£600ish.. I need something with racks and mud guards for commute...

[marinyork]

Kudos SimonRoberts0204, you managed to talk a newbie into a tourer!

Tourers are fine for commuting on. Drop bars have a lot more speed.

 

[robert b 2]

Would a tourer be better than a hybrid though for commuting mainly by road. Why would you choose one over the other? I see that a tourer is compared to a Volvo, and a "hybrid" to a Golf GTI... which sort of makes me think a hybrid is better...

 

[robert b 2]

I'm pretty much split between a tourer and a "hybrid".. I want something light and fast, but also with guards and rack. and lights.

But I can't really get my head around what the advantage would be of using a tourer such as this Raleigh Pioneer (just an example):

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/catego...nture-gt-18898

over a hybrid like the Schwinn World Street, which, to all intents and purposes, looks like the same thing but without the drop bars. Having drop bars doesn't matter that much to me, although I would like some good speed.

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/catego...et-us-08-30672

What is the real difference between the two things I have shown above?

Whichever type is best for my 7.5 mile hilly commute is what I will focus on.

Cheers

 

[HJ]

There are a fairly wide range of bikes within your budget the best thing to do is find a Local Bike Shop (LBS) or several, and try riding as many bikes as you can which can take a rack and mudguards. It really is the best way of choosing a bike...

 

[rusky]

I have a Marin Muirwoods 29er & love it.

I went to a LBS & the owner spent a couple of hours going through my options.

Having tried 3 different bikes, none compared to the Muirwoods 29er. Mine's now fitted with front & rear mudguards & a rear pannier. It's ridden every day on a 10 mile total commute.

 

[marinyork]

The marins are very slow and clunky. Good for arsing around town and the odd cycle path and short distance urban road cycling. Commutable, the longer, the more of a nuisance.

 

[robert b 2]

I've decided to get a hybrid. I know I am being annoying and contradicting my earlier posts, but I just think a road bike or tourer would be overkill for what I need.

I want something that enables me to go fast but which also has the strength to occasionally go off road. That rules a road bike out. But I think a tourer is just a bit much; I will only be using it for my 15 mile a day commmute, and don't need to carry lots of stuff over long distances. Moreover, I'd ultimately feel better going for a flat barred set up.

So that leaves me in a situation of needing a hybrid that is fast and has mud guards and rack. I reckon if I spend £600, or a little more maybe, I could get a hybrid that is light and has slick tyres, and which would be a big improvement over my mtb.

Any suggestions for a good quality, fast hybrid with all the accessories I need, and capable of doing well on hills, for my price bracket? I'm going to start exploring at LBS, but any pointers would be welcomed. I know it won't be as fast as a road bike, but what I'm aiming for with a hybrid is achieving as close to road/tourer as possible.

Cheers

 

[rusky]

I'm standing by my Marin Muirwoods 29er!

 

[robert b 2]

Just been having a look at that Rusky. So what differentiates it from a mountain bike? Do you find it light and fast, and good on hills?

Can you attach guards and rack to it?

 

[HJ]

You would be best off going to a few LBSs and having a look at a range of bikes, rather that just taking a recommendation on a single model of bike. Also with the 2010 models coming into the shops it is an ideal time to pick up a bargain on a 2009 model...

 

[robert b 2]

How about the Cannondale Trekking 2008 http://www.sbrsports.com/1011/525-226163

Specialized Crosstrail Expert 2009
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/crosstrail-expert-2009-hybrid-bike-ec016911

Specialized Sirrus Expert 2009
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Specialized-Sirrus-Expert-2009-Road-Bike_20963.htm

Cannondale Bad Boy 700
http://www.sbrsports.com/1011/516-226296

The last one is more like what I want to pay, but I'm willing to pay more for speed. Again, it needs room for rack and guards, and I'd prefer a bit of suspension under the seat if possible.

Any ideas?

 

[robert b 2]

You would be best off going to a few LBSs and having a look at a range of bikes, rather that just taking a recommendation on a single model of bike. Also with the 2010 models coming into the shops it is an ideal time to pick up a bargain on a 2009 model...

Yeah, that's my plan, but I can't get out to one til the weekend so I just want to build up some knowledge of the market before hand. Will help me get what I want from the shop.

 

[rusky]

Mine is fitted with guards & a rear rack. & I find it fast & able to cope with hills well

 

[JamesM]

I ride a Specialized CrossTrail Sport and am quite happy with it, my only initial gripe was that I felt the ground clearance wasn't great but I've got used to that now.

I bought it through my LBS and had the rack, lights, mud guards etc fitted by them. Along with some proper cycling shorts, a fairly decent top, a pannier bag and a decent lock, the whole lot came in at just under £600

The only thing I've changed since then is getting SPD pedals and shoes.

Is your route entirely on-road or do you use any trails or tow paths? I use canal tow paths quite a bit but if it was all road I'd look at something without the suspension.

 

[HJ]

I wouldn't bother with suspension at all, you don't need it unless you are planning on serious off road stuff...