A new Winter/Pub Hack Hybrid bike for £500

wolfsbane2k

Hey all.
C2W scheme's (through Halfords) opened up again. I'm digging around trying to find a reasonable urban shopping /winter hack - for family rides during the week, and slapping on the winter tyres (ie 700x35C marathon winters AND mudguards) for the winter, but also want to be able to use it for the rides with the kids on gravel paths to fit a followme tandem to.

My 11 year old (gasp) 3x9 XC hardtail needs a stripdown with new drivetrain (both FD and RD are bent beyond repair) and new headset, and It appears cheaper to just buy a new bike, even if I have still got a new pair of 26" wheels for it..

So I'm now digging around. Limit is £500, as I want to have £400-£500 for bits (followme tandem, mudguards, 3 sets of tyres, new rack, dynamo lights & proper waterproof panniers/drybags)

My problem is frame size -I'm 6ft7, with 34" inside leg and size 13 feet, so need something "big" with little foot overlap with the front wheels, and the usual's from Halfords ( Voodoo Marasa, Boardman Hybrid team/new Boardman HYB 8.6) just aren't big enough.

Given that this is meant as a winter (including snow/ice) bike, discs brakes are, in my eyes, an essential.

So - anyone got any ideas bikes that fit that criteria? I'm really not fussed about drops/flats, and wrt gearing a 1x9 would probably do me..

I think the answer is a Vitus Substance Gravel Sora, currently at £549, if I can get Halfords to buy from CRC/Wiggle, but any other suggestions appreciated!

N0bodyOfTheGoat

https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/ ... -22-frames does a 22" frame and the price has been much closer to £500 recently, at a very quick look at Halfords own bikes.

wolfsbane2k

NitrousOxide wrote:

https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/mountain-bikes/voodoo-bizango-29er-mens-mountain-bike-16-18-20-22-frames does a 22" frame and the price has been much closer to £500 recently, at a very quick look at Halfords own bikes.

I had seen that, but had excluded it based on price & thought it was a little too similar to my existing XC ( other than 29" wheels) in terms of target riding.
Still, if it hits 500 again, it's not a bad shout, thanks!

CitizenLee

It's slightly below spec but the Carrera Subway 2 comes in 22".

At £350 before 10%BC discount it's well under budget so leaves plenty of cash for the other things you need, plus any potential upgrades you may want to do to the bike to improve the spec.

The Substance looks great though. I considered the V2 Apex when it was down to £850 but my C2W voucher arrived too late and the price went back up.

wolfsbane2k

I'd considered the Subway 2, but would have to perform some sort of tomfoolery as i can't find spiked tyres that come in a 27.5..

N0bodyOfTheGoat

Wolfsbane2k wrote:

I'd considered the Subway 2, but would have to perform some sort of tomfoolery as i can't find spiked tyres that come in a 27.5..

https://www.schwalbe.com/en/spike-reade ... r-pro.html do a 27.5" version, not cheap though!

Very quick look at CRC and Wiggle brought up this 62cm http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/cube ... prod165545

Can you give us ballpark stack and reach figures for a road and mtb/hybrid bike, based on your existing fleet, if they fit you well?

What ballpark BB to saddle top height do you use, given I'm presuming 34" is not your cycling inseam measurement? IIRC, 400mm seatposts need at least 100mm inside the seat tube. So guessing at ~91.5cm (~36") cycling inseam, you would have ~81.5cm BB to saddle top, which would mean you need a seat tube that is at least 51.5cm to work with a 400cm seatpost.

Just looking at top tubes, that 62cm Cube is 613mm and the XL 22" Voodoo Bizango is 655mm with what looks a short stem.

wolfsbane2k

NitrousOxide wrote:

Wolfsbane2k wrote:

I'd considered the Subway 2, but would have to perform some sort of tomfoolery as i can't find spiked tyres that come in a 27.5..

https://www.schwalbe.com/en/spike-reade ... r-pro.html do a 27.5" version, not cheap though!

Very quick look at CRC and Wiggle brought up this 62cm http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/cube ... prod165545

Can you give us ballpark stack and reach figures for a road and mtb/hybrid bike, based on your existing fleet, if they fit you well?

What ballpark BB to saddle top height do you use, given I'm presuming 34" is not your cycling inseam measurement? IIRC, 400mm seatposts need at least 100mm inside the seat tube. So guessing at ~91.5cm (~36") cycling inseam, you would have ~81.5cm BB to saddle top, which would mean you need a seat tube that is at least 51.5cm to work with a 400cm seatpost.

Just looking at top tubes, that 62cm Cube is 613mm and the XL 22" Voodoo Bizango is 655mm with what looks a short stem.

Somehow I'd missed the ice spiker pro's - had been looking at the marathon winters, conti winters/spikes etc. Definitely not cheap though!

That Cube Nature actually looks like a good match - had missed that one, as I'd excluded anything with forks.

I honestly have no idea about current geometry/sizing I use - current MTB is a kona http://www.classickona.com/oldgold/2k7/HOSS/index.html in 22", still within original stem, but that's a little short, and the roadie is a 2015 540 triban in XL - it was a free upgrade from a 500SE in XXL. I've got the geo for that frame somewhere...

N0bodyOfTheGoat

https://www.rutlandcycling.com/bikes/hy ... een_454626

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-5 ... 9537.html#

wolfsbane2k

NitrousOxide wrote:

https://www.rutlandcycling.com/bikes/hybrid-bikes/marin-muirwoods-2018-hybrid-bike-green_454626

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-5 ... 9537.html#

That Muirwoods looks good for the price - surprised by the steel frame on that TBF! Halfords C2W adds an extra 15%, making it 460, but £40 for MTX rack and mudguards brings it just in on budget, and can swap the BB/cranks for the Deore cranks on the kona that are only a few 100 miles old, and means all my spare 9spd chains & spare links would be useable. Like it.

Now to see if I can get rutland to buy in some B&M lights..
Cheers!

Don't like the RockRider, can't put my fingers on why, but having tested it in a store, it didn't feel right.

mudcovered

Wolfsbane2k wrote:

That Muirwoods looks good for the price - surprised by the steel frame on that TBF! Halfords C2W adds an extra 15%, making it 460, but £40 for MTX rack and mudguards brings it just in on budget, and can swap the BB/cranks for the Deore cranks on the kona that are only a few 100 miles old, and means all my spare 9spd chains & spare links would be useable. Like it.

Well Marin used to make (in the early 90s) very good and light steel MTB frames so its not necessarily a bad thing. I'd really want to try before I buy though.

Mike

N0bodyOfTheGoat

https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/kona-dewey ... ke-p399867

Collect only, L was in stock Basingstoke, if GO are part of same cycle scheme.

wolfsbane2k

mudcovered wrote:

Wolfsbane2k wrote:

That Muirwoods looks good for the price - surprised by the steel frame on that TBF! Halfords C2W adds an extra 15%, making it 460, but £40 for MTX rack and mudguards brings it just in on budget, and can swap the BB/cranks for the Deore cranks on the kona that are only a few 100 miles old, and means all my spare 9spd chains & spare links would be useable. Like it.

Well Marin used to make (in the early 90s) very good and light steel MTB frames so its not necessarily a bad thing. I'd really want to try before I buy though.

Mike

weight : 14.52kg in 22"

review of the 2010 model, out of curiosity https://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category ... -10-37582/

I've never ridden steel; really tempted to order it on a whim.

N0bodyOfTheGoat

22" frame https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/ ... -22-frames

N0bodyOfTheGoat

Are Rutland part of the same scheme and can you use their sale voucher codes on cycle schemes?

If so, https://www.rutlandcycling.com/bikes/ro ... rey_381981 might be another contender in XL.

https://www.rutlandcycling.com/bikes/hy ... ack_381375 also, if the 58cm is big enough.

wolfsbane2k

Spent 2 hours scouring an lbs, Evans and Halfords.
Halfords bloke looked at me, said I'm really sorry, but there is literally nothing I can do, no matter your price range. Far enough.
Evans had a "oh bugger, go play zwift while I look up some options", nice chat, but nothing in stock, and not a huge amount of choice, especially if I wanted some in reasonable timescales.
LBS had me ride a whyte Whitechapel xxl, and tried to upsell me to a Shoreditch. Nice bikes, but didn't quite feel right. The had a Marin muirwoods 2019 in, in a l, which I had a gander on, but size screwed up any real feel about the bike, other than just how heavy the bugger was in comparison to the Whyte!

Off to a second LBS tomorrow lunch I think.

wolfsbane2k

Still not decided, but I'm currently blowing the budget looking at a 2019 NuRoad Pro..

CitizenLee

Wolfsbane2k wrote:

Still not decided, but I'm currently blowing the budget looking at a 2019 NuRoad Pro..

I'm loving my new 2018 model. Nice and fast on road and loads of fun off road too. Just got back from the woods a few minutes ago with with a dirty big grin on my face

kingdav

Have you sourced a tandem trail-a-bike?
I have an Adams that my kids have grown out of now. Let me know if you are interested. As well as the rear baby chair we have the saddle/seatpost that can be used instead.

wolfsbane2k

CitizenLee wrote:

Wolfsbane2k wrote:

Still not decided, but I'm currently blowing the budget looking at a 2019 NuRoad Pro..

I'm loving my new 2018 model. Nice and fast on road and loads of fun off road too. Just got back from the woods a few minutes ago with with a dirty big grin on my face

Haha, it was your post in the "new commuter" thread that made me look at them, and think, "ooh, what's that then"...
the 2019 looks a beauty, and I'm torn between that and an orange RX9-S 2018 at the same price - both tiagra fitted

I've realised that the bike I really want, doesn't seem to exist, and I'd be better off getting a proper all weather commuter, sticking with battery lights for the moment, and spending £30 on a second hand pub hack.

wolfsbane2k

kingdav wrote:

Have you sourced a tandem trail-a-bike?
I have an Adams that my kids have grown out of now. Let me know if you are interested. As well as the rear baby chair we have the saddle/seatpost that can be used instead.

Blimey - nope, not got one of those, didn't even know they existed! Will DM you later...

wolfsbane2k

Blimey. Tredz have an offer of £90 off the cube bikes, meaning I can get the Nuroad Pro FE for £959, or the Nuroad Pro for £909.
the FE includes racks, guards and a dynamo hub...

Clicky Clicky Done I think!

edit: Oh, balls, does't work on C2W.

CitizenLee

Wolfsbane2k wrote:

CitizenLee wrote:

Wolfsbane2k wrote:

Still not decided, but I'm currently blowing the budget looking at a 2019 NuRoad Pro..

I'm loving my new 2018 model. Nice and fast on road and loads of fun off road too. Just got back from the woods a few minutes ago with with a dirty big grin on my face

Haha, it was your post in the "new commuter" thread that made me look at them, and think, "ooh, what's that then"...
the 2019 looks a beauty, and I'm torn between that and an orange RX9-S 2018 at the same price - both tiagra fitted

I've realised that the bike I really want, doesn't seem to exist, and I'd be better off getting a proper all weather commuter, sticking with battery lights for the moment, and spending £30 on a second hand pub hack.

Haha, nice

The 2019 model looks great! Love the red forks! It's got the tyres I'll probably upgrade mine to when I go tubeless. I do really like the Orange too though. Tough choice!

Wolfsbane2k wrote:

Blimey. Tredz have an offer of £90 off the cube bikes, meaning I can get the Nuroad Pro FE for £959, or the Nuroad Pro for £909.
the FE includes racks, guards and a dynamo hub...

Clicky Clicky Done I think!

edit: Oh, balls, does't work on C2W.

They'll let you top it up yourself if the price is over 1k.

Cube better give me some commission :P

wolfsbane2k

CitizenLee wrote:

The 2019 model looks great! Love the red forks! It's got the tyres I'll probably upgrade mine to when I go tubeless. I do really like the Orange too though. Tough choice!

<Snip>

They'll let you top it up yourself if the price is over 1k.

Cube better give me some commission :P

Yeah,I love the flash of colour.

Nah, I can't top up with Halfords c2w vouchers :-(

wolfsbane2k

Dang Nabbit.

I've put test ride refundable deposit down on the following :

Cube NuRoad Pro
Specialised Diverge E5
Marin Four Corners 2019

and eyeing up the Ribble GCR 725.

N0bodyOfTheGoat

Wolfsbane2k wrote:

Dang Nabbit.

I've put test ride refundable deposit down on the following :

Cube NuRoad Pro
Specialised Diverge E5
Marin Four Corners 2019

and eyeing up the Ribble GCR 725.

I don't if you're aware, but when I looked recently, it looked like Cube have re-jigged their model names and what spec bike comes with them... The first generation "Nuroad Pro" was basically a ~£1300RRP adventure version of the Attain, with 105 group including 505 hydraulic brakes, the second generation "Nuroad Pro" comes with mechanical disc brakes IIRC and may even come with Tiagra drivetrain.

wolfsbane2k

NitrousOxide wrote:

I don't if you're aware, but when I looked recently, it looked like Cube have re-jigged their model names and what spec bike comes with them... The first generation "Nuroad Pro" was basically a ~£1300RRP adventure version of the Attain, with 105 group including 505 hydraulic brakes, the second generation "Nuroad Pro" comes with mechanical disc brakes IIRC and may even come with Tiagra drivetrain.

Thanks for the heads up, but yep, I'm aware. Been done to target that 1k magical mark, and am currently wanting to ride a 2019 version while waiting for someone to drop the 2018 pro to £1k...