'Another' what bike thread.

[NCFC-Biker]

Hello everyone.

Just wondering what bike you would all choose from the following. From browsing the forum it seems front suspension would be pointless, I would like flat bar bike though. I would feel more comfortable and think I would find it easier making a hobby out of cycling!

I've just changed jobs and will now be within cycling distance (a few miles each way). I would also like to use it on the weekend to rack a few miles up

Now looking through loads and loads of pages on the Internet, my mind is boggled. Thinking it's probably best to go with what I like the look of most now! Although I would like to get my money's worth.

These are the bikes I've been looking at-

Cube SL Road pro - £599
http://www.bikesheduk.com/cube-sl-road-pro-2015

Various Whyte
Cambridge 2012 £569
Shoreditch 2015 £499
Portobello 2015 £550

Specialized Sirrus sport disc £540
http://www.rutlandcycling.com/28515...dZxMopKcOEPoEggV87mXc0oqgoFxrjXK0EaAj0L8P8HAQ

Sirrus elite disc 2015 £630
https://www.cyclestore.co.uk/specia...58VLvdQJxroR8bm9sXTVEaAhin8P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds

Boardman Hybrid Team £560
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...egoryId=320403&productId=992033&storeId=10001

On top of all those I've been looking at Giant rapid 2 and a Felt QX85 2015!

Ideally I should try and see them in the flesh or test ride them. I've got a halfords nearby and have been to look at the Boardman, love the look of it but have no confidence in the 2 women behind the counter when speaking about it. I've also got Evans cycles half an hour drive away and Pauls cycles an hour away. Other than that, there's nothing.


Sorry for the long post!! If you got this far then thanks for reading.

 

[mark st1]

Nice choice I've had a Boardman hybrid and a Sirrus sport. Both nice reliable bikes without looking at up to date models you will probably get a better spec bike from the Boardman for your money. And Halfords usually do some amazing deals on there bikes which you can combine with various discounts of your own @vickster is a bit of a guru at the various sites to save some £'s Downside is the pot luck service from your branch of Halfords (as you mentioned). Try as many as you can on your list before you commit you will find one you click with and makes you smile that's the one for you.

Personally I'd skip the hybrids and go straight for the road bike as it saves you asking the same question in 3-4 months time when you want to upgrade to a road bike .

 

[Pale Rider]

Nothing to choose quality wise between the brands you've picked - they are all as good as you will get for the money.

The linked bikes are of a similar type - flat bar road bikes - and meet your spec.

They are aimed at use on the road, but will also do well-made cycle paths.

You could get anal about it and examine the specs with a fine toothed comb, but you will see a lot of the bits are Shimano and probably from the same range.

It's unlikely you will notice much difference between one grade of component or another

If you commute, you will probably want mudguards, and a rack for carrying stuff.

They can be retrofitted in one way or another, or you could open up another huge range of bikes by looking for something fully equipped from the factory.

 

[vickster]

I had a Cambridge 2012, excellent bike for commuting, can take proper mudguards and pannier rack. Check the sizing though

Personally wouldn't get a Sirrus, I hated the two I had (not sure why I got another after the first was stolen)

 

[NCFC-Biker]

Nice choice I've had a Boardman hybrid and a Sirrus sport. Both nice reliable bikes without looking at up to date models you will probably get a better spec bike from the Boardman for your money. And Halfords usually do some amazing deals on there bikes which you can combine with various discounts of your own @vickster is a bit of a guru at the various sites to save some £'s Downside is the pot luck service from your branch of Halfords (as you mentioned). Try as many as you can on your list before you commit you will find one you click with and makes you smile that's the one for you.

Personally I'd skip the hybrids and go straight for the road bike as it saves you asking the same question in 3-4 months time when you want to upgrade to a road bike .

Thank you for your reply. I have to admit, I love the look of the boardman in the flesh. Kind of fancied something a little different maybe. I can sign up to British cycling to save an extra 10% on the boardman. Anything else would be a bonus!

I completely understand what you mean about getting a road bike. I'm sure it probably would be better value for money and faster but I really don't fancy drop bars. Maybe in the future, if I get addicted to cycling, I could upgrade to a road bike.

Nothing to choose quality wise between the brands you've picked - they are all as good as you will get for the money.

The linked bikes are of a similar type - flat bar road bikes - and meet your spec.

They are aimed at use on the road, but will also do well-made cycle paths.

You could get anal about it and examine the specs with a fine toothed comb, but you will see a lot of the bits are Shimano and probably from the same range.

It's unlikely you will notice much difference between one grade of component or another

If you commute, you will probably want mudguards, and a rack for carrying stuff.

They can be retrofitted in one way or another, or you could open up another huge range of bikes by looking for something fully equipped from the factory.

Thank you for your reply.

I have to admit I have probably been getting too anal about it. Trying to work out which has better parts, checking weight and prices etc.

Yeah I would definitely want mud guards. Some reviews seem to suggest that mud guards won't fit well on certain bikes?

I had a Cambridge 2012, excellent bike for commuting, can take proper mudguards and pannier rack. Check the sizing though

Personally wouldn't get a Sirrus, I hated the two I had (not sure why I got another after the first was stolen)

Thanks for the reply. I have been looking at the older models of various models of bike. The only thing that worries me is would anything be starting to get outdated and not be as good as more up-to-date parts?

Can I ask why you didn't like your two Sirrus's?

 

[mjr]

Are you in Great Yarmouth, then? If so, there's the magic of Madgetts in Diss to consider too, plus a lot of smaller cycle shops in Norwich like Pedal Revolution and Freemans, as well as chains like Cycles UK.

I'm not a big fan of the flat-bar alu hybrid so I'm probably the wrong person to advise on bike types. Just ride before you buy if you can

 

[NCFC-Biker]

Are you in Great Yarmouth, then? If so, there's the magic of Madgetts in Diss to consider too, plus a lot of smaller cycle shops in Norwich like Pedal Revolution and Freemans, as well as chains like Cycles UK.

I'm not a big fan of the flat-bar alu hybrid so I'm probably the wrong person to advise on bike types. Just ride before you buy if you can

Yes I am (well Bradwell). Thanks for pointing those shops out. I'll have a look at them online and take a trip to some of them. Haha, I don't think too many people like them much. I think it will just suit me for now though.

 

[vickster]

Thank you for your reply. I have to admit, I love the look of the boardman in the flesh. Kind of fancied something a little different maybe. I can sign up to British cycling to save an extra 10% on the boardman. Anything else would be a bonus!

I completely understand what you mean about getting a road bike. I'm sure it probably would be better value for money and faster but I really don't fancy drop bars. Maybe in the future, if I get addicted to cycling, I could upgrade to a road bike.





Thank you for your reply.

I have to admit I have probably been getting too anal about it. Trying to work out which has better parts, checking weight and prices etc.

Yeah I would definitely want mud guards. Some reviews seem to suggest that mud guards won't fit well on certain bikes?




Thanks for the reply. I have been looking at the older models of various models of bike. The only thing that worries me is would anything be starting to get outdated and not be as good as more up-to-date parts?

Can I ask why you didn't like your two Sirrus's?

They were really really boring to ride and Specialized bikes are as common as...I like different brands these days

Parts don't get that outdated that quickly especially on hybrids, SRAM apex on a Cambridge 2012 is current. Along with Hydraulic brakes, carbon fork good spec for the money. 10kg

My Cambridge had some bontrager guards and a topeak disc rack fitted when I sold it

Don't get too hung up on spec, get the bike that fits you well and is enjoyable to ride

 

[Drago]

I would ride them all, and buy the one that suited me the best. If I couldn't ride one then it would be struck from the shortlist.

 

[NCFC-Biker]

They were really really boring to ride and Specialized bikes are as common as...I like different brands these days

Parts don't get that outdated that quickly especially on hybrids, SRAM apex on a Cambridge 2012 is current. Along with Hydraulic brakes, carbon fork good spec for the money. 10kg

My Cambridge had some bontrager guards and a topeak disc rack fitted when I sold it

Don't get too hung up on spec, get the bike that fits you well and is enjoyable to ride

Thanks. I've actually seen the Cambridge 2015 for £675. (Think she would kill me if I spent that much).

Ok then, I'm going to visit a few more shops that 'mjray' mentioned either tomorrow or after Christmas.

Hopefully they won't mind me having a test ride on a couple and see how it goes.

 

[NCFC-Biker]

I would ride them all, and buy the one that suited me the best. If I couldn't ride one then it would be struck from the shortlist.

Will do that, thank you.

 

[NCFC-Biker]

Sorry to ask, is it definitely not worth having front suspension? Would the extra 3kg or so make much difference?

Thanks everyone for the help so far!

 

[vickster]

Sorry to ask, is it definitely not worth having front suspension? Would the extra 3kg or so make much difference?

Thanks everyone for the help so far!

are you riding off road? If not, avoid suspension, unless there's a health issue that makes it a useful feature

 

[NCFC-Biker]

are you riding off road? If not, avoid suspension, unless there's a health issue that makes it a useful feature

No, hardly. Maybe slightly rough road sometimes the odd bump up and down pavements where the cycle path would be.

 

[vickster]

Totally not needed. Carbon fork and 28mm tyres not over inflated should do that without the weight penalty and sapping of energy of a spongy front end