Newbie needs help !!

benno the red

ok , here is the conundrum

Im a 43 yr old ex footballer with well dodgy knees , 5 operations last one virtually reconstruction last October. Told by Specialist to get in the pool or on me bike

The bike it is

Im 6'2 , and need to get back some fitness and have been doing 10-15 miles two or three time a a week on my trusty MTB but am now well and truly hooked and want to do this thing properly. The problem as always is cost but i have through work a CTW scheme but limited to £500 which is a bit if a problem

However i have narrowed it to the following three
Boardman Hybrid Comp 2011 £499, Specialised Allez 16 £450 or Trek 1.1c £450

Its a vague one but really what are these like , are they a good entry level bike for fitness and which one would any of you guys pick in my position

Any help or tips really appreciated

DCowling

I had the same choice to make ( although not on CTW)
I was convinced with the hybrid as I thought it would still give me the chance to do tow-paths etc but in the end I went with a road bike ( boardman comp) and the simple reason was I wanted to be able to build up my speed and miles and if I do want a change I simply get out the MTB.
However if you need to use it to commute you may want to look into the compatability for panniers

Fat-Boy-Roubaix

I started out on a Hybrid, which to fair I enjoyed for the first year, I switched this year to a road bike and now I would say I enjoy my cycling more, when I do dig out the hybrid it does feel a little strange and enforces the point of I prefer the postion and feel of the road bike. I commute almost 100% of my cycling, I turned the drops upward slightly so I am not in too lower postion and comfortable. With your previous knee problem I would strongly suggest you use a good local bike shop who know about bike fitting as bike size, saddle height and saddle fore and aft make a hell of difference to any pressure your kness might feel

As you already have a MTB for any trail use you may want to do, I would opt for a Road bike, then you won't look back and wish for a road bike. So my Vote goes to the Allez

Thebigbee

I have a Scott Sub 30 hybrid and I thoroughly reccomend it.

It is my everyday, commute - chuck around bike and it has been great so far.

I also have an Allez triple 2011 and that is my serious bike.

In all honesty I can nearly go as fast on my Scott.

I picked it up - like new - off Ebay for £300. The RRP was £589.99 - but the guy got it in a sale in Feb for £389.99

Personally I'd get a hybrid like the one mentioned - see if you like the sport - and then upgrade.IMO road bikes aren't really set up for commuting.

I know lots of people will disagree - but the fact is you aren't in control for braking and such for a lot of the time.

Get a decent hybrid with 700c wheels and take it from there.

HTH

benno the red

Thanks for all that guys , most helpful

I think im going for the Boardman Hybrid , its scores well in all reviews and maybe for someone new to this game will make the transition easier. Its on 700/28s so pretty much a road bike with flat bars. As someone said i can always upgrade in a couple of years if i get the bug

Also its a £600 RRP bike which i will end up paying around £350 for

danowat

I'd personally go straight for a road bike, hybrids are ok, but you'll be looking for a road bike after not too long, so just cut out the middle man and get one from th get go!.

Hybrids are a bit jack of all trades master of none, my hybrid is no more comfortable than my road bike(s), but its slower, so I just can't see any reason to ride it on the road.

Its ok on mild off ride stuff, but if you want to go off road, you get a mountain bike anyway......

Thebigbee

danowat wrote:

I'd personally go straight for a road bike, hybrids are ok, but you'll be looking for a road bike after not too long, so just cut out the middle man and get one from th get go!.

Hybrids are a bit jack of all trades master of none, my hybrid is no more comfortable than my road bike(s), but its slower, so I just can't see any reason to ride it on the road.

Its ok on mild off ride stuff, but if you want to go off road, you get a mountain bike anyway......

I disagree with all of this post, sorry.

For someone that is getting into this lark I would thoroughly reccomend a hybrid first. The transition from MTB to hybrid will make the world of difference.

For commuting and general "hacking" I don't think you can beat a hybrid.

My road bike is used for more serious rides. Not for popping down the shops or shopping or commuting. The main reason is that is not as "chuckable" and it is not great for stop starts.

I am probably riding it completely wrong. Anyhow - good debate.

Thebigbee

benno the red wrote:

Thanks for all that guys , most helpful

I think im going for the Boardman Hybrid , its scores well in all reviews and maybe for someone new to this game will make the transition easier. Its on 700/28s so pretty much a road bike with flat bars. As someone said i can always upgrade in a couple of years if i get the bug

Also its a £600 RRP bike which i will end up paying around £350 for

Great choice for that money. You will need some barends though. I use these

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=29893

Makes a world of difference. 80% of the time I am in them. Not brilliant if your hands get sweaty.

Anyway - let us know how you get on. I reckon you will love the hybrid and then graduate to a road bike - but still love the hybrid.

londonlivvy

I'd vote for a road bike. I commute on a road bike every day and have no problems braking in traffic or anything (unless it's very wet - if you got a boardman with the disc brakes I guess it'd help with that). It's FAR more fun than riding a hybrid (I used to have a specialized sirrus elite) and I end up extending my ride home much more because it's lovely to ride.

McCullochE

Don't go for a hybrid - as others say, you'll only be wanting a road bike soon, I was in a similar position and ended up buying a cyclocross, which I'd highly recommend. You get virtually all the benefits of the road bike in terms of speed, but it is designed to be able to go anywhere a hybrid can go - canal paths, even muddy fields. Specialized sell a good one for about £600. I had one for three years, and now use it as my winter training bike along side my nice new carbon road bike.

danowat

Thebigbee wrote:

danowat wrote:

I'd personally go straight for a road bike, hybrids are ok, but you'll be looking for a road bike after not too long, so just cut out the middle man and get one from th get go!.

Hybrids are a bit jack of all trades master of none, my hybrid is no more comfortable than my road bike(s), but its slower, so I just can't see any reason to ride it on the road.

Its ok on mild off ride stuff, but if you want to go off road, you get a mountain bike anyway......

I disagree with all of this post, sorry.

For someone that is getting into this lark I would thoroughly reccomend a hybrid first. The transition from MTB to hybrid will make the world of difference.

For commuting and general "hacking" I don't think you can beat a hybrid.

My road bike is used for more serious rides. Not for popping down the shops or shopping or commuting. The main reason is that is not as "chuckable" and it is not great for stop starts.

I am probably riding it completely wrong. Anyhow - good debate.

Everyone has their own opinion 8)

I made the mistake of buying a hybrid first, thinking it would be a better "all round" bike, I found I was wrong, and could do everything, faster, and at the same level of comfort on a road bike.

I commute 35 miles a day on a road bike, and its perfect for commuting.

DCowling

I was looking at Cube SL when I first started my dilema and was between that and the boardman, the cube had more of a road gearing.. which madfe me think I amy as well go for a road bike.
What I really want is one of each
http://www.cube.eu/en/tour/cross-road-line/sl-cross-race/

Thebigbee

danowat wrote:

Thebigbee wrote:

danowat wrote:

I'd personally go straight for a road bike, hybrids are ok, but you'll be looking for a road bike after not too long, so just cut out the middle man and get one from th get go!.

Hybrids are a bit jack of all trades master of none, my hybrid is no more comfortable than my road bike(s), but its slower, so I just can't see any reason to ride it on the road.

Its ok on mild off ride stuff, but if you want to go off road, you get a mountain bike anyway......

I disagree with all of this post, sorry.

For someone that is getting into this lark I would thoroughly reccomend a hybrid first. The transition from MTB to hybrid will make the world of difference.

For commuting and general "hacking" I don't think you can beat a hybrid.

My road bike is used for more serious rides. Not for popping down the shops or shopping or commuting. The main reason is that is not as "chuckable" and it is not great for stop starts.

I am probably riding it completely wrong. Anyhow - good debate.

Everyone has their own opinion 8)

I made the mistake of buying a hybrid first, thinking it would be a better "all round" bike, I found I was wrong, and could do everything, faster, and at the same level of comfort on a road bike.

I commute 35 miles a day on a road bike, and its perfect for commuting.

Personally I find don't find my road bike that much faster. Also for stop starts and even shifting, I find it a bit of a bind on my road bike.

Basically I have to be in the dops to brake.

I find shifting a pain in the arse as well. It is hoods only, really.

Don't get me wrong, I love my road bike for long rides. I'd find it a complete nightmare for commutes or short, stop/ start journeys.

Maybe I am riding all wrong but that is my honest opinion.

Best of luck with what you go for. I advise a hybrid to start with...

Duffer65

For what it's worth I'd get a road bike. Not so long ago I bought a hybrid/MTB as I was indecisive about getting a road bike, a few months later I sold it and bought a road bike. Wish I'd got one sooner.

danowat

Duffer65 wrote:

For what it's worth I'd get a road bike. Not so long ago I bought a hybrid/MTB as I was indecisive about getting a road bike, a few months later I sold it and bought a road bike. Wish I'd got one sooner.

You aren't alone, I ignored the advice too!!

Thebigbee

Duffer65 wrote:

For what it's worth I'd get a road bike. Not so long ago I bought a hybrid/MTB as I was indecisive about getting a road bike, a few months later I sold it and bought a road bike. Wish I'd got one sooner.

There is a huge difference between a hybrid and a mountain bike,


Firstly and most importantly hybrids generally have 700c wheels compared to 26" MTB wheels and tyres.
I guess ir diesenr natter as the OP has gone for a hybrid.

Good choice

Duffer65

Thebigbee wrote:

Duffer65 wrote:

For what it's worth I'd get a road bike. Not so long ago I bought a hybrid/MTB as I was indecisive about getting a road bike, a few months later I sold it and bought a road bike. Wish I'd got one sooner.

There is a huge difference between a hybrid and a mountain bike,


Firstly and most importantly hybrids generally have 700c wheels compared to 26" MTB wheels and tyres.
I guess ir diesenr natter as the OP has gone for a hybrid.

Good choice

I admit I don't know a massive amount about bikes, but I do know that the Marin Muirwoods I bought couldn't strictly be described as a MTB (as they are now) and is sold as an urban commuter. Admittedly it is not a 700c wheeled hybrid and I apologise for using that term.

benno the red

thanks for all your comments really helpful.

as i said i went for he Boardman Hybrid Comp RRP £600 , basically got it for £450 before the CTW benefits kick in

Well happy so far its like a Rolls compared to smashing out on my old Giant Rock !!

So now i ve got some SPD Shimano 520's coming via ebay but need the shoes to go with it ,...any recommendations would love some second hand if anyones got some to flog , im a size 10.

one odd thing about the Boardy though is that its has double chainring but 3 selectors on the shift indicator ...weird

DCowling

Try dhb shoes, from wiggle

they are about as cheap as your going to get and are good value, but they are narrow so go for 11.
I am a 10 and wear the 11 to give me more rom in the toe-box, they do slip a bit when I'm walking but thats only to nd from the shed
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-m1-mtb-shoes/

pinnaclered

I had a friend with the same dilemma, he had been riding a mountain bike that weighed a ton, when he felt the weight of my road bike he decided he wanted one.
He asked me or advice, and I asked him how he rode his mountain bike to work, did he avoid potholes? Did he scoot through traffic? Did he like been able o see over cars?
When I told him that a pothole on a Mtb may feel like a groove but on a road bike can feel like a pit, and that on a road bike(I'm 5ft 2) it s difficult to see over cars, that if he's isn't intending to ridethe miles at the weekend a lighter bike isn't going to make a massive difference in commute time.
From our conversation I got that he was more of an explorer, liked Riding canal paths, hopping kerbs not been terrified of potholes I came to the conclusion that he might like a cyclocross bike, something reasonably light weight but still tough and a totally different ride depending on the tyres u choose.
He loves it and does a lot more miles than just the commute on it.

(I ride a charge plug freestyle fixed gear for my commute just for te manouverabilty and height of the bike, and ride a kona Lisa road for the miles, just so you know where I'm coming from.)
One day I'll have a bike for every occasion, the canal tow path bike, the downhill bike, the recumbent for when I don't really want to get out of bed and electric bike for when I'm just having one of those days