New bike

[SJK]

Not had a bike in years and want to get back into it. I will be doing mainly road but also slight off road, gravel, grass etc.

Halfords seems to be best option due to it being only bike shop in area that's reasonable and can collect bike ready to ride. I was looking at hybrid bikes such as Carrera subway, crossfire 1 2 & 3 and also seen the gryphon mentioned.

When I went in I was advised if I was spending 3-400 I should consider the carrera Vulcan 7005 T6 which is currently £319 this is the mountain bike with lockout suspension and hydraulic brakes. Was this good advice. Will the gears be ok for road riding? Will be leisure rides and not miles and miles of riding.

Also advised to buy this bike and could change tyres to suit more road and off road.

Any help would be appreciated as all new to me.

Thanks

 

[HLaB]

Personally I think the Subway would have been the better option but enjoy :-)

 

[tnr319]

I agree with HLaB, the Subway is a better bike for the money. But if your budget can stretch go for the Boardman Hybrid.

 

[SJK]

Not bought anything yet so open to advice, which boardman were you thinking and how much?

 

[flyingfish]

I spoke to a man buying one of these last night in Luton. Like you he liked the lockable suspension. I must admit I wondered if it would be worth the extra weight over a hybrid.
Welcome to the forum & I hope you enjoy whatever you decide to buy
Pete

 

[cyberknight]

I spoke to a man buying one of these last night in Luton. Like you he liked the lockable suspension. I must admit I wondered if it would be worth the extra weight over a hybrid.
Welcome to the forum & I hope you enjoy whatever you decide to buy
Pete

I agree with HLaB, the Subway is a better bike for the money. But if your budget can stretch go for the Boardman Hybrid.

Unless your planning offroading the tyres on thr rigid fork of a subway / hybrid will give plenty enough comfort , i use my subway for winter commutes and pootling round with the family and its a cracking bike for that purpose .I plan to get some semi slicks on it soon to make it easier to ride on my commute as the tyres are ok but semi/knobblies really suck your power on the road .
This is my winter set up .............

Also planning on replacing the seatpost rack with a dedicated disc rack and ditching the white spds for double sided A530s when i can shift some of my parts bin bits .

 

[SJK]

So the subway would be fine for slight offroad tracks, gravel paths etc?

 

[Cyclist33]

Yep.

 

[cyberknight]

So the subway would be fine for slight offroad tracks, gravel paths etc?

Yes , rode around Hicks Lodge the other week
http://www.nationalforest.org/visit/index.php?control=main&action=location&LocationId=3297

 

[SJK]

Thanks for replying all, trip into halfords after work to order it I think