Decent Hybrid £300ish ???

[Berto]

Is that possible?

I'm looking at getting me and the Mrs bikes for pottering around town (use the car less) and to go out on for a few hours at weekends.

I was thinking a geared hybrid, no suspension or anything to add weight.

In our price range we've seen;

For Her

Marin Larkspur CS3 £325
Viking Urban 2012 £280

She wants something balck/grey/dark stylish, that's it. But if we're spending £300 I'd like to make sure she gets a decent bike.

For Him(me)

Ammaco CS250 £220
Carrera Subway £280

Now I've never paid more than £50 for a bike and haven't owned a new bike since I was 12.
I've read the Carrera Subway is not a bad entry level Hybrid bike, nothing fancy but ok to ride and reliable.

If anyone has ridden or owned one of these bikes and can tell me what they thought of it, or if anyone knows of other good Hybrids for around £300 do tell. I live in Coventry West Mids if you know a decent shop other than Halfords or the Coventry Cycle Centre(been there) I'll have a look.

Cheers Rob

 

[vickster]

I think there's a Decathlon in Coventry, do some very good value for money bikes

FWIW, I'd go for the Marin and the Subway

Also, look at the offerings from Specialized, Trek, Ridgeback, Giant

Google brought up the following bike shops in Coventry, websites might be worth a gander

http://www.albanycycles.co.uk/
http://www.hawkcycles.co.uk/
http://www.jardinecycles.co.uk/
http://www.trekcoventry.com/
http://mikevaughan.co.uk/ (Kenilworth)

 

[Berto]

Thanks for the reply, you've kind of confirmed what I was thinking about those bikes. I'll check out the other shops, hopefully the extra choice won't confuse me to much . Not gonna hold my breath on getting a Trek in my price range though.

 

[vickster]

http://www.trekcoventry.com/bikes/hybrid/2012-trek-70-fx/ Older model, barter them down

 

[Archeress]

My partner bought a Carrera Gryphon and it is a very good bike. It's lightweight and a reasonable spec. It cost him £350 in May. Mr Archeress is not much of a cyclist but apparantly bombs along the route to work at 20mph on it. He says its comfortable although a different saddle may make it just a little better. The one criticsm he has is for the tapered handlebars. His accessories slide down the taper and then spin round on the bars once they're loose.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_810613_langId_-1_categoryId_165534

Hugs
Archeress x

 

[cyberknight]

A vote for the subway, great price for a decent bike , bombproof and as someone said in my photo thread
"Smart but brutal looking "

 

[Mad Mick]

Knowing nothing about bikes and having not found this place at the time, I bought a Carrera Crossfire 3 Hybrid from Halfords, seems ok to me, then what do I know

 

[Fiona R]

I am also searching for opinions as I am looking at £3-400 hybrid bike for me that is as light as possible for commuting and leisure rides (i had a knee replacement 6 years ago age 42), I just tried a Pinnacle Neon 2 in Evans Bristol and was very impressed, OK they are £420 but a 20% off code running at present online but you can test ride them. I decided I didn't need front suspension (to keep weight down) nor disc brakes I have kept up a 5 mile commute for 3 months now on a very heavy basic steel mountain bike so I am rewarding myself. I cycled a bit when younger but am a relative novice and intend keeping up cycling as my fitness levels have improved so much and pain (especially from my back that suffered during the years of limping badly) reduced proportionally. Unfortunately the local bike shop doesn't have any bikes in my size/spec requirements to even sit on/test weight of in the shop.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

I've done nearly 5000 miles this year on the 2008 version of the Felt QX70 - does have front suspension but you can lock it off. (I changed the front suspension this year to fixed)

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/felt-qx70-2013/

The QX60 is available for just over £300

 

[JKility]

As someone has previously said, Check out the Carrera Gryphon, swift feeling Hybrid Bike

 

[Berto]

Thanks for the advice on the bikes, I bought the Subway yesterday and did a 10 mile canal ride (on the tow path obviously it's light but not that light).
It seems like a really good bike for a casual rider like myself, and after not riding for about 5 yrs it wasn't a painful experience. Though I am a little sore today.
However it has disc brakes, and they don't seem be as strong as other bikes I've had. Are they supposed to slow you gradually and not lock out. Or have Halfords set the brakes up badly?
Only thing I'd say to noobs like myself when looking for a new bike is really check, the seat handle bar height is right for you.
I've bought a 20" frame (I'm 5'10" about 30" inside leg) I set my seat high so my legs are pretty much fully extended (not sure if this is correct but I've always felt it's a stronger position for me and I don't fatigue as quick) but my friends all said I looked like I was leant to far forward on the bike, and the handlebars don't go any higher.

Thanks again

 

[TheJDog]

I've had a Larkspur for three years or so. I put fulcrum 7s in it when the RD tore the back wheel apart, but it's mostly as it came. Decent bike. Not terribly light, but I rode to Dunwich on it with no problems. Probably done 6000 commuting miles on it, too. There's a carbon forked version of the same bike, that might be better. Or the cheapest Marin ALP might be a better option, too.

 

[JKility]

Thanks for the advice on the bikes, I bought the Subway yesterday and did a 10 mile canal ride (on the tow path obviously it's light but not that light).
It seems like a really good bike for a casual rider like myself, and after not riding for about 5 yrs it wasn't a painful experience. Though I am a little sore today.
However it has disc brakes, and they don't seem be as strong as other bikes I've had. Are they supposed to slow you gradually and not lock out. Or have Halfords set the brakes up badly?
Only thing I'd say to noobs like myself when looking for a new bike is really check, the seat handle bar height is right for you.
I've bought a 20" frame (I'm 5'10" about 30" inside leg) I set my seat high so my legs are pretty much fully extended (not sure if this is correct but I've always felt it's a stronger position for me and I don't fatigue as quick) but my friends all said I looked like I was leant to far forward on the bike, and the handlebars don't go any higher.

Thanks again

It could be that because they are new pads etc that it takes a while wearing it (Just like when you get a new pair of shoes, takes time to get used to them), you have a 6 week check available to you so make sure you take full advantage of that and ensure that when you go to book it in ensure that the bikehut team are aware that the brakes are having issues (We usually tighten them back up on the 6 week check anyway)

 

[Hip Priest]

I'd recommend this:

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/revolution-courier-race-13

I've got the previous model, with the slightly more attractive frame geometry, but I'm sure its much of a muchness. Solid, simple to maintain and reasonably quick. I've done 3000 miles on mine and haven't even had a puncture. Bottom bracket is on it's way out mind.

It's a bit over budget for you now, but they drop in value during sales. I got mine for £240.

 

[Bawheidbob]

I hope you do not mind but I have used this thread as my inspiration and grabbed a Subway as well - Hopefully it will do me more good than the other Subways I like.