Hybrid Bike Help Please

[drfrank]

Hi,

I need to lose some weight and I am going to buy a bike to commute to work. The ride into work is through a large park (all cycle paths) and quite safe from traffic, about 4 miles in total. I have been told I need a hybrid bike and whilst I have no real budget in mind I don't want to spend silly money on a bike that is far too good for me.

So far I have seen a Carrera Subway I which is around 200 quid which seems to tick all the boxes.

Does anyone have any other suggestions ??

Thanks

Drfrank

[Carreauchompeur]

drfrank said:

Hi,

Drfrank

The Subway is well-regarded and will be an excellent start IMHO... Not too much to spend but will be plenty good enough until you properly catch the "bug" and want something racier.

[Cloud 9]

A hybrid sounds like good advice and some good bargains to be had at this time of year, dealers are selling last years models to make way for 2009 models.From what you say you probably do not need suspension but from personal experience a suspension seat post makes for a more comfortable ride.I got a GT hybrid from Evans Cycles last year for £230 and it ticks all the boxes as a leisure and commutor bike.

[RobDickinson]

Your company doing the cushy ride to work scheme thing?

[A - W]

I have a Spesh Sirrus Elite. Retail around £500 but speak to your local dealer and I am sure you'd get a fair bit off.

I've had it a year and had no problems and would thoroughly recommend one. I went on the advice of a mate who rides semi pro in our office.

HTH.

[anonymous-user]

the Ridgeback hybrids seem to be quite popular in Bristol, dont know if a shop was doing a special deal but they look fit for purpose...

[JRM]

A - W said:

I have a Spesh Sirrus Elite. Retail around £500 but speak to your local dealer and I am sure you'd get a fair bit off.

I've had it a year and had no problems and would thoroughly recommend one. I went on the advice of a mate who rides semi pro in our office.

HTH.

I've got the basic Sirrus which I think is about £300 now and have run it for 2.5 years with now probs at all, throughly recommend it

[snotrag]

Couple of things you need to decide -

Terrain.
Road use requires 700c wheels. Off-road, 26". Somewhere in between - you need to make an informed decision. E.G. A Specialized Sirrus doesnt have the wheelset or tyres to deal with gravelly or muddy trails, a Specialized Crossroads does. But Both have 700c wheels. (you can see, this gets mighty complex).

Bars - Drop bars, flat bars. high rise bars, in Order from quickest most efficient, to easiest to ride.

Geometry - Long TT, Steep angles = Racy, sharp handling, genearlly on lighter, faster bikes (Specialized Sirrus
- Short TT, slack angles = Easy, benign handling, (easier to balance on), generally more comfort orientated bikes (See Specialized Vienna / Expedition

If you look at and ride the various bikes in a shop you'll quickly understand what im on about. This will help you make a decision.

The first thing I ever do with a prospective customer is get them to think HONESTLY about where they are gonna ride the bike - now is not the time for pretending your training for a race, if your too embarassed to say you just want it to ride round the park with the kids 'cos your a fatty after christmas.

Edited by snotrag on Thursday 8th January 11:39

[RobDickinson]

snotrag said:

Couple of things you need to decide -

Terrain.
Road use requires 700c wheels. Off-road, 26".

bks , I've a perfectly good serious offroading 29er. OK its a little heavier than a 26"wheeled bike (half due to the chromo frame) but its up for anything bar DH.

[snotrag]

With respect - were talking to a beginner here. Dont confuse them with talk of 29'ers now.

[RobDickinson]

Begginer commute to work with light offroad sounds like an ideal 29er candidate.

[skudupnorth]

Got my Specialized Sirrus Elite through "Ride to work scheme" two weeks ago.Cracking bike and mega smooth even compared to my mountain bike on road tyres.Pity the bloody roads are still pot-holed to hell because i have to think more about those nice slim 700c wheels not getting fubarred !

[duff]

RobDickinson said:

Begginer commute to work with light offroad sounds like an ideal 29er candidate.

How much is the cheapest 29er on the market right now - I'm imagine a fair bit more than the £200 Subway the OP is looking at?

The Subway seems a very good bike for the money. Evans have some cracking deals on Felt hybrids - I would have bought one if they'd had my size. I've just bought an 08 Specialized Centrum Elite, partly on looks admittedly but should be ideal for my fairly flat 6 mile commute and only cost £290.

Edited by duff on Friday 9th January 12:41

[will_]

The Revolution series from these guys:

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/comms/srv.a4d?f%5F...

has also been recommended. Just ordered a Courier Race so will see what it's like. Seems like good value.

[bga]

will_ said:

The Revolution series from these guys:

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/comms/srv.a4d?f%5F...

has also been recommended. Just ordered a Courier Race so will see what it's like. Seems like good value.

Good choice, I had a courier race a while back & it did well for commuting duties.

[deckster]

bga said:

will_ said:

The Revolution series from these guys:

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/comms/srv.a4d?f%5F...

has also been recommended. Just ordered a Courier Race so will see what it's like. Seems like good value.

Good choice, I had a courier race a while back & it did well for commuting duties.

Thirded. I've had one for years, and converted it to singlespeed a few months back for the ultimate in no-maintenance, clean it once a year and forget everything else no-brain riding. Nothing flashy but all the components are top-notch for the price - you really can't go wrong.

[snotrag]

Good to hear from some Happy Customers

There is actually a factory s/s courier available these days, its one of the cheapest adult bikes we sell, fantastic value.

[RobDickinson]

duff said:

RobDickinson said:

Begginer commute to work with light offroad sounds like an ideal 29er candidate.

How much is the cheapest 29er on the market right now - I'm imagine a fair bit more than the £200 Subway the OP is looking at?

Ahh yeah prolly, dunno quite what the market is like in the UK but I guess 300-350 would be the cheapest.

[will_]

deckster said:

bga said:

will_ said:

The Revolution series from these guys:

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/comms/srv.a4d?f%5F...

has also been recommended. Just ordered a Courier Race so will see what it's like. Seems like good value.

Good choice, I had a courier race a while back & it did well for commuting duties.

Thirded. I've had one for years, and converted it to singlespeed a few months back for the ultimate in no-maintenance, clean it once a year and forget everything else no-brain riding. Nothing flashy but all the components are top-notch for the price - you really can't go wrong.

Done a few miles on the Courier Race now - pretty impressed, except the "puncture resistant" tyres, which aren't that puncture resistant! Two flats in two weeks, compared to 1 flat in 12 months with armadillos last year. Otherwise very pleased with the bike and the service from Edinburgh.

[deckster]

will_ said:

deckster said:

bga said:

will_ said:

The Revolution series from these guys:

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/comms/srv.a4d?f%5F...

has also been recommended. Just ordered a Courier Race so will see what it's like. Seems like good value.

Good choice, I had a courier race a while back & it did well for commuting duties.

Thirded. I've had one for years, and converted it to singlespeed a few months back for the ultimate in no-maintenance, clean it once a year and forget everything else no-brain riding. Nothing flashy but all the components are top-notch for the price - you really can't go wrong.

Done a few miles on the Courier Race now - pretty impressed, except the "puncture resistant" tyres, which aren't that puncture resistant! Two flats in two weeks, compared to 1 flat in 12 months with armadillos last year. Otherwise very pleased with the bike and the service from Edinburgh.

Two in two weeks sounds very bad luck! Can't blame the bike but I got fed up with flats in London a couple of years back and invested in a pair of Continental Securities - OK so they're heavy and aren't going to win any rolling resistance awards, but given the nature of a London commute the speed differential really isn't noticeable and I haven't had a puncture since