How much do I need to pay for a "good" hybrid ?

[Dave7]

I know it's like "how long is a piece of string" but...............
When I have purchased e.g. binoculars I found that at the lower price range there were big differences in quality with every £50/£100 spent. However, once you get to, say, £500 the differences became slight and the price increase difficult/impossible to justify.
I just wonder what the general opinion is on cycle prices and at what point do the differences become negligible compared to the increased cost.

 

[Moodyman]

If it was me, knowing what I now know, I would be looking to spend £500+ on a bike that'll be well made, with good components and that I'll enjoy riding.

 

[Peteaud]

I would say about £350 +, but whats good for one might not be good for another.

My new hybrid was £600 but its 100% what i wanted and i test rode more expensive bikes but came back to the one i bought. The wifes bike was just over £350 and its fantastic, she loves it and found she didnt like the more expensive ones any more thsn the one she bought.

 

[Lozatron]

Ok probably not what you're asking but...I'd spend £3-400 on a second hand hybrid and buy a road bike in a year or two when you realise how much more fun it will be...

 

[The Jogger]

A cracking hybrid imho with great components.
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...d Comp Bike 2011 - Large 21""&source=shopping

 

[Philtofit]

Only just got into cycling and not knowing much about Hybrids, I went to a good LCS and brought the base Giant Escape 4 model. It has good level of spec for under £300, had it 3 weeks and very pleased.

Phil..

 

[HLaB]

The Ridgeback Velocity is a superb hybrid IMO, it was probably just selling cr@p but the lbs labelled it the best hybrid for £300, that was 4 years ago and it has went up a bit, so £350 sounds like a good number but the carrera subway from Hellfrauds gets a good review and it can be had for £230.
From my own experience though also having a sirrus sports, £500 in 2006 iirc, the bike is streets ahead in comparison to the Velocity in terms of quality and lightness. I think you can keep on raising the budget however, return in respect of your ability should be foremost; ie if your not a racer I doubt you'd get much extra out of a £1,500 bike and then you should definitely looking at something different to a hybrid. You pay's your money, take your choices

 

[jamin100]

I brought a Chris boardman hybrid comp 2010 for £175 2nd hand.

Definatly look on the likes if ebay/gumtree for bargains

Sent from my Nexus One using Tapatalk

 

[Dave7]

If it was me, knowing what I now know, I would be looking to spend £500+ on a bike that'll be well made, with good components and that I'll enjoy riding.

But what is £500+......do you mean below £600? or just anything over £500 ?

Only just got into cycling and not knowing much about Hybrids, I went to a good LCS and brought the base Giant Escape 4 model. It has good level of spec for under £300, had it 3 weeks and very pleased.
Phil..

Serious question (not flippant)-if, like me, you are new(ish) to cycling how do you know it's a good spec'? When I read bike spec's they may as be be written in Chinese

 

[Dave7]

I would say about £350 +, but whats good for one might not be good for another.

My new hybrid was £600 but its 100% what i wanted and i test rode more expensive bikes but came back to the one i bought. The wifes bike was just over £350 and its fantastic, she loves it and found she didnt like the more expensive ones any more thsn the one she bought.

What did you end you buying ?
When you say "it's 100% what you wanted" what were you looking for ?
What sort of test ride were you allowed ?

I'm asking because when I read the spec's (which don't mean a lot to me) it seems to be a bit of a lottery and I'm trying to narrow it down.
Thanks

 

[mickle]

What's a hybrid?

 

[potsy]

What's a hybrid?

Oh no, not again

 

[Peteaud]

What did you end you buying ?
When you say "it's 100% what you wanted" what were you looking for ?
What sort of test ride were you allowed ?

I'm asking because when I read the spec's (which don't mean a lot to me) it seems to be a bit of a lottery and I'm trying to narrow it down.
Thanks

This
http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/trek-7500-hybrid-item160215.html#info

Why did i buy it?

Comfort - it fitted me perfect and felt right
Speed - not as quick as a road bike bike but still not bad, 27 speed (triple) good for the local hills

The LBS (bicyclechain in taunton) let me whizz about around the car park area.

The bike feels right to me, the brakes are good, the gears are a pleasure and the front suspension can be locked out, good for roads. all in all its just the bike for me.

IMHO you have to set your budget and shop around / ride some bikes and go with what feels best.

 

[Moodyman]

But what is £500+......do you mean below £600? or just anything over £500 ?

When I first returned to cycling about 5 years ago, I didn't know whether I would stick with it, so bought a high-end used MTB for £100. It's only £100 and I could resell it for similar if cycling wasn't for me. As it happens, I liked it and did lots of leisure cycling over a couple of summers.

I then started commuting 24 miles on it everyday, and found it lacking. So I bought a rigid mtb (marked as a hybrid) for £380. Over time I spent about £120 upgrading / replacing parts as they wore out. I still have this bike and still love it...BUT...

...I had access to Cycle to Work and got a £900 flat bar road bike with hub gears which suit commuting better. Again, I love this...

...but, then I wanted to do longer weekend rides and ended up buying a £1000 road bike.

I've no regrets. I still have all 4 bikes and still ride them all at different times, but with each purchase I felt that I needed something better and moved to spend more each time.

So, my advice is ask yourself what type of cycling you'll be doing and whether you'll be sticking with it. No point buying a £1000 bike if it never leaves the shed, and no point buying a £300 bike if you'll end wanting to buy a better bike later.

That's why my earlier post says: "Knowing what I now know"

I hope this helps you decide.

 

[MattHB]

We got 2 specialized crosstrail 2011's for £299 each from our LBS. Incredible bargain I think as they're exceptional.