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Best hybrid bike for under £500?

scottymazdascottymazda Posts: 58
edited April 2013 in Road buying advice
ok so I think a Hybrid bike might be better for me.

Can you recommend some of the best for 500 or under?

Are these two of the best?

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/spe ... te#reviews

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165534

I know the second is slightly over 500...

Posts

  • team47bteam47b Posts: 6,424
    scottymazda wrote:
    ok so I think a Hybrid bike might be better for me.

    do you want something to use partly off road or something more like a road bike but with flat bars?

    I personally would recommend Ridgeback even without knowing the answer :D
    my isetta is a 300cc bike
  • the_cyclist_of_catanthe_cyclist_of_catan Posts: 354
    Whereas without knowing anything at all about the OP's requirements, I'd be asking "why not a road bike?"

    OK, I started with a hybrid; it got the first few months of cycling out of the way, and the more upright position gave me some confidence. But now, it sits in the shed, unused. I was tempted to say "unloved", but that wouldn't be true - I actively hate the bike. It's slow, heavy and uncomfortable. It's merely adequately bad off-road (not that I do any), awful on tarmac (as compared to a road bike), and I suppose just about has a place on things like canal towpaths. But I hate riding on canal towpaths anyway (too many locks and bridges in central Brum, for example).

    Doing it again from scratch I suppose *might* by a hybrid; but I'd lean towards a flat-bar road bike, and probably buy a reasonably inexpensive hybrid (and probably a second-hand one at that), because long-term it's not the sort of bike I'd want to cover lots of miles on.
    They use their cars as shopping baskets; they use their cars as overcoats.
  • scottymazdascottymazda Posts: 58
    To be honest I have always used a mountain bike even though 85% of the time I go on roads and with an aim to get there fast. I dont even have to go offroad but I sometimes like to go off road on cycle paths or trails for a change to get where I wanna go. These arent exactly demanding but there is one which I am pretty sure a road bike would be far too flimsy for. I live on the IOW and the roads here are pretty terrible tbh.

    But yeah, just for roads I can live with as the offroad stuff isn't really necessary and not a priority. Can you guys show me a good road bike for under 500?
  • t4tomot4tomo Posts: 2,643
    triban 3 or 5.

    next!
    Bianchi Infinito CV
    Bianchi Via Nirone 7 Ultegra
    Brompton S Type
    Carrera Vengeance Ultimate Ltd
    Gary Fisher Aquila '98
    Front half of a Viking Saratoga Tandem
  • edwardwaterhouseedwardwaterhouse Posts: 8
    I've been using the Boardman Comp for commuting for the last 8 months and it's a great bike , much faster than my mountain bike that I was using previously . I changed the bar grips , I like the Ergon variety , and the saddle .
    The only down side was that the so called Halfords pre sale service didn't amount to much but I like to tinker with bikes and after a couple of rides the bike is silent and smooth running . Well worth a punt .
  • oxomanoxoman Posts: 11,731
    Plus 1 for the tribans also the boardman comp is ok, just wish Boardman would dump Halfrauds and use proper bike shops.
    Too many bikes according to Mrs O.
  • scottymazdascottymazda Posts: 58
    ok so...

    Is this..

    http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-5-roa ... 67039.html

    better than either of these two?

    http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165534

    http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165534

    by the way out of the two Boardmans above, is there much difference? The 'Race' is on offer and £120 cheaper than the comp.
  • oxomanoxoman Posts: 11,731
    Yes i believe the Triban 5 is the better bike as its a roadbike as opposed to a hybrid. If you insist on the Halfrauds offering go with the comp its got disc's so you wont wear your rims out and provides better braking even though cable and not hydraulic, it has the faster 28 tyres. Pretty much better spec all through than the race. Pretty light for a Hybrid at less than 11kg. Would still go for the Triban or other road bike.
    Too many bikes according to Mrs O.
  • scottymazdascottymazda Posts: 58
    oxoman wrote:
    Yes i believe the Triban 5 is the better bike as its a roadbike as opposed to a hybrid. If you insist on the Halfrauds offering go with the comp its got disc's so you wont wear your rims out and provides better braking even though cable and not hydraulic, it has the faster 28 tyres. Pretty much better spec all through than the race. Pretty light for a Hybrid at less than 11kg. Would still go for the Triban or other road bike.

    ok thanks.

    http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-5-roa ... Advantages

    How would I know what size to get? thats the only thing ordering online you can't test it or anything..
  • scottymazdascottymazda Posts: 58
    ok how does the Triban 5 compare to..

    the cannondale CAAD8 2300
    http://www.evanscycles.com/products/can ... e-ec042912

    or the Giant Defy 4

    http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Giant-Defy-4-Co ... tAodvhoA4Q
  • cearonoflynncearonoflynn Posts: 7
    scottymazda wrote:
    ok how does the Triban 5 compare to..

    the cannondale CAAD8 2300
    http://www.evanscycles.com/products/can ... e-ec042912

    or the Giant Defy 4

    http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Giant-Defy-4-Co ... tAodvhoA4Q

    Id say the Triban looks better in my opinion. Better specs esp around the gearing
  • notnotnotnot Posts: 284
    You could also look at a cyclocross bike - will handle rougher paths well, if that's a concern. I use a road bike on roads which aren't especially well-maintained, though, and it's fine for that as long as I'm sensible with speed etc. (I'm actually looking to replace the MTB I use for shopping etc. with an 'everyday' roadbike)
  • aka Arthuraka Arthur Posts: 18
    You might like a Cannondale Quick, if they still make them(?) It's basically a 29er, with discs - takes mudguards with big tyres. I bought a mint used one for £250.00 on eBay as a winter/pub bike.

    (If you get a cyclocross bike, don't use dedicated cyclocross tyres on the road, they don't have good puncture resistance, between the knobbly bits, to sharp objects.)
  • lickolicko Posts: 72
    If you haven't already decided then take a look at this:
    http://www.rutlandcycling.com/45019/Cha ... -Sale.html

    It looks great in the flesh and rides beautifully (apart from the super long handlebar that needs some hacksaw attention). It is an absolute bargain at this price - My mate paid £600 and I thought that was a steal, so at £450 it's virtually a giveaway. I want one but I'm not allowed - too many bikes!
  • InuteroInutero Posts: 111
    Or for £100 less

    http://www.btwin.com/en/sport-road-bike ... n-5-a.html
  • mylomcshugmylomcshug Posts: 1
    Hi,

    I'm in the same boat, I all ready have a road bike and want do buy a hybrid for my com to work (12 mile, some off road). I can buy via the cycle to work scheme and want to spend about £500. How do these bikes rate to whats been discussed already and are there any better hybrids between the £450-£600 mark?

    Fuji Absolute 1.4 2013 Hybrid Bike
    http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fuj ... tch__plid_

    Kona Dew Deluxe 2012 Hybrid Bike
    http://www.evanscycles.com/products/kon ... e-ec034478

    Cannondale Bad Boy 9
    http://www.evanscycles.com/products/can ... e-ec045729
  • HappyhikerHappyhiker Posts: 11
    I've just got a boardman mx race through cycle to work and very happy with it. It's 599, but at Halfords who knows week to week. The mx tends towards a mountain bike rather than a road bike, which is why I got it. But it's great on the road too. I'm just a noob but I'd recommend the mx if you want a more mountain bike like hybrid.( it's been said its like a 29er or cyclocross)
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