Advice needed

choochoo123

Hi all,

I used to love cycling as a kid and want to try and get back in to cycling, initially, just to and from local shops/parks, maybe a short commute. My budget is £300-£400 and I'm a small 5'2 inch woman.

I have seen the following and wanted some advice on which, if any are better than the other. Or any other bikes that you might feel better suited.

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/revolution-heritage-15?bct=browse%2fbicycles%2fcommuter-hybrid-bikes#sthash.UwFVY1mn.dpbs

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/californium-2-2015-womens-hybrid-bike-ec054875

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/liv-flourish-3-15#sthash.MXZhwrLl.vPx0vOiM.dpbs

Many thanks in advance

The Rookie

You need to be sure how you want to use the bike, those are obviously all traditional womens style bikes, they are great for 'pootling' for a few miles but not really suited for faster use or longer journeys (8mph and about 8 miles sensibly).

The Revolution and Liv (Giant's female specific brand) are much of a muchness and similar prices, so buy whichever you like most, the Pinnacle has a hub gear with only three speeds, this will be fine unless you have any steepish hills when you will soon run out of gears, however they need less maintenance and being enclosed keep the bike looking neater and are 'cleaner' to use (less likley to get grubby chain oil on you).

Also have a look at the Pendleton from Halfords http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes-and-classic-bikes/pendleton-somerby-hybrid-bike-mint again this is much of a muchness with the Revo' and Liv offerings.

Decathlon do this one at a great price, it's not quite a good a spec' as the above, but for 2/3rds the price is perhaps better 'value' http://www.decathlon.co.uk/elops-100-dutch-style-city-bike-id_8305485.html


If you think you may want something a bit 'sportier' than those, have a look at this Decathlon offering. http://www.decathlon.co.uk/hoprider-300-womens-city-hybrid-bike-id_8307663.html It keeps most the features of the oher bikes but with a slightly sportier riding position for longer/faster rides.

choochoo123

Thank you for your reply Rookie.

I'd like to be able to ride along canal paths and in parks, but quite leisurely, do you think they are suitable?

In contrast, i did look at the triban 500SE, but I'm a little too short for it.
Sportier is fine, it all gets confusing when you look at the specs

Reviews are telling me to stick to a hybrid bike

There is also the carerrera crossfire 2 in Halfords, is this a better alternative?

Thanks again.

The Rookie

Any bike will do that use, although skinny road bike tyres (less than 28mm wide) can be a bit sketchy on gravel.

At 5'2" (same height as my daughter) it depends on your leg and torso lengths as to what size you need, a 16" would probably be fine (you need to try) but a smaller (13.5-15") probably would work better.

The Triban 500SE is a road bike, for usage you talk about a Hybrid would be a better bet, the Triban 500 is a good bike but has the narrower tyres of a road bike (23mm).

The Crossfire is 'OK' it rather heavy and the suspension forks are rather pointless (and heavy), I'd say this was a better option http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes-and-classic-bikes/carrera-subway-1-womens-hybrid-bike-2015

choochoo123

Thanks for your help Rookie!