Advice on buying first womens hybrid bike

[rpwills88]

Hi,

Ok, to start with I am totally clueless about bikes, so if my question is stupid then I apologise in advance. I am looking to buy my first bike (since I was a child), the bike will be used for family cycling trips, usually along cycling paths that are mainly tarmac. At the moment I really like the look of the "Giant Flourish 1 Womens 2015 - Hybrid Classic Bike". I'm a bit concerned that it only has 7 gears and that it is more a bike for popping to the shops/trips around town. Some of the cycle route we are have looked at are 15-20 miles return, is this bike a good choice for journeys like that?

Thanks for any help at all.
Rachael

 

[Yazzoo]

To be honest if you're max journey is going to be 15-20 miles I'd say you can do that on anything. I have a really heavy, really naff, unbranded bike I use for family picnics etc. It weighs half a ton but it has a basket and panniers, plenty of room for kids toys, extra layers, food etc.

I don't know what the terrains like where you are or how old your family is, my son is 7 so I'm looking at less than 10mph, i'm sure if he were 16 I'd struggle to keep up on anything!

 

[raleighnut]

Depends on how hilly the cycle paths are, if they're relatively flat you should be fine. The 7 speed hub gear is generally used without a massive front ring so it gives a medium spread of gears.

 

[rpwills88]

Thanks for your replies! My son is 3 and will be in a seat on the back of my husbands bike.

To be honest I haven't done any of the cycle paths before so I have no idea how many hills there are of what sort of an incline there is. Ideally I want a bike that I can take on a good variety of different routes etc although like I said they will be mainly tarmac. I don't really know enough about bikes/gears to know if 7 is enough of if the bike I've picked is good for the job!

 

[rpwills88]

Here is a link to the bike... http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/flourish.1/19212/77390/

 

[Yazzoo]

I think it will be fine for slow family rides, don't really want to be racing along with a little one on the back! My son was in a trailer on the back of mine first, then a trailgator bar and now off on his own (frightening!) you don't really want anything too racey if you're trying to ride with someone with little legs!

A bike like that lends itself well to baskets and panniers etc that you'll inevitably need for all your sons peripherals! You could also fit a child seat for rides when the husbands not around etc

 

[rpwills88]

That's great thank you for your advice! Would I be able to cycle through fields etc or am I best sticking to tarmac paths? Thanks!