Entry level Hybrid?
Discussion
Afternoon PHers!.
Looking for some advice for a relative cycling newbie.
I recently decided to look at getting a bike, and signed up to a whole £285 of cycle to work scheme vouchers, which for me are with Halfords and were enough to buy a carerra subway 2.
But now, thats gone back up in price, and I'm wondering what to do.
Use will generally be cycling around my small town and trying to get a bit fitter (im 6'2 and about 14st - relatively slim but pretty unhealthy), cycle to country pub about 4 miles away (perhaps contradicting the first bit), and maybe the occasional gravel path (forest of dean or similar) or canal towpath). Possibly in time even ride the 12miles each way into work.
Also hoping to get the other half a similarly budget bike so we can take our 3 year old out on short rides with one of those trailer things that kids can pedal too.
Options seem to be carerra gryphon or carerra crossfire 2... Or wait until the subways are reduced again (and hope the voucher doesn't expire).
Given the above does anyone have any recommendations ?
My point of reference regarding bikes is my old Raleigh activator 2 mtb, owned in the late 90's and which took me pretty much everywhere from age 13-17, which I understand has a fearsome reputation as being a fantastic bike... (Or maybe not !).
Cheers
Looking for some advice for a relative cycling newbie.
I recently decided to look at getting a bike, and signed up to a whole £285 of cycle to work scheme vouchers, which for me are with Halfords and were enough to buy a carerra subway 2.
But now, thats gone back up in price, and I'm wondering what to do.
Use will generally be cycling around my small town and trying to get a bit fitter (im 6'2 and about 14st - relatively slim but pretty unhealthy), cycle to country pub about 4 miles away (perhaps contradicting the first bit), and maybe the occasional gravel path (forest of dean or similar) or canal towpath). Possibly in time even ride the 12miles each way into work.
Also hoping to get the other half a similarly budget bike so we can take our 3 year old out on short rides with one of those trailer things that kids can pedal too.
Options seem to be carerra gryphon or carerra crossfire 2... Or wait until the subways are reduced again (and hope the voucher doesn't expire).
Given the above does anyone have any recommendations ?
My point of reference regarding bikes is my old Raleigh activator 2 mtb, owned in the late 90's and which took me pretty much everywhere from age 13-17, which I understand has a fearsome reputation as being a fantastic bike... (Or maybe not !).
Cheers
I think if the CtS scheme is with Halfrauds, then that limits you a bit. I was looking at hybrids this month and the Carrera bikes looked OK.
Hybrid stuff now mostly has 700c wheels and alloy frames. After that you pay more for front suspenders, disk brakes and more cogs. Everything seems to have sealed bottom brackets these days.
As for the distaff side, Decathlon has a lot of options for towing sprogs around, and some charming French style unisex hybrids like the B'Twin Original. They take B'Clip clip-on sprog seats, and rear racks/trailers etc.
Evans bikes also have a large selection.
Forest of Dean type cycle tracks are fine on a not-too-expensive hybrid, 700c/19mm (internal) wide rims and big fork clearances mean they take a huge range of tyres from 28mm road rubber to 42mm+ knobblies. So one hybrid bike and a set of tyre levers is very flexible.
Most of the better hybrids in that price range have 36 spoke rims, often double-walled. They tend to come with 'hybrid' tyres with a smooth centre section, and shoulders for dirt.
As others note on here, Hybrid bike frames tend to be generously sized, compared to older MTB frames, so try before you buy if top-bar clearance is important.
I have ridden the Carrera Subway around and thought it was very responsive.
Hybrid stuff now mostly has 700c wheels and alloy frames. After that you pay more for front suspenders, disk brakes and more cogs. Everything seems to have sealed bottom brackets these days.
As for the distaff side, Decathlon has a lot of options for towing sprogs around, and some charming French style unisex hybrids like the B'Twin Original. They take B'Clip clip-on sprog seats, and rear racks/trailers etc.
Evans bikes also have a large selection.
Forest of Dean type cycle tracks are fine on a not-too-expensive hybrid, 700c/19mm (internal) wide rims and big fork clearances mean they take a huge range of tyres from 28mm road rubber to 42mm+ knobblies. So one hybrid bike and a set of tyre levers is very flexible.
Most of the better hybrids in that price range have 36 spoke rims, often double-walled. They tend to come with 'hybrid' tyres with a smooth centre section, and shoulders for dirt.
As others note on here, Hybrid bike frames tend to be generously sized, compared to older MTB frames, so try before you buy if top-bar clearance is important.
I have ridden the Carrera Subway around and thought it was very responsive.
The subway 2 is a decent bike, look at the reviews!
Halfords are bound to have another offer soon, hopefully the voucher has a good date.
In hindsight... you can reserve bikes at Halfords forever & a day, while voucher arrives.
I don’t ‘need’ another bike. But my company get 10% off cyclesurgery bikes. Orro Pyro Carbon with 105 @ under £600, would be rude to say no ! :-
https://www.cyclesolutions.co.uk/35683/products/or...
Halfords are bound to have another offer soon, hopefully the voucher has a good date.
In hindsight... you can reserve bikes at Halfords forever & a day, while voucher arrives.
I don’t ‘need’ another bike. But my company get 10% off cyclesurgery bikes. Orro Pyro Carbon with 105 @ under £600, would be rude to say no ! :-
https://www.cyclesolutions.co.uk/35683/products/or...
There are some nuts fast hybrids around now: dirt tyres and drop bars. Triban 100
https://youtu.be/uT8IKN-NEls
https://youtu.be/uT8IKN-NEls
Slushbox said:
I think if the CtS scheme is with Halfrauds, then that limits you a bit.
I've used our works scheme twice - that's with Halfords. They will get you a non-Halfords bike, no problem at all. The first one I got was a Diamondback Sync 4.0 that they ordered in special. (The second was a Voodoo Zobop which is one of theirs and I thought was a great spec for the price (especially with £300 off as well).
Become a member of British Cycling & use their discount. I have a Carrera Crossfire 1 with rim brakes now had it 3 years & it has been great. Just done the first change which is to double sided pedals clipped & flats so I can get used to being clipped in for the road bike. Otherwise it's been cleaned oiled & cables retensioned.
Slushbox said:
Forest of Dean type cycle tracks are fine on a not-too-expensive hybrid, 700c/19mm (internal) wide rims and big fork clearances mean they take a huge range of tyres from 28mm road rubber to 42mm+ knobblies. So one hybrid bike and a set of tyre levers is very flexible.
Not always the case, my Boardman Hybrid Comp will just fit 32mm tyres with very little clearance, though it's an older model.Mr2Mike said:
Not always the case, my Boardman Hybrid Comp will just fit 32mm tyres with very little clearance, though it's an older model.
Indeed. Some of the early Comps came with 15mm Alex rims, with 32mm quoted as the max. Haven't seen the current bikes. My current cheapo (622-19mm internal) has got huge fork clearances at 65mm - it came with 42mm tyres. It's got 28mm road tyres on at the moment which aren't supposed to fit the rims.
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