What bike to buy to get back into cycling
Discussion
Back in my teens and early 20s I used to cycle quite a lot - about 5000 miles a year, primarily for A-B rather than A-A cycling. I rode a Dawes Galaxy with racks and panniers on both ends. I'm now 45 and in the last 20 years I have only really cycled to the local shops and to school with my daughter (who's now 11), still on the same Dawes Galaxy, which is now nearly 30 years old and has covered a good 30-40k miles.
I'd quite like to increase the amount I'm cycling, both to be able to do more with my daughter (for now probably mostly the odd few miles of suburban riding, plus maybe the odd trip by car to cycle in the new Forrest) and probably to cycle work (about four miles each way, with some mild elevation changes, the most significant being a maybe 70m rise over about 1 mile). The Dawes is fundamentally sound but needs a bit of attention if I wanted to use it much (new rims and some work on the drive-train)and frankly I don't think it's worth it. I'd keep the Dawes in its current state for shopping, since it's nice to have something worth 10p which I don't have to bother locking when I'm in a shop.
The first question seems to be whether to get a hybrid or a gravel bike, since I would be 90% riding on roads/tarmac paths but want to be able to do some basic off-road riding around the New Forest. I'm reasonably fit but not particularly flexible and have quite long legs for my height so I fairly relaxed frame geometry.
I don't want to spend a fortune, so assume a budget of around £1k max, ideally closer to £500. I have no problem with buying used. What do people suggest?
I'd quite like to increase the amount I'm cycling, both to be able to do more with my daughter (for now probably mostly the odd few miles of suburban riding, plus maybe the odd trip by car to cycle in the new Forrest) and probably to cycle work (about four miles each way, with some mild elevation changes, the most significant being a maybe 70m rise over about 1 mile). The Dawes is fundamentally sound but needs a bit of attention if I wanted to use it much (new rims and some work on the drive-train)and frankly I don't think it's worth it. I'd keep the Dawes in its current state for shopping, since it's nice to have something worth 10p which I don't have to bother locking when I'm in a shop.
The first question seems to be whether to get a hybrid or a gravel bike, since I would be 90% riding on roads/tarmac paths but want to be able to do some basic off-road riding around the New Forest. I'm reasonably fit but not particularly flexible and have quite long legs for my height so I fairly relaxed frame geometry.
I don't want to spend a fortune, so assume a budget of around £1k max, ideally closer to £500. I have no problem with buying used. What do people suggest?
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/hybrid-bike-high-fra...
The front suspension is a bit pointless but for some reason cheaper hybrid bikes always come with it.
The front suspension is a bit pointless but for some reason cheaper hybrid bikes always come with it.
Oh yeah I should probably have said that I definitely don't want any kind of suspension, although I guess I could buy a bike with it then replace the front forks with fixed ones. One issue with the Dawes is the weight. When cycling to school with my daughter I have to carry it over a railway bridge and frankly it's too damned heavy, I'd like to get something significantly lighter (although I suspect almost anything modern is!).
My initial thought was something like this: https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/microshift-sword-1x1...
I tend to lean towards drops, but I think that's probably just because it's all I've ever ridden (at least since I was about 13) and there's always comfort in familiarity.
My initial thought was something like this: https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/microshift-sword-1x1...
I tend to lean towards drops, but I think that's probably just because it's all I've ever ridden (at least since I was about 13) and there's always comfort in familiarity.
Edited by kambites on Wednesday 27th August 16:01
kambites said:
My initial thought was something like this: https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/microshift-sword-1x1...
Mechanical disc brakes are a bit rubbish but other than that it looks good. Edited by kambites on Wednesday 27th August 16:01
I'd say go with a gravel bike, there should be something good from Trek or Canyon for your budget, if you can squeeze upto £1500 you'll get something that will be good for a very long time and will be light years better than your old ride. I'd suggest to get a gravel bike with:
- 40mm tyres or bigger, or capacity to go bigger if its supplied with 38's
- 700c wheels
- Disk brakes definitely, hydralic if possible
- Thru axles if possible
- 1x gearset from Sram or Shimano
- 40mm tyres or bigger, or capacity to go bigger if its supplied with 38's
- 700c wheels
- Disk brakes definitely, hydralic if possible
- Thru axles if possible
- 1x gearset from Sram or Shimano
Master Bean said:
Mechanical disc brakes are a bit rubbish but other than that it looks good.
I doubt they can be worse than the cantilever brakes on my current bike. 
How are hydraulic brakes for DIY maintenance. I'm happy enough servicing the brakes on cars so I guess a bike isn't going to be any harder?
Edited by kambites on Thursday 28th August 13:44
kambites said:
....
The first question seems to be whether to get a hybrid or a gravel bike, since I would be 90% riding on roads/tarmac paths but want to be able to do some basic off-road riding around the New Forest. I'm reasonably fit but not particularly flexible and have quite long legs for my height so I fairly relaxed frame geometry.
I don't want to spend a fortune, so assume a budget of around £1k max, ideally closer to £500. I have no problem with buying used. What do people suggest?
I think that comes down to 'do you want drop bars or not?'.The first question seems to be whether to get a hybrid or a gravel bike, since I would be 90% riding on roads/tarmac paths but want to be able to do some basic off-road riding around the New Forest. I'm reasonably fit but not particularly flexible and have quite long legs for my height so I fairly relaxed frame geometry.
I don't want to spend a fortune, so assume a budget of around £1k max, ideally closer to £500. I have no problem with buying used. What do people suggest?
That's a personal choice, reflecting perhaps the rides you might do.
If you hadn't categorically said no to suspension, I'd have suggested a mildly out of fashion hardtail mountain bike, with road-biased/all purpose tyres.
Alternatively, a drop bar bike with tough wheels and versatile tyres is great.
It al depends on how 'off road' you want to go.
I looked at the rides I wanted to do, some are great for a drop bar bike, some are better with flat bars and suspension.
If you ride with other people, they will tend to choose routes that suit their bikes.
I got an old cyclocross bike and put wide ratio gears on it, this is great for long trails like the Dartmoor Way.
But the reality is, it's easier to find a couple of hours to take my old mountain bike to the woods than to find time for the longer rides.
kambites said:
I won't be going any more "off-road" than my 11 year-old daughter can manage on her Frog hybrid, which I think is a pretty low bar!
Then anything will do, unless and until she starts going faster and further.Your ride to work might be the more demanding part, so do you fancy drop bars for that?
How hilly is it?
Just get something that works and crack on.
Any hybrid or hardtail will be fine.
You might want some tyres that roll well, not knobblies.
You can pay more or search harder for nicer brakes and gears etc
But any reasonable bike will do the job, it's down to your personal choice of style and what to spend.
You might prefer flat bars or drops, either are valid choices for a 5 mile commute IMHO.
£150 should get you a used bike.
Save your cash for when you realise you'll commute more often on an e-bike?
OutInTheShed said:
How hilly is it?
Not hugely. The only significant hill is the B3043 from Hursley up towards the top of Chandler's Ford. Given that I grew up cycling up and down the Cotswold escarpment every day I'll probably manage!Looking at prices, second-hand definitely looks like the way to go. I don't mind spending a bit of time replacing consumables and things. Is there anywhere particular other than the usual EBay, Facebook Marketplace, etc. that I should be looking for second-hand bikes in the "few hundred pounds" sort of range?
I got back in to cycling in May 2020 when I turned 50. Ideal timing given the lockdown.
I bought an almost new Carerrra mountain bike of FB marketplace.
Changed the tyres to semi slick Continentals and off I went.
About a year & 3000 miles later I bought a Carrera road bike. Found it uncomfortable so sold it & bought an excellent Boardman mountain bike & again swapped the tyres out.
Did around 900 miles on that before buying my Giant Gravel Bike in July 21. I’ve done nearly 11k miles on that. Truly bitten by the bug.
Five years on at 55 I’m much fitter than I was in my 30s.
In summary, gravel bike. Plenty of crackers on eBay.
Enjoy
I bought an almost new Carerrra mountain bike of FB marketplace.
Changed the tyres to semi slick Continentals and off I went.
About a year & 3000 miles later I bought a Carrera road bike. Found it uncomfortable so sold it & bought an excellent Boardman mountain bike & again swapped the tyres out.
Did around 900 miles on that before buying my Giant Gravel Bike in July 21. I’ve done nearly 11k miles on that. Truly bitten by the bug.
Five years on at 55 I’m much fitter than I was in my 30s.
In summary, gravel bike. Plenty of crackers on eBay.
Enjoy
Second hand is the way to go IMO. Some excellent lightly used pandemic buys around - I got a Genesis which was £1600rrp which had sat in a garage, used about 5 times in two years, and so was sold to me for £600...
I also am a fan of the newer hybrids - they mix more MTB like geometry which is more relaxing to ride if you are not a speed chaser, they are light like a road bike, have same off-road ability as a gravel bike....I have a gravel / do it all bike, and still do not get the drop bars.
Discs of any form are waaaay better than cantilevers or v-brakes in my experience. Yes the cable discs can be poor, but mine are excellent. Hydraulic are better, and they are not difficult to home maintain these days.
So my suggestion is search Gumtree and Facebook for a good hybrid, e.g.
https://www.gumtree.com/p/bicycles/cannondale-quic...
https://www.gumtree.com/p/bicycles/bmc-alpenchalle...
https://www.gumtree.com/p/bicycles/virus-mach-3-hy...
I also am a fan of the newer hybrids - they mix more MTB like geometry which is more relaxing to ride if you are not a speed chaser, they are light like a road bike, have same off-road ability as a gravel bike....I have a gravel / do it all bike, and still do not get the drop bars.
Discs of any form are waaaay better than cantilevers or v-brakes in my experience. Yes the cable discs can be poor, but mine are excellent. Hydraulic are better, and they are not difficult to home maintain these days.
So my suggestion is search Gumtree and Facebook for a good hybrid, e.g.
https://www.gumtree.com/p/bicycles/cannondale-quic...
https://www.gumtree.com/p/bicycles/bmc-alpenchalle...
https://www.gumtree.com/p/bicycles/virus-mach-3-hy...
djone101 said:
The Canyon Endurance Allroad sounds like a good option at £949 new direct from Canyon - proper hydraulic discs, big tyre clearance etc.
It got a very good review from Francis Cade on his YT channel
Best suggestion on the thread so far. They are incredibly well equipped bikes for the cost and easily upgraded if you get the urge. It got a very good review from Francis Cade on his YT channel
kambites said:
Benson11 said:
- 700c wheels
Why 700c rather than 650b? They both seem to be pretty popular options on gravel bikes. However, if you are short or ride a small bike, 650b options still exist and will work better for a rider of that size.
If in doubt, try and get a test ride on something you like the look of
djone101 said:
The Canyon Endurance Allroad sounds like a good option at £949 new direct from Canyon - proper hydraulic discs, big tyre clearance etc.
It got a very good review from Francis Cade on his YT channel
Absolutely this. I LOVE mine. Part of my wants to just use it constantly, the other part wants to treasure it and only use it as a nice weather bike. My other bike is a cheap Halfords hybrid that's my commuter (12 mile each way once a week), which is not in the same league in terms of comfort, ride quality, brakes, shifting... It got a very good review from Francis Cade on his YT channel
Plus it has the new generation Shimano Cues, the hydraulic brakes are wonderful.
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