Help on deciding on which bike?

leodis75

Hi,
I am a noobie to the forum and to cycling, I am joining the works cyclescheme in the new year and plan to lose the beer belly and save a few quid and in the process enjoy a new interest. I have been down to a local EBC as neither myself or with drive so I need a shop local just in case, but at a push can order from Evans.

I have three bikes but not sure which would be best suited, I am going to be commuting 10 mile round trip with one minor hill to climb and busy roads (crossing Leeds city center en route). I was looking at the sirrus comp in store but worry about the limited ability of the bike as I might do part of a trail in the summer to skip the return climb (meanwood valley trail) so thought an all terrain might be best suited.

I have some in mind but would love and be thankful for any advice please on the below:-

Whyte Coniston
http://www.whytebikes.com/2012/bike_pag ... W-1-016-12

Whyte Caledonian
http://www.whytebikes.com/2012/bike_pag ... W-1-017-12

CROSSTRAIL PRO DISC
http://www.specializedconceptstore.co.u ... Pro%20Disc

Trek 7700 E 2012
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/tre ... e-ec030294

supersonic

Hi and welcome to our forum!

If it is just roads you will be cycling on then I would question the need for a suspension fork: these add weight and pinch the budget that could be spent better elsewhere.

From the EBC, this is a good bike:

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLq ... 333c018336

ALso consider full on road bikes with drop bars.

leodis75

Thanks for replying and the advice. The reason I am looking at the suspension fork is that I have the option to go off road if I wanted, and to be honest a little worried as a noobie biker that a racing style might be too much for me. That said I have looked at the cross bikes and quite liked some of them.

gosport_commuter

Absolutely LOVE my cross bike!

bails87

The typical experience of a 'new' cyclist on here seems to be:
1. Come on here asking for buying advice as a new cyclist.
2. Suggest some nice hybrids you've seen, sometimes with suspension to 'cope with the potholes'
3. Be told to get a 'proper' road bike (or proper MTB if you want to do real off roading) as hybrids are often a poor compromise
4. Convince yourself and everyone else that you need a hybrid and couldn't cope with a full-on road bike
5. Wait a few months



6. Ask what 'proper' road bike to buy.

leodis75

lol I'll take a look at road bikes then.... My bad.

bails87

Sorry, don't want to sound bullying! It might be that it's genuinely what's best for you.

There are some on here who are happy on a hybrid, but many find they want a 'proper' road bike, especially for longer trips. Although I've just realised that your OP says a 10 mile round trip, not 10 miles each way as I originally thought, so you'll probably be looking at 20 minutes riding each way. Then the extra hand positions and aero benefits of drop bars become less noticeable/relevant.

I would say to definitely avoid suspension though. On the ones you linked to it simply wouldn't be any good, and you're better off with no suspension than bad suspension, so something like the Giant Rapid supersonic linked to, or the equivalent Defy (basically the same bike but with drop bars) would be a sound choice.

But don't be put off by drop bars, they take a couple of rides to get used to if you've never used them, or haven't ridden a bike for years, but there's nothing inherently difficult about them, and they make sense for riding on the road.

porlyworly

Hi mate, I'm also a noob but have a similar commute to you (mostly cycle paths and road but with one offroad section over cattle grids and through a battered farm road) and I'm on a hybrid as like you I worried the cobbled road would destroy a road bike. The wheels on my hybrid are about as narrow as a road bike anyway and it's been fine so far (touch wood), I guess the main difference is the riding position.

If like me you have no intention of using it for anything other than commuting and the odd short trip then don't be put off by hybrids, I bought mine cheap from an ebay shop and have found it to be excellent for my commute.

Best advice is to go to a bike shop and test ride a few different types see what feels right, you should also find after xmas is a good time to pick up a bargain as many 2011 bikes are reduced in anticipation for 2012

Deffo avoid suspension as the cheap ones are terrible and decent ones expensive unless you definitely need it for off roading!

godders1

MTB's are great for what they're designed to do but really not much fun to ride any distance on decent surfaces. Hybrids are ok (I rode one for a few years), something lighter with skinnier tyres and drops will generally be more enjoyable to ride (imo, ymmv etc etc).

Just make sure you get something that can take mudguards and (assuming you'll need to carry a bit of luggage) a rack.

London_Falcon

bails87 wrote:

The typical experience of a 'new' cyclist on here seems to be:
1. Come on here asking for buying advice as a new cyclist.
2. Suggest some nice hybrids you've seen, sometimes with suspension to 'cope with the potholes'
3. Be told to get a 'proper' road bike (or proper MTB if you want to do real off roading) as hybrids are often a poor compromise
4. Convince yourself and everyone else that you need a hybrid and couldn't cope with a full-on road bike
5. Wait a few months



6. Ask what 'proper' road bike to buy.

+1 - I resemble that remark

leodis75

Thanks again, got me thinking so I will pop to EBC tomorrow and try a range. The reason i was looking at all terrain bikes was that I can't afford two bikes so thought I would be able to do some light off road in the summer as well as commute.

I had been looking at the specialized Sirrus comp, kind more like a road bike.

bails87

Essentially, I'd go for either a road or cyclocross (CX) bike, or a mountain bike. If you split the difference you end up with something that's not particularly good at either.

If you think you're likely to get into proper MTBing then 5 miles is quite doable on an MTB on the roads.

gb155

Single Speed and Man Up

:0)

Good Luck OP

The Rookie

I commute on a Hybrid, that is a flat barred rigid bike, I built it from a bare frame to suite my (6.5mile each way) commute, the bars are lower than if I were using drops and riding on the tops, it suits what I need, and I have a full on MTB for off road.

Simon

CarlosDSanchez

bails87 wrote:

The typical experience of a 'new' cyclist on here seems to be:
1. Come on here asking for buying advice as a new cyclist.
2. Suggest some nice hybrids you've seen, sometimes with suspension to 'cope with the potholes'
3. Be told to get a 'proper' road bike (or proper MTB if you want to do real off roading) as hybrids are often a poor compromise
4. Convince yourself and everyone else that you need a hybrid and couldn't cope with a full-on road bike
5. Wait a few months



6. Ask what 'proper' road bike to buy.

What I did and now I have 2 "proper" road bikes

thekickingmule

I'm not usually around in this forum, but like to have a gander every now and then.

Where abouts in Leeds are you? I'm guessing up Adel way? The Meanwood Valley Trail is my local pootle. It depends what you want to do with that area, I love riding my hardtail there, as it's fantastic to practise with.
I'm going to go against the grain, and suggest maybe buying a 100mm HT, and buy different tyres. I have that, and when I want to come home via Meanwood, I make sure I have the burly tyres on, the rest of the time some slicker tyres.
However, if you are planning on only riding Meanwood in the summer, then a road bike would be best getting across Leeds. It isn't that hilly either, it can easily be gotten around in 1 gear to add to entertainment and fitness. If you live out towards Pudsey, then I'd suggest otherwise.

Anywho, that's my rushed 2p's worth If you want to meet up for a ride some time, drop me a PM!

leodis75

Thanks, I live in Moor Allerton just off the trail, in fact its about 200 meters away and adel just across the woods. I am popping down to EBC this PM and looking at some cross/road bikes.

Will PM you once I get on the road. Thanks for the advice.

61Sigs

Get a cx.

Although, as mentioned above, for that distance you could pretty much do it on anything.

Cluelessbiker

Interesting comments on here, now I have a Marin Stinson, old boneshaker rigid, but light, now I am dubious about drops, and I am not a happy chappy with the flats on it, I am going for some 680mm riser bars simply because I prefer the feel of a MTB I rode earlier in the year. I maybe wrong but for me, wider means more stability.

By the way after reading many magazines (Cycling ones that is:)) and looking in many LBS's (and Halfords) I have come to the conclusion that there is not one bike out there that can truly 'do it all,' which to my mind sort of destroys the ethos of 'Hybrids.' A little bit like in the motorcycling world where you get these adventure bikes tha only look like they can go anywhere, somehow I think that in both worlds there is an awful lot of mis-leading going on.

leodis75

Well I am going for the CNND Badboy R4, I will bein the city mostly and makes sense also it looks the dogs. Not getting the 50mm sus or single fork as not keen on them.

Thank you all for the advice and really enjoy reading the forum.

bails87

That looks like a decent choice. You'll be able to put some chunky tyres on and take it off road if you want to, nothing extreme, but with a bit of care you'll be able to ride most places you'd want to.

welsh_one

Looked it up on google. Looks the business 8) Did you get the gunmetal grey colour ? get some picks up :!: