best bike for getting fit and commuting to work

[Animal drummer]

Hi, can anyone tell me the best hybrid bike between £400 - £500. I have had a bicycle advance accepted through work which I receive on wednesday. I have been into one of our independant bike shops and they have the claud butler urban 500 for £450 but the owner offered 10% off we aldo have an halfords near also there is a new store just opened but I have never heard of any of the bikes in it. And we hav an evans cycles about 25 miles away I think I would prefer rigid forks any recomendations?

 

[Profpointy]

rigid forks -is certainly a good decision for anything less than full on "mountain" use - canal paths, farm tracks and the like certainly don't need suspension - much less normal roads.

hybrid - well, maybe, but don't dismiss drop bars out of hand. Flat bars are fine if you don't want a choice of position, will never have a headwind, never cycle uphill, and don't mind putting more effort in to go slower. Slightly tongue in cheek reply, but it is still true basically

Mudguards & pannier rack are "a good thing"

Low gears are a very good thing, especially if starting out. Ideally a "triple" on the front - doesn't matter overmuch if it's 9 or 10 (or 8 even) at the back, providing low is pretty low.

(Unfortunately it can be tricky getting sensibly low gears, mudguards etc for modestly priced "road" bikes ie with drop handlebars)

 

[Cyclist33]

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cannondale/quick-cx4-2013-hybrid-bike-ec042936#BVRRWidgetID

Give evans a ring and see if they can get one of these into your local evans branch. Won't let you down!

Stu

 

[mcshroom]

Looks a decent bike Cyclist33, but looking at the comparative specs I'd be tempted to go for the Claud in the OP with it's carbon fork over the ally fork of the Cannondale (the rest of the spec is pretty similar), though the disk brakes might be a good option for commuting through winter.

 

[biggs682]

one you enjoy riding

 

[MrJamie]

I have the 2012 model of this for commuting to work http://www.ashcycles.com/site/giant-seek-2-2013

Quite nicely specced for commuting with disc brakes, but also without brand logos and decals so it doesn't attract thieves as much, which was a priority for me with 4 bikes stolen from work in the past 3 weeks. Mounts for panniers/guards etc and rear caliper moved to chainstay rather than seatstay so it's easier to fit a rack and big scratch guard on the top tube for protecting it while its locked up.

Look at bike insurance too, if your home insurance doesn't already cover it

 

[Animal drummer]

Thanks for the advice I did like the look of the cb urban 500 however some of the forums say it is over priced because of the name is that correct? also are carbon forks a good idea for someone just starting riding again after about 8 years of not riding at all?

 

[vickster]

Doesn't look overpriced at all with the carbon fork and alivio gearing, especially if you are getting a discount so it's £400 I don't think there are (m)any other comparably specced bikes for that

If you want overpriced, look at Specialized You need to pay £700+ now for a Sirrus with a carbon fork

The best hybrid is the one that fits you best and you like the look off and so ride more

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Doesn't look overpriced at all with the carbon fork and alivio gearing, especially if you are getting a discount so it's £400 I don't think there are (m)any other comparably specced bikes for that

If you want overpriced, look at Specialized You need to pay £700+ now for a Sirrus with a carbon fork

The best hybrid is the one that fits you best and you like the look off and so ride more

My Sirrus Elite is a beautiful bike to ride, granted it ain't got carbon fork, but to me it was worth every penny.

 

[Mo1959]

My Sirrus Elite is a beautiful bike to ride, granted it ain't got carbon fork, but to me it was worth every penny.

Glad I got the 2012 model then, didn't realise they had made the 2013 with alloy forks. I agree Specialized seem a bit overpriced unless you wait for sale time.

My Vita Elite (ladies Sirrus) was originally £600 but I got it for £449 so now should be a good time to pick up a bit of a bargain as the 2014 models are coming in.

You sound like you are taken with the CB though, and if it is a bike you like you will enjoy riding it all the more and that is what is important.

 

[vickster]

The £720 for the comp with carbon is reduced!!

Evidently the roads in Leicester are better than sw London / Surrey as my dodgy arms wouldn't survive without the carbon dampening!

 

[AndyPeace]

I've got a steel fork on my hybrid (alloy frame) and it does much the same job as carbon (well almost) just a few hundred grams more... which isn't an issue unless your doing big miles or racing. The roads round here range from excellent to rough abandoned rural roads, with more potholes than road!

 

[Animal drummer]

Thanks for the advice so far anyone heard of meriva bikes and are they any good?

 

[mcshroom]

Meriva are quite a big off road brand, and also a big OEM manufacturer for a lot of the bigger brands. They seem to make good solid bikes from what I can see.

 

[vickster]

Do you Merida? Meriva is a small Vauxhall MPV!

Merida are a massive Taiwanese company and make frames for Specialized among others

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merida_Bikes