my new bike

I'd get something like this and maybe spend a little updating some of the bits (not that you really need to):
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MARIN-Bobcat-Trai ... 4aa9d7af6a

It's a well built yet fairly light quality bike with a solid front fork.

I was after the very same thing. A universal bike.

You are looking at MTB style which are fine, but not swift, stiff and easy rolling on the road.

I discounted tourers because they were heavy in my price bracket. I'd love one, but when I can afford a really good one. I didn't go for MTB style because I have an MTB and they're much harder work on the road. And def nothing with front forks, which add to the weight and dissipate your riding energy (unless you lock it and then what's the point of having it in the first place). I wanted one that was a proper good bike, fast & responsive still but a go-anywhere-do-anything and not too heavy as I'd be on & off trains with it.

I went for a road-based hybrid, or an "urban" or a commuter - whatever you want to label it. - a specialized sirrus. I also had on my shortlist Trek 7.5FX, carerra someting or other and the Boardman hybrids are pretty good too, my friend has one. There was a review in last month's Cycling Plus on hybrids, they were all pretty good, I think the boardman won.

I went to LBS and tried for size, once I had narrowed the shortlist and knew what I wanted & exact size requirements I waited for a suitable model to come up 2ndhand as I didn't have full whack funds. Bought my specialized sirrus comp for £300 (£699 new), year-old with v little usage.

Fair price, spanking bike, money well spent as it's proved to be everything I wanted and a really enjoyable ride too.

Fitted all manner of commute bits & bobs to it so LBS stilll happy with me even tho I didn't get the bike from them. Been on & off road (trails & river towpaths etc), rides with kids, tagalong attached at times, pop to the shops on it, tootle to local meetings on it, commute to work on it, on & off trains with it. Been brilliant.

Waited a long time for it. Ebay is very odd, same model as mine going for £550, offered as a "bargain" because a year ago it was £700, even tho Evans etc were selling off the 2009 stock for £450 new. MY 2ndhand seller was on bikeradar.

My advice: know what you want. Look for a bargain, stay abreast of the going rate at different sources to make sure you don't over-pay, be ready to strike quick when you find it, don't fanny around with ebay.

slowlanejane wrote:

I was after the very same thing. A universal bike.

You are looking at MTB style which are fine, but not swift, stiff and easy rolling on the road.

I discounted tourers because they were heavy in my price bracket. I'd love one, but when I can afford a really good one. I didn't go for MTB style because I have an MTB and they're much harder work on the road. And def nothing with front forks, which add to the weight and dissipate your riding energy (unless you lock it and then what's the point of having it in the first place). I wanted one that was a proper good bike, fast & responsive still but a go-anywhere-do-anything and not too heavy as I'd be on & off trains with it.

I went for a road-based hybrid, or an "urban" or a commuter - whatever you want to label it. - a specialized sirrus. I also had on my shortlist Trek 7.5FX, carerra someting or other and the Boardman hybrids are pretty good too, my friend has one. There was a review in last month's Cycling Plus on hybrids, they were all pretty good, I think the boardman won.

I went to LBS and tried for size, once I had narrowed the shortlist and knew what I wanted & exact size requirements I waited for a suitable model to come up 2ndhand as I didn't have full whack funds. Bought my specialized sirrus comp for £300 (£699 new), year-old with v little usage.

Fair price, spanking bike, money well spent as it's proved to be everything I wanted and a really enjoyable ride too.

Fitted all manner of commute bits & bobs to it so LBS stilll happy with me even tho I didn't get the bike from them. Been on & off road (trails & river towpaths etc), rides with kids, tagalong attached at times, pop to the shops on it, tootle to local meetings on it, commute to work on it, on & off trains with it. Been brilliant.

Waited a long time for it. Ebay is very odd, same model as mine going for £550, offered as a "bargain" because a year ago it was £700, even tho Evans etc were selling off the 2009 stock for £450 new. MY 2ndhand seller was on bikeradar.

My advice: know what you want. Look for a bargain, stay abreast of the going rate at different sources to make sure you don't over-pay, be ready to strike quick when you find it, don't fanny around with ebay.

Is that the 2010 model?