Noob seeking advice and my story.

[mickle]

yes i have seen that some people on here have three bikes, not naming any names of course

to be honest my off road bike has had it

They three bike owners don't know sh!t. You should be taking your advice from four or more bike owners.

 

[punkypossum]

The felt does look nice!

 

[bumcheeks]

everyone thanks so much for the great response, i hate to think how many "what bike should i get" threads you must get here. But still you fire the advice in, i really appreciate it.

What im going to do it go to my lbs say two or three of them have a good look around then compile a short list of my say three favourite bikes, post them here and see what you guys think, that way you will be able to steer me away from any major problems or poor choices. then i will go from there.

again many thanks, i will report back soon!

regards

Bumcheeks

 

[Mortiroloboy]

They three bike owners don't know sh!t. You should be taking your advice from four or more bike owners.

 

[summerdays]

I ride a Giant Terrago Disc ... and granted the disc brakes make little difference on the road but they make a big difference when hurtling down wet single track so if you can afford them "get them" have a look at the Mongoose Tyax Super superb bike and £100 off rrp @ 5'11" i'd be testing the 18" frame first

simon

I like my disc brakes, and Mr Summerdays liked them so much he changed his wheels etc so he now has disc brakes on his bike too (cost more probably than buying a bike with disc brakes but he learnt quite a bit in the process). I would say that disc brakes are useful in hilly and wet conditions. If your on road route is fairly flat then V's are probably fine.

 

[upsidedown]

Welcome bumcheeks.

That Felt looks lovely. Nicest looking hybrid I've seen in a long time.

I thought that until i noticed the Bootleg ZZ Rats further down the Wiggle hybrid page; silly money but what a great looking (imo) bike.

 

[bumcheeks]

Hi everyone, just an update to my progress, i went to four LBS today, and saw a lot of bikes, I have found one thing for certain doing this, i am definitely getting a sports hybrid, they are so much faster and dont run out of gears like the MTB's, so im going full hybrid,

if i want to go trail riding i will get a bike to do this, but for commuting it hybrid all the way. I test rode some bikes too, Now the problem with hybrids is that most of them look pretty naff/boring, but i found a nice Kona, Dew plus/dew delux. and test rode them, no suspention does not seem to be problem on the roads, i rode a dawes hybrid with front suspention and found it not much better at taking the jar shock loads.

I have also decided to up my budget to £400 as the slight jump seems to get you so much more bike for your money, i think i have narrowed it down the three bikes now, as follow:

Kona Dew plus
http://www.cyclestore.co.uk/productDetails.asp?productID=12379&catID=430
Kona dew Delux
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Kona_Dew_Deluxe_2008/5360032789/

Felt QX70
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Felt_QX70_2008/5360032865/

and maybe at an absolute push the felt QX85
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Felt_QX85_2008/5360032900/

any opinions on these bikes would be much appreciated.

and would this helmet be safe enough for the road?
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/PRO-TEC_Cyphon_Helmet/5360028968/

I really enjoyed today and went to some lovelly bike shops, namely Dysons dunstable and especially Cycledelia in hitchin. I also learnt what i wanted, eg cleared the confusion over what i wanted and needed and sized my self up.

Bumcheeks

 

[Dayvo]

Both of those Felt bikes look seriously good!

Go for the feel, and trust your judgement/instincts.

Those helmets should be fine for road riding/commuting.

Good luck!

 

[bumcheeks]

Both of those Felt bikes look seriously good!

Go for the feel, and trust your judgement/instincts.

Those helmets should be fine for road riding/commuting.

Good luck!

only problem with the felt bikes is that i have not been able to test ride/sit on them, none of my lbs stock felt

 

[jay clock]

I have been reading this with a wide range of thoughts....

I like the look of that Felt.....

If you get half seriously into cycling you will "need" more than one bike. For the 3 mile commute you need something reliable, versatile and comfortable.

Now I am about to do something dangerous in here, and that is to suggest Halfords. I wouldn't normally (honest). Walk in, avoid every bike with the word Apollo on it, and look at the Carerra Subway. I have five bikes (road, MTB, folder, tourer and Subway) and the Subway is simply outstanding, and the cheapest of the 5. It works fine on the road, will take a rack and mudguards for commuting, and they call it an "Urban Mountain Bike". Until about 10 yrs back all MTBs were non-suspension, and then rapidly it became the norm. It just saps energy, in the way running on foam rubber would do. The Subway will cope fine with towpaths, and general off-road. I just took mine to the South of France and did some hill climbing on it. It is £199 and often they have deals. They do a Subway 2 for £299 but I would save the cash. Mine has been pimped over the past 4 years but all in all, a sound all-rounder

This gives you a great commuter, then in 6 mths you can add another bike, whether a decent full suss MTB, road bike or whatever. That leaves the Subway as an all purpose do anything bike. I am currently planning to use it as a winter road bike, on the basis that the extra weight and wheel drag (1.5" slicks) will harden me up and I will be off like a rocket in the spring on my road bike.

Just my thoughts.....

 

[bumcheeks]

thanks for the reply jayclock, i did go into halfords today, and saw that very bike, there was one downer though it had grip shift, i have this on my current bike and hate it with a passion, although out of all the halfords bikes in the hybrid/city bike section it was by far the best.

 

[Willow]

I recently had the same dilemma. Not likingthe look of many hybrids I nearly bought an MTB for a 7 mile road commute. The LBS suggested a mongoose 450 which to be honest is fantastic on the road and I used to think my old giant was good. The mongoose does ok on the dirt tracks, gravel etc but not in slushy mud. At the time I didn't realise that once I started cycling again I would get the bug back. So I am pleased wit the mongoose but wish I had kept the old giant and spent a little on getting it back in working order. This would have given me the ideal bike to take out at the weekend with the kids. So if you get a hybrid don't get rid of the mtb yet.

 

[Downward]

Hi everyone, just an update to my progress, i went to four LBS today, and saw a lot of bikes, I have found one thing for certain doing this, i am definitely getting a sports hybrid, they are so much faster and dont run out of gears like the MTB's, so im going full hybrid,

if i want to go trail riding i will get a bike to do this, but for commuting it hybrid all the way. I test rode some bikes too, Now the problem with hybrids is that most of them look pretty naff/boring, but i found a nice Kona, Dew plus/dew delux. and test rode them, no suspention does not seem to be problem on the roads, i rode a dawes hybrid with front suspention and found it not much better at taking the jar shock loads.

I have also decided to up my budget to £400 as the slight jump seems to get you so much more bike for your money, i think i have narrowed it down the three bikes now, as follow:

Kona Dew plus
http://www.cyclestore.co.uk/productDetails.asp?productID=12379&catID=430
Kona dew Delux
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Kona_Dew_Deluxe_2008/5360032789/

Felt QX70
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Felt_QX70_2008/5360032865/

and maybe at an absolute push the felt QX85
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Felt_QX85_2008/5360032900/

any opinions on these bikes would be much appreciated.

and would this helmet be safe enough for the road?
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/PRO-TEC_Cyphon_Helmet/5360028968/

I really enjoyed today and went to some lovelly bike shops, namely Dysons dunstable and especially Cycledelia in hitchin. I also learnt what i wanted, eg cleared the confusion over what i wanted and needed and sized my self up.

Bumcheeks

A lot of money for 3 miles though when your looking at £400 bikes cmpared to say the Subway at £200.

I have the Kona Dew Deluxe above for an 8 mile commute as it's a fair distance and 45 minutes ish. - 3 miles should be easy on a "cheaper" bike.

Unless of course the 3 mile commute gets a bit further then maybe think about £400 bikes ?
Not sure what everyone else thinks ?

For my next Bike I am seriously thinking of a Road bike, When I have ventured onto Grass/Mud on the hybrid the slicksish tyres really ain't suitable and so it's quicker just to stick to tarmac.

 

[bumcheeks]

A lot of money for 3 miles though when your looking at £400 bikes cmpared to say the Subway at £200.

I have the Kona Dew Deluxe above for an 8 mile commute as it's a fair distance and 45 minutes ish. - 3 miles should be easy on a "cheaper" bike.

Unless of course the 3 mile commute gets a bit further then maybe think about £400 bikes ?
Not sure what everyone else thinks ?

For my next Bike I am seriously thinking of a Road bike, When I have ventured onto Grass/Mud on the hybrid the slicksish tyres really ain't suitable and so it's quicker just to stick to tarmac.

Im eventually going to be taking detours on the way home, i plan to do much more than three. Valid advice though and i did not state this earlier so sorry.

 

[bumcheeks]

I'VE FOUND IT, THIS IS THE ONE!, i just stumbled along on this and it ticks all the boxes and i love the look of it, what does everyone think??, it's right in at my original price bracket too. any opinions welcome.

http://www.cyclestore.co.uk/productDetails.asp?productID=15479