Which Hybrid Bike @ £400?

Jareth76

Hi there,

Which budget hybrid bike is best? I've read numerous other posts and websites but would value any other thoughts:

- £400 budget
- Very short daily commute (1.5 miles, home to station, all flat)
- Fitness and fun weekend use - off-road and road (in a hilly, semi-rural area...apart from the commute)
- Must be mudguard compatible; panniers not necessary

Bikes I've read about or test-ridden so far:

Boardman MX Sport 2017
- £400 (at Evans with 20% discount; usually £500; not listed online)
- Front suspension and hydraulic disc brakes, both a bonus I wasn't expecting!
- Does their inclusion mean a compromise on the other components? At this much lower price, to me, it seems worthwhile but I don't know...
- https://www.cyclerepublic.com/boardman- ... -bike.html

Carrera Subway 2
- £350
- No suspension
- Hydraulic disc brakes
- Read great things in BR
- http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/h ... -22-frames

Pinnacle Cobalt 1 or Lithium 2
- £375/£400
- Cobalt has suspension; Lithium doesn't
- An experienced cyclist I was chatting to at the lights, during a test-ride, said the Lithium was 'a piece of crap'
- COBALT: https://www.evanscycles.com/pinnacle-co ... e-EV275615
- LITHIUM: https://www.evanscycles.com/pinnacle-li ... e-EV275572

Or I’ve read about this one from this forum but don't know anything else about it:

Voodoo Masara Hybrid 2016
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... reId=10001

Any other suggestions would be very welcome. Thanks.

If it makes any difference, I am 6'1", slightly longer in the leg, used to ride lots as a teenager (20+ odd years ago!), but have strong legs and am quite fit.

N0bodyOfTheGoat

Marasa best bang for the buck, if the remaining size fits you.

cycleclinic

if the cummute is flat why no get a single speed.

cooldad

You missed the weekend use? And the hilly bit?

cooldad

Rule out the Pinnacles, the components are a bit rubbish, especially V brakes when you can have hydraulic discs.

I tend to agree on the Voodoo.

cooldad

ps I'd be wary of locking a nice new shiny bike at the station. For a short ride like that get a £50 thing off Ebay and a nice bike for weekends.

JBVRV

The Voodoo is unbeatable for value and versatility

prawny

I've just bought the last Marasa in my local halfords. It's a good bike.

I've not had the chance to use it in anger yet, but I think it will do nicely as a spare for my commute/wifes bike on family rides.

Jareth76

Thanks everyone. Much appreciated. I'll check out the Marasa. Do they give test rides at Halfords? (Proper outdoor ones, that is, not just to the de-icer and back?)

cooldad

Nope, not usually.

rob71272

Jareth76 wrote:

Thanks everyone. Much appreciated. I'll check out the Marasa. Do they give test rides at Halfords? (Proper outdoor ones, that is, not just to the de-icer and back?)

Bridgwater branch did for my daughter in their car park, it was in the summer though.

N0bodyOfTheGoat

Ask for a test ride on a turbo trainer, if they haven't changed their policy on outdoor rides, exluding e-bikes.

natrix

Worth looking at Decathlon, their BTwin is over 2kg ligher than the Marasa

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-520- ... 22799.html

bonzo_banana

natrix wrote:

Worth looking at Decathlon, their BTwin is over 2kg ligher than the Marasa

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-520- ... 22799.html

That's a flat bar road bike its not going to be any good off-road or strong in general with a carbon fork. Also remember with btwin they have much lower rider weight limits. Don't know the weight of the OP but 100kg, minus bike weight, accessories and riders clothes, luggage etc could take this bike down to a 80-85kg rider weight capacity. The Carrera Subway has the full recommendation of the standard which is 136kg/300lbs rider weight. Could be important depending on rider weight but with the average UK man being about 82kg in weight there is a strong chance he could be over. Surely always needs to be mentioned when recommending a btwin bike even if you personally think the manufacturers weight limits can be ignored. If nothing else you void the warranty by riding over the weight capacity.

If the OP is locking at the train station I'd agree with the comment that you just buy a ratty old bike of little value and just give a good service. An old steel rigid mountain bike can be got for £10 or less and fit for purpose.

http://www.btwin.com/notices/wp-content ... N_PE12.pdf