Scott, Giant or Trek Hybrid?

marmiteman

Hi all

A co-worker has recently started commuting to work by bike and let me have a quick shot down the street at our

office. Having not ridden a bike since I was a kid, remembering how much fun cycling was has made me a convert and I

am now looking to purchase my first bike for commuting.

I've probably done more reading on bicycles this past week than I have in a lifetime!

So far, the bikes I have shortlisted are :-

Scott Sportster P5
Giant Roam 3
Trek 7.1 and 7.2 + FX Variations of both

I've drawn up a list of pros and cons for each, but with my lack of knowledge, I'd rather ask the good people in here who are in the know!

Sorry for another of these threads but i'd really appreciate any input you have!

MM

t0pc4t

test ride all 3

wizzlebanger

+1 to test ride them all. Pick the one you like the feel of the most.

And welcome!

marmiteman

Thanks for the advice and the welcomes!

I'm leaning toward the Scott because it seems to be a better spec than the Trek at that price range and it is also a lot cheaper.

The Giant I found visiting a shop on the way to the Trek bikes, I had already looked at the Cypress but it was a bit too reserved and city for my liking. The Roam on the other hand was at the other end of the spectrum, it was too off road.

I like that fact that Giant produce their parts and it is a good brand name from what I can gather but i'm not sure those are great reasons to choose it above the others.

On a slightly different subject, can anyone recommend some essential reading for commuting to and from work. I've seen the Cyclecraft book advertised and also spotted one of these book magazines on the subject, but wasn't sure about either. If there are equivalent online resources which are just as good, I'd be happy to save the money for other things!

Thanks again...

MM

garrynolan

Hi, have you looked at the Boardman Team Hybrid? Only available from Halfords (prepares for the bike snobbery onslaught) or e-bay. Mine was brilliant - until some b@st@rd stole it!! Great spec for the money.

Anonymous

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t0pc4t

I'd not go for front suspension, I got a cube curve and that came FS and in the 18 months I've had it it's pretty much always been locked out.

So I've just had some nice kona project 2 rigid forks fitted, it's lighter, seems quicker to accelerate and turns faster.

I never go off road on it but I do do some pretty bumpy country lanes and rigid is fine for that

tomb353

I'd reccomend cyclecraft, you can get it pretty cheap on Amazon and if you've not ridden for a while its worth starting off the right way. As per comments above you don't really want front suspension.

Anonymous

Front suspension is nice once you ride on bad-quality roads, cobblestones, and rough gravel. My former bike was a MTB with a front suspension, and the Merida I bought doesn't' have one.

Now, I prefer the smooth take-off in the city on the crossroads, without vertical movement, and the much easier climbing up the hill, over the additional comfort front suspension provides. I am probably going to buy some gel-padded gloves to eliminate the vibrations from the gravel.

I wouldn't go back to having a front suspension on a commuting bike.

Lancslad

My o.h. bought a hybrid four months ago she has now bought a specalized tricross for the drop bars because flat bars do not have enough hand positions and give aching wrists.

The Rookie

While its great you have decided to commute by bike, may I suggest looking at getting a good used bike, that way if you decide it's not for you, then you won't suffer the big depreciation hit of selling it on, and if you decide you like it, then you can sell for similar to what you paid for it and get your new one!

What nature of commute will you have (distance, surfaces, hills) as all have a bearing on what is 'best' (personal preferances aside).

As an example my commute is on quite rough/potholed country roads, 6.6 miles and relatively hilly so I am using a 26" wheeled bike with more give in the tyres than I would get with larger 700c wheels, they are in a road 700c frame (disc brakes, so no issues with brakes) and I am running mountain bike drivetrain 1x9 as that just gives me the gear spread I need for the hills on my commute, with lesser gradiants I would probably run a road rear cassette but they don't give me the gear range I need without having an extra ring and extra shifter etc for the front. What I have to carry to work dictates a rack and panniers, so I needed a frame with rack mounts, I run flat barred as I prefer them for the ride position, they are lighter, and drops with a rack just doesn't please me aesthetically. All very subjective preferances for ME on MY commute!

Simon

marmiteman

Thank you all for the advice.

I ended up going for the Scott Sportster as the price was too good to pass up. Have done three days of commuting so far, so good. Have also ordered a copy of Cyclecraft from Amazon, so patiently awaiting that on supersaver delivery.

Have appreciated the front suspension so far as the cycle paths I use are very bumpy in places. Journey is around 4.5 miles each way. Was a little apprehensive at first about commuting but I have quite enjoyed it so far.

The journey has been a bit rough on the wrists and my backside. Picked up a gel cover for the seat which is helping, probably not toughening it up though!

Can see the advantages of the drop handlebars too, but not something you appreciate until you start cycling. Not sure why but have always seen flat handlebars as part of my image of a bike. Would have thought the brakes are more awkwars on drop handlebars?

If anyone has anymore useful information or resources, i'd love to hear!

All the best

Mm