Dipping my Toes in the Hybrid Market

equinefunk

Hi...I'm looking to buy a Hybrid for commuting or messing around on at the weekend taking the kids out, putting a trailer on the back to longer fitness rides, upto around 20 miles. Mainly road but some cyclepaths & up and down kerbs. But nothing I would need a mountain bike for. I also want to put proper mudguards on it...

I've ridden the Trek FX 7.4, 7.5 & 7.2. I hated the 7.2 was indifferent to the 7.4, I liked the 7.5. I was thinking about this bike as an option but have seen some reduced 2012 Bikes which have big money off them, but I can't find any information on this one:
Marin Lucas Valley reduced from £1000 to £700
Does anyone know anything about these?

I fancy this bike but is it decently fast on the roads?
Cannondale Bad Boy R4 reduced from £900 to £760.

I also fancy the Whyte Portobello.....if anyone has any feedback on these.

Thanks in advance. I have a number of other bikes, but I my road bike has SPD's on & isn't great for going out with the kids on Spesh Allez Sport, a Norco Sight 2 can't get the trailer on this & is no good for the longer rides cos' it's full suss I also have a Kona Explosif Hardtail Steel MTB, which I like but don't enjoy as much as I used to.

supersonic

Have you thought about converting the kona? Some lighter tyres, maybe bar ends and so on?

If not, then the best road based hybrid out there is probably this:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... pping#tab1

equinefunk

Thanks for that. I went to look at the Boardman, but Halfords wouldn't let me ride it....they were friendly but incompetent. Apparently they're not insured for people to ride their bikes. So your allowed to sit on them for size purposes only. There's no way I'm buying a bike without taking it for a spin. The spec looks great so do the reviews, but the service from Halfords is appalling.

I rode the Sirrus Sport & the Marin today. Didn't like either, quite liked the Cube SL Cross.....I'm going to keep looking but I've got a better idea what I want now.

My Kona is staying as a MTB, but nice idea.

supersonic

I do wish Halfords would change that rule. I was speaking to their PR person recently, and brought it up. Amongst various other things ;-)

MattMTB

I have the Cannondale bad boy r4 and I love it- it's certainly not the lightest bike out there for the money but it's well specced and feels bomb proof. Good gearing, good brakes, nice and comfy now I've got it set up right. It also takes sks narrow road mudguards well. I've never had nice comments about any of my other bikes but I do about the bad boy. It looks bad ass! :twisted:

I can now average 16.9mph on my undulating commute (15.7 mile each way) which ain't too bad on a hybrid

equinefunk

Thanks for that information. I'm going to ride the Bad Boy R4 also the Whyte Portobello & Cambridge. The problem is the more I look the higher the budget & the more bikes there are available!

I've also seen this but can't find any reviews, other than the user ones on wiggle
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/felt-qx-s95-2012/

supersonic

Looks superb for the money, really nice spec.

equinefunk

I think I'm going for this http://www.cyclesurgery.com/sl-cross-pr ... duct/41809 has 12 months interest free credit....I re-read the Felt Spec & the only thing that puts me off is the 42T Big Ring. The Cube has a great Spec as well but more Road orientated.

pessimal

how do people rate the boardman urban MTB?

zx6man

Thought the same mate, 42 for a hybrid for me would also be a no-no.

Nice Choice.

Foyzy

Another vote here for the Bad Boy. I’ve had the 2012 R6 for about 10 months now and it’s superb. I commute on it every day around London and it’s never let me down. Comfortable, fast and the matt black means it blends in perfectly to the city but when you get up close it really looks the part. There also seems to be a bit of Bad Boy owners cult – countless times I’ve pulled up at the lights or at the bike rack and there’s been another Bad Boy rider there so we have a little chat comparing note about the bike (always positive from anyone I’ve spoken to). Highly recommended.

apreading

The 2011 Felt QX95s were REALLY heavy. I nearly bought one at a stupidly cheap price but when I went to see it I thought it must have been made from lead! Even with the price and spec it just didnt make any sense.

passout

There's always One One or Ridgeback bikes. Personally I like the look of this: http://www.commencal-store.com/PBSCProd ... D=10250959 but I couldn't see fittings for guards. This might be good: http://www.vitusbikes.com/urban/mach-3-2012 but I guess no test ride? But I'd probably get this: http://www.islabikes.co.uk/bike_pages/beinn29.html - you can customise it, take it off road, takes guards / rack, you can turn it into a single speed, easily add discs, it gets a great review on BR, its a British company and its cheap.

equinefunk

Thanks, I've bought the Cube SL Cross Pro. I got it for £599 after speaking to the guys at CycleSurgery Spitalfields they rated the bike highly. It's light at under 10kg. It has the Alu Forks but slightly bigger tyres so that should take out the road buzz. I went with a triple as there is a big hill on my commute also on one of my training rides, so I can just spin it out rather than stand up. It's got Shimano 105 Chainset so looks a decent bike. Got it on interest free credit and my commute to work & the mileage I charge will pay for it in 6 months. If it's no good I've got 7 days to return it...as long as it doesn't get dirty!

I just need to sort out how I'm taking my work clothes in, backpack or pannier

zx6man

Nice.

Pannier :-)

equinefunk

I wonder if someone can help with sizing?....I've got my Cube SL Cross. I've had a quick spin on it but worried that it might be too small. I got the 56cm which I had ridden & thought was ok. However I've had another ride & worried it's too small. When I have it set up my seat is higher than the handlebars by about 50mm I don't feel cramped on it but just feel a bit small. I've checked the effective top tube length against my 2 mountain bikes & my road bike & it is smaller by 1cm against the 58cm Spesh Allez & a lot shorter 3cm compared with my Large Norco Sight.
I also road a 20" Trek FX & it felt [url=okhttp://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/town/fitness/fx/7_5_fx/#/us/en/model/fit_sizing?url=us/en/bikes/town/fitness/fx/7_5_fx]okhttp://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/ ... /fx/7_5_fx[/url]
Can anyone compare the sizes for me?
http://www.cube.eu/en/tour/cross-road/sl-cross/

See what they think?

supersonic

If it feels ok it is ok!

nigglenoo

Personally, I would prefer a touring bike for that range of uses, possibly Kona Sutra for the disc brakes.

EDIT: or a cross bike if you want something sportier.