newb hybrid or mtb & trek 7.2fx Vs cypress dxw

[sotonnewb]

hey guys. i am completely new to cycling (first half an hour on my hubbies bike last sat ).

i want a bike to commute to work & for a bit of off-road. i only live 4 miles from work, so 8 mile round commute. early 30's women, v petite, so deft thinking of a woman's frame. at least 1 decision made!!:?:

i know this is v much a matter of taste, but despite visting 2 LBS in southampton (cycleworld & hub) i am in a real quandry first of all on type of bike. i deft need a bike i can commute on... but want to be able to use it offroad - certinaly new forest... my prob is as i am completely new, i dont know how serious a track (i.e. a stepup from cinder path) i am likley to take, or what a hybrid will put up with. or when i get o a bike, what 'comfortable' even is! i dont have a m8 whos bike i can borrow, & just need to take the plunge.

i know am v unlikley to become a serious mtb enthusiast, being a wuss & too scared to hurtle down any serious slopes, but i like being outside, getting fresh air & exercise @ w/e, & actually quite like mud

i have a flat, so want to stick with this bike for a while (cheap hybrid + more expensive mtb @ l8r date i.e 3 bikes - is just not doable!)

so... any advice re whether how much a hybrid will put up with, or whether really for 8 mile roundtriip, the diff in easier riding on the roads with a hybrid (compared to a mtb) is not such a big deal?

i realise i should be spending £300 - £400. the hybrid i looked at was a giant cypress dx w for £300 in cycleworld & also a trek 7.2 fx for £350 @ hub - hub guy was v helpful - felt trek was much better value for money....

i have only looked @ trek mtb's so far - hub recomend trek3900 wsd for £300 & 4300 wsd. my hubbie has a trek & likes them.

anythoughts much appreciated!

 

[vernon]

hey guys. i am completely new to cycling (first half an hour on my hubbies bike last sat ).

i want a bike to commute to work & for a bit of off-road. i only live 4 miles from work, so 8 mile round commute. early 30's women, v petite, so deft thinking of a woman's frame. at least 1 decision made!!:?:

i know this is v much a matter of taste, but despite visting 2 LBS in southampton (cycleworld & hub) i am in a real quandry first of all on type of bike. i deft need a bike i can commute on... but want to be able to use it offroad - certinaly new forest... my prob is as i am completely new, i dont know how serious a track (i.e. a stepup from cinder path) i am likley to take, or what a hybrid will put up with. or when i get o a bike, what 'comfortable' even is! i dont have a m8 whos bike i can borrow, & just need to take the plunge.

i know am v unlikley to become a serious mtb enthusiast, being a wuss & too scared to hurtle down any serious slopes, but i like being outside, getting fresh air & exercise @ w/e, & actually quite like mud

i have a flat, so want to stick with this bike for a while (cheap hybrid + more expensive mtb @ l8r date i.e 3 bikes - is just not doable!)

so... any advice re whether how much a hybrid will put up with, or whether really for 8 mile roundtriip, the diff in easier riding on the roads with a hybrid (compared to a mtb) is not such a big deal?

i realise i should be spending £300 - £400. the hybrid i looked at was a giant cypress dx w for £300 in cycleworld & also a trek 7.2 fx for £350 @ hub - hub guy was v helpful - felt trek was much better value for money....

i have only looked @ trek mtb's so far - hub recomend trek3900 wsd for £300 & 4300 wsd. my hubbie has a trek & likes them.

anythoughts much appreciated!

Trek MTBs are fine. I like my 4500.

My hybrid is the most versatile of my five (or six if the part finished new build) is included

MTB's are more tiring to ride if you retain their knobbly tyres.

 

[sotonnewb]

hi vernon, thanks 4 ur advice.. 6th on the way? ha, blimey. i'd have to start a new wallart trend to fit that many in my place! what kind of trails would u ride ur hybrid on, before feeling the need to use ur trek mtb?

 

[Scoosh]

Hi sotonnewb and !
I have a 15yr old hybrid (Spec CrossRoads Cruz) and have ridden it on roads, cinder paths, forest tracks, on some of the trails at Glen Tress (a serious MTB place in the Borders of Scotland) - and it has probably survived better than I have !

Might it be an idea to have a wander through the New Forest and see what typr of trails might take your fancy o a bike, then ask the LBSs for their advice ?

 

[Willow]

I had a giant coldrock for 20 years though for the last 10 hasn't been used much. It was an MTB and I commuted on cycle track and road. I have now started again and purchased a hybrid (got rid of the Giant). My mongoose 450 is much faster than the MTB on the road actually I found it quite scary downhill to begin with. It is fine on cycle tracks gravel and the like and even on grass/compact mud. Not so good in the sticky stuff - but that may be me getting used to the thinner wheels. In a way I wish I'd kept the giant as it would be better for going out with the children (better pace ie. slower and good for the woods)

I think if my commute was only 4 miles I would probably opt for an MTB but the more experienced out there will probably say I'm wrong. My commute is 7 miles each way down main 50 mph up and down road I did it for the first time today 32 minutes.

 

[sotonnewb]

thanks scoosh & willow. scoosh, ur reassuring me that a decent hybrid can cope with cinder & forest tracks, which realistically is as exciting as i may get for quite a while.

however, willow ur right thats my gut feelin - i'm not planning on riding on road far enough to 'need' the bigger wheels/slick middle that a hybrid will give me. argh, still not deicded. but talking to ppl with experience is helping cheers!

 

[broadlandcyclist]

I have a Giant CRS2.5 and love it, its great on roads and light tracks, the cypress should be good for the cycling you have in mind as it has slightly wider tyres, front suspension & suspension seat post all things my CRS hasn't got but I wish it had! I also have a giant Rincon MTB which is fantastic on trails but no fun on the roads - choose carefully!

 

[punkypossum]

I have a trek 4300, love it to bits (although the road bike bug has bitten). However, if I only had a short commute and wanted to do a bit of off road as well, I'd have one again any time. I did upgrade the forks to a lockout one tho, which it easier on longer road trips...when I first got the bike, I didn't realise that I was going to end up doing regular 50mile + rides. But yes, overall fab little starter mtb, not had any problems whatsoever, and Trek customer service is outstanding (only my personal experience, obviously)

Oh, and it can take mudguards and a rack...

 

[coopman]

I have a hybrid (saracen venturer 4) and Im a definite convert to the format, I dont do any serious MTB stuff, but I have ridden my bike on some fairly rough forest track stuff with no real problems. Its a happy medium for me and the kind of riding I do, mostly leisurely, on the cycle routes near me, quiet country roads and forrstry tracks. From your post it sounds like a hybrid would be just right. Things I like about mine are the lockout suspension and it came with necessary fitting points for panniers and mudguards.

 

[vernon]

hi vernon, thanks 4 ur advice.. 6th on the way? ha, blimey. i'd have to start a new wallart trend to fit that many in my place! what kind of trails would u ride ur hybrid on, before feeling the need to use ur trek mtb?

My hybrid has been used on loose cinder tracks (5 - 10 mile stretches), muddy trails, woodlands off road paths, canal tow paths and 60+ mile road rides. It was the second bike I bought after buying a mountain bike to restart cycling. I'm about to get it back after lending it to a colleague's friend who was undecided about what sort of bike to buy - he's bought a hybrid after comparing it with my colleague's MTB.

I think that you will be less likely to want another bike if you buy a hybrid.

 

[purplemoon]

I've got the Giant Cypress DX, bought it a couple of weeks ago (for less than £300 too ) and I'm getting on great with it. Very comfortable to ride either on road or through forest trails. The only tricky spot I met was when going through soft sand and I thought I might come off but that's probably as much my inexperience in cycling as anything else.

I certainly don't think you'll regret buying it

Oh, just thought I should add that you might also want to think about the man's frame as the bars are so upright that it's easier to swing your leg over the seat than stepping through it, especially if like me you end up with water bottle, lock etc strapped to the bars. You'd have a lot more room for attaching things on a man's frame too and I really wish I'd gone for that myself now

 

[sotonnewb]

thanks guys, lots of v helpful comments!

broadland cyclist, oh well, i guess u can upgrade. hmm. thanks vernon & coopman helpful to know what u use urs on

purplemoon, cheers good to know a recent cypress dxw was a good buy. i will have to have a chat to the lbs about what will fit on it i guess! i deft would like a pannier. bit worried being 5'2'',even a small blokes frame will not be comfortable.

ounkypossom u do sel the trek well..but i think vernon's prob right.

anyone tried the trek 7.2 [wsd] fx?

 

[Scoosh]

I should add that my Spec Crossroads doesn't have any suspension - save for my own wobbly bits . It still copes fine with the sort of tracks I have did.(sic)

I think that you will be less likely to want another bike if you buy a hybrid.

au contraire - you'll want the full road bike for the road and the full MTB for the muddy stuff, while keeping the hybrid for things in between .

Then there's the light tourer, the heavy tourer .......
[it gets to you, this cycling lark ]

 

[sotonnewb]

haha scoosh yes i'm a bit worried about that (getting bitten & ending up with an expensive habit & crowded flat.. tho good to be reminded suspension is actually necessary - just nice to have

oh well i guess that the hybrid is good for a start! oh & thanks for the welcome btw forgot to say