hybrid is there much different between dawes and trek

[sutty86]

okay guys new here, currently located in skipton and commute daily to work which is not too far away on my current scott hardtail,
the hardtail is literally falling apart, crank needs replacing , gears need sorting and so do the brakes as well as i could do with new tyres,
so its time for an upgrade...

fortunatly my workplace do the cyclescheme so i can buy a bike and get its a reduced monthly rate instead of paying outright which atm is ideal....

so ive been into my local chevin cycles and seen a lovely trek 8.3ds all singing all dancing hybrid, which i loved.. but its costing £500 , but also ive seen a
Dawes Discovery Sport 3 Gents 18 Inch Hybrid Bike

which looks very good value for money at £380, saving £120 , which i could spend on a decent lock, helmet, mudguards and lights....

anyone got any advice, or indeed any alternatives for the money

mainly my biking is done on the road, but i would like it to be capable of going to leeds and back via the canal, which can be quite rough in certain parts....

Cheers

links if needed

http://www.tesco.com/direct/dawes-d...d-bike/159-6959.prd?pageLevel=&skuId=159-6959

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/mountain/dual_sport/ds_series/8_3_ds/

 

[DolbyDan]

Personally I would go with the comfiest, but the Trek is a better brand make and looks nicer, internal cabling etc

 

[Drago]

Gut call says Trek. Cheap Dawes bikes are rarely.up to much, whereas trek have a good record.with mid priced hybrids and commuters.

 

[vickster]

Trek, add £150 to your C2W voucher to get all the other bits needed at tax free rate

 

[Saluki]

I'm firmly in the Trek camp too. Better bike all round.

 

[sutty86]

fair one just me being tight, been told i can get a bike from evans in leeds , so much more choice there with better rates....

do i need a bike with disc brakes and front suspensions or is it me overeacting and being spoilt for choice

 

[w00hoo_kent]

Trek sounds like the better bike, and you're already suffering from having a bike fall apart around you. Also I'm not sure Tesco will do cyclescheme so you'd want to check that. One thing worth considering, there is a break point in cycle scheme where the savings are better which you may already have identified as £500 (I'm not 100% what it is, just that it's there). Do you not already have decent accessories?

 

[w00hoo_kent]

Do i need a bike with disc brakes and front suspensions or is it me overeacting and being spoilt for choice

Need is a very small list, two wheels, brakes, a saddle (someone will be along in a minute to say two wheels is extravagant!) but different bits can make the ride easier and therefore better.

I wouldn't bother with front sus on a road bike, you mention the canal can get 'interesting', I've no experience of it, but have happily ridden my rigid Sirrus on various off tarmac trails (including alongside the river Medway) and I've been fine. If it gets bumpier, you use elbows and knees as suspension and use speed (slow or fast depending) to deal with things. It's all what you are comfortable with really. The flipside of no front sus, is you aren't lugging the extra weight everywhere. If you feel it's going to help you, make sure you get something with lockout so you can make it solid for when you are on tarmac. Nothing says 'wasting energy' like bouncing up and down on a set of forks.

I like disk brakes and they are generally a 'must have' for me. I'm up to four bikes now, three of them have disks, the one without was made before anyone considered putting them on a bicycle. I don't ride that one in the wet if I can help it. If you are riding mixed conditions and changing weather then disks have less of the drawbacks of rim brakes, but a well set up pair of rim brakes will serve if you want to go that way. I like the fact my disks work whatever I seem to throw at them, it gives me a nice sense of security. I've commuted the 80's bike in to London, I'm not sure I'd do it often though.

Be honest about what you are going to use the bike for, how you are going to look after it, etc. Evans will do test rides, have a feel for the bikes and see what you like. At that price point it's better to change for something else in a years time than do lots of expensive upgrades, so if you think 'I prefer disks' then go for disks (likewise suspension etc.). If you are primarily doing a tarmac commute of a reasonable distance, anything you are comfortable on will be fine, buy the colour you like. :-)

 

[sutty86]

thanks for the advice, i thought i might get flamed...
so much choice out there really...
tesco direct does as i work for tesco, so i would get ten percent off striaght away before the scheme got involved, but looking around theres nothing special and prices are better elsewhere... and i would of course have to build myself ( which im useless trust me)

friend at work has just got a cyclocross which he is raving about, but i dont think i can swing my budget higher than 500, and looking around theres not alot of cyclos under 500

 

[Cycleops]

You definitely don't need the front suspension. I have a Marin so equipped and it adds little to comfort but a lot to weight, will save you some money too. Can't comment on disc brakes as I don't have any experience of them but bearing the English weather n mind you might find them useful.

 

[vickster]

Of course not all cx bikes are created equal, you get what you pay for with bikes, goes for hybrid as much as road etc

You can get for sub £500 or £600, look at ebc revolution models, think there's one in Leeds. They do plenty of flatbar and roadbikes too


http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/browse/bicycles/cyclocross-bikes?brand=revolution

 

[MarkF]

I have had (& enjoyed) most hybrids including Trek FX's and Dawes Disco's, I'd go for the Dawes, the paint & finish has always been better on mine and I don't see £150 "better" there. FX's & Sirrus's come and go but I always have a Discovery in the garage. However, either are perfectly capable for the canal where I do Skipton - Leeds regularly.

I have friends who bought base 201's many years ago, all are still giving good service without issues along the canal. 101 & 201 Discoveries are fantastic value bikes.

 

[sutty86]

thank you all for your kind welcome, after all your knowledge and advice i decided to buy a 2nd hand revolution courier race disc not sure which year as its off the bay, but i managed to get it for £110 delivered, which we get me a years cycling at least and then i can think about possible a major upgrade next year
well i hope to chat with you all more