Not as easy to choose a new bike as I thought

colonelblighty

I bought a cheap Apollo X26 bike a couple of years ago so I could go out with my kids but since last September i started riding myself a bit more and now It's time to get a new bike. this i thought would be an easy decision but I see now that things have changed a bit since the days of my grifter and racer in the 80's.

I think looking around a hybrid is the way to go as I will be mainly on the road but with a little bit of canal path riding with my eldest at weekends etc. I have a budget of £300 tops and have been looking and reading for ideas and suggestions and the following pop up as potential candidates.

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/riverside-3-mens-trekking-bike-silver-id_8202746.html

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/lithium-1-2013-hybrid-bike-ec044192

I am open to suggestions as what to is the best option as the more I read the more lost I get in what offers the best value for money and the best riding experience. I will be riding aprox 9-12 miles a day and am 5'10" if that makes any difference to what suits. I had originally looked at the Carerra subway from Halfords but I can't bring myself to pay £259 (on offer now) for what was available for £179 just a few months ago.

supersonic

Both are solid buys. The Riverside gets a basic suspension fork to take the edge off bumps, but this adds weight - but the bike also has a the better specification especially the gearset.

colonelblighty

Thanks for the quick response and I'm glad I've managed to select reasonable buys within my budget. I've seen a lot of posts and comments saying that on low end bikes like these that the suspension doesn't really add much but if its got the better spec and £50 less then it may be worth considering over the pinnacle. At least with Decathlon there's one at J9 of the M6 that I can go and have a look up close and personal.

supersonic

You can always fit a rigid fork at a later date too - these can be has for much less than £50, so you still have flexibility.

colonelblighty

supersonic wrote:

You can always fit a rigid fork at a later date too - these can be has for much less than £50, so you still have flexibility.

That's good to know though I suspect I'd probably end up leaving it as is. Looks around 3kg heavier than the pinnacle as sold, I'm guessing mudguards don't add much weight and I've no need for anything extra. Is 3kg much difference overall or as a novice am I most likly no to notice

Edit it seems after a bit of research my existing bike is around 15kg which I find fine so both are lighter an way I'm used to.

supersonic

It's a fairly considerable chunk of weight - but a lot of that is in the fork really.

colonelblighty

I think I'll try to get to decathlon the week to try out the btwin as its still lighter than what I'm used to and I'd figure a better ride too.

colonelblighty

I had a good look at Decathlon today and really didn't get on well with the suspension so I think the pinnacle is looking like the favourite now, well until I came across this

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/saracen/urban-esc-2013-mens-hybrid-bike-ec043454#features

It really is a minefield researching all the different bikes and components. :?

mrfpb

Been riding http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/ridgeback-speed-13 for eight years. Has towed three children (not at the same time) on canal paths, commuted around Newcastle, 45 miles around Wiltshire hills for charity , will be doing London to Brighton this summer.

Only real issue is that wheels needed replacing after 6 years as the brakes were bending the hubs. Highly recommended as an all rounder for under £300.

supersonic

colonelblighty wrote:

I had a good look at Decathlon today and really didn't get on well with the suspension so I think the pinnacle is looking like the favourite now, well until I came across this

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/saracen/urban-esc-2013-mens-hybrid-bike-ec043454#features

It really is a minefield researching all the different bikes and components. :?

It's not too bad, but 24 gears is a better system, not only for the extra spread and quality, but because it uses a much more reliable rear hub cassette system.

if you can stretch to £350 then there is this:

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/fit-5-road-b ... 39798.html

This is several rungs up the ladder, great components including carbon fork, and an all up weight of just 22.5lbs!

colonelblighty

Unfortunately £300's my limit unless I hang on for a week or two but then I'll end up in the always waiting a little bit longer game to save a little bit more .

supersonic

Nothing really matches it until you get to £600 ;-)

colonelblighty

supersonic wrote:

Nothing really matches it until you get to £600 ;-)

Now that does look really nice. I was quite impressed with the guy at Decathlon too when discussing the two bikes in my shortlist and he did suggest one of their fitness bikes but said it wouldn't be much good on the canal paths.

supersonic

It's more racy than the others, but canal paths are hardly MTBing, so should cope fine.

The subway is a decent buy if you want something more rugged - note that the one on offer at £179 is a different bike to this one:

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

The other one was 7 speed with lowlier parts.

colonelblighty

Thinking about it the subway I saw was different to your link as it was silver but did have 21 gears

http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/carrera-subway-2012-hybrid-bike-18-20-frame-199-99-delivered-halfords-1422701

Kind of makes it hard to swallow paying £80 more for a very similar bike but then I guess they're all going to be similar for the same sort of money. I could always keep my old MB for going out with my boy and save fir a week or two for the fitness bike

supersonic

The 60 quid goes on the superior drivetrain, disc brakes and lighter parts.

They can vary quite a lot, the little bits add up!

colonelblighty

I did like the look of the subway last week when I was in Halfords and it was what partially set me off on my path if discovery. I might go and have another look tomorrow but I have a niggling doubt that it will drop in price on one of their many offers as the others have over the last twelve months.

I am liking the look of the fit 5 bike and £50 isn't that much more lol

colonelblighty

Any views on the ridgeback velocity

http://www.ridgeback.co.uk/bike/velocity#details

As if I buy from here

http://www.swinnertoncycles.co.uk/bikes-c97/hybrid-c104/velocity-bike-matte-graphite-p30709

My wife is entitled to a 10% discount as she's a student at Stafford university.

goonz

Triban 3, best bang for your buck.

colonelblighty

goonz wrote:

Triban 3, best bang for your buck.

Really would prefer a hybrid . Went to our local bike shop to see what the had and they offered th following Raleigh for £310

http://www.raleigh.co.uk/ProductType/ProductRange/Product/Default.aspx?pc=1&pt=15&pg=9121

I like the idea of actually getting from a local shop as at least this one offers a more personal service. They also had some Claud Butler bikes in are they any good in particular say the urban 200 that they offered for £265

http://claudbutler.co.uk/cycle-range/range/claud-butler-hybrid/cb3034

If I had any hair left I'd be pulling it out by now, give me back my strika :P

kingofthetailwind

Decathlon also do a Fit 3 bike. Steel fork rather than carbon, and the equipment is not as good. But still seems a bargain at £220. Fit 3 is 11.6kg vs the Fit 5 at 10.2kg.

Both a lot lighter than the Subway and in my experience Decathlon's customer service is miles ahead of Halfords. Their mechanics are a lot better too.

colonelblighty

Stupid question probably but with the pedals on the fit 5 do the clip on bits errm clip off? At the moment it's between that and the velocity.

supersonic

The toe clips do come off.

The Ridgeback is nowhere near the Fit5 in every way! 5lbs heavier, lowlier parts, steel forks, nasty quill stem and headset.

colonelblighty

That's it then finally. Decision made its going to be the fit 5. I think the 57 size should be about right for me. Many thanks for all your help.

I think one thing that finally swing it was the universal good reviews for the triban 3 and that many users on this forum highly recommend the Decathlon bikes.

colonelblighty

Procrastination is over Fit 5 ordered

kingofthetailwind

Good choice

colonelblighty

It came today a couple of days earlier than anticipated and it truly is a stunning bike. Feels so light and exudes quality for the money. The other bikes I viewed around the same price did not look or feel as good. Shame it's raining

CanalRider

colonelblighty wrote:

...Shame it's raining

What!

colonelblighty

CanalRider wrote:

colonelblighty wrote:

...Shame it's raining

What!

don't worry I went out. Great bike so much faster than my mountain bike. Need to adjust front derailleur though as its missing the middle changing down