i have just bought a Boardman sport Hybrid, after a lot of research I purchased one,according to the spiel it's supposed to be for "roads and light trails" it's horrendous !!! Any small bump or even paint which divided path from cycle path vibrates through the bike, my questions is how to I stop this, would suspension work?or different tyres?, I really love cycling to and fro but this is really putting me off, any helps would be greatly appreciated, thanks
First Hybrid Bike and I hate it HELP!!
- Thread starter Badwolf
- Start date
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Apollonius
Guru
- Location
- South Staffordshire
Someone once told me "If you buy a hybrid, you will either get a road bike or an MTB within six months or never ride again." I have no idea whether this is true or not (though it was for Maggi, she never rode it - and it was the shop she bought it from that made the remark).
If it is bumps that are putting you off, then a suspension MTB might be the answer, though there is, of course, a massive weight penalty. I suggest try before you buy next time.
If it is bumps that are putting you off, then a suspension MTB might be the answer, though there is, of course, a massive weight penalty. I suggest try before you buy next time.
swee'pea99
Legendary Member
If it's the vibrations that are your main concern, which seems to be the case, you can reduce them by running fatter tyres at lower pressures. Worth a try, I'd have thought. See if you can find someone who can lend you you some complete wheels with, say, 28mm tyres, and run them at 70psi, and see how it goes.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Sport Hybrid - that's life. They are softer than road bikes and yes you will feel the vibrations.
Racing roadkill
Guru
I got myself a Boardman MX comp. it's pretty much the Hybrid, but with suspension forks. I love it to bits, it's got 37 mm tyres on, so it's comfy on roads and off roads, the suspension locks out, so you don't lose energy if you're on road. I don't like the fixed front fork flat bar hybrids, but the MX is a very nice compromise.
HarryTheDog
Guru
- Location
- Basildon Essex
@Badwolf I dont know how much you know about bikes and don't want to teach you to suck eggs but have you checked that the headset bearings arent loose?
http://roadcyclinguk.com/how-to/tec...nd-tighten-a-headset.html#yYAj54medpOqYW04.97
http://roadcyclinguk.com/how-to/tec...nd-tighten-a-headset.html#yYAj54medpOqYW04.97
NorthernDave
Never used Über Member
- Location
- The real Northern Powerhouse
ScotiaLass
Guru
- Location
- Middle Earth
I bought a hybrid and hated it!
It was so different from my MTB and I felt unsafe and wobbly on it although I never felt it vibrate as you describe.
I persevered and swopped to wider tyres (40's) and now I love it! It's great for longer distances which I can't do on the MTB. It does take some getting used to, swopping from one type of bike to another.
I would have it checked over, as suggested, as it may not have been tightened properly.
It was so different from my MTB and I felt unsafe and wobbly on it although I never felt it vibrate as you describe.
I persevered and swopped to wider tyres (40's) and now I love it! It's great for longer distances which I can't do on the MTB. It does take some getting used to, swopping from one type of bike to another.
I would have it checked over, as suggested, as it may not have been tightened properly.
Racing roadkill
Guru
I'd go as far as to say that the forks are on back to front
Saluki
World class procrastinator
- Location
- ...Norwich over the water.
I had a go on a Boardman Hybrid. It didn't float my boat but then I like drop bars. It was an easier ride - position wise - than my roadie and it absorbed the bumps in the road better. It didn't feel like my fillings were coming out 
If Halfords set it up, why not run it down to your LBS and get them to give it the once over. There could just be some teething problems.
If Halfords set it up, why not run it down to your LBS and get them to give it the once over. There could just be some teething problems.
mickle
innit
- Location
- 53.933606, -1.076131
Bend your arms.
rovers1875
Guru
- Location
- Accrington
You say you really love cycling, so obviously you have or had another bike and if so, I would guess at it being a mountain bike? The Boardman sport is basically a road bike with flat bars and as so it will feel twitchy in comparison. As others have said have you checked that it has been put together properly and everything is tightened up correctly. The Boardman is a cracking bike, if it is set up correctly, you will soon get used to the different handling. If its the set up get it checked over.
Tyre pressures.
I recently bought a Hybrid with 37mm tyres on it. If I have the tyres up near their max, vibrations are horrendous. I've now settled on a rear pressure of about 70psi and 60psi for the front. Now it's much more comfy.
If you have 28mm tyres and are 70kg ish like me, try 75-80psi in the rear and 65-70psi in the front.
I recently bought a Hybrid with 37mm tyres on it. If I have the tyres up near their max, vibrations are horrendous. I've now settled on a rear pressure of about 70psi and 60psi for the front. Now it's much more comfy.
If you have 28mm tyres and are 70kg ish like me, try 75-80psi in the rear and 65-70psi in the front.
- Location
- Shrewsbury, Shropshire
I bought a "hybrid" (don't like the term) way back in 1998 and............ it's still my best bike. What tyres? What tyre pressures? The headset suggestion above seems a good thing to check as bad adustment could cause weird handling.
Specialeyes
Guru
- Location
- Essex
Padded gloves, slightly bent elbows and those ergo grips with the wing-piece at the back to spread the pressure over a greater area would be my suggestions.
