What flat bar road bike/fast hybrid

cirian75
cirian75 Posts: 95
edited February 2018 in Road buying advice
Currently riding a Giant defy disc 2, great fast bike................but I real what a flat bar hydro braked fast flat bar.

A drop bar in Manchester on the evening commute home is PITA, just as I get up to speed got to slow down, and of course there is the once every 3 days idiot pulling out on you " oh **** " moment.

I've tested a few hybrids, the pinnacle lithium and the Marin Fairfax sc4 but they feel like bloody choppers with near 600mm stack heights, the defy is 567mm.

but the visibility was easier as not so leant forward hummmmmm?

I want to keep it below £500, minimum 2 x 9 or a 3 x 9 gears

Looking at the Boardman Hybrid Comp that has a less chopper'ish 575mm stack which is £500 and I get 10% with British cycling membership = 450
Pinnacle Neon 3 2017

Comments

  • chippyk
    chippyk Posts: 529
    Decathlon do a couple for less than £500, I have a Giant Fastroad which has gone up in price ridiculously in the past year and is out of your budget, you might pick one up for 7 or 800, really nice bike. My commute is 15k on quiet roads and the last/first 5k on the edge of town, I prefer the normal road bike for it.
  • mcstumpy
    mcstumpy Posts: 298
    As above, Decathlon Triban 520 or 540 flat bars. Not disc brakes but both pretty light and are rapid. I have the 540 and would highly recommend.
  • mcstumpy
    mcstumpy Posts: 298
    I should add I also have a Focus Cayo Evo carbon road bike, my Triban 540 flat bar is nearly as rapid.
  • antonyfromoz
    antonyfromoz Posts: 482
    I have a merida Speeder T5, a few years old now (and actually surplus to my requirements so soon to be on the classifieds page) which would fit the bill if it had disc brakes - the bikes themselves are very nice and there are some with discs at a discount (depending on your size) available on the web.
  • cirian75
    cirian75 Posts: 95
    ordered the Boardman Hybrid Comp 2016 as new ex display for £425

    long reach and pretty low for a hybrid stack, 9 speed compact 50/34 drivetrain = should pretty fast for a hybrid


    1985-BI_Hybrid_Comp_Drive.jpg
    Pinnacle Neon 3 2017
  • cirian75
    cirian75 Posts: 95
    the Boardman went back, it felt massively off, something about it does not work for me.


    Specialized Sirrus Sport 2017 Hybrid bought, should have it Thursday, Leisure Lakes matched hargroves cycles-20% price and paid £540



    rode a lower spec in in shop, bob on, non of they weird funky feeling the Boardman gave
    Pinnacle Neon 3 2017
  • apreading
    apreading Posts: 4,535
    Sirrus and Boardman totally different style, geometry etc. Boardman a fast, stretched out racer and Sirrus a relaxed sit up and beg cruiser. Both very good but the Sirrus was not for me at all. I have done 15,000 odd miles on my Boardman though and love it more than my higher spec drop bar carbon road bike.

    I did get the Boardman Hybrid Team though. I would deffo choose that over the comp any day because of the carbon forks.
  • cirian75
    cirian75 Posts: 95
    I think the answer is I'm 41 now, not a 16 to 35 something
    Pinnacle Neon 3 2017
  • manx_cat
    manx_cat Posts: 52
    Pinnacle Neon 3 looks good to me.
  • cirian75
    cirian75 Posts: 95
    too late now :)
    Pinnacle Neon 3 2017
  • cirian75
    cirian75 Posts: 95
    Pinnacle Neon 3 on order at Evans

    99% identical Geo the Sirrus which I loved the way it rode

    but the seat tube is 450mm vs 485mm making the standover easy.

    had a 10 proper minute test ride around Evans carpark in Trafford and loved it.
    Pinnacle Neon 3 2017
  • cowsham
    cowsham Posts: 1,399
    Been using the 2016 giant rapid 1 since January -- have to say it's a very good bike now looking for a rear rack for it -- any suggestions -- would like the rack to fit onto the threaded mounting points provided below the seat posts -- the giant is disc brake so brakes don't get in the way below seat -- the giant was about £600
  • cowsham
    cowsham Posts: 1,399
    Found a basic Halfords essentials rack fitted OK so bought that
  • fat daddy
    fat daddy Posts: 2,605
    cirian75 wrote:
    I think the answer is I'm 41 now, not a 16 to 35 something


    oh no ..... I am 44 this year and have a team hybrid

    perhaps I can recover the situation by flipping the stem back around so it points upwards and by some of those fluorescent ankle clips to stop my trousers getting caught in the chain ?
  • cirian75
    cirian75 Posts: 95
    oh dear, maybe you'll be buying one of those "polite" HiVis's too :p
    Pinnacle Neon 3 2017
  • cirian75
    cirian75 Posts: 95
    I've let my self get fat and unfit, need to fix that in a way I like = cycling, but the bike has to be right.
    Pinnacle Neon 3 2017
  • fat daddy
    fat daddy Posts: 2,605
    cirian75 wrote:
    oh dear, maybe you'll be buying one of those "polite" HiVis's too :p


    Pah, they are for amateurs ... I rock a proviz fully reflective silver jacket now, its what all the cool commuters have and really shines up the more you wobble out into the traffic :mrgreen:
  • fat daddy
    fat daddy Posts: 2,605
    cirian75 wrote:
    but the bike has to be right.


    no truer word spoken.

    as a useful side consequence of your choice as well .... in a years time you will be transformed into wearing a 4 pack set of abs and have bought a Specialised Venge .... then you will decide you need a single speed and buy one on ebay, the seatpost will stuck in the frame and during a heavy session of swearing and wrenching the saddle trying to get it to shift you will put you back out.

    you wont be able to ride he Venge and its aggressive riding position .... BUT ..... your trusty hybrid WILL still do the job albeit with a little wincing !
  • cowsham
    cowsham Posts: 1,399
    fat daddy wrote:
    cirian75 wrote:
    I think the answer is I'm 41 now, not a 16 to 35 something


    oh no ..... I am 44 this year and have a team hybrid

    perhaps I can recover the situation by flipping the stem back around so it points upwards and by some of those fluorescent ankle clips to stop my trousers getting caught in the chain ?

    Oh no ..... I'm 54 and tuck my trousers into my socks -- it only gets worse.
  • fat daddy
    fat daddy Posts: 2,605
    Cowsham wrote:
    Oh no ..... I'm 54 and tuck my trousers into my socks -- it only gets worse.


    eeeech ... what age did you start wearing socks that were long enough to tuck trousers into ?
  • Jayme
    Jayme Posts: 48
    cirian75 wrote:
    Pinnacle Neon 3 on order at Evans

    99% identical Geo the Sirrus which I loved the way it rode

    but the seat tube is 450mm vs 485mm making the standover easy.

    had a 10 proper minute test ride around Evans carpark in Trafford and loved it.

    My wife has a Neon 2. It's pretty nippy on the flats, even with her panniers loaded.
  • cowsham
    cowsham Posts: 1,399
    fat daddy wrote:
    Cowsham wrote:
    Oh no ..... I'm 54 and tuck my trousers into my socks -- it only gets worse.


    eeeech ... what age did you start wearing socks that were long enough to tuck trousers into ?

    I've never been without a nice pair of long socks
    Just ask Rob Brydon

    https://youtu.be/zxI-pcLj9XE
  • cirian75
    cirian75 Posts: 95
    Got the Neon, it rides very very well, fast n smooth, carbon fork absorbs the buzz

    Stock bar is 640mm and has these bloody awful bars ends that add another 15mm each side.............however I was planning on flatbar converting my Defy, which means I have a 620mm Giant flatbar and Giant ergo grips that almost flush mount handy ;)

    also the stock Kendas will be getting swapped for the 28mm GP4000s I bought for the Defy but had to remove as came up large meaning it almost rubbed the defy fork bottom, they come up at 31mm in reality which is dead handy for the 32mm stock sized Neon

    And it has those security skewers that stop your wheels being stolen, will be swapping these for QR's as the security skewers have to be torqued down to 10nm making them impractical in a puncture on the way to work situation.

    The stock seat seems to be comfy so will be staying and the bear trap pedals are ok so will replace with a good set of platforms once they start to fail.
    Pinnacle Neon 3 2017
  • apreading
    apreading Posts: 4,535
    I would try to see if you can get on with the bar ends - what is 'bloody awful' about them? If you are cycling long distance/hours on the bike then you need more than one hand position and they are great for climbing/sprinting.

    And I have never had a problem torquing up security skewers - really simple. And they are reassuring if you ever leave it locked up outside anywhere.
  • cirian75
    cirian75 Posts: 95
    the new grips have bar ends too, the stock ones though are a bit crap, all metal, zero cushioning, and just plug in the end and have a rubber spreader you open up by tightening a bolt on the end rather than clamp on the bar.

    New grips with bar ends

    https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Giant-Connect- ... ylEALw_wcB

    Not planning on leaving it alone anywhere for long, car park at work is underground and secure, as is my living room where it lives at home.
    Pinnacle Neon 3 2017
  • apreading
    apreading Posts: 4,535
    OK - as you were. Your post sounded like you just didnt like bar ends. Some people just dont like them because they are perceived as old fashioned - particularly by mountain bikers. If the stock ones are crap then thats a different matter.
  • cirian75
    cirian75 Posts: 95
    nah, I like bar ends, 3 out my last 4 MTB's had them, perfect for cruising along
    Pinnacle Neon 3 2017
  • riker71
    riker71 Posts: 6
    Hi Cirian how are you getting along with the Neon 3? Have you done any other upgrades?
    I have a Neon 3 2015 awaiting repair following a collision (driver admitted liability) and in the meantime looking at maybe upgrading. I like the look of the 2017 Neon 3 and the Triban 540 but looks like the Triban is oos. The Hydraulic brakes are a nice upgrade and the main reason for upgrading but after ringing round, appears the Neon 3 17 Model is around 1kg heavier in stock format (10.9kg in medium) than my 2015 Rim brake version which although not a dealbreaker does make a difference especially on longer rides with hills which for me is 50-100km with 1000-1500 metres of climbing. Does not seem to be a lot of choice for a good light flat bar road bike either with disc or rim brakes unless going for carbon which I’d rather avoid as like to go multi surface from time to time and take on shortcuts and light trails from time to time-The beauty of the Neon 3 I have been using is it can go off road with something like a 35mm Schwalbe smart sam, and still fit mudguards, I assume the new model will be the same and for £600 seems to be by far the best option, I’d probably look at upgrading the wheels though to shed weight ..If anyone has any other suggestions for light fast hybrid with disc brakes and clearance for a 35mm tyre please post.
  • N0bodyOfTheGoat
    N0bodyOfTheGoat Posts: 6,065
    ~10Kg for £650* http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/h ... 4cm-frames

    ~9Kg for £900* http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/h ... 4cm-frames

    * Before British Cycling discount

    There won't be many hybrids that can beat the default weight and spec of that Team for £585.
    ================
    2020 Voodoo Marasa
    2017 Cube Attain GTC Pro Disc 2016
    2016 Voodoo Wazoo
  • riker71
    riker71 Posts: 6
    NitrousOxide wrote:
    ~10Kg for £650* http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/h ... 4cm-frames

    ~9Kg for £900* http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/h ... 4cm-frames

    * Before British Cycling discount

    There won't be many hybrids that can beat the default weight and spec of that Team for £585.

    I test rode Boardman Team Hybrid today, weight 10.8kg in medium (49) nice enough bike and good spec for the price, chain stays very wide and found my heels brushing them from time to time. Think I may stick to rim brakes as seems to add around a kilo for hydraulic discs. Keeping an eye out for a decent frame set and may build my own.

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