Bike to fill vacancy....

[Paulq]

I am finally after an N+1 for fitness/commuting and like the look of the following:

Hoy Shizuoka .002 (2015): https://www.evanscycles.com/hoy-shizuoka-002-2015-hybrid-bike-EV198508

Merida Speeder 300: http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Merida-Speeder-300-2016-Hybrid-Sports-Bike_81854.htm

I don't have ant experience of either brand but am ideally looking for something with as upright/comfortable a position as poss.

Any views on either/both or alternatives at around that price point?

Cheers.

Paul

 

[Joffey]

Get to Decathlon, you can get a flat bar road bike with Tiagra for £500 or the same bike with Sora for £380. You don't need discs for commuting or fitness purposes.

Tiara: http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-540-flat-bar-road-bike-tiagra-id_8322798.html
Sora: http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-520-flat-bar-road-bike-sora-id_8322799.html

Decathlon have great customer service, life guarantee on frame, 3 years on components. If you have any probs with the bike it will be quickly sorted. I have 2 B'twins and will be getting another 2, fantastic bikes for the money.

 

[Nibor]

Best bet is if you can get a test ride on both to compare

 

[Drago]

Yep, buy the one that you like the most when you ride it. People's experiences or spec sheets are fine for making a shortlist, but you do not know which will be optimum for you until you try.

 

[Paulq]

Thanks for the replies and links. The Decathlon ones look appealing but not really mad on the idea of a road bike flat bar or not - geometry is just a little too aggressive for me as I have a neck problem hence the reason I mentioned that I'd like quite an upright position.

Discs are probably something I'd like but not a show stopper.

 

[broady]

I have commuted on those two bikes:

I prefer the giant with rim brakes over the specialized with mechanical discs as I like to be able to fix an issue straight away road side and sort it out properly when I get home. I don't like working on discs.
I am going to put the single speed crank on the giant though as it is less to go wrong and have a wider range on the rear.
If I was buying new I'd go 1x11 with a 11/34 or 36 on the back with a 36-44 on the front (depending on how hilly).

 

[outlash]

You don't need discs for commuting or fitness purposes.

Why? I would have thought if you're commuting in all weathers, discs are exactly what you need.

 

[Paulq]

I do like discs to be honest. I'd look at Giant as my LBS stock them but fancied something a little bit different hence I was looking at the Hoy and Merida.

If there are people with experience of these or even who can comment on the brands from a quality perspective that would be helpful.

The Merida looks to have a slightly better spec? I've also heard the bars on the Hoy are ridiculously wide (though replaceable) and that some components like the seat clamp are less than great.

Any views on Merida?

Thanks again.

 

[biggs682]

Yep, buy the one that you like the most when you ride it. People's experiences or spec sheets are fine for making a shortlist, but you do not know which will be optimum for you until you try.

Well said

 

[Joffey]

Why? I would have thought if you're commuting in all weathers, discs are exactly what you need.

You don't 'need' discs if you have decent well maintained rim brakes.

 

[steveindenmark]

I wouldnt pay those prices for Sora and Tiagra.

 

[outlash]

You don't 'need' discs if you have decent well maintained rim brakes.

Or, get brakes which work better in the wet and don't grind rims down day in, day out when being used in crap weather. Tricky choice.