Discussion
A friends looking for a hybrid mountain bike. Mainly for cycling daily to work (on road/ occasionally muddy off road) and the odd off road weekend jaunt.
So far I've seen this: Boardman Performance Hybrid Comp
But after looking, I notice the above has 700c rims, I don't think the above will be very good off road!!
He is willing to go for a good condition bike second hand. Maybe a light cross country bike with semi slicks will be a better option?
Anyway, I've been out of the loop for a while now. So I turn to you lot. Know anything for the job?
To summarise;
Mainly road but to be able to go off road. Maybe just change tyres to something chunkier when off road time comes.
Light and quick on the road.
Medium frame.
Hardtail. 100mm Suspension cross country setup? Efficient yet useful.
£400/500 price range
Willing to go second hand if the bikes in good nick.
Hit me.
So far I've seen this: Boardman Performance Hybrid Comp
But after looking, I notice the above has 700c rims, I don't think the above will be very good off road!!
He is willing to go for a good condition bike second hand. Maybe a light cross country bike with semi slicks will be a better option?
Anyway, I've been out of the loop for a while now. So I turn to you lot. Know anything for the job?
To summarise;
Mainly road but to be able to go off road. Maybe just change tyres to something chunkier when off road time comes.
Light and quick on the road.
Medium frame.
Hardtail. 100mm Suspension cross country setup? Efficient yet useful.
£400/500 price range
Willing to go second hand if the bikes in good nick.
Hit me.
sounds like you are trying to kill two birds with one stone and will ultimately acheive nothing as you will have a bike unsuitable for the majority of the time.
it will be best to work out exactly how much time will be spent commuting/on road/off road and then get the bike that is best suited. if you can better define "light off road" and "xc" then it might help, they mean different things to different people. i think of light off road as tow paths and fire roads but xc as bridleways and technical singletrack, some largeish drops and some climbs... how often will you really be out on these "of road jaunts" comapred to commuting?, if you are off road less than once a month, go for the Boardman or something similar... if its more than that consider something like a Kona or a Gt with slightly more relaxed geometry.
personally i think the boardman will do the job, a carbon seat post will help off road but as for your suggestions, commuting with 4 inches of travel will be a nightmare unless you can adjust the rebound and damping sufficently... 700c rims are just larger rims, a lot of mountain bike manufacturers are building 29" inch wheel bikes with what are essentially 700c rims. 29" wheels off road are surprisingly good and roll far better on things like fire roads and tow paths.
i have a boardman road bike, its excellent, well finished with quality kit and well built. the welding is comparable to the stuff from far more prestige frame builders...
it will be best to work out exactly how much time will be spent commuting/on road/off road and then get the bike that is best suited. if you can better define "light off road" and "xc" then it might help, they mean different things to different people. i think of light off road as tow paths and fire roads but xc as bridleways and technical singletrack, some largeish drops and some climbs... how often will you really be out on these "of road jaunts" comapred to commuting?, if you are off road less than once a month, go for the Boardman or something similar... if its more than that consider something like a Kona or a Gt with slightly more relaxed geometry.
personally i think the boardman will do the job, a carbon seat post will help off road but as for your suggestions, commuting with 4 inches of travel will be a nightmare unless you can adjust the rebound and damping sufficently... 700c rims are just larger rims, a lot of mountain bike manufacturers are building 29" inch wheel bikes with what are essentially 700c rims. 29" wheels off road are surprisingly good and roll far better on things like fire roads and tow paths.
i have a boardman road bike, its excellent, well finished with quality kit and well built. the welding is comparable to the stuff from far more prestige frame builders...
Sarkmeister said:
The Boardman hybrids are closer to road bikes than mountain bikes, therefore they'll not be suitable for off road use. Have a look at the Cannondale Bad Boy, looks a bit more rugged...
any hybrid is closer to a road bike than a mountain bike though...as i said, one stone two birds and all that...
ridden to work abd back five times a week or the occasionnal "off road" jaunt (meaning what exactly...)
i wouldnt think that a comfortable daily commuter would not be suitable for much more than fire roads and tow paths which the boardman could handle.
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff