Oh no... not another Cycle2Work post !

[amnesia]

I bet you're getting bored of these 1st posts now...

I am 35 next week, slightly overweight (14 stone, 5'11"), and have decided to take advantage of my company's Cycle2Work scheme with (yes, I know) Halfords. I haven't ridden for several years so it may come as a bit of a shock at first.

I intend to cycle the 4 miles to work at least 3 times a week in an attempt to get a bit fitter and do my bit for the environment (I wonder if the Government will give me a refund on my car tax for not using it so often ??). Once I get into it I am sure weekend trips for fun will follow.

I have read through the 'what bike?' sticky on here and also had a browse of the CBoardman range and quite like the look of the Hybrid Comp and the Team models. I don't think I am ready for a full-on road bike with mega skinny tyres just yet, and the idea of mudguards and rack appeals to me so I guess a hybrid it is.

I am aware that I can order virtually any UK-available model through Halfords so I am not constrained to the Boardman range, so, with a budget of £700 (+10% for goodies), what else is there that falls into my price bracket ? Unfortunately, I have reached the stage in my life where style is as important as function so it has to look good, even if I don't look good on it

What brands are good / not so good around my price bracket ?
Can anyone recommend a good LBS in Bournemouth so that I can take a look at a few models ?

Sorry for the long first post... hope you don't mind, too much.


Cheers,
Daniel.

 

[fossyant]

Scott Subs - I like them, Cannondale Bad Boys - both are commuted up MTB's so give you the flexibility you want !

Loads of stuff really.

 

[Wigsie]

£750 ish there are loads of bikes out there, I used to live in Bournemouth but was a few years back, there is a trek dealer in poole i think so check out the FX range. for £750 you can get a 7.6 fx which are very nice bikes. http://www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/bikes/road/fx/76fxz/

Just doen a quick search and there appears to be a Scott Dealer on Holdenhurst road (not sure what they are like though), so take a look at the SUB its a more road biased hybrid (they do two wheel sizes in this model I think so go for the 700 classic) range or the Sporster P3 or P2 (if you want a more mountain/trail bike biased hybrid as these have front suss) are pretty nice.

From recolection though the roads round there are pretty good and there are some great road rides. I was like you, not sure about 'skinny' road tyres but I tried a few and bought a Specialize Allez and am a complete road convert now (am similar age but a good 3 stone heavier). So while you are at the trek shop in pool take a look atthe 1.7 its a cracking bike for the money. I cant really comment on the Boardman bikes, I wanted to take a look at them bu the weasel in my local Halfrauds had never heard of Boardman bikes and spent 10 minutes searching on the computer and he found a boardman saddle that he could order in for me! Although they do seem to be rated quite highly by many folk on here.

You have the right idea, go to a few LBS and try a couple of bikes then (as you have to) get it from halfrauds but whizz it straight back to the LBS and give them £25-£40 to check it over and adjust the bike to fit you, then never set foot in Halfrauds again if you can help it.

 

[Wigsie]

Scott Subs - I like them, Cannondale Bad Boys - both are commuted up MTB's so give you the flexibility you want !

Loads of stuff really.

Yeah forgot about the Bad boys, they are pretty bomb proof and look cool too.

 

[saty]

I recently bought a Ridgeback Fleet T1 Hybrid (£300 for last years model) and it is a fantastic bike...

 

[The Jogger]

If you order an outside brand through Halfords, make sure you get the bike sized right because they refused to change mine, which is a Spesh Sirrus but small and I am also 5'11'' and 14st.

Talking about that, apart from the size the Spesh was highly recommended on here and I have to say it's a cracker. A lot of hybrids have the skinny road tyres. I would spend a bit less on the bike and a bit more on the gear. Shorts, helmet, lights, pump, and maybe even a rack & pannier or lightweight ruck.....

Good Luck
TJ

 

[amnesia]

Thanks for the tips guys...

I still keep coming back to the Boardman Hybrid Comp or Team. A lot of the others I have looked at (on the 'web) look more like MTBs with 700c tyres than road bikes with flat bars, which is what I think I am after.

Suggestion about taking my new steed to a LBS for fitting is due noted - thanks !

As is spending a little less on the bike (or asking for more from the scheme) and getting loads of goodies.

Just one more thing... is it possible to convert a hybrid to a proper road bike by replacing the bars (and presumably shifters and brakes) ? Is the geometry relatively the same ?

Cheers,
Daniel.

 

[stevevw]

The Boardman’s are very nice bikes. I looked at the hybrids last year and from what I can remember the Comp has cable operated disc brakes and the others have hydraulic disc brakes. I can not remember if the frame and forks have mounts for rim brakes. So probably not worth the effort changing to drops later.

I would say buy any of the hybrids for your commute because 1 bike will never be enough once the addiction creeps up on you. I have now got 5 bikes Marin commuter, Marin faster weekend, Boardman Comp road even faster weekend, Ribble Audax further weekend and finally a 15 year old mountain bike for dirty weekends

I now have a hankering for the Boardman carbon that has had very good reviews and is under 1k

 

[amnesia]

Correct on the COMP brakes, Steve... the TEAM and upwards also have carbon forks which I guess absorb vibration better on uneven surfaces.

I have just seen the "LBS in Poole" thread about 4 threads down so I will spend tomorrow going round them asking questions and trying out bikes etc.

Cheers,
Daniel.

 

[amnesia]

Quick update - I had to complete my flexible benefits package today so I have signed up for £750 (+ 10% for accessories)

The Boardman Hybrid Team is currently £650 so I will have plenty left over for bits and bobs, unless I find a better bike at a LBS this weekend.

 

[Wigsie]

Check the shops out, I have not lived in Bournemouth for a fair few years so I cant acurately recommend them but its pretty easy to spot the enthusiastic bike shop workers... crap at the salesman jibber jabber, but they live and breath bikes, even if you buy elsewhere always take your bike to them.

 

[The Jogger]

Have you checked to see if the boardman takes mudgaurds?

 

[Downward]

£650 is a lot to spend on a Hybrid bearing in mind after about 8 months you'll be thinking of getting a fully fledged road bike (Probably imo) !

Maybe for a few miles of commuting go for a £400 or even less hybrid and spend the rest on clothing/goodies which will last you for a while. Plus then after your year is up you can spend some £££ on a Road bike or something.

Don't know if anyone else could comment on how a £400 hybrid compares to the £650 ?

I know I paid £450 for mine and to be fair on a 14 mile per day commute I think a cheaper bike would have been as adequate.

 

[amnesia]

Well now I am totally confused !

I spent the day yesterday at several LBSs and got slightly different advice from all of them. However the one thing that they all agreed on was that if I bought a hybrid bike I would want a full-on road bike before the summer is out.
I also found out why Halfords is a car accessory shop, not a bike shop when I almost impaled myself on the seat post as the saddle fell off when I sat on the Hybrid Team. The sales 'boy' (who looked half my age) said "Oh, it shouldn't do that" ! Really ???


Anyway... I think I have worked out a way that I don't need to take laptops and loads of stuff with me to work so a road bike could work at least 3 or 4 days a week, and if I wanted to do a longer ride at the weekend I would have a suitable machine to do it on.

Now it all starts again *sigh*

I know I need to try them, but I have compiled a shortlist between £550 and £750 (I can't go above this as I have already signed up for my cycle2work scheme) :

Specialized Allez 18/27 09 (£575)
Boardman Road Bike Comp 09 (£650)
Trek 1.5 (double or triple) 09 (£675)
Specialized Allez Sport 09 (£735)
Bianchi Nirone 7 Xenon 09 (£740) How gorgeous is the Bianchi ?!

Are there any glaring omissions from this list ?

I am almost tempted to get myself fitted (at my own expense) before I order anything as it has to be ordered through Halfords Would I gain anything other than getting the right size bike from this ?

I will of course take it to a LBS as soon as I get it to make sure it's not a death-trap.


Any thoughts on the above ?

Cheers,
Daniel.

 

[Wigsie]

Well now I am totally confused !

Specialized Allez 18/27 09 (£575)
Boardman Road Bike Comp 09 (£650)
Trek 1.5 (double or triple) 09 (£675)
Specialized Allez Sport 09 (£735)
Bianchi Nirone 7 Xenon 09 (£740) How gorgeous is the Bianchi ?!

Ha ha welcome to my world this is exactly what I did and I have not regretted it. I would vote the Allez every time (as I have one and love it!) but Punkpossom will be on in a bit saying she would go for the trak as she has a 1.7 and loves it (the Treks are great)... it all depends on you really and how the bike feels to you.

I am not sure about the Boardman bikes but the rest are great frames with slightly lower spec'd components to reduce the overall bike price (the 1.5 is the same frame as the 1.7 and the Allez both have same frames etc). they are all great choices and you cant really go wrong with any of them IMO.

I am almost tempted to get myself fitted (at my own expense) before I order anything as it has to be ordered through Halfords Would I gain anything other than getting the right size bike from this ?

I will of course take it to a LBS as soon as I get it to make sure it's not a death-trap.

This is the ideal scenario (obviously other than doing whole deal with LBS), get yourself measured/fitted at the bike shop that sell the bike your after, then order through Halfords and whip it round back to the bike shop and they will set it up according to the bikefit results. If your honest with them they should understand and a loyal customer for years to come they will gain.

Good Luck.