First hybrid bike for fast commute?

[martinalex]

Hi. I only need to cycle c60 miles a week and want to find an inexpensive bike to get me started. I'm middle aged and only moderately fit
I was pleasantly surprised by Evans Pinnacle Neon 1 and have also quite liked the Ridgeback Speed, although it feels a bit heavier. Both are under £300 (just).
Anybody feel strongly about either of them?? I want to buy a bike and get started asap....Thanks!

 

[BSRU]

I think most peoples advice would be, if you can, go and try them out then buy the one you like the most.

 

[martinalex]

Thanks! I have done and can't decide between them. I'm leaning towards the Pinnacle but wondered if anyone more experienced than me had any words of wisdom...If the best advice is to buy the one I like, that's what I'll do!

 

[BSRU]

Personally, for me it is important for my commuter to have full mudguards and a rear pannier rack, which the Ridgeback already has but I would assume the Pinnacle can have these fitted(at extra cost).
Also, according to Evans the Pinnacle only has 7 gears whereas the Ridgeback has 21, this may not be important on your commute depending how hilly it is.

 

[wiggydiggy]

Thanks! I have done and can't decide between them. I'm leaning towards the Pinnacle but wondered if anyone more experienced than me had any words of wisdom...If the best advice is to buy the one I like, that's what I'll do!

As an alternative to panniers myself and others love our Carradice Saddle bags, you can fit a surprisingly large amount of kit in even the 10litre models (Barley) although I would recommend the support bracket as well to stop it swinging.

If your after 'speed', I'd choose the Pinnacle over the Ridgeback, but consider stuff like Specialized Sirrus, Scott Sub 30 and GT Traffic also?

Personally I'm now on a Marin Belvedere as a 'fast' hybrid (and it is) but that isnt at Evans....

 

[twowheelsgood]

I'd strongly recommend a touring bike instead (with flat or dropped bars to preference), even secondhand if budget dictates - this will be with mudguards and the ability to add a rack also.

There are high-performance hybrid bikes but these tend to be expensive. Every reasonably priced hybrids seem to be encumbered with one or more clunky components, usually bad wheelsets and tyres. Really in general you don't need more than a 28c tyre for urban riding and many have very stiff but extremely harsh-riding aluminium frames.

I actually do own a Marin Sausalito hybrid which was far from cheap, I have however replaced everything apart from the frame and crankset over the years as I wasn't happy with it, I could have saved a lot of time and effort if I'd have gone the touring bike route from the start. The worst mistake I made was getting a road-orientated bike with suspension, it's heavy, unnecessary and totally ruins the handling - cheap steel fork fixed that.

This of course is strictly IMHO - looks to me that grandpa more or less had it right as far as utility cycling was concerned!

 

[Thomk]

I think if I were you I'd get the Pinnacle from Evans, have a 30 day trial and if I didn't like it I would ask them to collect it and give me my money back. That is if I have understood the following correctly:
http://www.evanscycles.com/help/30-day-test-ride

 

[Mike!]

I have a Sirrus (although a more expensive model than your budget), but can highly recommend one

Try before you buy though!

 

[martinalex]

Thanks to all for your input. The Evans guarantee was a great spot! I'd tried a Sirrus Comp which I thought was fantastic but am keen to stay as cheap as poss for the time being in case I don't take to the commute as well as I hope I do....I think it may be the Pinnacle then.

 

[BSRU]

Thanks to all for your input. The Evans guarantee was a great spot! I'd tried a Sirrus Comp which I thought was fantastic but am keen to stay as cheap as poss for the time being in case I don't take to the commute as well as I hope I do....I think it may be the Pinnacle then.

Enjoy it, I started off commuting on a £60 Woolworth "MTB", now I have my main hybrid commuter bike, a road bike for commuting on dry days and a MTB setup for snow, with another one hopefully on the way this spring.

 

[ianrauk]

Evans' Pinnacle brand are very good bikes.

 

[wiggydiggy]

Enjoy it, I started off commuting on a £60 Woolworth "MTB", now I have my main hybrid commuter bike, a road bike for commuting on dry days and a MTB setup for snow, with another one hopefully on the way this spring.

I think many are like this, only lack of storage for me ATM prevents the upgrade to seperate bikes otherwise I wouldnt be on the Hybrid. That said I love them for being able to hop on and off the road/path/tracks with ease and not really be slowed down as long as your sensible with what you try.

 

[BSRU]

I think many are like this, only lack of storage for me ATM prevents the upgrade to seperate bikes otherwise I wouldnt be on the Hybrid. That said I love them for being able to hop on and off the road/path/tracks with ease and not really be slowed down as long as your sensible with what you try.

I have the advantage of a 5m wide by 7m long garage with only one car getting in the way, it was one of the main reasons I bought the house.

 

[Beebo]

Someone is selling a medium Trek FX 7.3 on the classified page at the moment.

I have one of these and they make a great fast commuter bike.

 

[wiggydiggy]

I have the advantage of a 5m wide by 7m long garage with only one car getting in the way, it was one of the main reasons I bought the house.

/Tangent/ I have to admit that having the space for my own fleet is a must when I next move, although my flat has communal areas which are used by some to store their bikes I know of at least 4 bikes that have been stolen so anything I have has to be indoors.

I'm a little tempted knowing I'm still going to be there for a year at least to ask the landlord if I can fit/have fitted one of those pulley type storage mechanisms that hangs your bike off the ceiling. I have a very tall landing and I could easily have one there to hang another bike.

Still its all expense, better to get out of debt first then to start buying more bikes! /End Tangent/