Bike choice

markc1984

Hello all, this is my first post on this forum so please be gentle!

I'm not sure whether this post has been put in the correct part of the forum so mods please move accordingly if you feel it should go elsewhere.

I am currently in the process of searching for a bike better suited for my needs. I currently own a Boardman team carbon 09 road bike but have discovered that this sort of bike isn't really practical for what I use it for.

I'm looking for a bike that is very comfortable, sturdy and reliable and is capable of carrying fairly heavy loads over long distances when necessary, but also for commuting when I change jobs or shorter leisurely rides or shopping at the weekend. I've realised after owning the Boardman that I'm really not not a fan of drop bars. I used to own a GT Avalanche and much preferred the feel of flat bars and would like to go back to them.

I'm 6 ft tall, so am not sure whether there are certain bikes would be more suited to me than others?

My budget would be £1000 bear maximum which may be a little restrictive on my choice but am quite happy buying second hand if it means I get a slightly older but higher end bike.

Any suggestions are very welcome.

Thanks in advance!
Mark.

Mr Plum

Boardman do a good flat bar hybrid commuter - 700c wheels, disc brakes, and you'll get the top spec within your budget.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... 65534#dtab

Looks ideal.

markc1984

Thanks for the reply!

I certainly had that particular bike on my list but there's a few things that may put me off:

I've noticed that the hybrid pro has a double chainset, I assume because of the reduced weight and extra speed they offer. I'm concerned this'll be problematic for me as there are some very steep inclines that I have to take around this area and with the possibility of added weight on the back I'm worried that it's going to take its toll on me. I do struggle with my boardman road bike so the added weight of panniers and the bike itself could make matters worse.

I'll admit I'm not a strong cyclist and found the third ring on the chainset of my old bike was a tremendous help and it was missed it a lot when going from my old GT bike to the Boardman.


I've noticed the Bikeradar review of this bike states that the Boardman hybrid pro is quite a low ride for a flat bar too, although I'm not sure to what extent. Low riding is something I'm trying to avoid if possible as I do suffer with back problems now and again due to the nature of the work I used to do, hard to believe for someone who's only 27!

I've been looking at touring bikes, they seem to fit the bill quite well but most, if not all, seem to have drop bars which is rather annoying, either that or they're way above my price range!

mrtuk

Have you looked at the giant rapid? I tried one out the other week and felt good - i'm looking for a road bike for commuting (with panniers) but flat bar as don't get on with drop bars either. I think the rapid1 only has double chainset though, so may be an issue per the boardman.

The Rookie

The Boardman Hybrid has a double up front but a wider gear spread (it uses an MTB cassette) at the rear than the road bike, most road bikes only have a 25T as the largest rear gear, whereas MTB start at 28T and go to 34T - not sure what is fitted to the Boardman though.

Simon