upgrade or buy new advice?

Flanker37
Flanker37 Posts: 70
edited May 2009 in Road buying advice
Hi folks, and welcome to my first post.

I am trying to decide whether or not to buy a new Hybrid or upgrade my aging Ridgeback Velocity.

I would like a lightweight Hybrid with disk brakes, I have my eye on the Revolution Courier Race Disc 09 which retails at £379.

I am prepared to go upto £600 for a decent bike, as i will be trying to get one on the bike to work scheme or through finance

I am planning a few long distance treks this year, starting with newcastle - coniston in august which takes me up the highest road in england apparently!

Fully loaded with panniers i think i will be pretty hard on the brakes going down hill.

So any buying advice would be greatly appreciated

Comments

  • maddog 2
    maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    have a look at the Boardman bikes. They should be available on bike2work and look well specced for the money.

    There is also the Ridgeback Flight 03, 04 and 05
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer
  • passout
    passout Posts: 4,425
    If you are touring I'd have a look at Spa Cycles (Harrogate). They are specialists in this area & seem well priced to me. Also consider Hewitts in Lancs. A fully laden bike needs to be designed to cope with the weight if it is to handle OK, so a standard hybrid might not be your best option. You'll still be able to get something with flat bars.

    The Planet X Kaffenbach is an option although it's not really a tourer - more a general purpose bike with a flat bar option.

    Whatever you do I would talk to shops that specialise in touring. Remember you'll need panniers, racks etc.
    'Happiness serves hardly any other purpose than to make unhappiness possible' Marcel Proust.
  • Flanker37
    Flanker37 Posts: 70
    Unfortunately where i live, i only really have a choice of edinburghbicycle or Evans and dare i say Halfords . And they are all some distance away from me.

    But there is always mail order. I will have a look at your suggestions
  • passout
    passout Posts: 4,425
    Wiggle do Dawes touring bikes now if that helps. Planet X do mail order. I'm sure that Edinburgh bicycle or Evans would be able to sort you out with something appropriate though.
    'Happiness serves hardly any other purpose than to make unhappiness possible' Marcel Proust.
  • Flanker37
    Flanker37 Posts: 70
    Sadly most of these bike are well over the £600 budget i have planned for. And there aren't many that have disk brakes either.I am leaning more towards the £649 Boardman, i cant find a similarly spec'd bike for the same amount of money.

    Trouble is, if i am going to get this on the Bike to work scheme, i wont be able to get all my bike accessories at Halfords.

Categories