Which hybrid bike, completely clueless!!

nathanasks

Hello, I'm sure that there are loads of posts like this every day, so apologies for clogging up the forum, but I'm a completely clueless novice looking to buy a hybrid bike, and I was wondering if anyone could offer any advice? My max budget is £300. I've got £50 worth of Halfords vouchers so inclined to get something from there, but if the consensus was I could get far more for my money getting something second hand on gumtree, I'd be happy to save them for another day. Any thoughts on this, and which hybrids are good in that range would be much appreciated! I'm going to need a cycle rack and mud guards, although don't necessarily have to come with the bike if that's going to limit my options. Here's some of the Halford ones I was considering:

Raleigh Pioneer 1
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/h ... ybrid-bike

Elswick Torino
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/h ... id-bike-20

Carrera Crossfire 1 or 2
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/h ... -bike-2015
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/h ... -bike-2015

Falcon Allegro
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/h ... id-bike-18

Mongoose Crossway
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/h ... ybrid-bike

Raleigh Loxley
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/h ... ybrid-bike

Any help much appreciated!

craker

Talking about limiting your options, why a hybrid bike? Consider a bike with drop handlebars too, be it a cross bike or a tourer or a proper racer.

It's the subject of a few debates on here, just so you know.

What's your commute like (distance / road surfaces)?

snowster

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/h ... -bike-2015 £299.99 worth a look right on budget

The Rookie

Much better than any of them
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/fit-300-flat ... 06479.html
Lighter, faster, better equipped.

roger_merriman

craker wrote:

Talking about limiting your options, why a hybrid bike? Consider a bike with drop handlebars too, be it a cross bike or a tourer or a proper racer.

It's the subject of a few debates on here, just so you know.

What's your commute like (distance / road surfaces)?

at £300? cheapest cross bike is a least another £400 with most starting at £600.

I agree the OP could give a indication as to what type of bike they are after, Hybrids at that price range are better value and arguably better specification, than a road bike.

The Rookie

The Carrera road bikes just snuck into that budget last time I looked, not as well equipped as the Decathlon Hybrid, but not bad either.

supersonic

I see Halfords are doing their fantasy sale bikes again too:

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/r ... -bike-2015

It looks nice, but don't know how they keep getting away with it, was £660, my ar$e.

The Rookie

Indeed, very similar spec to the same priced Zelos.

Can get a near full 2300 road bike for £230....

CitizenLee

With a budget of £300 I'd definitely be looking at used bikes.

Try Pinkbike or eBay, much better selection than Gumtree and less likely to wake up 3 days later in a bath of ice with a kidney missing

roger_merriman

supersonic wrote:

I see Halfords are doing their fantasy sale bikes again too:

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/r ... -bike-2015

It looks nice, but don't know how they keep getting away with it, was £660, my ar$e.

and a CX as well probably not the lightest and with fairly cheap canti's so possibly fairly poor braking, no way its worth £660 of anyones money though, it's a little high at £329.

link http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/road-bikes/carrera-crixus-limited-edition-cyclocross-bike-2015#tab2

The Rookie

CX bike with 2x8 gearing?

roger_merriman

The Rookie wrote:

CX bike with 2x8 gearing?

to be fair there are number with 1x1 gearing, if its used for towpath/fields etc then don't supposed it would be overgeared rather depends on what cassette though.

supersonic

roger merriman wrote:

supersonic wrote:

I see Halfords are doing their fantasy sale bikes again too:

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/r ... -bike-2015

It looks nice, but don't know how they keep getting away with it, was £660, my ar$e.

and a CX as well probably not the lightest and with fairly cheap canti's so possibly fairly poor braking, no way its worth £660 of anyones money though, it's a little high at £329.

link http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/road-bikes/carrera-crixus-limited-edition-cyclocross-bike-2015#tab2

I reported them to trading standards for it a couple of years ago.

kinioo

CitizenLee wrote:

With a budget of £300 I'd definitely be looking at used bikes.

Try Pinkbike or eBay, much better selection than Gumtree and less likely to wake up 3 days later in a bath of ice with a kidney missing

What 2nd hand bikes should I be looking at in region of £300quid ?? (it might be an opton for me as well as I commute mostly on tarmac approx 16miles)

I mean best value for the money etc ??

I understand we talking about commuting i.e. mostly tarmac ??

Many thanks,

Chris

The Rookie

Would be better to start your own thread, but that price should get you a 1-2 year old Boardman hybrid or road bike, either would be a good choice.

CitizenLee

Yeah a separate thread would be best, but in addition to the Boardmans Rookie has suggested look for Specialised Tricross, Cannondale Bad Boy or Whyte Portobello if you're after a hybrid. If more road bike then something like Specialized Allez can generally be found for around £300 used.

kinioo

The Rookie wrote:

Would be better to start your own thread, but that price should get you a 1-2 year old Boardman hybrid or road bike, either would be a good choice.

Fair enough.

Yeah, I think new thread would be better - sorry for messing up here, and thanks for the info anyway.

C.