My First Hybrid Bike ( Need help)

[neonplanet40]

Hey guys,

What can i say, im new to the forums and new to biking. I used to cycle everywhere when i was younger on a mountain bike but then it got wrecked and i never got another one.

Now im looking for a hybrid bike as it would suit my needs the best.

I really only now realise how much bikes have evolved! Some of them cost more than a car!!!!!!!!

Ill be using it for normal commuting as well as for my university which is very grassy with the odd hill and dodgy frost

sometimes snow lol.

My budget is £300- £450. I'll be buying it after xmas and i'll be buying it in the UK. Prob mid January so would like to get an idea of what im looking for and i know there are guys here who know alot about bikes!

So if you guys could give me maybe 3 or 4 to look at. The best i can get for my money i guess.

I should also say, im 6ft 5 so the bike would need to be biggish

Any info you guys could provide would be really appreciated.

Im gonna flick through these forums some more and read up. its all over my head. But i have the money now and want to get the best i can get for the money i have now.

Thanks again

Currently im looking at these 4 but im not sure

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/scott/sportster-p55-2009-hybrid-bike-ec016318
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/scott/sportster-p4-2009-hybrid-bike-ec016316
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/trek/7300-2009-hybrid-bike-ec016512
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/felt/qx90-2008-hybrid-bike-ec000597

Any thoughts on these choices? I should also say that the only LBS i have is Halfords.....

Oh and Happy Christmas Everyone

Mark Devlin

 

[mr_hippo]

I have a Trek 7200 - 25".

I'm not quite as tall as you but I have a 36" inside leg. The 25" has a horizontal top tube and the other sizes have a sloping one. I find it very comfortable, the only changes that I have made are to change the pedals to SPD and change the tyres to 700x32. If you do not need or want suspension, there's the Trek 7.3FX

http://http://www.evanscycles.com/products/trek/73-fx-2009-hybrid-bike-ec016510

 

[Soltydog]

Hi Mark

I'm 6'5" & I found having an adjustable stem very useful to find a comfy position. If you are buying online without trying the bikes out, i'd recommend an adjustable stem to give you more options on position

 

[neonplanet40]

So which one out of my choices do you guys think is best for the money? Specs wise i mean?

Im not sure whether i need front suspension or not but it may be useful for me to have as i will be using the bike at uni which has all kinds of terrain. I dont care about the extra weight as it will do my legs the world of good

I also want to be able to put mud guards and what not on it as it rains alot in Northern Ireland

Also which online shops do you guys find the best?

And a last question. Why do none of the online bike shops send Trek bikes? Theya re all pick up instoor early. But I dont know of any bike shops near me to see if they have it and im sure the LBS will be more expensive as well.

Thanks again and hope you are all enjoying your Christmas dinner !!

 

[Danny]

Personally I would not get a bike with a suspension seat post or forks if you are buying a bike for commuting - they will just slow you down.

So I suggest you rethink your choices. There are plenty of hybrids without suspension - for example:

Ridgeback Comet @ £292
Scott Sub 30 @ £439

If you let us know where you live I am sure someone will be able to recommend a nearby alternative to Halfords.

 

[mickle]

Trek are an independent family owned company with a social concience, have a commitment to support their dealers and believe that the best way to buy a bike is through a bike shop rather than mail order. They don't supply to mail order houses.

 

[neonplanet40]

Thats a shame. I'll have to search out a bike shop near me and see if they have any. I've found one shop but it looks very small. The only other thing i have is Halfords. I live in Co.Armagh, Northern Ireland in a town called Lurgan so if there happens to be anyone close by let me know .

And Dannyg if the only reason you would suggest me turning down a suspension bike is cause it will slow me down then don't worry about that. I used to have a full suspension mountain bike and it never slowed me down. So i doubt this hybrid will be any worse.

Could i ask people for reccommendations on the best bike i can get for £400 - £450? I don't understand the specs of bikes to be honest and i look at some which "look" identical but the specs are different and im unable to tell which one is better.

Many thanks for the replies so far guys

Mark

 

[mr_hippo]

Have you tried:-
Wheels N Motion
Unit 38 CIDO
Charles Street
LURGAN
BT66 6HG
County Armagh
http://http://www.4ni.co.uk/102589x178x3_wheels-n-motion-lurgan.htm

 

[neonplanet40]

Thats the one i know off mate. Its quite small but im not sure what stock they have yet. I will call in on monday when they open again. With any luck they have some Treks

EDIT: http://www.wheelsnmotion.co.uk/

Guess im getting a new bike on Monday??

 

[Danny]

And Dannyg if the only reason you would suggest me turning down a suspension bike is cause it will slow me down then don't worry about that. I used to have a full suspension mountain bike and it never slowed me down. So i doubt this hybrid will be any worse.

A hybrid with suspension won't be any worse, however if you get one without any suspension it will be easier to ride on the road, which is what you said you wanted to do.