Which entry level hybrid?

[Phat Al]

Morning!

I'm nearly ready to buy a new bike! Very new to cycling - new machine will be used to build fitness and for fun. Current self imposed challenge is to do 60KM per week (little and often). I've pretty much decided a Hybrid is the way forward and have been scouring the Internet for options.

Budget is £400. Will be mainly riding on road, but there are a couple of nice gravel bike paths that I have been using.

I could do with some help on picking the best from a short list though (or is there something else I should be considering??). My favourite at the moment is the Boardman...

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/sirrus-2015-hybrid-bike-ec070673#features
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Giant-Escape-2-2015-Hybrid-Sports-Bike_73826.htm
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/trek/72-fx-2015-hybrid-bike-ec068196
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes/boardman-hybrid-sport-bike-2014

Would appreciate any help/suggestions/advice!

Thanks

 

[Cycleops]

All good bikes. The Boardman and Sirrus are more "road" oriented with slightly narrower tyres and a double chainset as opposed to triples on the others, so might feel a bit quicker. Even the doubles will give you enough gears, unless you really need the extra low "granny" gears on the triples. All will be able to handle off road tracks. The Boardman frames are very nicely finished and you could get more money off with Halfords "deals" which may be operating. I would almost be inclined to pick the Trek as it's the only one which isn't black! Whichever you choose you won't be disappointed I'm sure. Good luck.

 

[Phat Al]

Thanks for your insight Cycleops - it does seem that all the entry bikes are "colour challenged"!

I would prefer something less dark but I am still drawn to the Boardman (not least because of the 10% discount through British Cycling). Slightly put off by any of the comments across the forum re the Halfords service but I think I have found a shop locally where the guy seemed to know what he was talking about (not sure I could tell if he didn't).

To be honest, all four are a vast improvement on my 18/20 yr old Orange Apollo MB!

Thanks again

 

[Cycleops]

You're right, Halfords get some poor comments on here for know how. Perhaps put up a post asking if anyone has any experience of the Cheltenham store, or any of the others near you. On a positive note they are the UK's biggest cycle retailer and you have the assurance if anything goes wrong that they will be committed to put it right.

 

[thevinci]

Thanks Cycleops for referring me to this page.

How would a VooDoo Hoodoo (hard tail mtb) compare to some of the aforementioned hybrids?

It seems to have been well received and costs around £400 from halfords.

I'm mainly planning on riding around parks, the countryside, on roads to work (thought not regularly) if the weather is good.

 

[Cycleops]

@thevinci the VooDoo Hoodoo seems like a good bike, but if you are going to use it on the types of routes you suggest and commute a hybrid is a much better proposition. It weighs 14kg which is not bad but a non sus hybrid will come out about 3kg lighter. It's up to you but the hybrid will be much more responsive and rewarding to ride. It can also handle tracks and trails very well with a reduction in tyre pressures.

 

[Learnincurve]

Ridgeback should be added to your list as well. Ridgeback are a shimano pet project company and are much cheaper for the same quality than giant or specialized. It's the little touches I like as well, like the tyres are not bog standard £5 from china, they are continental contact with puncture protection that cost £15 a pop to buy. I have the speed and
avenida 6 myself.

http://www.evanscycles.com/brands/ridgeback the ex-display motions they have on sale are insanely good value for money and those are proper gear shifters not the stupid twist shift as well.

 

[thevinci]

@thevinci the VooDoo Hoodoo seems like a good bike, but if you are going to use it on the types of routes you suggest and commute a hybrid is a much better proposition. It weighs 14kg which is not bad but a non sus hybrid will come out about 3kg lighter. It's up to you but the hybrid will be much more responsive and rewarding to ride. It can also handle tracks and trails very well with a reduction in tyre pressures.

Thanks for that...

I'm mulling in between the following 4 at the moment:

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/crosstrail-disc-2015-mens-hybrid-bike-ec067768
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/trek/72-fx-disc-2014-hybrid-bike-ec040355#features
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/mountain-bikes/voodoo-hoodoo-mountain-bike-18
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes/voodoo-marasa-hybrid-bike-2013-2014-18


Also, I'm 5'9.5 so would I be right in thinking the 18" frame would be more suitable than the 20".......

 

[Cycleops]

Note the Trek 7.2 FX is unavailable in any size. The Crosstrail has suspension forks which you really don't need, I'd be more inclined towards the Sirrus . So you are leaning towards disc brakes? Not a bad idea as they do provide excellent stopping powering all weathers and there's no wear on the rim.

The 18" would be fine for you, the 20" may be a little large but some prefer that. Better if can try and see what is the most comfortable for you.

How about this Ridgeback as Learningcurve suggests: http://www.evanscycles.com/products/ridgeback/element-2014-hybrid-bike-ec059641 no discs but good spec for the money.

 

[Lilliburlero]

@thevinci

I have a Boardman MX Race hybrid http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes/boardman-performance-mx-race-bike-medium-19#tab2 and a Carrera Fury hardtail http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bik...-fury-mountain-bike-2011-2012--medium-18#tab2 . The Fury is a pleasure to ride, smooth, responsive, rolls well, light at 13.1kg (compared to the Boardman at 14kg) and the brakes and gears feel solid, I also like the longer handle bars. The only downside to the Fury is the number of gears (20) and I find myself always wanting more on straights and down hill but dont let that put you off, you will do very well indeed to find a bike for £429 with its spec (Raidon x2 air forks with lockout, Avid Elixir 1 hydraulic disc brakes, Xram mech and trigger shifters) and for an extra £29 imho is a better option than the Hoodoo. I tend to use the Boardman for longer rides out that`ll be mostly on roads and with its 27 gears it does the job very well. It took me a couple of weeks to understand what the bike was about until I took it for 10 mile thrash around the lanes, yes I could have bought a road bike for this but I live in the national forest and do most of my riding off road so I can do both with the Boardman.

Slap a different brand name sticker on the Fury and it`l cost you £700+ (not my words but the words of a bloke that works at my local Lloyds bike shop).

Btw, my fitness mad 18 year old lad has a Carrera Vengeance and he cant get anywhere near me when i`m on the Fury and i`m 45

 

[thevinci]

@thevinci

I have a Boardman MX Race hybrid http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes/boardman-performance-mx-race-bike-medium-19#tab2 and a Carrera Fury hardtail http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bik...-fury-mountain-bike-2011-2012--medium-18#tab2 . The Fury is a pleasure to ride, smooth, responsive, rolls well, light at 13.1kg (compared to the Boardman at 14kg) and the brakes and gears feel solid, I also like the longer handle bars. The only downside to the Fury is the number of gears (20) and I find myself always wanting more on straights and down hill but dont let that put you off, you will do very well indeed to find a bike for £429 with its spec (Raidon x2 air forks with lockout, Avid Elixir 1 hydraulic disc brakes, Xram mech and trigger shifters) and for an extra £29 imho is a better option than the Hoodoo. I tend to use the Boardman for longer rides out that`ll be mostly on roads and with its 27 gears it does the job very well. It took me a couple of weeks to understand what the bike was about until I took it for 10 mile thrash around the lanes, yes I could have bought a road bike for this but I live in the national forest and do most of my riding off road so I can do both with the Boardman.

Slap a different brand name sticker on the Fury and it`l cost you £700+ (not my words but the words of a bloke that works at my local Lloyds bike shop).

Btw, my fitness mad 18 year old lad has a Carrera Vengeance and he cant get anywhere near me when i`m on the Fury and i`m 45

Thank you so much for that considered response!

I've just discovered that my works cycle scheme doesn't include halfords (I'll try convincing the HR lady tomorrow!)....grrr

Until then I was considering the marasa or the sirrus as hybrids, the hoodoo and calibre two.two (hard tails) if I went the MTB route.

I think I'm more likely to ride in parks and the countryside (not ready for trails yet) and very little commuting, though certainly some 'tarmacced' areas, here and there...probably to get to the parks!!

 

[Phat Al]

Nearly bought a Hybrid today.

Went to two different branches of Halfords, but couldn't find anyone who seemed to know what they are talking about, particularly with Frame Sizes etc. One guy told me I would have to be careful with the hydraulic disk brakes. When I pointed out that this model didn't have disc brakes, he did manage to look a little sheepish. The guy at the second Halfords "hadn't managed to read up on the spec for the Boardman Hybrid yet". They did however manage to sort me out with some L plates for my daughter's driving lesson.

Later in the day I "accidentally" walked in to Leisure Lakes Bikes (while waiting for my wife who was shoe shopping) and had a well informed (him not me!) chat with a member of staff there about the Specialized Sirrus and the Specialized range in general. What a contrast!

Going to have a look online and read some reviews, but I think I will be buying something from the guys who seem to know what they are talking about and are passionate about cycling, even if it means paying a little more (I would lose the 10% discount from British Cycling). I came away really confident that I would get a bike from them which was suitable and built properly.

Shame because I like the Boardman range and the original guy I spoke to at Halfords a couple of weeks ago seemed ok, but he was nowhere to be seen today...

 

[Cycleops]

You've made the right decision to go to the people who know what they are talking about, always fills you with more confidence.

Amazing that someone the size of Halfords should give their staff so little product training, just can't believe it, as Victor Meldrew would say!