Newby - Advice on hybrid

polska1979

Hi all,

First time poster looking for help.....
I've just jumped on the commuting band wagon after about 10 years of not riding a bike and loved it. Leigh > Manchester City Centre. I've been using the father in laws GT transeo Hybrid for the 26 mile round trip, whilst it was ok, it wasnt the best bike to ride.

My company have now launched there cycle to work scheme so im like a kid in a sweet shop.....but this is where I need help choosing the right bike.

The journey will predominantly be on the road/cycle paths but I do have the option of going down the canal..Its not the best tow path in the world and come the bad weather its going to get too boggy anyway. Weekend riding is a possibility, but i'd imagine it would be again, road and gravel paths through the woods. Nothing too heavy.

Initially I had opted for the specialized sirrus sport 2010, took it for a test ride and really liked it.
But then I realised that I could get a better (well more expensive bike) on the scheme.

Not too worried about accessories and clothing as i have those already. So I can afford £700 solely to spend on a bike.

Pre requisites I guess are - Good components, Quick, Light but robust enough to handle a daily commute into Manchester and the odd towpath, paniers and mudguards maybe.

The bikes Ive shortlisted are
1- Specialized Sirrus Sport or elite
2- Boardman Performance Hybrid Team
3 - Cannondale Bad Boy Disc Hybrid
4 - Scott Sub 10

Any advice would be greatly appreciated



http://www.evanscycles.com/products/spe ... d%20sirrus


http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... zone=PDPz1

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/can ... cannondale

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/sco ... cott%20sub

wizzlebanger

Trek 7.5 FX.

It's what I have. It's great and I live in Atherton!!! Perfect for commuting and copes fantastically with the quality of the roads in our area.

I'll be doing 40 miles on it this weekend.

http://www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/bikes/road/fx/75fx/

Although with what you have to spend you could probably go higher up the range...

I have fitted spd's and some bar ends recently. It's really comfortable, quick and I haven't had a single problem with it.

Bought it from Mike Cookson cycles but I don't know if they are in the cycle to work scheme.

The Rookie

Which/whose cycle to work scheme is your employer adopting? It may limit your choices somewhat.

From your description of your journey you may want to consider a bike with wider tyres to cope with the towpath which would be the latter 2 unless you can get 35's on either of the first 2, I'm using 26x1.3 and have taken it on rough towpaths/disused rail beds no problem when the MTB has been out of action.

Of your 4 I'd opt for the bad boy given what you have told us.

Simon

polska1979

Theyve opted for Halfords cycle to work scheme, But from reading the small print it states that the bike doesnt have to be purchased from halfords.

From the 4 it seems the sirrus and boardman aire on the road bike side of hybrid and theother 2 more MTB.

The Rookie

The Spesh is a dedicated commuter design, but on road biased tyre sizes, the Boardman pretty much a hybridised road bike, the Bad boy looks more like a flat barred cross bike (wider tyres chunkier frame) the scott is an urbanised mountain bike (if you like that see if Halfords still do the GT Zum, looks great!)

Simon

polska1979

looks like the scheme actually only allows the purchase of cycles from Halfords. Forcing my hand to the boardman.....

anyone got one?? what do you think of it?

wizzlebanger

They get decent reviews. Seems most complaints are more related to the service from Halfords rather than the actual Boardman bikes themselves.