Soldato
I'm Currently using my old Felt Q620 with fat slicks to commute to work but I fancy replacing it with something a bit easier. Ideally looking for hydraulic discs as i commute in all weathers. Solid fork preferred too.
Spec me a hybrid commuter <£750ish
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2 days and no replies. 
Didn’t realise it was so quiet in here.
Didn’t realise it was so quiet in here.
I've a Bobbin Dark Star which has been solid for the 3 years I've owned it, looks like they've discontinued it now but that means the 2017 model is something of a bargain where still available. Can cope with pot holes or nipping across the odd bit of grass but is still reasonably light. Only down side is that its highest gear isn't all that fast, but probably only an issue if you like zooming down steep hills.
Caveat time - I'm no bike nerd, so don't confuse me for an expert.
Edit - the kick stand is pretty useless too (it's adjustable between falling over one way or the other) - if I was less lazy I'd remove it and save a bit of weight.
Caveat time - I'm no bike nerd, so don't confuse me for an expert.
Edit - the kick stand is pretty useless too (it's adjustable between falling over one way or the other) - if I was less lazy I'd remove it and save a bit of weight.
Soldato
Few from Halfords that have 10% auto discount and free family pass for National trust at mo...
https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes/voodoo-marasa-mens-hybrid-bike--18-20-frames Great bang for the buck, definite option of running 50mm wide tyres if you ever wanted to.
https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes/voodoo-agwe-mens-hybrid-bike-18-20-frames
https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes/boardman-hyb-8-6-hybrid-bike-red
https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes/boardman-hyb-8-8-mens-hybrid-bike Lighter default spec and full carbon fork
You should be able to use British Cycling membership on above to reduce price a further 10%.
https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/15905565/calibre-stitch-urban-bike-15905565 Decent spec for price, slight negative is alloy fork (just like the Voodoos above), but wide tyres and lower pressures can offset a lot of the upsides of carbon forks.
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXL...don-road-sram-apex-1-flat-bar-urban-road-bike Not a bad spec for £700, going back ~2 years ago some had issues with receiving awful QC London Road frames, with seat tubes not gripping the intended 31.6mm seat posts.
https://www.merlincycles.com/marin-fairfax-sc4-belt-commuter-bike-2016-144406.html would make a good commuter with belt drive and Nexus internal hub gear, if XL fits you 9slight weight penalty for IHG).
On a £750 budget, I'd probably buy the Boardman 8.8, but I'd also think about https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bi...go-29er-mens-mountain-bike-16-18-20-22-frames because it has been a great spec MTB bike for the price for about the last ten years (it's light than the Marasa despite the suspension fork) and would open up the door to more than gentle offroad if you so desired.
https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes/voodoo-marasa-mens-hybrid-bike--18-20-frames Great bang for the buck, definite option of running 50mm wide tyres if you ever wanted to.
https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes/voodoo-agwe-mens-hybrid-bike-18-20-frames
https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes/boardman-hyb-8-6-hybrid-bike-red
https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes/boardman-hyb-8-8-mens-hybrid-bike Lighter default spec and full carbon fork
You should be able to use British Cycling membership on above to reduce price a further 10%.
https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/15905565/calibre-stitch-urban-bike-15905565 Decent spec for price, slight negative is alloy fork (just like the Voodoos above), but wide tyres and lower pressures can offset a lot of the upsides of carbon forks.
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXL...don-road-sram-apex-1-flat-bar-urban-road-bike Not a bad spec for £700, going back ~2 years ago some had issues with receiving awful QC London Road frames, with seat tubes not gripping the intended 31.6mm seat posts.
https://www.merlincycles.com/marin-fairfax-sc4-belt-commuter-bike-2016-144406.html would make a good commuter with belt drive and Nexus internal hub gear, if XL fits you 9slight weight penalty for IHG).
On a £750 budget, I'd probably buy the Boardman 8.8, but I'd also think about https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bi...go-29er-mens-mountain-bike-16-18-20-22-frames because it has been a great spec MTB bike for the price for about the last ten years (it's light than the Marasa despite the suspension fork) and would open up the door to more than gentle offroad if you so desired.
There's some good contenders at Evans cycles from pinnacle and specialized, but that boardman with the carbon fork (mentioned above) looks tough to beat for the cash.
The bizango mentioned is a great bike but it has a 1x11 drive chain, so if you want to ride fast on the flat or downhill on the flat , you might find yourself running out of gears. It's geared to be a mountain bike rather than a tarmak sprinter.
The boardman is 1x10 but I imagine the front ring is quite a bit bigger than on the bizango, allowing you to get more speed, rather to aid lower geared mountain bike set ups.
The bizango mentioned is a great bike but it has a 1x11 drive chain, so if you want to ride fast on the flat or downhill on the flat , you might find yourself running out of gears. It's geared to be a mountain bike rather than a tarmak sprinter.
The boardman is 1x10 but I imagine the front ring is quite a bit bigger than on the bizango, allowing you to get more speed, rather to aid lower geared mountain bike set ups.
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The Boardman 8.6 and 8.8 seem good. Is the 8.8 going to be noticeably better?
I actually tried to get an 8.6 last week when they had a 15% off offer on but everywhere was out of stock.
I actually tried to get an 8.6 last week when they had a 15% off offer on but everywhere was out of stock.
Decided to get the 8.6 in the end as got a good deal. £440 inc £60 worth of accessories. Should be collecting it on Monday
Got it the other day. Only rode to work once on it and so far it seems really nice, despite my current mountain bike commuter having fat tyres and front shock somehow the new hybrid is more comfortable. It's a nice matt red colour which I like and overall the components are more than enough for a commuter, there's nothing I think I need to replace anyway. The only slight disappointment so far is the brakes, they feel a bit wooden but once they bed in I'm sure they'll improve.
Googling that felt model, the frame geometry looks to me quite old fashioned mountain bike style, where as the boardman hybrid has more modern tarmac specific geometry, so I'm guessing that's why it's feeling better, it's a much more suitable bike for the job .