Dilemma ! Are thesse good ?

[MrDilemma]

I need some quick advice on some hybrids, I'm a beginner cyclist looking to commute 30 minutes every day. Budget is around £300 ($420)

I've narrowed it down to a few choices and appreciate any help I can get.

1.Ridgeback Nova for £280.

2. A used Trek 7.2 Fx in decent condition for £200.

3.Pinnacle Neon (Evans Cycle Brand) for £297.

4. Trek 7.0 Fx for £330.

I'll mostly be using it to go around town and place value on reliability. Is it better to buy a new Ridgeback/Pinnacle or a used Trek ? Feel free to add any other recommendations.

Thanks for help !

 

[Accy cyclist]

I need some quick advice on some hybrids, I'm a beginner cyclist looking to commute 30 minutes every day. Budget is around £300 ($420)

I've narrowed it down to a few choices and appreciate any help I can get.

1.Ridgeback Nova for £280.

2. A used Trek 7.2 Fx in decent condition for £200.

3.Pinnacle Neon (Evans Cycle Brand) for £297.

4. Trek 7.0 Fx for £330.

I'll mostly be using it to go around town and place value on reliability. Is it better to buy a new Ridgeback/Pinnacle or a used Trek ? Feel free to add any other recommendations.

Thanks for help !

I've had a Ridgeback Tourer for a few years it's a reliable bike, I don't think you'll have many problems with a Ridgeback!
These have a decent reputation.http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes/carrera-subway-1-mens-hybrid-bike-2015

 

[BalkanExpress]

Which one fits you best?

Which one do you like the best?

If you are comfortable, in every sense, on the bike you'll want to ride it even on those dark' dank mornings when you might otherwise say, "blow that, I'll drive or take the bus."

 

[growingvegetables]

Pop into your nearest Evans and try 'em? See which one "grabs you"?

There's one in your list that SCREAMS, to me personally, "No way!" - the Nova. But then I loathe those rotary grip shifters whatever they're called.

 

[smutchin]

I really like the Pinnacle myself. By far the nicest of the three new options.

Big selling point for me is the single chainring - for your purposes, you really don't need the 21 gears of the Ridgeback or the Trek. I'm essentially repeating the same point I made in another thread about the choice between triple/double chainsets, so apologies if I sound like a stuck record, but it's a common mistake for new cyclists to think more gears must be better. Ain't necessarily so. More gears just adds unnecessary weight and can be confusing for new cyclists. The gearing range is the most important consideration, and the range on the Pinnacle should be fine unless you're planning to tackle some seriously steep hills. Doing away with the expense of a front mech & shifter means they have also been able to spec a higher quality rear mech & shifter.

I also prefer the looks of the Pinnacle over the other two, but that's a matter of personal taste.

The Ridgeback has unbranded brakes, which bothers me. The Trek and Pinnacle both have Tektro V-brakes, which won't be the best, but at least you know what they are.

The Ridgeback also has an unbranded chainset, which I would expect to weigh around half a ton and be about as hardwearing as one made of cheddar.

Wheels and tyres on all three bikes are pretty bog standard but about what you'd expect for the price and are probably fine for your needs. Interestingly, the Trek uses a screw-on freewheel while the others use cassette gears on a Shimano-compatible freehub. The cassette is by far the better option for many reasons.