Am I looking for the impossible?

[NickTB]

Hello all.

After much trial and error, I have decided the road bike isn't for me since my back troubles started. At the weekend I took my daughter to Thorndon park near me (The Gruffalo Trail) she on her bike with stabilisers on, me walking behind. I realised I would love to have a bike that I can take her out with and use on the gravel paths. BUT I don't want a heavy mountain bike. And I suspect most hybrids are too fragile? Is there such a thing as a lightweight off road bike?

My budget is around £300 so I'm obviously looking second hand.

Any advice would be more than welcome.

Thanks,
Nick

 

[Dayvo]

That's in Brentwood, my home town.

Have a look at a cyclocross bike: they're designed to ride comfortably but manage the rough and tumble of dirt and gravel woodland paths.

 

[NickTB]

Thanks, I live in Brentwood too. Lovely part of Essex.

I never thought of cyclocross I'll have a look about.
Nick

 

[Dayvo]

Thanks, I live in Brentwood too. Lovely part of Essex.

I never thought of cyclocross I'll have a look about.
Nick

This might be helpful:

http://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/list/3523/bicycles.html?keyword=cyclocross+bikes

 

[midlife]

CX / Adventure bike / gravel bike ......with drop bars should fit the bill. I'm old so I call them CX for cyclocross but the names have changed over the years.

Shaun

 

[Cycleops]

No need to spend a lot of money, just buy buy a good used first generation MTB. I bought this for a friend not so long ago, carbon tubes, very light but tough, no suspension, you don't need it. An Ali frame or even steel wouldn't be too heavy. Only prob is its getting hard to find a good one.

 

[Firestorm]

For the likes of Thorndon park a rigid mtb is enough, i did it on mine, and they can be quite light.

 

[bonsaibilly]

Surely if you're off the concept of a road bike then it would hardly be wise to get a cx bike which is, in essence, (yes yes I know there are many little differences) a road bike with clearance for wider tyres?

WOuldn't you be better off looking for a "softer" riding, flat handlebarred jobby?

bb

 

[NickTB]

That's in Brentwood, my home town.

Have a look at a cyclocross bike: they're designed to ride comfortably but manage the rough and tumble of dirt and gravel woodland paths.

Surely if you're off the concept of a road bike then it would hardly be wise to get a cx bike which is, in essence, (yes yes I know there are many little differences) a road bike with clearance for wider tyres?

WOuldn't you be better off looking for a "softer" riding, flat handlebarred jobby?

bb

This was my initial thought. As I've never considered a cx it's worth looking. But looking at the link provided by Dayvo I get the impression the ride position isn't too different from my road bike. You're probably correct in that a flat barred strong lightweight bike is what I'm looking for. Hence the title of the thread!

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

What makes you think that "hybrid" bikes are fragile? My Raleigh would fit into this category and I have no problems using it on roads like this:


even with the 35mm slicks currently fitted.

 

[MichaelW2]

Forget about which "type" of bike it is, practically all bikes can handle tracks and trails if they can fit med-wide tyres.
Pick one which fits you. Make adjustments to the stem or bars if needed.

 

[screenman]

What makes you think that "hybrid" bikes are fragile? My Raleigh would fit into this category and I have no problems using it on roads like this:
View attachment 138869 View attachment 138870

even with the 35mm slicks currently fitted.

Where did you get those pictures of Lincolnshires best kept roads from?

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Where did you get those pictures of Lincolnshires best kept roads from?

Cumbria's actually. I now appreciate my local roads more.

 

[gavgav]

Hello all.

After much trial and error, I have decided the road bike isn't for me since my back troubles started. At the weekend I took my daughter to Thorndon park near me (The Gruffalo Trail) she on her bike with stabilisers on, me walking behind. I realised I would love to have a bike that I can take her out with and use on the gravel paths. BUT I don't want a heavy mountain bike. And I suspect most hybrids are too fragile? Is there such a thing as a lightweight off road bike?

My budget is around £300 so I'm obviously looking second hand.

Any advice would be more than welcome.

Thanks,
Nick

I have a cyclocross style Cube bike and it copes fine with gravel paths.

 

[potsy]

Any hybrid with decent width tyres will cope fine on those kinds of surfaces, maybe get some semi-slick tyres to give you a little more grip on loose/soggy stuff.