What hybrid should I get?

JamesXP

Well, I have quite frankly had enough of the bad bicycles I have had in my bicycle 'career' and I am looking at buying a new bike, I have tried out road bikes, I just don't like the feel of the drops, so I am looking at some lovely hybrids, I have a budget of around £300, might be able to stretch a little more if the quality difference is more than noticeable


I have been looking at a few bikes, namely the:

Claud Butler Urban 300 2009 - http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Claud%20Butler- ... _25244.htm

Carrera Subway 2 - http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165534

These are bikes that have caught my eye.

I guess you might want to know how far/where I will be cycling, my everday round trip is only around 7 miles, so there is no very long stretches etc, but one day in every week I will be cycling to college which is around 10 miles away (along the NCN55)

I would prefer a bike with mudguards/or one that is compatible with mudguards, as the british weather is hardly forgiving, i'm sure everyone here knows that..

My current bikes are:

Townsend Glacier Bay - Bent rear derailleur, bottom bracket bearing, rear wheel bearing, all need replacing, could do with two new tyres and wheels, IMHO not worth repairing this old MTB.

Apollo (eek) FS26* - snapped rear dereilleur (shimano tourney, whyyyyyy )

I am fed up of old cheap bikes, and generally want something that is a little more reliable and suited to roads, thanks for the help everyone [/url]

Wooliferkins

OK you're tired of cheap bikes. If I told you you cannot buy the raw materials to manufacture a bike for under £500 would you think about what you buy in a different way?

desperate73

Well i nearly bought this last week::

http://www.mailordercycles.co.uk/produc ... 1b5s6p5621

FRAME 6061 T4-T6 Aluminium 700c Road Frame With Aero Down Tube And Semi Integrated Head Tube Close Clearance Design-None Mudguard Compatible.
FORK 12k Weave Carbon Fibre Close Clearance Design.
GEARS Shimano 2200 24 Speed STI.
CHAINSET RPM CRD Triple Chain Set With Alloy Cranks 30/42/52t Fitted With Durable Cartridge Bottom Bracket.
STEERING Semi Integrated Oversize "Aheadset" With Alloy 31.8mm Flat Bar And Alloy 31.8mm Stem.
BRAKES Alloy Dual Pivot Design With Quick Release Cam System.
WHEELS Rigida Nova Anodised Double Wall Narrow Profile Rims With Machined Side Wall And Stainless Steel Spokes Equipped With Alloy 28 Hole Quick Release Hubs. 8 Speed Free Hub.
TYRES Kenda K-Sport 30 Tpi 700 X 25c.
SEATING Ritchey Streem Pro Saddle CR-MO Rails And Synthetic Leather Cover.
EXTRAS Toe Clips And Straps Plus Dual Density D2 Grips

Chap at the lbs said you can fit mudgaurds to it too.
But wanted the drop bars of the road models so went for them instead.

Value wise that Halfords TDF drop-bar one is excellent. But the chap at the bike shop told me other than the TDF a hybrid is a better value bet than a drop barred road bike anyway

Wooliferkins

Not bad kit at the price, lose the Kendas my road rash has nearly healed they are rubbish in the wet IMHO

desperate73

^^^ hehehe I never, ever want to fall off my bike :?

I've got the same tyres on the Milano and at my level they're fine.. certainly better than what he'd be used too. Also i've gone 50 or 60miles since buying it so far completely pucture free :P

JamesXP

I have never had a puncture on these bikes, thankfully, although they was more common when I was younger, I used to ride a bmx, and punctures were common, too common...


if you have anymore suggestions that you could throw at me, or you think you can swing me with a more expensive bike... (would take me longer to save up but.. if it makes a huge difference, i do not mind to much, I'd just have to square it with father, he thinks £280 is already crazy enough for a bike, but its my money

desperate73

No you wouldn't do mate on tyres the size of a hot air balloon and as heavy!

These tyres are 23mm, super light and roll down the road with absolutely minimal drag.

One thing i will say on these bikes compared to the bikes you're used too is resale value. They hold their price much, much better.

For example i bought my CB Milano 09 for £479. On ebay last week a completely standard one, 2006 model old colours but sameish spec sold for £391. Not a massive loss for 3 years use.

JamesXP

No, i'd say thats quite spiffy, i don't think I ever want to sell my bikes, luckily I work as an apprentice mechanic, so my bike just goes in the room at the back, all hidden away from the local scrotes..

I am very weary about rear derailleurs, as both bikes I have had have had problems with them, especially the one that snapped, i'm wondering how are the alivio derailleurs are, (these seem to be on most bikes around my price range ,and ocassionaly SRAM derailleurs) I just don't want this bike to be unreliable, I have never ever ridden a bike with 700c or slicks... I should head down the the few LBS in my area, although the only one I have do not have many bikes available =/

I should use more.. paragraphs, ah.

JamesXP

Anyone else got any reccomendations?

good bike sites to check out?

Phixion

I'm in a similar situation to you mate I'm dying to get outside but also trying to save money whilst on benefits and paying for bills

After looking for weeks I've narrowed mine down to the following:

FELT QX* Range: http://www.evanscycles.com/categories/c ... =&x=11&y=6

KONA Range: http://www.evanscycles.com/categories/c ... &x=32&y=13

Specialized Sirrus: http://www.evanscycles.com/categories/c ... &x=38&y=10

Trek FX Range: http://www.evanscycles.com/categories/c ... &x=21&y=14

Scott Sportster/Speedsters: http://www.evanscycles.com/categories/c ... =&x=19&y=0

These are the brands that I prefer, so far I'm most tempted by the following:

Kona Dew
Felt QX75
Specialized Sirrus

Let me know what you decide to do.

If you have £500-600 then you have alore more open to you, I really like the look of the CUBE bikes and have had my eye on a CUBE SL CROSS COMP: http://www.cube-bikes.de/xist4c/web/SL- ... 31111_.htm

Check the spec!