Hybrid or Road Bike? And for £200 or less..

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adamhearn

Veteran
They're also not ideally suited to towpaths, although they'd be doable with care (but if it's a regular thing it'd be tedious)
What makes you say they are not suited to a towpath? The tyres may not be suitable but the bike will certainly be fine.
 

MarkF

Guru
Location
Yorkshire
I've come to the conclusion that hybrids are an abomination unto Nuggan. If you're riding on tarmac, get a road bike. If you're riding mostly on the roads get a cyclecross bike. If you're riding off roads get a mountain bike of some description.

I have a nice hybrid and it's well comfy for going to the shops or the pub but it really is neither fish nor fowl.

If hybrids hadn't have been around I'd have given up soon after starting as neither road bikes nor mtb's suited me. I'm am off out in 5 mins, I'll doing about 45 miles, it'll take in tarmac, trail, towpath and very rough trail down to Ilkley. I don't like just doing one type of riding, it's boring to me, I like a reet good combination. Discovery 501 + 32mm M+'s = sorted thank you.

PS It also does the shopping and tours countries. :okay:
 
Wot 'e said ^^^^^ :smile:

As for anything else I say, take it as a fwiw - I am no componentry-geek!

A £200 road-bike? My gut tells me there will be a lot of limiting compromises at that price level? Your Claud Butler weighs only a tiny smidgeon less than the 12.5kg of the Dawes Discovery 201 hybrid - which gave me utterly reliable, bomb-proof, multi-purpose cycling, 5000 miles a year, for over 12 years - commuting, touring (VERY heavily laden), shopping, towing kiddy trailers, as well as off-road on towpaths, in woodlands, over mountain and moor (even a few MTB trails - quite sedately :smile:), the lot. Mile upon mile of fun.
 

KneesUp

Guru
What makes you say they are not suited to a towpath? The tyres may not be suitable but the bike will certainly be fine.
I said *ideally* suited. I've ridden 25c-wheeled road bikes on towpaths. As I said, it's do-able, but it's not ideal.
 

T4tomo

Legendary Member
Tribans seem to go for a surprisingly high percentage of their new price. They're also not ideally suited to towpaths, although they'd be doable with care (but if it's a regular thing it'd be tedious)
They do a flat bar Triban though which is more suitable.

Search Btwin and variations without and with ' as well a Triban ^_^
 
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MarkusDogus

MarkusDogus

New Member
Guys, some fantastic help here. I've seen some b'twins on eBay for about budget, and heard someone praise them before on a rally. Otherwise it'll be the Carrera Parva new.

FYI I'm a 32" inside leg, so looking to go for a 20" frame I think.
 

KneesUp

Guru
Guys, some fantastic help here. I've seen some b'twins on eBay for about budget, and heard someone praise them before on a rally. Otherwise it'll be the Carrera Parva new.

FYI I'm a 32" inside leg, so looking to go for a 20" frame I think.
Frame size depends very much on the geometry of the frame. My 'traditional' road bike was a 23". My moutain bike-thing is a 21" I think. If I bought a more modern MTB it may well be smaller. I also have a 32" inside leg, for reference.
 
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MarkusDogus

MarkusDogus

New Member
My mate had a Dawes way-back-when, this one on eBay appears to weigh 15kg (more than the Claud-Butler and about the same as my current bike); http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DAWES-DIS...194422?hash=item1a122e9cf6:g:qPMAAOSwiYFXFnyG

On the 'new' front, I've also seen:

(1) http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/road-bikes/carrera-tdf-mens-ltd-road-bike - love the colours!
(2) http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bik...ts-700c-14-speed-alloy-road-racing-bike-white

Am I correct in assuming that a 32" leg translates into a 51cm road-bike frame - allot of mixed messages, but for comparison I currently ride a 20" frame bike, with the seat on near highest position.

- thanks again everyone, good input!
 

adamhearn

Veteran
Am I correct in assuming that a 32" leg translates into a 51cm road-bike frame - allot of mixed messages, but for comparison I currently ride a 20" frame bike, with the seat on near highest position.
The sizing of a road bike can be quite different as they tend to have compact frame geometry. FWIW I'm 5'11" and have a 31" inside leg and ride a 56cm frame. That doesn't tie in with Halford's inside leg measurement guidance.

I like the TDF - friend has one (2-3 years old) and it's a good bike. Only comment I have is the 23c tyres and very tight clearances meaning anything larger is probably out of the question especially if you plan to use guards.
 
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