Bergamont Helix - Any Good

[Taxboy]

I'm looking to get back into using a bike for casual use for my other hobby - photography. The use will be mainly country lanes but also some off road tracks. My local bike shop suggested that for my budget of £500 I consider a Bergamont Helix as this came fully specced with mud guards and dynamo lights. He suggested this type of hybrid would be ideal for my needs. I'm a total novice to bikes / specs but wondered if the Helix - I believe its a 3.4 at £449 is a good deal or if I should be looking at something else.

My online research has thrown up limited reviews - I could only find one, which was very positive. However when I saw a comparison review by the same person of a different bike, the other model was criticised for a poor off road suspension despite having the same fork as the Bergamont. I understand that Bergamont have a bigger following in Germany than here in the UK so any advice greatly welcomed

My attitude to the purchase is I'd much rather slightly overspec rather than realise a year down the road I'd bought the wrong bike but also don't want to throw money at something I'd never utilise fully. I don't really want to use Halfords preferring to support my local independant wherever possible
a) On principle
b) My nearest Halfords is 15 miles away

I understand that Bergamont have a bigger following in Germany than here in the UK so any advice greatly welcomed

 

[Cyclist33]

I've never heard of them. Don't bother with suspension and as for mudguards you can get them afterwards for 20 quid.

Cannonball quick will get you anywhere you want to go with a fatter pair of tyres.

 

[smokeysmoo]

My attitude to the purchase is I'd much rather slightly overspec rather than realise a year down the road I'd bought the wrong bike

Buy the best frame your budget will allow, everything else can be changed if and when it wears out. What I mean is don't buy a bike just for it's components, buy it mainly for it's frame quality.

I've never heard of this brand either TBH, so I don't know why you'd consider them as we have so many reputable and well known manufactures on sale here already.

I don't know your budget, but looking at the chainset of that bike I presume it's at the lower end of things, so based on that I fully agree with @Cyclist33 about the suspension, forget it as it won't be very effective and will just add dead weight to the bike.

Just to correct Cyclist33's typo as well, if you want to research the bike he suggested it's a Cannondale Quick, I suspect he posted from a phone with auto correct working overtime

 

[Taxboy]

Thanks for the replies - my local shop is only small and the offering was the Bergamont or a much cheaper Dawes. I'll have to research which brands are available to me locally.

How do I determine the quality of a frame - sorry if this is a stupid question

Budget is up to £500 max