What do I need? Hybrid or Road?

[Mikeyboy1107]

I'm sure there's been a few posts like this on here but I hope you can help anyway.

I am currently commuting to work and doing a bit of riding on the weekend on a heavy old hybrid I got for about £250 a few years ago. Its keeping me fit, but not really for the right reasons and so I'm looking to upgrade.

The problem is what to?

I commute over rubbish London roads and a fair bit of canal path which is a mixture of rough uneven concrete slabs and even speed bumps. So for that I think Hybrid as its tougher and less liable to break in the short term.

Then again I personally like a bit of pace in a bike, quick acceleration for the traffic etc.which suggests a road bike

So the two things seem to be pulling me in different directions.



Anyone able to push me one way or another? My budget is anything up to £1k if that's any help.

Happy to supply more details if you need them.

 

[steve52]

a cx? but u need both lol a chap cant ever have enough bikes its the law!

 

[Mikeyboy1107]

I think I want the skinnier tyres of a road/hybrid. NOt keen on a CX for that reason.
I will end up with two bikes i guess anyway. But would prefer one good one for that money rather than two ok/bad ones.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

A grand to spend? You'll get two decent bikes at around £500 each.

 

[Jaco45er]

Must admit. From what you have said, I would say Cyclecross too.

Something like this:

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/trek/crossrip-elite-2013-cyclocross-bike-ec042112

 

[Jaco45er]

Although agree with the others,bikes should be like underpants, different ones for different days

 

[Booyaa]

I think I want the skinnier tyres of a road/hybrid. NOt keen on a CX for that reason.
I will end up with two bikes i guess anyway. But would prefer one good one for that money rather than two ok/bad ones.

A CX bike is often seen as a cross between a hybrid and a road bike. I would suggest a hybrid with quite aggressive geometry, possibly a flat bar road bike?

 

[Mikeyboy1107]

the chunkier tyres and heavier components not liable to take too much away from the speed? on a CX that is

 

[lesley_x]

Cyclocross. Just bought one myself for tackling similar surfaces to what you've mentioned and it does the job brilliantly. And it's really not that much slower than the road bike, 1mph slower at worst really.

 

[Mikeyboy1107]

Well the CX seems to be getting the vote. And it wasn't even in the running
So any particular votes for brand or even model? I'll run a search anyway but if anyone has any ideas that will speed things along.

 

[Pale Rider]

Your requirements do shout 'CX' loudly.

Bewildering choice of nice machinery in your budget.

Disc brakes are well worth having on a commuter, which most £1K CX bikes will have.

Much could depend on what your local bike shop has to offer.

Is there an Edinburgh Bicycles near you?

They have a decent range:

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/browse/bicycles/cyclocross-bikes?inSale=Yes

 

[vickster]

Whyte kings cross or charing cross sold in London by on your bike, apex in clapham and cycle surgery. Probably other discerning retailers too

The boardman cx popular too if have a decent halfords. You can always put 28mm tyres on a cx

No Edinburgh cycles in London

 

[Helidoc]

the chunkier tyres and heavier components not liable to take too much away from the speed? on a CX that is

My new Focus CX with 33mm knobbly tyres averages 0.38 mph slower than my carbon road bike, or put another way, my road bike is 2.5% faster. That is over a 14 mile each way commute that is largely open road or surfaced cycle path. The "hit" from wider / non slick tyres is much less than I expected.

Dave

 

[lesley_x]

I can highly recommend the giant tcx too, I have a tcx 1 and it has not disappointed at all. It weighs the same as my road bike. I was genuinely taken aback by how fast cyclocross bikes are considering the tyres etc.

 

[Profpointy]

Road(ish) - especially if you don't go mad on ultra light skinny wheels. Something like an audax bike is fine on roads and canal paths and the like. My bikes have always been mudguards & panneri rack with drop bars stylee and fine for anything tarmac and acceptable on modest tracks. If you're going really off road, then maybe a cyclo cross is also a sensible alternative.