Hybrid for couple, Specialized or Marin?

[Cycleops]

Any hybrid you choose will be more than robust for your purposes and you really don't need to change to wider tyres unless you want the extra comfort afforded by them.

 

[vickster]

Looked at Whyte online. They seem to be a good option as well. Although, The more robust hybrids seem to all have suspension forks. The ones without seem more road bike than all purpose. If I were to put a wider all terrain tyre on lets say a Marin Fairfax or Whyte Shoreditch / Portobello, will I be able to take it off the beaten track as I would the "dual sport" bikes?

I have a whyte Cambridge and although it's fine on paths in parks, on potholed roads, I wouldn't want to ride it off road, so through woods etc. I'd probably choose a suspension forked hybrid over a flat bar commuter if I didn't want to go far or fast

Get to an Evans if you can and have some test rides , although this will only give you an idea of road handling not off road. Nearest one to Watford looks to be in Hendon

 

[Pale Rider]

For the love of God please don't just get "his n hers" matching brands...! Try them out both of you and get the ones you each like .

I hate it when couples go round on matching bikes just because.

As an aside, I'm off to the Lake District shortly.

No doubt I will see middle aged couples in matching branded walking kit.

It's not something I'm looking forward to.

 

[Alex34]

As an aside, I'm off to the Lake District shortly.

No doubt I will see middle aged couples in matching branded walking kit.

It's not something I'm looking forward to.

Blinkers maybe an option? ;-)

 

[hopless500]

Got a Marin Kentfield hybrid which has front suspension. Used it for touring earlier this year with 28.touring tyres. The suspension was useful on the rough bits but the tyres were great for on the road. I wouldn't have gone done the route of great big fat tyres. They would have been hard work for the majority of the riding.

 

[Alex34]

I have been visiting bike shops and looking at different options... I think its best we stick to the suspensioned forks for our off road riding as I believe we will be doing quite a bit of it. The weight difference is notable when compared to a non-suspensioned hybrid but when picking them up in general they are quite light.

That being said I have come across a few options and find it even more difficult to choose. Besides the Marin and Specialized I have now taken a liking to the Whyte Malvern and the Boardman MX Comp. I have only been able to ride the Specialized Crosstrail (which was the Sport Disc and not the Elite Disc) so I have not been able to compare any of them in ride and feel terms. I guess I couldn't have picked a worst time with the 2015 models about to come out and most of the 2014 models being sold out.

Looks wise, I am leaning towards the Whyte Malvern or the Boardman MX Comp. Then I think it would be the Specialized Crosstrail. I'm going to stop by Halfords today on the way home from work to see if I can get a test ride on the Boardman. Do you guys know of any other large bike shop in the NW London are that I could try out? Evans is on my list as well.

 

[jay clock]

from what you have said, definitely avoid suspension. Marin is generally an excellent brand. And my wife has a Sirrus a few years old and it is excellent.

Enjoy yourselves.

 

[vickster]

Halfords don't do test rides, you might be lucky enough to be able to ride on the shop floor.

If you like the Whytes and want to save a few quid http://www.discountcyclesdirect.co.uk/catalog/search_results.php?searchwords=malvern They have a couple of shops too if prepared to travel a bit, lots of other his and her Whyte hybrids too

 

[Saluki]

The Sirrus isn't really the one to choose for rough stuff. If speed isn't important, look at the crosstrail ( men's) / Ariel (womens). Whyte also do a good range of hybrids if you have a dealer close by

Whyte bikes are awesome. Triple butted aluminium, a great ride and nice to look at too. Giving one some serious thought at the moment as I got a test ride on one the other day and it was way way way nicer than my Spesh.
http://whyte.bike/gb/

Sorry to confuse the issue OP but if you are going to spent time on the bike, look at more than a couple of options.

 

[vickster]

Are you looking at the rigid fork ones?

 

[Alex34]

from what you have said, definitely avoid suspension. Marin is generally an excellent brand. And my wife has a Sirrus a few years old and it is excellent.

Enjoy yourselves.

Why do you say that? From the negatives I have heard so far regarding fork suspensions is the added weight but for me the weight seems fine. What other cons do the fork suspensions have?

 

[Alex34]

Are you looking at the rigid fork ones?

I have looked at rigid forked options but they seem way more road bike orientated. My wife is an amateur photographer and I know how she is... she loves to go off on these bumpy forest paths to take pictures. She will be using the bike as mobility for her photography excursions as much as for leisure exercise. I figured the forks will be useful with riding like that.

If the fork suspensions are such a poor accessory to hybrid bikes why do all of the manufacturers have them as standard on hybrid trail bikes?

 

[Saluki]

If you really want fork suspensions, get a bike where you can lock out the suspension. My Spesh Hardrock has such forks. I lock them out for road use and then have variable settings of squashiness for off road riding. I tend to never go past the middle setting as the bouncy front end just takes so much energy out of your pedal stroke.

 

[vickster]

I have looked at rigid forked options but they seem way more road bike orientated. My wife is an amateur photographer and I know how she is... she loves to go off on these bumpy forest paths to take pictures. She will be using the bike as mobility for her photography excursions as much as for leisure exercise. I figured the forks will be useful with riding like that.

If the fork suspensions are such a poor accessory to hybrid bikes why do all of the manufacturers have them as standard on hybrid trail bikes?

My question was more to Saluki, I think I said before you would be best with suspension. If you are spending £500+ on the bike, the fork should be of decent quality. You get less bang for buck from Specialized in terms of components used vs other manufacturers

 

[vickster]

Given your location, pay a visit to the Giant store in Radlett. The Roam is a popular option

http://www.giant-radlett.co.uk/en-GB/