A mine field

[Mulgy]

Hello

I'm yet another newb about to start cycling via a c2w scheme. I thought I'd go for a reasonable 500 budget and popped into by LBS to get some advice. The showed me the Giant roam2 and I thought that would be ok. I then cycled to work 10 miles on a rather naff mountain bike the misses bought for around 100 quid. I got into work ok altough a chap on a road bike zoomed past me and got me thinking .. then on the way home It was hell.. I'm fairly fit but this was hard work, as most of it was like a slow constant up hill .. I thought about throwing the bike in a hedge and jogging home. Anyway I know the Giant would be much better but a few bikers suggested road bikes instead. I've been around a few stores and get different opinions some say get something like a sirrus, others say a road bike. I think I might meet them half way and go for a cross bike with road tyres.. the thinking is it will take the odd bash and come back for more and also off road routes etc .. I want to be able to decide which route without worrying about the bike getting bent. I haven't quit on the idea of a hybrid or road bike.

suggestions at present are the giant defy2, speacialised sirrus comp, giant TCX 2.. I also spotted a couple of fugi bikes with better gears and wondered how they hold up I'm basically looking to spend the full 1000 but need to get extras..pedals helmet lock etc

Thanks for your time

 

[jig-sore]

sounds like you need a hybrid

 

[HLaB]

Welcome to the forum. A sirrus is a road bike but a flat bar one, so you don't have the advantage of being able to drop a bit out of the wind or have the comfort of multiple hand positions. Hybrid is such a broad term. That said the sirrus is a great fast bike with mounts for panniers and mud guards, its only draw back however it quickly leaves you yearning for a drop bar bike. It'll cope with some off road stuff but it isn't happy there, a roadbike IMO is more fun but unless you are really skilled it wont cope with the rough stuff (but you probably wont want to expose either to it). My brother about 6months ago bought a cyclocross and fitted road tyres to it and I don't think he has went off road since but he is yearning for a road bike now too, its just too low geared. I think Road bike is the ultimate solution. What ever you go for however, you'll sure appreciate a better bike over 10 miles.

 

[BigTone0777]

I bought a second hand Carrera Gryphon as I used to ride road bikes in the past and like the quicker skinny tyres but at the minute I am totally the wrong shape for a drop bar position. The Gryphon set up appealed because of the road gearing and wheels but a more upright position. However I bought it second hand as I know as soon as I'm a bit fitter I'm gonna want to sell it and buy a roadie.........................roll on Cycle2Work!