Seriously confused

[matthat]

Don't want to throw a spanner in the works but!! What sort of distances will you be covering? I agree with maxInc, I was commuting 12 miles a day on a spesh hybrid which was ideal for the rd and conditions but wouldn't personally want to do over about 30-40 mile rides on it, I've now purchased a giant Defy 3 which yes is out of your quoted price bracket at the minute but i'm now doing 60-70 mile rides and trying to get upto my 1st century ride. Mtb are good solid workhorses but generally heavy and sluggish I use mine only for track rides, My suggestion to you is to go with the hybrid then in 12-18 months for the N+1 you could choose rd bike for speed or mtb for fun in the mud!! Happy hunting.

 

[HLaB]

I wouldn't rate central Peterborough too highly for road cycling, too many roundabouts/muppets and paths are more apt for a hybrid (aka town bike) but head out west to Elton and beyond and its a great network of lanes ideally suited to road bikes. I would go for a road bike, as I like to explore but if you just plan on pootling round town a town bike may be more apt.

 

[Paulus]

Thanks for all the replies so far, appreciated

This looks a good bike actually if I go down that route. I don't have a Decathlon anywhere near me but I'm working in Stockport Wednesday so may ring them and see if I can try one.
My only concern is if something goes wrong I will have to travel miles to get it sorted

Your other comment re get a Hybrid now and see how it goes was my initial feeling tbh. It's just deciding on one

There is a Decathlon store in Stockport, Georges Road, SK4 1DN http://www.decathlon.co.uk/en/store?store_id=PS_UK_250&rememberMe=off

 

[Biggler]

@bororider , If the 'boro' in your name means you're from Middlesbrough there's a good Giant dealer in Yarm - http://www.yarmcycles.net/ . Go take a Roam for a spin!

 

[vickster]

I think he's in Peterborough

 

[bororider]

Try to imagine where you would be in a years time once the fitness if no longer a concern and get a bike that will fit that purpose. In reality you will need at least 2 bikes but if you have to choose only one, get the one that covers 80% of your goals long term.

Road bikes are faster and fun on long runs but less practical around town and more difficult to manoeuvre at slow speed. Since most riders end up challenging themselves for distance and speed, they inevitably end up with (at least) a road bike of some sorts. With road bikes you trade versatility and some comfort for speed.

For practicality like riding around town to grocery store, relaxing off road exploratory ride I very much prefer the super heavy but robust, comfortable and versatile MTB. Slow but loads more fun than a road bike for this kind of riding. With a Hybrid you give away some speed and you get a lot of versatility.

Both bikes will get you fit in no time, and both are fun in a different way. Best choice is to get one of each

I hope to keep at it and with a better bike than I have now I should be able to enjoy it a lot more aswell. I guess I will probably end up with a Hybrid and a road bike at some point. The missus will be well happy with that!!!

Without wishing to confuse your choice of bikes can I highly recommend the Marin San Rafael series.
I now ride a road bike but started off with two of these. Great bikes which will perform equally well on road and cycle paths (those without Tarmac). I even did two 5 day tours on mine. When I retire and need a good utility bike these will be the first I look at.

Hi, thanks for the recommendation. There only appears to be one stockist and they're miles away. I'm not confident enough yet to order and sort it myself

Don't want to throw a spanner in the works but!! What sort of distances will you be covering? I agree with maxInc, I was commuting 12 miles a day on a spesh hybrid which was ideal for the rd and conditions but wouldn't personally want to do over about 30-40 mile rides on it, I've now purchased a giant Defy 3 which yes is out of your quoted price bracket at the minute but i'm now doing 60-70 mile rides and trying to get upto my 1st century ride. Mtb are good solid workhorses but generally heavy and sluggish I use mine only for track rides, My suggestion to you is to go with the hybrid then in 12-18 months for the N+1 you could choose rd bike for speed or mtb for fun in the mud!! Happy hunting.

At the moment I am going out in the morning before work, doing anything from 5 to 10 miles, depending on what time i get up. Done 14m at the weekend when I had more time and would like to think i could do 20-25 miles on a weekend morning. Not looking at anything over that distance just yet.
I think your last sentence is what i will end up doing.

I wouldn't rate central Peterborough too highly for road cycling, too many roundabouts/muppets and paths are more apt for a hybrid (aka town bike) but head out west to Elton and beyond and its a great network of lanes ideally suited to road bikes. I would go for a road bike, as I like to explore but if you just plan on pootling round town a town bike may be more apt.

Atm I'm doing town and the surrounding areas, only really because I know the roads and need to get back in time for work!

There is a Decathlon store in Stockport, Georges Road, SK4 1DN http://www.decathlon.co.uk/en/store?store_id=PS_UK_250&rememberMe=off

I'd clocked that thanks, hopefully will get time to pop in

@bororider , If the 'boro' in your name means you're from Middlesbrough there's a good Giant dealer in Yarm - http://www.yarmcycles.net/ . Go take a Roam for a spin!

I think he's in Peterborough

Peterborough yes


Wow, thanks for all the replies, I'm a little overwhelmed so thanks

I have decided to go down the Hybrid route for now. My budget has dictated that somewhat and I also think I'd be better suited to one as things stand.

So I've narrowed it down to the Trek 7.1fx & 7.2fx. Plus the Giant Escape 2 & 3
As I've said before I know nothing about the technical side of these things so could you tell me in simple terms what the differences are for your money in the models above

I also quite like the Ridgeback Velocity SE, there is just something about a white bike that i like. Somebody said avoid Ridgeback so not too sure on this one.

Thanks again and apologies for so many questions, just wanna get it right

 

[vickster]

I am not sure why the other poster said to avoid Ridgeback, I would certainly test ride. White bikes rock. That one is quite a heavy beast though with its steel fork

Trek has steel fork too, Giant 2 has alloy, should be a bit lighter and has the slimmest tyres so should be quicker on the roads, with the others more comfy on rough stuff

Go sit on them, ride them and see which thrills your heart!

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

I am not sure why the other poster said to avoid Ridgeback, I would certainly test ride. That one is quite a heavy beast though with its steel fork

Looking at the spec on the Ridgeback website, it's 27.1lbs which is 12.3kg. I wouldn't call that heavy (unless compared to a racer) and the cro-moly fork should give a more compliant ride than an aluminium alloy one.

Much as I was impressed by my brother's Trek, that Ridgeback looks a better spec for the money.

I notice that Giant won't quote a weight for theirs.

 

[vickster]

Over 10kg is heavy for me, I need all the help I can get!

 

[bororider]

Ha ha, all the hybrids Ive seen are 11-13kg, which is seriously lightweight compared to what I have.

I do really like the look of the Ridgeback, again it's just something about the white. But I'm not gonna pick a bike just cos of the colour lol

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Over 10kg is heavy for me, I need all the help I can get!

You wouldn't like my bikes then. The lightest is 17kg.

 

[vickster]

No lol!

 

[MaxInc]

But I'm not gonna pick a bike just cos of the colour lol

Hmm, for me that was the first criteria I set after the budget. I had to double the budget eventually but the colour remained And of course it had to be white

 

[Cyclist33]

Don't want to throw a spanner in the works but!! What sort of distances will you be covering? I agree with maxInc, I was commuting 12 miles a day on a spesh hybrid which was ideal for the rd and conditions but wouldn't personally want to do over about 30-40 mile rides on it, I've now purchased a giant Defy 3 which yes is out of your quoted price bracket at the minute but i'm now doing 60-70 mile rides and trying to get upto my 1st century ride. Mtb are good solid workhorses but generally heavy and sluggish I use mine only for track rides, My suggestion to you is to go with the hybrid then in 12-18 months for the N+1 you could choose rd bike for speed or mtb for fun in the mud!! Happy hunting.

Conversely I havent got past 60 miles on my road bike which is the same one, and anything over 20 kills my back, whereas last year on the hybrid I did a lot of 50s and a couple of centuries. Not easy but at least I was comfy!

 

[bororider]

Thanks for all the advice. I have today putchased a Trek 7.3 for collection on Friday