Boardman Hybrid Pro, Whyte Stirling or Cannondale Bad Boy 2?

manwoodvice

Apologies in advance if you get these 'which bike' threads everyday!

However.. I've ridden a Boardman Hybrid Pro, a Whyte Stirling and a Cannondale Bad Boy 2 (all 2013 models), liked all three, and am looking for comments from anyone who has actually owned one. What are they like to live with? I'm inclined towards the Cannondale, because of the Headshok fork with the suspension in the head tube - I ride a fair few dirt paths and roads with potholes, though I mainly do road riding. Plus my local bike shop can do it for £1000 (£199 off RRP), so there's nothing in it pricewise.

Also I have no feel for componentry - I couldn't tell you which hydraulic brake, or gear shifter, were better than another.

On paper which of these three bikes is better specced?

Boardman:
http://www.boardmanbikes.com/hybrid/hybrid_pro.html

Whyte:
http://www.whytebikes.com/2013/product.php?xProd=53&xSec=53

Cannondale:
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cannondale/bad-boy-2-2013-hybrid-bike-ec042955#features

Appreciate any advice! 8)

polska1979

Why don't you get a cx bike, would give you much more versatility than a hybrid

Buy some gator skin tyres and your away, if you wanna do dirt then stick with the stock tyres

I had a boardman hybrid and it was fantastic, I e just sold it 4 years on for 400 quid, getting a c. Bike now to compliment the road bike I bought last year

passout

I agree with the above comment but I also realise that many people prefer flat bars. I'd go Boardman of those 3. Planet X have some interesting alternatives too, like a flat bar cross and this road bike:

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBP ... ybrid_bike

Monty Dog

If you think you'll want to get more from your cycling, then a flat bar bike will hold you back - better looking at CX if you want to mix road and trail. Suspension on road is dead weight.

Camcycle1974

Cotic Roadrat with drops and CX tyres is a good all round option. You could fit discs and have at least £100 change from your budget.

manwoodvice

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm not going to go with the Cannondale, I don't need the suspension. I've ridden a Whyte Montpellier 2013 recently (a very nice bike) which I preferred to the Stirling, so it's really whether that is worth the extra £600 over the Boardman. Any thoughts?

I do quite a lot of urban riding, and I just don't feel comfortable in that situation on drops. I do like drops and can see the appeal / necessity for serious road riding, but they're not for me (not yet!).

apreading

I would buck the trend seen here - I dont want drops and dont feel that my Boardman Hybrid Team holds me back at all. I have ridden nearly 4000 miles on it now and done some Audax & Sportives and am faster than plenty of people on road bikes, although plenty are faster than me - proving that it is the rider not the bike that makes the difference.

Both the Whyte and Boardman Hybrids are fairly racy and beg you to get closer to the aero position than many other hybrids - I actually dont think of mine as a hybrid, but a road bike with flat bars.

Have taken it off road in as much as canal towpath, gravel tracks and such and even on 28mm tires it aint great, but you could maybe go as big as 35mms on the Boardman - 28mm is about the max on the Whytes I think. The Boardman will also allow full mudguards and rack if you want them. These were the main reasons behind my choosing the Boardman Hybrid Team plus the Whyte Portobello I was comparing it to had a slightly harsher ride, but that may be because that model had alu forks.

The Whyte Portobello was nice and lively though and I am sure I would have enjoyed it - but it just didnt quite work as well as the Boardman for me.