Hybrid: rigid fork or suspension?

[ChrisV]

im looking at a cheapish hybrid for use out and about with my 6 year old daughter. Drop handle bars etc are just no use for going out wee cycles with her.

The Giant Roam 1 is reduced on Rutland to £419.99, and I quite fancied it, but all this rigid talk has swayed me.

It has a Suntour lockable suspension fork, but it would be locked out a lot and probably doesn't need to be there.

However, I can't find an equivalent well priced hybrid with rigid forks; plenty of front suss bikes reduced at moment and if I thought locking the fork would sort the issue of take the plunge with Roam 1.

Any advice or recommendations?

 

[MikeW-71]

I bought one of these:
https://www.evanscycles.com/pinnacle-lithium-3-2016-hybrid-bike-EV244089

It's a nice bike and I'm using it more than I thought I would.

 

[raleighnut]

I'd suggest Ridgeback normally but for that sort of money it will have an aluminium frame, I did spot this whilst having a trawl through t'internet though,
looks good to me.

http://www.googleadservices.com/pag...S_Smithfield_Ex-Display_50cm_2015/RS_GB/67715

 

[Elswick Cotterpin]

I wouldn't be put off by the suspension fork, a rigid hybrid with narrow tyres would ride pretty much like a road bike with flat bars I'd imagine, fast and lively, but it depends if that's what you want. For leisure/pleasure or whatever I don't imagine the weight of the fork would be that big a deal... I don't have a hybrid, but I'd like one, and I'd go for the suspension fork just for a bit of ride variety.

 

[ChrisV]

I've read a lot about suspension forks on cheap hybrids being useless and adding problems.

Would the Suntour on a Roam 1 be considered a cheap suspension fork?

 

[PeteXXX]

If it's only really to be used for rides with a 6 yr old, why not do away with gears and suspension.
There's some cracking single speeds out there for a decent price.

 

[Garry A]

I paid more than that for my Roam 2, it's a good bike. I'm sure you will like the Roam 1, make sure you have a try out on it.

 

[KneesUp]

If it's only really to be used for rides with a 6 yr old, why not do away with gears and suspension.
There's some cracking single speeds out there for a decent price.

Because 6 year olds have a habit of getting older?

 

[CaadX]

Stay well clear of cheap suspension forks, as a little indicator my last set of forks cost more than that bike, and a decent set wold cost you roughly half the price of that bike.

There are some really good rigids around at that price and if you are prepared to go S/H there are some bargains to be had. One of the reasons being people tend to opt for this style of bike to dip their toe into cycling find they do not like it and then sell it on. Stay away from carbon Good quality ali is cheap have a look at some of the cannondale adult Isla bikes etc.

 

[PK99]

im looking at a cheapish hybrid for use out and about with my 6 year old daughter. Drop handle bars etc are just no use for going out wee cycles with her.

The Giant Roam 1 is reduced on Rutland to £419.99, and I quite fancied it, but all this rigid talk has swayed me.

It has a Suntour lockable suspension fork, but it would be locked out a lot and probably doesn't need to be there.

However, I can't find an equivalent well priced hybrid with rigid forks; plenty of front suss bikes reduced at moment and if I thought locking the fork would sort the issue of take the plunge with Roam 1.

Any advice or recommendations?

Suspension forks on a hybrid = more weight + more cost + no real benefit

 

[ChrisV]

Cans find a fair number of sexy hybrids with suspension forks around the £400 mark, but no so much with rigid. Suppose it reflects what people think is best and therefore buy I.e. the uneducated first time cyclists who don't frequent Cycle Chat!!

 

[KneesUp]

Have you tried second-hand?

 

[ChrisV]

Had a quick look on eBay but don't really know what I'm looking for - building up knowledge of another type of bike takes time I've found!

 

[Crackle]

Specialized Sirrus.

 

[KneesUp]

https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/saracen-hybrid.197104/#post-4186732