Hybrid for £300ish budget

sarah3585
sarah3585 Posts: 13
edited November 2011 in Road beginners
Hello,

I was wondering if anyone could help me.

I've been riding my mums supermarket bought mountain bike on and off to work now for a year. It was only suppose to be so I can see if I liked cycling, well i do and I think the time has come to spend some money.

I've decided on a hybrid and it's mostly road but there are a few gravel paths.

I'm only 5.3ft (female) so need a smallish frame.

Slightly over my budget but this Specialized 2012 Globe Work has caught my eye from a bike shop near me:
http://www.primera-sports.com/products/specialized-hybrid-bikes-299/specialized-2012-globe-work-9964.aspx#ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_ucProductDetails_tabsSpecs

or this ladies one: (I know budget is taking a hit)
http://www.primera-sports.com/products/specialized-ladies-bikes-291/specialized-2012-vita-9968.aspx
I hear Specialized are a good brand? Or is there anything else on this site any good?

http://www.primera-sports.com/products/hybrid-city-17/

Many thanks!

Comments

  • jgsi
    jgsi Posts: 5,062
    Take a deep breath and consider walking into your local bike shop.. all things considered, you'll get better advice .
    Spesh are a good make of bike , but think about a road bike and not a hybrid perhaps.. you are on a road forum after all :wink:
    if I was purchasing a bike for a woman, the Ruby Comp would be one of the choices... but thats your budget blown into the weeds.
  • jgsi
    jgsi Posts: 5,062
    ...
  • Diogenes
    Diogenes Posts: 1,628
    Hi Sarah,

    Have at look at this site. http://www.edinburghbicycle.com

    Edinburgh Cycles are a well respected outlet and their own make revolution bikes are very good value for money. Have a look at the womens trailfinder, a bombproof machine with carrying capacity. The also have a range a road and touring machines which are above your budget but still good value. At the entry level EBC offer much better value than some of the "cheaper" local outlets.

    Also pop into your LBS, see whats on offer.

    Good luck.

    D :D
  • sarah3585
    sarah3585 Posts: 13
    Thank you.

    Will give the Revolution some serious consideration. At £213 I'll have some money left!
    Is the Trailfinder better than the Pathfinder @ £255?

    http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLqrymode.a4p?f_ProductID=13004&f_SupersetQRY=&f_SortOrderID=0&f_bct=
  • sarah3585
    sarah3585 Posts: 13
    This Kona Dew City at £224 has also caught my eye:

    http://www.evanscycles.com/products/kona/dew-city-2011-hybrid-bike-ec027214
  • Diogenes
    Diogenes Posts: 1,628
    sarah3585 wrote:
    Thank you.

    Will give the Revolution some serious consideration. At £213 I'll have some money left!
    Is the Trailfinder better than the Pathfinder @ £255?

    http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLqrymode.a4p?f_ProductID=13004&f_SupersetQRY=&f_SortOrderID=0&f_bct=

    The Pathfinder is ideal if you want to pop to the shops. The riding position is very upright, gives excellent all round vision but is not conducive to longer rides.

    If you can stretch to £361 and are happy with drop bars then the revolution cross is an excellent machine for the money.

    The Kona is a good entry level machine, and gets decent reviews as a stable machine, sometimes all aluminium enrty level bikes can be a bit harsh but the reviews are good.

    D :D
  • Bobbinogs
    Bobbinogs Posts: 4,841
    My wife has the Vita and loves it. She rides it every day of the week on her commute which takes in some main roads, some side roads and some rough cycle paths. I stuck some 32mm Schwalbe marathon Kelvars on which improved the comfort and takes care of the p* fairy. The bike also takes a set of panniers well (which she fills with school books as she is a HLTA). When my wife does the odd charity ride I take the panniers off and stick some lighter 25mm tyres on and she zips along.

    Also worth having a look at the Dawes range as they do some nice hybrids (I have the 301 Discovery which is ok although now I have 3 road bikes I don't get out on it much).

    Lots of folks rate the Boardman range of hybrids (good spec for the money) so worth looking at your local Halfords (the service can be very hit or miss but so can the average LBS). Don't get talked into buying one of their non-Boardman "bargains" though, you will only live to regret it.
  • Diogenes
    Diogenes Posts: 1,628
    Bobbinogs wrote:
    My wife has the Vita and loves it. She rides it every day of the week on her commute which takes in some main roads, some side roads and some rough cycle paths. I stuck some 32mm Schwalbe marathon Kelvars on which improved the comfort and takes care of the p* fairy. The bike also takes a set of panniers well (which she fills with school books as she is a HLTA). When my wife does the odd charity ride I take the panniers off and stick some lighter 25mm tyres on and she zips along.

    Also worth having a look at the Dawes range as they do some nice hybrids (I have the 301 Discovery which is ok although now I have 3 road bikes I don't get out on it much).

    Lots of folks rate the Boardman range of hybrids (good spec for the money) so worth looking at your local Halfords (the service can be very hit or miss but so can the average LBS). Don't get talked into buying one of their non-Boardman "bargains" though, you will only live to regret it.

    Just spottted a review of the Rev Cross on the road section of this website.

    As Bobbinogs says the Dawes range are good machines, they have a long pedigree for a good reason.

    I hear rave reviews of the Boardman bikes so I popped into our local Halfords. The bikes look very good although the one on display was very poorly put together. If you are going down the Halfords route then steer clear of the none Boardman bike shaped objects they offer.

    Made me smile that one of their selling points is that they will build the bike for you, as opposed to getting a box of bits I presume. Mind you after seeing the pigs ear they made of the display machine the box of bits and a competent builder may be a better option!

    D :D
  • sarah3585
    sarah3585 Posts: 13
    I've chosen a hybris rather than a road bike as it would be nice to also have the option to take it into the countryside although it's main use will be for road.

    I've had a look at the Boardman range on Halfords website, but they start at £499.99 and I want to avoid Halfords if I can.

    Anyone know what the Kona Dew City is like?
  • Diogenes
    Diogenes Posts: 1,628
    This is where the cross machine comes into its own. Its a real all rounder, competent on the road, will carry rack and panniers and also capable of off road.

    This may also be useful. http://mountaingear-reviews.com/review- ... d-bike.pdf

    D :D

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