Looking for a weekend / short ride bike

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Shoxt3r

Active Member
Hi all,

I'm looking to get a new bike - it would be for relatively light use at weekends mainly. In the future I will be looking to attach a pannier to add a child seat but for now it's just to get "out there" and get some exercise.

I'm not sure on budget since it's been a while since I got a bike (probably around 15 years ago now!) so i'm not sure what gets me something that will last. I've looked at Halfords and found a couple of Carreras that seem to fit the bill and based on other feedback I'm told a Hybrid would be ideal for my needs. I'm only looking to do some road riding and then rides around country parks for now until I build my confidence up again, so likely would be loose gravel if I did do any off-road stuff.

A couple of examples:
https://www.halfords.com/bikes/hybr...bike-2020---silver---s-m-l-frames-345190.html

https://www.halfords.com/bikes/hybrid-bikes/carrera-axle-mens-hybrid-bike---black---18in-593472.html

https://www.halfords.com/bikes/hybr...-bike-2020---black---s-m-l-frames-345886.html

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/500-hybrid-bike-grey-id_8405210.html
 
I really dislike hybrids. Those so called suspension forks just add weight and don't improve the ride much.
Wide tyres are great for a more comfortable ride.
Look at what are usually referred to as flat bar road bikes and try and find one that will take 32 x622 tyres for a more comfortable ride.
It may be hard to find a bike without disc brakes but discs are heavier than rim brakes and also require a more robust fork. IMNSHO disc brakes are great for mountain biking and not necessary in any other form of cycling.

Mike
 
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Shoxt3r

Active Member
Hi Mike,

Thanks for the advice. I did wonder about the forks if I'm honest (though I only come from owning a lowly Saracen D-Tox from the late 90s!).
When you say "flat bar", do you mean something like the following?

https://www.halfords.com/bikes/moun...bike-2020---grey--xs-s-m-l-frames-346918.html

https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bi...mens-mountain-bike---black-medium-340926.html

I'm a complete novice when it comes to the bike terminology as you can probably tell and I'm only working with a modest budget of £300 or so, and that includes helmet and bike. I basically just want to get some exercise and I much prefer cycling over running :smile:
 

vickster

Legendary Member
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Shoxt3r

Active Member
This would be better, no cheap heavy and unnecessary suspension
https://www.halfords.com/bikes/hybr...ike-2020---grey---s-m-l-xl-frames-346174.html
on budget, you should be able to get a lid for under £30 eg https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-helmets/adult-bike-helmets/halfords-trail-helmet-250822.html
Ideally you really should try them on to find one that fits your head shape and is comfortable

order for click and collect from Halfords through Quidco for a little cash back

Thanks vickster!
Unfortunately that bike in Large size isn't available close to me or via Home Delivery - great looking bike too, shame :sad:
Good suggestion on the helmet though, thank you!

Would this be a good alternative bike?
https://www.halfords.com/bikes/hybr...bike-2020---silver---s-m-l-frames-346142.html

Do you think I would benefit from the 100mm travel suspension on this one or is it really not worth the extra £25?
https://www.halfords.com/bikes/moun...bike-2020---grey--xs-s-m-l-frames-346918.html
 
Hi Mike,

Thanks for the advice. I did wonder about the forks if I'm honest (though I only come from owning a lowly Saracen D-Tox from the late 90s!).
When you say "flat bar", do you mean something like the following?

https://www.halfords.com/bikes/moun...bike-2020---grey--xs-s-m-l-frames-346918.html

https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bi...mens-mountain-bike---black-medium-340926.html

I'm a complete novice when it comes to the bike terminology as you can probably tell and I'm only working with a modest budget of £300 or so, and that includes helmet and bike. I basically just want to get some exercise and I much prefer cycling over running :smile:

This is what I had in mind.

1597017999438.png
540801
 

Pale Rider

Legendary Member
Thanks vickster!
Unfortunately that bike in Large size isn't available close to me or via Home Delivery - great looking bike too, shame :sad:
Good suggestion on the helmet though, thank you!

Would this be a good alternative bike?
https://www.halfords.com/bikes/hybr...bike-2020---silver---s-m-l-frames-346142.html

Do you think I would benefit from the 100mm travel suspension on this one or is it really not worth the extra £25?
https://www.halfords.com/bikes/moun...bike-2020---grey--xs-s-m-l-frames-346918.html

Shame the Carrera is not available in your size - it's the right spec and about as good as you will get for three hundred quid.

The Carrera Parva would do the job, and is preferable to the Valour with the suspension fork.

At that price, a suspension fork adds weight and little else.

Alternatively, this Pinnacle from Evans is a similar style bike and just about on budget at £290.

https://www.evanscycles.com/pinnacle-lithium-1-2020-hybrid-bike-EV339936
 
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Shoxt3r

Active Member
Shame the Carrera is not available in your size - it's the right spec and about as good as you will get for three hundred quid.

The Carrera Parva would do the job, and is preferable to the Valour with the suspension fork.

At that price, a suspension fork adds weight and little else.

Alternatively, this Pinnacle from Evans is a similar style bike and just about on budget at £290.

https://www.evanscycles.com/pinnacle-lithium-1-2020-hybrid-bike-EV339936

Yeah I did see the Pinnacle when doing some comparisons actually. Thanks!

Do you think I would benefit from Disc Brakes or at this price point are V Brakes just as good? I had V Brakes on my old bike and they seemed to cope pretty well.

Aside from the Subway 1 vickster shared, I can't find a bike with Disc Brakes on Halfords without getting a set of forks thrown in.
 

vickster

Legendary Member
Yeah I did see the Pinnacle when doing some comparisons actually. Thanks!

Do you think I would benefit from Disc Brakes or at this price point are V Brakes just as good? I had V Brakes on my old bike and they seemed to cope pretty well.

Aside from the Subway 1 vickster shared, I can't find a bike with Disc Brakes on Halfords without getting a set of forks thrown in.
V brakes are fine
 
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Shoxt3r

Active Member
Thanks for the link and offer Darius but I have a strict budget :smile:

Shame the Carrera is not available in your size - it's the right spec and about as good as you will get for three hundred quid.

The Carrera Parva would do the job, and is preferable to the Valour with the suspension fork.

At that price, a suspension fork adds weight and little else.

Alternatively, this Pinnacle from Evans is a similar style bike and just about on budget at £290.

https://www.evanscycles.com/pinnacle-lithium-1-2020-hybrid-bike-EV339936

Good news! The Subway 1 will be in stock on all frame sizes in the next couple of weeks according to Halfords Live Chat ^_^
https://www.halfords.com/bikes/hybr...ike-2020---grey---s-m-l-xl-frames-346126.html
 
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Shoxt3r

Active Member
So, finally I settled on the Subway 1 which was a bit of a pain to find (only 5 left in the entire country!). I'm just waiting on a new helmet order and then I can get riding - woohoo, can't wait!!

Thanks for all the help and suggestions.

By the way, presumably (within reason) I could fit chunkier tyres with even more grip if I decided to go biking around forest floors and muddier tracks?
 

Pale Rider

Legendary Member
So, finally I settled on the Subway 1 which was a bit of a pain to find (only 5 left in the entire country!). I'm just waiting on a new helmet order and then I can get riding - woohoo, can't wait!!

Thanks for all the help and suggestions.

By the way, presumably (within reason) I could fit chunkier tyres with even more grip if I decided to go biking around forest floors and muddier tracks?

Factory fitted tyres are a movable feast, so the first step is to see what the bike turns up with.

The shallow tread tyres in the pics on the website would be fine for fairly dry forest tracks and even light mud.

As said, knobblies are really only needed for properly muddy conditions which you are unlikely to encounter at this time of year.

You could buy a pair a bit later, whack them on for the winter months and go back to the shallow tread tyres next spring.
 
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