Best Hybrid for £330

gb155
gb155 Posts: 2,048
edited February 2009 in Commuting chat
Ok, So I have looked at a couple, As most of you know I commute between 16 and 25 miles a day, I have looked a couple and im not sure, So now the Giant is gone im on the Townsend so could do with someone pointing me in the right direct before that steel monster kills me lol
On a Mission to lose 20 stone..Get My Life Back

December 2007 - 39 Stone 05 Lbs

July 2011 - 13 Stone 12 Lbs - Cycled 17851 Miles

http://39stonecyclist.com
Now the hard work starts.

Comments

  • justresting
    justresting Posts: 292
    I have a kona dew de lux '08 which cost me £400 last year, Evans now doing it for £340 ish bargain at that price when you look @ the price of this yrs model.
    ' From the sharks in the penthouse,
    to the rats in the basement,
    its not that far '
  • Jay dubbleU
    Jay dubbleU Posts: 3,159
    Gaz - I have the Giant Escape M2 which I got for around 350 quid - ali frame - fairly fast and seems very solid - built for strength - extra spokes in the wheels, reinforced front forks etc
  • The Chingford Skinhead
    The Chingford Skinhead Posts: 718
    I'm very pleased still with my now aging Ridgeback Velocity and have heard good things about the rest of the range.

    I guess the key is to find a decent LBS and go and speak to them and try a few out.
    Pain is only weakness leaving the body
  • Baytt
    Baytt Posts: 102
    since ya live around the manchester area, id suggest going to the edinburgh bicycle co op, look at one of their own revolution hybrids, really good value for money.
  • Baytt
    Baytt Posts: 102
    since ya live around the manchester area, id suggest going to the edinburgh bicycle co op, look at one of their own revolution hybrids, really good value for money.
  • heftyrider
    heftyrider Posts: 70
    I have the Globe Sport which is an earlier model of this

    http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLq ... 155c002910

    It does the job very well.
  • RockyHopperShow
    RockyHopperShow Posts: 271
    Gaz, excellent work with the weight loss. As far as new wheels go you won't regret buying a Sirrus from Specialized. Great commuters.

    (Just noticed that Evans have the base model down from £349 to under £300 - bargain!)
    Start Weight: 128 kilos (20.2 st) (April 17th 2009)
    Current Weight:119 kilos (18.7 st) (June 18th 2009)
    Target Weight: 92 kilos (14.5 st) (sometime mid-2010, hopefully sooner)
  • gb155
    gb155 Posts: 2,048
    RockyHopperShow wrote:
    Gaz, excellent work with the weight loss. As far as new wheels go you won't regret buying a Sirrus from Specialized. Great commuters.

    (Just noticed that Evans have the base model down from £349 to under £300 - bargain!)

    Thanks for the suggestions everyone, it helps.

    Rocky thanks man

    The only thing with the base model Sirrius is GRIPSHIFTERS erghhhhhh, I think I have found a Sirrius sport for £340

    I am correct in thinking 700c wheel are bigger than 26" and thus will make road riding faster when you exert the same amount of effort ?
    On a Mission to lose 20 stone..Get My Life Back

    December 2007 - 39 Stone 05 Lbs

    July 2011 - 13 Stone 12 Lbs - Cycled 17851 Miles

    http://39stonecyclist.com
    Now the hard work starts.
  • W1
    W1 Posts: 2,636
    Baytt wrote:
    since ya live around the manchester area, id suggest going to the edinburgh bicycle co op, look at one of their own revolution hybrids, really good value for money.

    Agree with this - I'm very pleased with my Courier Race, can't fault it for value for money. Great service from Edinburgh too.
  • edhornby
    edhornby Posts: 1,780
    re the 700c question - they are bigger but not by all that much really

    in reality the big bonus for having 700c wheels is that you get slimmer tyres onto them depending on the width of the rim, and this is where you get the big bonus for speed vs effort, so have a look at the size of the rim and the width of the tyre when you shop around

    and yeah - well done on the weight loss mission, keep on with it. If you see a guy on a red fixed wheel with white forks on the Manchester to Blackpool, say hello cos that'll be me !
    "I get paid to make other people suffer on my wheel, how good is that"
    --Jens Voight
  • gb155
    gb155 Posts: 2,048
    edhornby wrote:
    re the 700c question - they are bigger but not by all that much really

    in reality the big bonus for having 700c wheels is that you get slimmer tyres onto them depending on the width of the rim, and this is where you get the big bonus for speed vs effort, so have a look at the size of the rim and the width of the tyre when you shop around

    and yeah - well done on the weight loss mission, keep on with it. If you see a guy on a red fixed wheel with white forks on the Manchester to Blackpool, say hello cos that'll be me !

    Thanks for the info it helped, My mates Ridgeback with 700c wheels seemed about 3" bigger than my 26"s lolol

    My budget just went up to 375, Any other suggestions you kind folk?
    On a Mission to lose 20 stone..Get My Life Back

    December 2007 - 39 Stone 05 Lbs

    July 2011 - 13 Stone 12 Lbs - Cycled 17851 Miles

    http://39stonecyclist.com
    Now the hard work starts.
  • whyamihere
    whyamihere Posts: 7,700
    gb155 wrote:
    Thanks for the info it helped, My mates Ridgeback with 700c wheels seemed about 3" bigger than my 26"s lolol
    They are. ;)

    700c on a mountain bike is called 29", which is obviously 3" bigger than your MTB wheels. MTB tyres are much higher profile than roadie tyres though, so the difference in diameter is reduced.
  • gb155
    gb155 Posts: 2,048
    whyamihere wrote:
    gb155 wrote:
    Thanks for the info it helped, My mates Ridgeback with 700c wheels seemed about 3" bigger than my 26"s lolol
    They are. ;)

    700c on a mountain bike is called 29", which is obviously 3" bigger than your MTB wheels. MTB tyres are much higher profile than roadie tyres though, so the difference in diameter is reduced.

    doh lol

    If 700c profiles are reduced so much is there going go be an issue with my 23 stone frame on it ?
    On a Mission to lose 20 stone..Get My Life Back

    December 2007 - 39 Stone 05 Lbs

    July 2011 - 13 Stone 12 Lbs - Cycled 17851 Miles

    http://39stonecyclist.com
    Now the hard work starts.
  • heftyrider
    heftyrider Posts: 70
    my 700cc spezialised globe sport has coped fine for a year, no problems due to my weight, was 22st to start with. Used for commuting and longest ride of 55 miles.
  • TRADESIZE
    TRADESIZE Posts: 80
    If its any use to you I have a 2008 model year giant escape R2 for sale, in very very good cond 19 inch frame. Thats the one with the 700c wheels (which made a massive difference to mountain bike sized ones),it has discs etc. I upgraded the tyres to specialized punture resistant ones (that cost about £45). As far as I can see the 09 model spec is no different which retails for about £375. I'll get it to your door for £260 (courier). Call if of any use. Reason for sale - upgrade to single speed Jeff 07786365943
    Please sponsor me here:
    http://www.justgiving.com/jeffhillier1/

    Charge Plug Racer with risers - Fixie
    Bianchi Mega Pro L - Road Bike
    GT Avalanche - Off Road bike
    Raleigh Europa - I'll bulid it into a fixie one day!
  • gb155
    gb155 Posts: 2,048
    Thanks for the offer but I need a 23" frame.
    On a Mission to lose 20 stone..Get My Life Back

    December 2007 - 39 Stone 05 Lbs

    July 2011 - 13 Stone 12 Lbs - Cycled 17851 Miles

    http://39stonecyclist.com
    Now the hard work starts.
  • gb155
    gb155 Posts: 2,048
    heftyrider wrote:
    my 700cc spezialised globe sport has coped fine for a year, no problems due to my weight, was 22st to start with. Used for commuting and longest ride of 55 miles.

    Excellent, Thanks mate
    On a Mission to lose 20 stone..Get My Life Back

    December 2007 - 39 Stone 05 Lbs

    July 2011 - 13 Stone 12 Lbs - Cycled 17851 Miles

    http://39stonecyclist.com
    Now the hard work starts.
  • gb155
    gb155 Posts: 2,048
    Well it wasnt really what I expected to buy at all but I got a Dawes Sonoran 2009, Bargain at 270 quid, Left me with cash to buy the extras I have been needing for a while and when we get cycle2work in the next month or so I can get a very nice bike and not worry about getting extras etc :D
    On a Mission to lose 20 stone..Get My Life Back

    December 2007 - 39 Stone 05 Lbs

    July 2011 - 13 Stone 12 Lbs - Cycled 17851 Miles

    http://39stonecyclist.com
    Now the hard work starts.
  • RockyHopperShow
    RockyHopperShow Posts: 271
    Evans are selling Sanorans for £299 so you've really got a good deal there (always nice to know that isn't it :wink: ) A good, solid choice from an underrated brand. It'll serve you well for years I would think.
    Start Weight: 128 kilos (20.2 st) (April 17th 2009)
    Current Weight:119 kilos (18.7 st) (June 18th 2009)
    Target Weight: 92 kilos (14.5 st) (sometime mid-2010, hopefully sooner)
  • gb155
    gb155 Posts: 2,048
    RockyHopperShow wrote:
    Evans are selling Sanorans for £299 so you've really got a good deal there (always nice to know that isn't it :wink: ) A good, solid choice from an underrated brand. It'll serve you well for years I would think.

    Yeah it sure is :)

    I wanted something a little "flashy" but decided it was a workhorse I needed, As someone at work has a Dawes and has done a million miles on it I decided it was a good idea, So far so good :D
    On a Mission to lose 20 stone..Get My Life Back

    December 2007 - 39 Stone 05 Lbs

    July 2011 - 13 Stone 12 Lbs - Cycled 17851 Miles

    http://39stonecyclist.com
    Now the hard work starts.

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