The pinnacle doesn't have the mounts necessary for discs so it's not even an optionThanks. Knew there'd be a split view!
Re cable discs, are they a pain for a complete biking novice like me? (and to that end a complete mechanical numpty as well!!).
I did look at the Lithium Two before, but it's going up to £380 then (even in the sale), and given I reckon I can get some money off the Carrera it is opening up a bit of a gap in price.
I was originally looking at the Pinnacle Neon http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/neon-... , as I don't really need 24 gears, and this just had 8, but the skinny tyres put me off, it's seems like purely a road bike rather than a hybrid.
As you can probably tell, I don't know a lot about bikes, and am somewhat indecisive!!
Re cable discs, are they a pain for a complete biking novice like me? (and to that end a complete mechanical numpty as well!!).
I did look at the Lithium Two before, but it's going up to £380 then (even in the sale), and given I reckon I can get some money off the Carrera it is opening up a bit of a gap in price.
I was originally looking at the Pinnacle Neon http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/neon-... , as I don't really need 24 gears, and this just had 8, but the skinny tyres put me off, it's seems like purely a road bike rather than a hybrid.
As you can probably tell, I don't know a lot about bikes, and am somewhat indecisive!!
They aren't a pain as such - hydraulics are slightly heavier than v brakes but are much easier to modulate brake pressure. Cable discs are kind of the worst of both - heavy, but modulation is down to how much you stretch the cables, same as V brakes.
Good V brakes are fine in anything other than wet/muddy conditions, which you'll probably not be out riding in much anyway. I still have them on my 'station' bike and they work fine for that.
If you were 'thinking' you'd ever want hydraulic discs then the fact the wheel set has mounting points for the disc rotors, plus the caliper mounts, plus the rims won't have V brake wearing surfaces on them so should be a bit lighter, means the disc braked options are favourable. Discs are better in the wet as the braking surface tends not to get wet - on v brakes if the wheel is wet from going through puddles there's a noticable drop off in braking performance (like it won't want to stop!)
I'm terrible for up-speccing anything I buy, so probably not the best judge lol
Good V brakes are fine in anything other than wet/muddy conditions, which you'll probably not be out riding in much anyway. I still have them on my 'station' bike and they work fine for that.
If you were 'thinking' you'd ever want hydraulic discs then the fact the wheel set has mounting points for the disc rotors, plus the caliper mounts, plus the rims won't have V brake wearing surfaces on them so should be a bit lighter, means the disc braked options are favourable. Discs are better in the wet as the braking surface tends not to get wet - on v brakes if the wheel is wet from going through puddles there's a noticable drop off in braking performance (like it won't want to stop!)
I'm terrible for up-speccing anything I buy, so probably not the best judge lol
Thanks Adrian, very useful ^^^^
Adrian E said:
anything other than wet/muddy conditions, which you'll probably not be out riding in much anyway.
Yep, won't be out in the rain much, unless it starts when I'm out. Largely for leisure, not a commute in all weathers. Adrian E said:
I'm terrible for up-speccing anything I buy, so probably not the best judge lol
Me too!! (with anything). I can see my spending more and more on a bike here, after starting off thinking I'll just get the cheapest possible, see if I take to it, does it become an expensive taking-up-space-in-the-garage-dust-catcher?! bungle said:
Thanks. Knew there'd be a split view!
Re cable discs, are they a pain for a complete biking novice like me? (and to that end a complete mechanical numpty as well!!).
I did look at the Lithium Two before, but it's going up to £380 then (even in the sale), and given I reckon I can get some money off the Carrera it is opening up a bit of a gap in price.
I was originally looking at the Pinnacle Neon http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/neon-... , as I don't really need 24 gears, and this just had 8, but the skinny tyres put me off, it's seems like purely a road bike rather than a hybrid.
As you can probably tell, I don't know a lot about bikes, and am somewhat indecisive!!
I'd go for the Pinnacle purely because I think the build quality will be higher than the Carrera and back up support from Evans will be far better than Halfords. The tyres on the Neon 1 are 28c I think you would easily fit 35c tyres on there which would be significantly wider and give you a bit more cushion. My wife has the neon 2, its definitely more of a hybrid than road bike. The flat bars pitch you upright and its really quite comfy to be honest. I'm willing to bet the Neon 1 is a fair bit lighter too, the lithium 1 is 10.4kgs and the Subway 1 is over 13kgs...Re cable discs, are they a pain for a complete biking novice like me? (and to that end a complete mechanical numpty as well!!).
I did look at the Lithium Two before, but it's going up to £380 then (even in the sale), and given I reckon I can get some money off the Carrera it is opening up a bit of a gap in price.
I was originally looking at the Pinnacle Neon http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/neon-... , as I don't really need 24 gears, and this just had 8, but the skinny tyres put me off, it's seems like purely a road bike rather than a hybrid.
As you can probably tell, I don't know a lot about bikes, and am somewhat indecisive!!
Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 14th June 20:32
Budget creep is a dangerous thing. Just been to Evans at lunchtime, and they had a Lithium Two, in the right size, in the showroom (had only seen the Neons before). Looked very good, felt right, very tempting - I resisted temptation due to my inherent "that's way more than your original budget"-thoughts, and also because I was on my way to get a sandwich and was hungry!
pablo said:
I'd go for the Pinnacle purely because I think the build quality will be higher than the Carrera and back up support from Evans will be far better than Halfords.
At this price point both frames will have been built in the far east so the quality of construction will be very much the same, and the rest of the parts (at least, the ones that matter) on it will be from other manufacturers anyway so neither halfords nor evans will have a hand in determining the quality. Your second point is valid thoughGassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff