Hello. I am a bike n00b in the process of purchasing his first bike, but it helped having read a lot about bikes lately. I am trying to keep my costs down as it's my first, I will probably thrash it or it will get nicked (I'm in Cambridge). I will be riding the bike around town, to work (1-2 miles), to the gym, for fun. I am an aggressive rider, I like a bit of an effort, burning extra calories along the way.
So I am looking at 2 hybrids, and the Halford's Carrera Subway 2011/2012 really caught my eye, even now that the price is at its maximum, from what I heard it's still quite a bit better than the 2012/2013 version.
Here are the specs of the 2 bikes I am considering:
Ridgeback Velocity 2013 Hybrid
Cost: £282.65 (I guess I will need to take it to a local bike shop to set it up).
Manufacturer link: http://www.ridgeback.co.uk/bike/velocity/features#details
Frame: 6061 Heat treated Aluminium
Fork: Cro Moly
Rear Mech: Shimano Acera
Front Mech: Shimano TX51
Shifters: Shimano EZFire
Chainset: Shimano Altus 48/38/28
Bottom Bracket: Cartridge
Chain: HG50
Cassette: Shimano Cassette 11-32 8sp
Headset: Sealed
Stem: Alloy multi position
Handle Bars: 6061 Aluminium Lo-rise
Front Brake: Tektro 836AL
Rear Brake: Tektro 836AL
Brake Levers: Shimano
Rims: Rigida X-Pace 36h
Rear Hub: Shimano RM30 rear
Spokes: Stainless steel black
Tyres: Continental Contact 700 x 37c
Saddle: City Comfort 2
Seat Post: Aluminium 27.2mm
Pedals: Nylon Street
Grips: Triple Density Comfort
Carrera Subway Hybrid Bike 2011/2012
Cost: £252 (will be set up when I pick it up, but will take it for another tune elsewhere).
Manufacturer link: http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_810603_langId_-1_categoryId_165534
Chainset: Suntour CW-XCT V2
Exact Frame Size: 20"
Forks: Straight blade steel fork
Frame: Lightweight 6061 aluminium
Frame Colour: Deep Satin Black
Frame Material: Alloy
Front Brake: Tektro IO Mechanical disc brake
Front Mech: Shimano FD-M191
Gear Shifters: Shimano ST-EF51-7 EZ Fire trigger shifters
Gender: Mens
Handle Bars: Alloy oversize flat bars (31.8mm)
Headset: Semi integrated
Hubs: Alloy with QR
Number of Gears: 24
Pedals: Wellgo Alloy pedals
Rear Brake: Tektro IO Mechanical disc brake
Rear Mech: Shimano RD-M310
Rims: Double wall alloy rims
Saddle: Carrera
Stem: Alloy
Suspension: Rigid
Tyre size: 1.95"
Tyres: Kenda tyres
Approximate Weight (KG): 13.4
Geometry: City
Cassette: 11-32T
Quick Release Front Wheel: Yes
Quick Release Rear Wheel: Yes
Seatpost: Carrera 350mm x 27.2mm black alloy
Wheel size: 26"
My thinking might be wrong on this, but because the Carrera Subway has the more standard 26" inch wheels (I saw one in a shop and they have thicker/knobbier tyres) which I assume have better grip and suit better to more aggressive style cycling or...? The Subway also has rear disc brake, which I heard is all the rage. The Ridgeback Velocity is slightly lighter I believe, by approximately 1 KG, it generally appears to be a slicker bike, whereas the Subway is a bit of an evil beast.
I was also considering Giant Escape 2 Hybrid 2013 when it was at £287 but it is at £319 now that the voucher code expired. Perhaps it's still worth it?
If you have alternative suggestsions of better bikes, please only muddy my waters by considering the budget: £300 (unless what you're suggesting has a too good a value to miss in which case I will consider more expensive options, just about).
Many thanks, Dan
P.S. saw the poll option and went for it!
So I am looking at 2 hybrids, and the Halford's Carrera Subway 2011/2012 really caught my eye, even now that the price is at its maximum, from what I heard it's still quite a bit better than the 2012/2013 version.
Here are the specs of the 2 bikes I am considering:
Ridgeback Velocity 2013 Hybrid
Cost: £282.65 (I guess I will need to take it to a local bike shop to set it up).
Manufacturer link: http://www.ridgeback.co.uk/bike/velocity/features#details
Frame: 6061 Heat treated Aluminium
Fork: Cro Moly
Rear Mech: Shimano Acera
Front Mech: Shimano TX51
Shifters: Shimano EZFire
Chainset: Shimano Altus 48/38/28
Bottom Bracket: Cartridge
Chain: HG50
Cassette: Shimano Cassette 11-32 8sp
Headset: Sealed
Stem: Alloy multi position
Handle Bars: 6061 Aluminium Lo-rise
Front Brake: Tektro 836AL
Rear Brake: Tektro 836AL
Brake Levers: Shimano
Rims: Rigida X-Pace 36h
Rear Hub: Shimano RM30 rear
Spokes: Stainless steel black
Tyres: Continental Contact 700 x 37c
Saddle: City Comfort 2
Seat Post: Aluminium 27.2mm
Pedals: Nylon Street
Grips: Triple Density Comfort
Carrera Subway Hybrid Bike 2011/2012
Cost: £252 (will be set up when I pick it up, but will take it for another tune elsewhere).
Manufacturer link: http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_810603_langId_-1_categoryId_165534
Chainset: Suntour CW-XCT V2
Exact Frame Size: 20"
Forks: Straight blade steel fork
Frame: Lightweight 6061 aluminium
Frame Colour: Deep Satin Black
Frame Material: Alloy
Front Brake: Tektro IO Mechanical disc brake
Front Mech: Shimano FD-M191
Gear Shifters: Shimano ST-EF51-7 EZ Fire trigger shifters
Gender: Mens
Handle Bars: Alloy oversize flat bars (31.8mm)
Headset: Semi integrated
Hubs: Alloy with QR
Number of Gears: 24
Pedals: Wellgo Alloy pedals
Rear Brake: Tektro IO Mechanical disc brake
Rear Mech: Shimano RD-M310
Rims: Double wall alloy rims
Saddle: Carrera
Stem: Alloy
Suspension: Rigid
Tyre size: 1.95"
Tyres: Kenda tyres
Approximate Weight (KG): 13.4
Geometry: City
Cassette: 11-32T
Quick Release Front Wheel: Yes
Quick Release Rear Wheel: Yes
Seatpost: Carrera 350mm x 27.2mm black alloy
Wheel size: 26"
My thinking might be wrong on this, but because the Carrera Subway has the more standard 26" inch wheels (I saw one in a shop and they have thicker/knobbier tyres) which I assume have better grip and suit better to more aggressive style cycling or...? The Subway also has rear disc brake, which I heard is all the rage. The Ridgeback Velocity is slightly lighter I believe, by approximately 1 KG, it generally appears to be a slicker bike, whereas the Subway is a bit of an evil beast.
I was also considering Giant Escape 2 Hybrid 2013 when it was at £287 but it is at £319 now that the voucher code expired. Perhaps it's still worth it?
If you have alternative suggestsions of better bikes, please only muddy my waters by considering the budget: £300 (unless what you're suggesting has a too good a value to miss in which case I will consider more expensive options, just about).
Many thanks, Dan
P.S. saw the poll option and went for it!
