Please help me choose between these 4 hybrids

[mikeote]

Hi

I'm new to Cycling (apart from a few years bombing down hills as a kid), and want to start up with short road journeys / country path leasure riding / forest path riding, and build up to longer, 20-40+ mile routes with a friend (avid cyclist) once i've built up the leg / cardio streangth.

I like the idea of disengageable front suspension for bombing down any forest declines. Do you think I could get away with no front suspension for that scenario ?

I talked to my local bike shop, who suggested a hybrid:

http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/19712/Mongoose_Crossway_250_FS_VBrake_Mens_Bike_2009

How does this compare quality component value / build quality wise to:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...uctId_272643_langId_-1_categoryId_165534#dtab

Or

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/ridgeback/tempest-2009-hybrid-bike-ec001139

Or

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebw...QRY=C416&f_SortOrderID=1&f_bct=c012372c012370

Thanks in advance for help !

Cheers!
Mike

 

[Sittingduck]

Like the look of the Ridgeback myself
Wouldn't touch #1 or 2 with a bargepole.

Hi and welcome to CC by the way
SD

 

[stoatsngroats]

I'm no great lover of buying pieces of kit because its got 'Shimano' or 'Capn'Golo' written on it.
But having 5 bikes in my household, and recently looking at quality of parts, there may be something in the notion that quality, and possibly higher price MAY indicate something with more value.

I don't know much about the bike at halfords, Winstanley, nor Edinburgh cycles, but the Shimano stuff on the Ridgeback may be more likely to stand up to longer term use, and possibly be infinately more upgradeable.

I'd look harder at the Ridgeback, for those reasons, and I'd give it a darn good test ride...!

HTH

 

[eldudino]

+1 on the ridgeback. Very similar to my bike in terms of components. It seems the best of the bunch. Steer clear of 1st two as SD says and 4 is more of a dedicated commuter; the type that people won't look twice at because it isn't really trendy-looking.

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Can't go wrong with Ridgeback IMHO.

 

[bonj2]

the last one, just cos the others are all shoot shops

 

[Sittingduck]

the last one, just cos the others are all shoot shops

Well the Ridgeback is sold out in Evans anyway - but Tredz have them in stock (all sizes) for the same price.

 

[Bear]

I've rode that Tempest, and its a nice bike ... their is two versions, one with proper hydro / oil which i rode, and the other is M415 mechanical.

I also had a RB for about 7 years, one of the first hybrids out, & it was totally bullet proof ... it just refused to die.

 

[very-near]

A Cheap bike with suspension is something you won't want to ride very often. Better to go for a rigid in that price bracket and a well know brand. as the others say, the Ridgeback looks like the best bet.

 

[MadoneRider1991]

the ridgeback

 

[coopman]

would not go for the mongoose, used them at center parcs and they are pretty rubbish.
I have the saracen venturer and cant fault it, however it is the venturer 4 I have which comes with far superior components than the 2 (better susp fork with LO and higher spec shimano kit). Personally would not go for a bike if the fork did not lock out.
Never ridden the trek, but have seen it in flesh, prob the best value for money out of your selection.
The Ed co-op cant comment, never seen it.

 

[mikeote]

Thanks for the replies guys, looks like the ridgeback it is, and thanks to Sittingduck for finding it at Tredz =)

Bear: you said:
"I've rode that Tempest, and its a nice bike ... their is two versions, one with proper hydro / oil which i rode, and the other is M415 mechanical."

Do you think the one with proper hydro would be alot more expensive ? Do you know the difference in model numbers ? Or even better, where I could get one ?

I'll leave this thread open for other bike suggestions until at least monday.

Thanks !!
Mike

 

[MacB]

Mike, don't forget that, whatever you buy, it's only a beginning. No matter how nice, or well suited, you'll be hankering after other bikes/upgrades very quickly. I find it easier not to fight it and just become a bikeaholic.

 

[mikeote]

Well, yeah, it is possible I will sell this Hybrid in the future, and buy either a mountain bike or a proper road bike, depending on which terrain I spend more time in, or keep it, and also buy a road bike /+ mountain bike, i'm sure you guys will be kept updated through my countless questions

 

[Bear]

I've not used tredz, but my point was, just be carefull on specs ... edit, looks like its oil only now anyway ...

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Ridgeback-Tempest-2009-Hybrid-Sports-Bike_22433.htm