Best value hybrid? ~£300-400

MalkovichMalkovich

Hi all,

I'm on the lookout for a hybrid about £300-400, could be cheaper, could be a bit more. Mainly I'm looking for a great deal.

My daily commute is about 3 miles each way, with an unfortunate number of potholes. So I'm looking for something that can handle them, while remaining relatively light. What size wheel would you recommend?

The Boardman MX Sport looks a popular choice
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/h ... sport-bike

as well as Btwin's Hoprider bikes.

I've seen Carrera Subway 1/2 recommended for value too.

Any recommendations?

N0bodyOfTheGoat

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

£320 currently in sale before 10% British Cycling discount, superb bang for buck value.

jsisidore

NitrousOxide wrote:

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes/voodoo-marasa-hybrid-bike

£320 currently in sale before 10% British Cycling discount, superb bang for buck value.

I second this.

milemuncher1

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/riverside-9 ... 79018.html

This is superb VFM, and if it's anything like as good as my 2014 Riverside 3, it's well worth a look.

JBVRV

NitrousOxide wrote:

<span class="skimlinks-unlinked">http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes/voodoo-marasa-hybrid-bike</span&gt;

£320 currently in sale before 10% British Cycling discount, superb bang for buck value.

+1 for this. I've bought two already (first stolen) and was considering buying a third as it'll be cheaper than having current one serviced and replacement wheels/tyres etc.

MalkovichMalkovich

Brilliant, great to hear, will be having a good look

I've come across one of these for £300 used:
https://www.evanscycles.com/specialized ... e-EV279731

Seems a nice option as it's a 2017 model, nice specs, but it's a medium and I'm 6'. Size guides suggest I need a large (20") frame. Workable?

Many thanks for your replies

apreading

£300 for a 2017 Sirrus seems too cheap - I would be checking its not stolen or something wrong with it if thinking about buying that. Alas, I am pretty sure a medium will be too small for you though.

Second hand can be a good option. I would look for Boardman Hybrid Team second hand too - I got an as new one for £300, hadnt even been taken out of the box as it was an insurance replacement that didnt get used.

If new, the Voodoo is almost certainly the winner at that price though.

MalkovichMalkovich

Judging by the photos, looks legit - has the owner's manual, branded gloves, related ephemera etc. A pity about the size.

Think I'll go for the Voodoo though. I get 10% off through my employers and apparently I can combine that with the British Cycling membership discount, making it a toasty £259.20 + possible cashback. Cheaper than I could get it used, probably.

Positivity about it here makes me optimistic. Thanks all!

fuller23

NitrousOxide wrote:

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes/voodoo-marasa-hybrid-bike

£320 currently in sale before 10% British Cycling discount, superb bang for buck value.

I've looked at the Marasa before, but was put off by the chunky tyres. What size ones could it take? Currently using an older specialized bike with 35mm which seems ok, my commute is a mix of light forest track and good/bad cycle paths. Would the stock tyres on the marasa be ok still?

Also what is it that makes it better than other hybrids at similar price point? Have seen it recommended a few times, but I'm a total bike novice so not sure what it is that sets it apart!

The Rookie

The Marasa will take anything from 700c x 28mm road tyres through to narrowish MTB 29er tyres, my nephew has one and uses both giving him two very different bikes. The stock tyres are rather nasty anyway, for commuting on road some decent road tyres makes it a much more responsive/faster ride (28mm or 32mm Conti UltrasportII folders can be had for sub £30/pair).

N0bodyOfTheGoat

fuller23 wrote:

NitrousOxide wrote:

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes/voodoo-marasa-hybrid-bike

£320 currently in sale before 10% British Cycling discount, superb bang for buck value.

I've looked at the Marasa before, but was put off by the chunky tyres. What size ones could it take? Currently using an older specialized bike with 35mm which seems ok, my commute is a mix of light forest track and good/bad cycle paths. Would the stock tyres on the marasa be ok still?

Also what is it that makes it better than other hybrids at similar price point? Have seen it recommended a few times, but I'm a total bike novice so not sure what it is that sets it apart!

From memory, the rims/fork/frame will happily accomodate tyres from 28-50mm wide.

~£280 with cashback and discount for an 8-speed hybrid with hydraulics is stonking good value. You could spend more on a hybrid and get a lighter off-the-peg spec, but with just a change of tyres, you could get the Marasa down to ~12.5Kg.

If you wanted to further lighten the bike and improve the ride quality, presuming the parts are of similar weight to how my Wazoo came, good upgrades would be...
Tyres (~1640g stock for ~550g 28mm Continental Grandsport Race... for road use, not offroad)
Tubes (check default weight, replacement ones for ~28mm could be ~120g each)
Replace the ~600g stem and handlebars (I fitted ~300g 35mm Corto and 747mm "chewy" Knuckleballs for ~£55)
Seatpost and saddle (default on my Wazoo were a hefty ~700g total and not very comfy for me, could easily be reduced to <500g)
Fork (replaced ~1500g alloy with ~600g carbon)
Go 1x8
etc.

fuller23

Ok great. Will maybe pop into Halfords later and have a look. I've been waiting on my work C2W scheme re-opening, but tempted just to go for this instead. I've been using a (borrowed) Specialized Globe for my 7 mile commute which has been fine, so not sure there's much point in getting a really expensive bike. As I say I'm a total beginner so I suspect any incremental benefits may well be lost on me!