Hybrid Bike Help - Beginner

dtscully

Hi

I am new to biking (since a teenager 15 odd years ago) and I am looking at a new bike that I can use for exercise on the road, building up to a commute to work (10 miles on A roads & lanes), but also light off road use on bridle paths forests etc. I don't have a huge budget £200-£350max. My shortlist seems to be...

Ridgeback Motion - £220 ukbikesdepot
Felt QX70 - £240 Wiggle
GT Transeo 4 - £240 Wiggle
Ridgeback Velocity SE - £350 Tredz (0% finance)
Also Giant Escape or Roam series?

But I am struggling to find reviews?

Any help to get me started would be really appreciated.

Cheers

apreading

I think you will find most of those quite heavy (I dont know them all but have seen several of them).

At that price, the clever money would be on something used on ebay, but if you want the peace of mind that buying a new bike brings then Halfords or Decathlon are probably your best bet.

See:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&cm_cr=No+Campaign-_-Web+Activity-_-C330032-_-PRODHOME_ESPOTCAROUSEL-_-Carrera+Subway+Limited+Edition+Hybrid+Bike+2012+-20%22&productId=892925&msg=&langId=-1&catalogId=10151

Just make sure that you dont get one with any form of front or back suspension at that price - it will make it very very heavy and be useless too.

passout

If getting a hybrid I'd be looking at Boardman or Vitus myself. Maybe Kona. I agree about avoiding suspension (especailly rear suspension).Disc brakes are good but don't dismss bikes with regular brakes.

apreading

Just noticed this http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_810613_langId_-1_categoryId_165534

Its REALLY light and would get my £329 if I was working to your budget...

Unfortunately the budget leaves him several hundred quid short of a Boardman, unless buying used.

Ouija

apreading wrote:

Just noticed this http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_810613_langId_-1_categoryId_165534

Its REALLY light and would get my £329 if I was working to your budget...

Unfortunately the budget leaves him several hundred quid short of a Boardman, unless buying used.

+1

Hits all the right notes. No unnecessary suspension forks, disk brakes, skinny tires and lowish weight.

lm_trek

I picked up a Giant Rapid 4 in may i think it was, very fast hybrid bike, leans more towards roadie but its a great bike, i only paid £275 for mine, might be worth scouting round, but can highly recommend.