I have been cycling to work for around 18 months on an old Carrera mountain bike I inherited (I'm sure it's heavier than Brian Blessed). I have recently been taking the old beast out in my spare time (the bike that is not BB) for pleasure/fitness which I am thoroughly enjoying (getting hooked on) in light of this I'm looking to buy a new bike with a budget of between £500 and £700. I figure a hybrid would be most suitable I mostly use road + cycle/tow paths and cycle at the moment 10-20 miles with a view to joining a cycle club and participating in a some longer distances. For some reason I seem to be drawn towards Specialized bikes notably the Sirrus elite 09. Would this be a good choice? Any advice to this newly passionate cyclist would be hugely appreciated.
Help for a newly passionate cyclist.
- Thread starter Jaye
- Start date
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2Loose
Guru
- Location
- Loughborough, Leicestershire.
+1,
I am on my second hybrid for the 3 or 4 days a year I spend 'off-road' and am now longing for a drop bar bike to make the other 361 days a lot fastermore comfy.
A cyclo cross bike like the Specialized TriCross, which is basically a rugged road bike, maybe a better compromise than a hybrid depending on how often you find yourself away from smoothish and hard surfaces.
I am on my second hybrid for the 3 or 4 days a year I spend 'off-road' and am now longing for a drop bar bike to make the other 361 days a lot fastermore comfy.
A cyclo cross bike like the Specialized TriCross, which is basically a rugged road bike, maybe a better compromise than a hybrid depending on how often you find yourself away from smoothish and hard surfaces.
MajorMantra
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Edinburgh
Garz said:
+1. Road bikes can handle everything up to and including dirt tracks (that aren't too wet) and if you're getting serious and considering joining a club you'll probably regret getting a hybrid a few months down the line.
Matthew
HJ
Cycling in Scotland
- Location
- Auld Reekie
My standard advice is to visit a few Local Bike Shops and try as many bikes as you can within you price bracket, they buy the one that feels the best.
Hybrids are good general purpose bikes and can by ridden over longer distances.
When you say you are thinking of joining a club, what sort of club are you thinking of? Most road clubs will only accept people on racing style road bikes (and tend to sneer at people riding anything else), but if you are thinking of the local branch of the CTC a hybrid would be fine...
Hybrids are good general purpose bikes and can by ridden over longer distances.
When you say you are thinking of joining a club, what sort of club are you thinking of? Most road clubs will only accept people on racing style road bikes (and tend to sneer at people riding anything else), but if you are thinking of the local branch of the CTC a hybrid would be fine...
ive got a hybrid Spesh Globe Elite - superb for work, shops and general stuff.
however, im now the proud owner of a Giant SCR3 ebay special. its very comfy and im loving it. the hybrid is good for the general "nip here and there" stuff with my rack, pannier and heavy kryptonite lock etc but just isnt good on a 20 mile blast of a Sunday IMO
i'd like to join a club local to me as well and thats part of the reason i got the roadie..
however, im now the proud owner of a Giant SCR3 ebay special. its very comfy and im loving it. the hybrid is good for the general "nip here and there" stuff with my rack, pannier and heavy kryptonite lock etc but just isnt good on a 20 mile blast of a Sunday IMO
i'd like to join a club local to me as well and thats part of the reason i got the roadie..
Cheers for the replies. I think the reason I was drawn to a hybrid rather than road bike were memories of my racer as a teenager and feeling every bump and stone on the road. Don't know whether my body at 39yrs young will appreciate the buffeting on the potholed and cracked streets of East London on my daily commute (or am I being a complete wuss?)
The cyclo cross option looks appealing. But I am now as confused as ever.
Hj - regarding clubs I was after like-minded people who enjoy the excercise/scenery/freedom/escapism without needing to race each other and endlessly compare headsets and Cassettes (I'll give it 3 months before I do though
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The cyclo cross option looks appealing. But I am now as confused as ever.
Hj - regarding clubs I was after like-minded people who enjoy the excercise/scenery/freedom/escapism without needing to race each other and endlessly compare headsets and Cassettes (I'll give it 3 months before I do though
)Hi and welcome Jaye. As others have said already you are likely to be happier with a road bike in the long term especially if you intend to join a road club.
Don't be put off by drop handlebars. I have ridden road bikes for over 20 years and never used the bottom of the bars . I use the brake hoods and the top of the bars which I find much more comfortable. I also find I have better control but this is a matter of much debate.
Cycling plus magazine have recently run some excellent biketests and reviews. I would try to get hold of some previous issues and have a good read.
if you fit the right tyres a road bike should feel little different than a hybrid in terms of comfort. They use pretty much the same tyres anyway. You could start with 25c perhaps and progress to 23c for the road .
Don't be put off by drop handlebars. I have ridden road bikes for over 20 years and never used the bottom of the bars . I use the brake hoods and the top of the bars which I find much more comfortable. I also find I have better control but this is a matter of much debate.
Cycling plus magazine have recently run some excellent biketests and reviews. I would try to get hold of some previous issues and have a good read.
if you fit the right tyres a road bike should feel little different than a hybrid in terms of comfort. They use pretty much the same tyres anyway. You could start with 25c perhaps and progress to 23c for the road .
