Advice on a new Hybrid Bike Please: £500 - £700 Budget

[Corsica_13]

What about a Calibre Stitch?

https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/15905565/calibre-stitch-urban-bike-15905565

Under £340 using the discount code

Looks a decent bike, not seen too much on this brand, is it reliable? They seem to have sold out everywhere I've looked!

Decent little write up on it too...

https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/cheap-flat-barred-commuter-oh-yes/

Thanks for your recommendation.

 

[Corsica_13]

The Whyte Cambridge does indeed look like a very good deal. Don't know anything about the SRAM groupset but it should perform well. The only thing it doesn't specify is if the BB is pressfit or not. I'd stay away from pressfit if you can.
The other one to consider is the similar Giant Fastroad which also looks good on paper. It'll be better than the Toughroad which has fat tyres while comfortable will feel slugish on tarmac.
Both have narrow tyres which will feel quick on the road and should suit your needs. Both take a rack and guards.
If the Whyte is your size I'd go for it or if you want the more familiar Shimano groupset go with Giant, I'd say they are fairly evenly matched.
There's very little advantage to having a 1x chainset, there's one less shifter and one less chainring but you'll get a much lower bottom gear with the double on the Cambridge plus you'll get a better spread of gears if that's important to you.

Interestingly I can also see the Giant doesn't have the Carbon forks or peddles, the Whyte Cambridge does have the carbon forks and also comes with fibre reinforced composite pedals

 

[Cycleops]

In fact the Giant does have a carbon fork, it’s often described as ‘composite’, a aluminium steerer with carbon blades.
Sorry if that’s made it harder! Like I said the two are pretty evenly matched on paper and it might just be the colour that settles it.
Both use a screw in type bottom bracket so no danger of the dreaded pressfit.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

AIUI composite is a portmanteau term for well, composites (of all sorts of things), just as alloy is, for er, alloys (of all sorts of things), but they have come to mean/be used for carbon fibre and aluminium respectively

 

[vickster]

Cambridge. Colour, frame shape and brand preference (and I’ve owned one)
The pedals will most likely just be cheap plastic aka composite. You’ll probably want to upgrade to some better metal ones

 

[Cycleops]

The description of the pedals seem to suggest cheapies but in the picture they look pretty decent. Maybe check that out.

 

[vickster]

Maybe, certainly would not use the pedals as a reason to choose one bike over the other.

The Cambridge just looks so much better, cleaner

 

[mustang1]

Will you buy online or at the bike store? If bike store (and my preferred route), and assuming the staff at the LBS are good, then just buy what they have in store (or can order from them).

I think the bikes are pretty similar at that price range. I got my SO a Boardman 8.6HYB. Its kinda light and it's kinda fine.

But generally, i think you'd do well with a hybrid, flat bar, road oriented bike and maybe you'd like mudguards too (get proper mudguards if you do get some). Spend £100 or so on muti tool, track pump, portable pump, lights, inner tubes, lock, helmet, shorts.

 

[sleuthey]

Thank you for your feedback but I think I'd prefer more gears in all honesty, though it's been a while since I've ridden so unless I tried, it's hard to say.
Thanks again!

Surprised it was in your shortlist then!
I hope you extend your type of riding to make use of the extra gears and get the best of them, best of luck.

 

[Tom...]

Looks a decent bike, not seen too much on this brand, is it reliable? They seem to have sold out everywhere I've looked!

Decent little write up on it too...

https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/cheap-flat-barred-commuter-oh-yes/

Thanks for your recommendation.

They come back into stock in various sizes sometimes a couple a times per week. It's worth checking Blacks/Millets as they also stock it.

 

[vickster]

Looks a decent bike, not seen too much on this brand, is it reliable? They seem to have sold out everywhere I've looked!

Decent little write up on it too...

https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/cheap-flat-barred-commuter-oh-yes/

Thanks for your recommendation.

The last post in this thread suggests that there could be an issue if the build out of the box is not done perfectly (apparently it needs quite a lot of assembly). Given the price, could just pay LBS to build
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/buying-2-bikes-any-advice-appreciated.258710/page-3#post-5940728

 

[Ralphy9207]

The last post in this thread suggests that there could be an issue if the build out of the box is not done perfectly (apparently it needs quite a lot of assembly). Given the price, could just pay LBS to build
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/buying-2-bikes-any-advice-appreciated.258710/page-3#post-5940728

LBS charge around £30 to build the bike. I looked at many hybrids around the £500-£600 price range but nothing beats the calibre hybrid for £300.

 

[vickster]

LBS charge around £30 to build the bike. I look at many hybrids around the £500-£600 price range but nothing beats the calibre hybrid for £300.

 

[Tom...]

They come back into stock in various sizes sometimes a couple a times per week. It's worth checking Blacks/Millets as they also stock it.

XL currently in stock.

 

[Grant Fondo]

I also just found this bike which looks to be an amazing deal:

https://www.discountcyclesdirect.co.uk/catalog/product.php?CI_ID=20753&Item='Whyte Cambridge Urban Hybrid Commuter Bike'

Thoughts and advice please?

Thanks again

Great bike, watchout for XL size, i'm 6ft 3 and XL's too big for me