Advice sought - Hybrid bikes!

[leo]

Hey guys

Just stumbled across the forum and figured I'd get the best help and advice here. Hope that I too will become experienced enough to be able to contribute back to the forum.

Going to ask a question that gets asked a lot, but I'm finding it difficult to pick out a bike. I have a budget of about £250 and have resolved to buy a hybrid bike. However, I'm not sure which. My finances are a bit tight at the moment so I have decided to buy it over installments from a catalogue (not ideal, I know).

Just wondering which you guys recommend from the following I've managed to narrow it down to:

http://www.marshallward.co.uk/rf/mar/navigation/product.do?Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Ns=prod_in_stock|1||price_est|0||prod_min_base_price|1||scu_id|1&groupId=491726403Ν=this_product&SNtk=&Np=1&SN=156+4294484060+4294484560+85+4294483885&Ntt=491726403&D=491726403&Ntk=group_search&Dx=mode%2bmatchall&thisprod=449792570&N=156+4294484060+4294484560+85+4294483885&Nty=1&Mis_item_id=15&Mis_item_loc_id=1&product=449792570&pageSize=12

http://www.marshallward.co.uk/rf/mar/navigation/product.do?Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Ns=prod_in_stock|1||price_est|0||prod_min_base_price|1||scu_id|1&groupId=471664700Ν=this_product&SNtk=&Np=1&SN=156+4294484060+4294484560+85+4294483885&Ntt=471664700&D=471664700&Ntk=group_search&Dx=mode%2bmatchall&thisprod=471664700&N=156+4294484060+4294484560+85+4294483885&Nty=1&Mis_item_id=15&Mis_item_loc_id=1&product=471664700&pageSize=12

http://www.marshallward.co.uk/rf/mar/navigation/product.do?Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Ns=prod_in_stock|1||price_est|0||prod_min_base_price|1||scu_id|1&groupId=449792932Ν=this_product&SNtk=&Np=1&SN=156+4294484060+4294484560+85+4294483885&Ntt=449792932&D=449792932&Ntk=group_search&Dx=mode%2bmatchall&thisprod=449792932&N=156+4294484060+4294484560+85+4294483885&Nty=1&Mis_item_id=15&Mis_item_loc_id=1&product=449792932&pageSize=12


Any help at all would be very much appreciated and I apologise for the length of the post!

 

[Scoosh]

Hi leo and Welcome to the forum
Either the refs are to show the general idea of bike - or you are a big guy !

I don't know the specific bikes in your lo-o-o-o-o-ng refs but I do wonder about buying from a catalogue when you have so little experience. You will have read in many places the value placed on the LBS (local bike shop) by us CC Forummmmers. One good reason is that you can get properly sized and fitted there.
A good LBS will also help you to narrow down your requirements, point you in the right direction - then let you have a trial ride.

I'm sure most shops will be able to do a finance arrangement, so when you go in each month to hand over your £££, you can have a chat, get known and buy lots more cycling goodies
IMHO this would be a much more sensible option than the catalogue route.

 

[Phixion]

Many bike shops have Interest Free Credit options, I'd seriously go that route rather than Catalogue - no offence but them bikes are naff.

Also other online retailers like wiggle.co.uk have credit options.

 

[LLB]

As the others have said. This is not about elitism, but you get what you pay for.

You need to decide what you are going to ride the bike on. Is it a pop to the shops type bike, are you looking to do muddy paths/green lanes/bridleways, or riding leafy lanes and mainly road riding where you don't want the full on racer type bike?

Whatever you go for sizing for your frame is crucial, and the only way to do this is to sit on a few before you commit your money.

 

[leo]

Thanks for the help guys. Will get down to my LBS and there is also an Evans nearby.

Well, I decided on a hybrid because I figured I could use it for traveling around London, but also I'd like to be able to do some of the more adventurous cycling - muddy paths etc. .

 

[LLB]

Thanks for the help guys. Will get down to my LBS and there is also an Evans nearby.

Well, I decided on a hybrid because I figured I could use it for traveling around London, but also if I wanted to do something sportier I could.

I went for one of these hybrids recently (marin fairfax).

- all the advantages in weight of a racer with carbon forks which are there to soak up the bumps without the weight penalty of active suspension, but without the prone position. I had one of these for a couple of years (Giant OCR1), but didn't really like the full on racer riding position.

 

[LLB]

Just seen your edit. My thoughts on this is that unless you are prepared to spend a decent sum on active suspension, it isn't worth bothering with as it won't function very well and weigh a ton

 

[leo]

So it's basically one or the other really?

 

[shimano]

Hi Leo, welcome to the forum. My experience is minimal but I did spend the time to shop around, looked at loads of bikes and then made my decision. I was fortunate enough to find a good hybrid at a great price in an LBS that actually seemed to be staffed by cyclists who cared. Do your homework, do some legwork and don't just buy on the promise of an advert. For what it's worth I bought a Ridgeback Speed and am amazed at the difference between it an my old mtb that I had thought was ok.

 

[leo]

Thanks again guys. I'll put in some proper research before rushing into it!

Oh any other suggestions for Hybrids up to the £300 - £350 mark would be very much appreciated.

 

[LLB]

There are plenty of people on here who can give much better advice on MTBs than I, but if you want a bike which you use for 95% of the time on the road, then it needs to be as light as possible, and the best for this job is a road oriented hybrid. My Marin was £350 from Leisure Lakes as it has been heavily discounted, but the Giant I had before was close to double that. There are some very good buys out there if you have a good idea of what you want.

Your LBS is a good starting point, and allow a good couple of months for your fitness levels to rise to the point you feel are doing the bike justice.

 

[cheadle hulme]

Welcome Leo,

Halfords have a bad reputation but do some great bikes - the Carrera range is well worth a look. The Gryphon is their fast hybrid. I've had one for 3 yrs and it suits towpaths Ok with wider tyres.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...7151_crumb_33980-33957_parentcategoryrn_47151

 

[Downward]

A lot of love around for the Trek 7.3fx which is around £350.

http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=15152

 

[leo]

Thanks for the suggestions. I think it will come down to one of these two:

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/ridgeback/cyclone-2008-hybrid-bike-ec001140 (Ridgeback Cyclone)

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/trek/73-fx-2008-hybrid-bike-ec001501 (Trek 7.3FX)

 

[Downward]

Trek looks nicer - Kona Dew is a light blue colour not to everyone's taste