Best Hybrid Bike for under £1,000

Noddy501

Hi,

I've recently got back into cycling and have done a fair amount over the last few months (weather allowing!) around the local cycle tracks, bridle ways and tow paths. On top of that I have just signed up for the London to Brighton ride in June and am thoroughly looking forward to it, and am now thinking about cycling to work at least once a week (around 30 mins each way). Maybe this is becoming an obsession? :roll:

I currently own a Claud Butler Urban 200 which I've had for about 5 years and works well for riding I do. With work offering the cycle to work scheme, I've convinced by partner that I need to upgrade my cycling equipment .

I'd been looking at the Boardman Hybrid Team bike only to find out that Halfords aren't in the cycle scheme that I'm eligible for through work (apparently they have their own scheme). So I'm after some pointers or recommendations in bikes to look at. Ideally the bike would need to be able to have/take tyres that work in slightly muddy conditions, be capable of taking mud guards and panier, and comfortable on rides of longer than 2 hours.

I've been confused by the differences between the bikes and wonder whether there are any articles that help me understand what's important to me - differences in the types of gears used, frames, brakes etc. etc. As to be honest, I compare the different bikes in the price range and am not sure what the compromise is between each.

Don

Initialised

For rides over two hours you really should consider drop bars.

Some thing like these:

http://road.cc/content/review/110792-wh ... rroad-bike
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/spe ... e-ec053050
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/tre ... e-ec054304
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fuj ... e-ec053263

drummer_boy

I agree, after having gone from MTB to CX bike on my commute, the availability of different riding positions on the CX means you never get fatigues from being stuck in one position.

antonyfromoz

Drummer_Boy wrote:

I agree, after having gone from MTB to CX bike on my commute, the availability of different riding positions on the CX means you never get fatigues from being stuck in one position.

Personally, I also like drop bars but I am not in total agreement with the reasoning here, even though it is repeated so many times that it must be true :? I have ridden many long journeys on a flat bar bike with bar ends and the only real difference between the range of riding positions available with this set up and drop bars is the ability to get down in the drops. I am often amazed by the number of people who spend all or nearly all of their time with their hands on the hoods (which is the equivalent to riding on the bar ends) even when they have drop bars and conditions would suit their use ie head wind, long sportive style rides etc. The other difference that can be found between many bikes with drop bars and flat bar equipped bikes is that the former often seem to have racier geometry and to be more "serious" with regards to components etc while the latter are more hybrid style but this is not always the case and there are plenty of light, fast and comfortable flat bar options if you are not willing, comfortable or flexible enough to use the drops. One example that might fit the bill here is the Planet X Kaffenback, which is available in drop bar form for £799 and flat bar form for £699 - both of which would give you plenty of change for mud guards, safety gear, pedals and shoes etc if you wanted them.

apreading

Whyte Stirling would fit the bill nicely - should be able to get them through Evans if they are in your cycle scheme. Personally, I chose the Boardman but it was a close run thing. Also look at Decathlon if getting either a Hybrid or Drop bar bike and there is one near you - cracking value for money.

The Specialized Sirrus may be worth a look but is very different to those mentioned above, less racy and more sit up and beg relaxed cruiser. Not such good value either but a very nice frame if the geometry feels right to you.

Giant did a flat bar road bike called the Rapid when I was looking but it didnt fit mudguards or wide tyres.

If you do go for a drop bar bike, consider a CX bike if you want to be able to use wider tyres/mudguards/rack etc as they generally have much more wheel clearance and a more relaxed geometry that might suit a newbie to drop bars.

Personally, I would not buy a drop bar bike again - with bar ends I have lots of positions available so one of the main arguments sited for drop bars is bogus, the other (that you are more aero in the drops) doesnt count for much if like many you always ride on the hoods - as Anthony says.

A Hybrid can also offer you hydraulic discs, which are awesome and would cost thousands on a drop bar bike as they are the latest new exciting technology - we can have them for cheap with flat bars!

supersonic

And in addition to the aero argument, you can always add clip on aero bars for long straights. Which are more aero than drops anyway.

Is no right and wrong - it is what suits. Some tinkering may be necessary and, of course, the shifting and braking ergonomics between drops and flat bars is marked.

walpia

I can personally recommend the Cannondale Quick SL2 which I have been using for commuting similar distance for the last year.

Light-weight and bigger chain-set means it can turn a quick speed whilst still retaining a lot of the hybrid specs (room for mud-guards, pannier, flat-bar etc.)
I'm very happy with it.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/can ... e-ec042951

♠ChumBucket♠

antonyfromoz wrote:

Drummer_Boy wrote:

I agree, after having gone from MTB to CX bike on my commute, the availability of different riding positions on the CX means you never get fatigues from being stuck in one position.

Personally, I also like drop bars but I am not in total agreement with the reasoning here, even though it is repeated so many times that it must be true :? I have ridden many long journeys on a flat bar bike with bar ends and the only real difference between the range of riding positions available with this set up and drop bars is the ability to get down in the drops. I am often amazed by the number of people who spend all or nearly all of their time with their hands on the hoods (which is the equivalent to riding on the bar ends) even when they have drop bars and conditions would suit their use ie head wind, long sportive style rides etc. The other difference that can be found between many bikes with drop bars and flat bar equipped bikes is that the former often seem to have racier geometry and to be more "serious" with regards to components etc while the latter are more hybrid style but this is not always the case and there are plenty of light, fast and comfortable flat bar options if you are not willing, comfortable or flexible enough to use the drops. One example that might fit the bill here is the Planet X Kaffenback, which is available in drop bar form for £799 and flat bar form for £699 - both of which would give you plenty of change for mud guards, safety gear, pedals and shoes etc if you wanted them.

Couldn't agree more!! The amount of times the answer to almost any question on here is "get a proper road bike" or "you must have drop bars" etc etc is pathetic!

Personally I can't stand drop bars, they are way outdated & the reason they offer "apparently" so many different hand position is because none of them are particularly comfortable apart from one- the hoods, which, when you drill through the BS "proper" road riders speak, they seem to spend 95% of riding time on!

A good flat bar road bike is every bit as fast, in any situation as any drop bar bike for 99.9999999% of the human race & on the plus side, a damn site more comfortable to boot!

mrfpb

There are lots of posts praising the Planet X Kaffenback 2, which people agree at £800 is the best specced do it all road bike for the money. They also do a flat bar version, identical spec ie tiagra groupset and BB7 disc brakes for £700. Just different bars and shifters. Google it!

mrfpb

By the way, I did L2B last year on a 15kg hybrid with no bar ends. Not fast, but I did it. I buddied-up near the start with a less experienced rider who had a much nicer road bike. He was faster up hill (better bike) I was faster downhill (more confident). While you can't change hand position on flat bars, you frequently change body posture which provides relief to different contact points at different times - bum, hands and feet.

markhewitt1978

Just a +1 for cyclocross. Means you can do the railway / tow paths with ease but it's still good enough to act as a road bike, especially if you put on slick tyres.

Stevo_666

I was going to say 'Boardman Hybrid' then noticed that you couldn't get it on your cycle scheme. Then I remembered that I was in exactly the same situation myself when i bought mine over 4 years ago - for me it was such a good fit for what I needed that I said stuff the cycle scheme and bought it anyway. 4+ years later it's still going strong and taking a good beating on the commute with mnimimal maintenance needed and has paid for itself a few times over in train and tube fares saved

mrfpb

If you are swayed by the cross bike argument, here are a couple of bargains. Both Tiagra, one with rim brakes one with BB5 discs.

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/browse? ... ord=Search

wandsworth

♠ChumBucket♠ wrote:

antonyfromoz wrote:

Drummer_Boy wrote:

I agree, after having gone from MTB to CX bike on my commute, the availability of different riding positions on the CX means you never get fatigues from being stuck in one position.

Personally, I also like drop bars but I am not in total agreement with the reasoning here, even though it is repeated so many times that it must be true :? I have ridden many long journeys on a flat bar bike with bar ends and the only real difference between the range of riding positions available with this set up and drop bars is the ability to get down in the drops. I am often amazed by the number of people who spend all or nearly all of their time with their hands on the hoods (which is the equivalent to riding on the bar ends) even when they have drop bars and conditions would suit their use ie head wind, long sportive style rides etc. The other difference that can be found between many bikes with drop bars and flat bar equipped bikes is that the former often seem to have racier geometry and to be more "serious" with regards to components etc while the latter are more hybrid style but this is not always the case and there are plenty of light, fast and comfortable flat bar options if you are not willing, comfortable or flexible enough to use the drops. One example that might fit the bill here is the Planet X Kaffenback, which is available in drop bar form for £799 and flat bar form for £699 - both of which would give you plenty of change for mud guards, safety gear, pedals and shoes etc if you wanted them.

Couldn't agree more!! The amount of times the answer to almost any question on here is "get a proper road bike" or "you must have drop bars" etc etc is pathetic!

Personally I can't stand drop bars, they are way outdated & the reason they offer "apparently" so many different hand position is because none of them are particularly comfortable apart from one- the hoods, which, when you drill through the BS "proper" road riders speak, they seem to spend 95% of riding time on!

A good flat bar road bike is every bit as fast, in any situation as any drop bar bike for 99.9999999% of the human race & on the plus side, a damn site more comfortable to boot!

Each to their own, and I'm sure that what you've said is true for you, but I disagree with all of it. I started commuting on a hybrid then moved to a road bike with drop bars. The road bike is faster and more comfortable, and I wouldn't go back to the hybrid. It may well be that the OP would prefer a flat bar bike but he should seriously consider (and try) all options before deciding and not be swayed by prejudices either way.

apreading

wandsworth wrote:

Each to their own, and I'm sure that what you've said is true for you, but I disagree with all of it. I started commuting on a hybrid then moved to a road bike with drop bars. The road bike is faster and more comfortable, and I wouldn't go back to the hybrid. It may well be that the OP would prefer a flat bar bike but he should seriously consider (and try) all options before deciding and not be swayed by prejudices either way.

Maybe you had the wrong hybrid? I am guessing that when you moved to drop bar bike you also spent more and got a higher spec bike, lighter, better components etc. There are plenty of hybrids that are more like MTBs but there are also quite a few just like a road bike but with flat bars. So many other things will have changed with your bike swap that it would probably be difficult to objectively know that the reason you are faster and more comfortable is just because of the shape of the bars...

♠ChumBucket♠

apreading wrote:

wandsworth wrote:

Each to their own, and I'm sure that what you've said is true for you, but I disagree with all of it. I started commuting on a hybrid then moved to a road bike with drop bars. The road bike is faster and more comfortable, and I wouldn't go back to the hybrid. It may well be that the OP would prefer a flat bar bike but he should seriously consider (and try) all options before deciding and not be swayed by prejudices either way.

Maybe you had the wrong hybrid? I am guessing that when you moved to drop bar bike you also spent more and got a higher spec bike, lighter, better components etc. There are plenty of hybrids that are more like MTBs but there are also quite a few just like a road bike but with flat bars. So many other things will have changed with your bike swap that it would probably be difficult to objectively know that the reason you are faster and more comfortable is just because of the shape of the bars...

Couldn't agree more No-2

Noddy501

Thank you everybody for your feedback and advise. I've looked at dropbar bikes and for the moment I want to stick with flatbars. I like riding my current flatbar bike and will stick that way for now ... maybe in a year or so it will be time to get a second bike :-)

I've looked around at the various options plus the advise here and have really come down to three bikes.

The Specialized Sirrus Comp Disc, the Hoy Shizuoka.003 and the Boardman Hybrid Team.

The first two I can get on the cycle scheme, the Boardman I can't. I'm turned off the cycle scheme a little by the fact that there is still more to pay at the end of the 12 months. Plus if I wait another month, Halfords will have there Easter sale and I should be able to get a good discount on the Boardman combined with a further 10% for membership of British Cycling. So my preference is to wait and see what I can get the Boardman for :-)

mrfpb

I hope you are pleased with your choice. Let us know how you get on with the bike and the L2B event.

apreading

If you look at the 2012/13 model Boardman Hybrid Team, it already has 20% off - with 10% off again for British Cycling. If you do Quidco or similar you get another 4.5% (I think) - I got my Hybrid Team for roughly £500 - BARGAIN!

Depends if you can find your size at a store near you though...

DM222

♠ChumBucket♠ wrote:

antonyfromoz wrote:

Drummer_Boy wrote:

I agree, after having gone from MTB to CX bike on my commute, the availability of different riding positions on the CX means you never get fatigues from being stuck in one position.

Personally, I also like drop bars but I am not in total agreement with the reasoning here, even though it is repeated so many times that it must be true :? I have ridden many long journeys on a flat bar bike with bar ends and the only real difference between the range of riding positions available with this set up and drop bars is the ability to get down in the drops. I am often amazed by the number of people who spend all or nearly all of their time with their hands on the hoods (which is the equivalent to riding on the bar ends) even when they have drop bars and conditions would suit their use ie head wind, long sportive style rides etc. The other difference that can be found between many bikes with drop bars and flat bar equipped bikes is that the former often seem to have racier geometry and to be more "serious" with regards to components etc while the latter are more hybrid style but this is not always the case and there are plenty of light, fast and comfortable flat bar options if you are not willing, comfortable or flexible enough to use the drops. One example that might fit the bill here is the Planet X Kaffenback, which is available in drop bar form for £799 and flat bar form for £699 - both of which would give you plenty of change for mud guards, safety gear, pedals and shoes etc if you wanted them.

Couldn't agree more!! The amount of times the answer to almost any question on here is "get a proper road bike" or "you must have drop bars" etc etc is pathetic!

Personally I can't stand drop bars, they are way outdated & the reason they offer "apparently" so many different hand position is because none of them are particularly comfortable apart from one- the hoods, which, when you drill through the BS "proper" road riders speak, they seem to spend 95% of riding time on!

A good flat bar road bike is every bit as fast, in any situation as any drop bar bike for 99.9999999% of the human race & on the plus side, a damn site more comfortable to boot!

Is that why the Tour de France use drop bars then?! :roll:

supersonic

They'd use Tri bars as well if they were not banned.

♠ChumBucket♠

DM222 wrote:

♠ChumBucket♠ wrote:

antonyfromoz wrote:

Drummer_Boy wrote:

I agree, after having gone from MTB to CX bike on my commute, the availability of different riding positions on the CX means you never get fatigues from being stuck in one position.

Personally, I also like drop bars but I am not in total agreement with the reasoning here, even though it is repeated so many times that it must be true :? I have ridden many long journeys on a flat bar bike with bar ends and the only real difference between the range of riding positions available with this set up and drop bars is the ability to get down in the drops. I am often amazed by the number of people who spend all or nearly all of their time with their hands on the hoods (which is the equivalent to riding on the bar ends) even when they have drop bars and conditions would suit their use ie head wind, long sportive style rides etc. The other difference that can be found between many bikes with drop bars and flat bar equipped bikes is that the former often seem to have racier geometry and to be more "serious" with regards to components etc while the latter are more hybrid style but this is not always the case and there are plenty of light, fast and comfortable flat bar options if you are not willing, comfortable or flexible enough to use the drops. One example that might fit the bill here is the Planet X Kaffenback, which is available in drop bar form for £799 and flat bar form for £699 - both of which would give you plenty of change for mud guards, safety gear, pedals and shoes etc if you wanted them.

Couldn't agree more!! The amount of times the answer to almost any question on here is "get a proper road bike" or "you must have drop bars" etc etc is pathetic!

Personally I can't stand drop bars, they are way outdated & the reason they offer "apparently" so many different hand position is because none of them are particularly comfortable apart from one- the hoods, which, when you drill through the BS "proper" road riders speak, they seem to spend 95% of riding time on!

A good flat bar road bike is every bit as fast, in any situation as any drop bar bike for 99.9999999% of the human race & on the plus side, a damn site more comfortable to boot!

Is that why the Tour de France use drop bars then?! :roll:

My point demonstrated to perfection!

And who, on here does the "tour de france"?

What do you drive to work in, a Mclaren F1, Williams, Force India? :roll:

Stevo_666

♠ChumBucket♠ wrote:

My point demonstrated to perfection!

And who, on here does the "tour de france"?

What do you drive to work in, a Mclaren F1, Williams, Force India? :roll:

Don't forget there are quite a few TdF wannabe's who nearest experience of the TdF is burning off another commuter on the way to work

Noddy501

While waiting for the Halfords Easter Sale (which now looks like it may not include the Boardman bikes :-( ), I've been taking my time looking round at other bikes.

My current bike of choice is the Boardman Hybrid Team, however, I'm now seriously tempted by a CX bike. I've been doing long rides (longest was 3 hours so far) and my back and shoulders end up sore, hence the versatile riding positions of a CX may help.

However, looking at the CX bikes, I have two concerns.

1. I notice that you have to do the gear changes through the dropbars. I think for the most part I would be riding in the upright position or at least 50% of the time, so that seems to make it a pain to change gears. What is people's experience of this?

2. The tyres on the Boardman CX look too big for my usage. It's going to be mainly tarmac and canal paths, which at this time of year are mainly just bumpy. The tyres are the Schwalbe Rapid Rob 35c. Would I be wise to change to something like the Scwalbe Marathon Plus 28c, or would the rims not take that?

The Boardman CX is a £150 more than the equivalent Hybrid. So if I'm not going to get a sale discount I may widen my search to other CX bikes such as the Specialized which I can get on the cycle to work scheme. Any recommendations on what to look at?

Don

apreading

The Boardman CX is an excellent bike and one of the best value CX bikes. It will take 28c tyres quite happily. It is more expensive than the hybrid for effectively the same specification bike, but doesnt have the hydraulic brakes of the hybrid - many people swap the BB5s for BB7s which are about the best cable brake you can get.

The 2014 model does not have mudguard mounts on the front fork for some reason though - if thats relevant to you.

I have the hybrid with bar ends and find I have lots of positions too - almost as many as you get with drop bars.

If you can get the 2012/13 model of either the hybrid or the CX, Halfords are selling these off cheap at the moment too - dont know what current stock is like. I think the quality is slightly better on the older models, same bike but better build and mudguard mounts on the CX, unlike the new model.

For what it is worth, sore shoulders & back probably is either just getting used to riding for longer periods or more likely a setup that doesnt fit you properly - maybe putting too much weight on your arms. If this diagnosis were correct then the answer could be changing the stem to put the handlebars in the correct place or looking at saddle/seatpost to put that in the correct place (or both). Regardless of bike type and regardless of bike, you need to get the fit right - there may be enough adjustment in the bike you get to accomodate this or stem/seatpost etc may need changing - whichever bike you go for.

markhewitt1978

There's nothing wrong with flat bars and there's nothing wrong with drop bars either, so a good job both exist eh?

However if you're talking flat bar only your choice is somewhat restricted to the lower end equivalent, but if you're not concerned about an aero position you probably aren't too concerned about having super light carbon and Dura Ace components either.

drummer_boy

As you can tell, ask 100 people and get 100 points of view!!

The best advise I can think of is to test ride a few bikes, with different types of bars on them, and also (in my experience) tyre choice makes a huge different on speed and ease of pedaling, and whether you can go on trails etc as well.

In your price bracket there are no out and out 'bad' bikes, merely bikes less suitable for you, than others.

The Rookie

Noddy501 wrote:

I've been doing long rides (longest was 3 hours so far) and my back and shoulders end up sore,

Or fix your riding position, I regularly do 4-6 hour rides on an MTB and don't......

roger_merriman

Noddy501 wrote:

Thank you everybody for your feedback and advise. I've looked at dropbar bikes and for the moment I want to stick with flatbars. I like riding my current flatbar bike and will stick that way for now ... maybe in a year or so it will be time to get a second bike :-)

I've looked around at the various options plus the advise here and have really come down to three bikes.

The Specialized Sirrus Comp Disc, the Hoy Shizuoka.003 and the Boardman Hybrid Team.

The first two I can get on the cycle scheme, the Boardman I can't. I'm turned off the cycle scheme a little by the fact that there is still more to pay at the end of the 12 months. Plus if I wait another month, Halfords will have there Easter sale and I should be able to get a good discount on the Boardman combined with a further 10% for membership of British Cycling. So my preference is to wait and see what I can get the Boardman for :-)

The Boardmans do get good reviews and fast hybrids you get a lot more for your money vs CX, which are cable disks compared to Hydraulic disks. plus you get 10s cassette vs 9s cassette