First bike in 10~ years - Hybrid?

Andr3w

Andr3w

Andr3w

Soldato
Joined
6 Oct 2004
Posts
20,260
Location
England
Evening folks!

Moved down south due to work and i'm lucky enough to be living about 4ish miles away from work.

With the weather usually quite nice down here I would like to cycle to work.

I'm really not a fan of drop handlebars and I would like a bike that I could take out on the weekends and explore some coast paths/bike to the shop/bike to a beach etc!

Would you agree this would suit a hybrid bike?

I was thinking of setting a limit of around £450ish including bike/helmet/lock.

I'm going to go to a local cycle shop to have a chat with them and to get fitted since I have no idea what actual size bike to buy, I'd just like to go in there with a little bit of knowledge beforehand.
 
grudas said:
Why are you not a fan of drop bars? How much experience have you got with proper road bikes?
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Limited if I'm honest. I had a go on my dads (just up and down a long street a few times) bike a few months ago and I just felt like my face was going to plough into the road. Road bikes wouldn't be very good for weekend adventures either I don't think. Thirdly, I dont like the idea of having to have 'clip' shoes, unless you can get normal pedals?
 
Begbie said:
Yep, get a real bike.

There's a few good places around here, go see either Unit Cycles or Alex at Trail Munki (they only do MTBs, but still very good). There's some MTB trails around here, with the coastal paths technically being off limits but nobody really minds. I'd imagine they get very busy in the summer though and a lot of them being pretty technical.

Theres a few good mtb clubs in the area if you decide to go down that route though.

And yep they are, I hate riding mine on the road. If you want to ride on the road, buy a road bike. Also that hill on the way into work, nope no thanks! Also I seem to miss out on all this good weather everybody reports around here :(
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Are you down here? I'll pop into unit cycles are some point this week. Didn't realise a lot of the coastal paths were off limits to bikes!!

I assume its easy enough to get a road bike with normal pedals, not clippy ones?
 
Are you guys dead against Cyclocross bikes?

I think a MTB would be too extreme for the gravel paths i'd be using, i'm not planning on doing full on off roading!
 
FrenchTart said:
Quite the opposite. Some of us love CX bikes (me included). I think people are just trying to resist saying "get a CX" as it's the standard response in here and we're trying to break ourselves of the habit.

Drop handles and discs are awesome. The only thing you'll need to be careful of is that you get one with mudguard mounts as commuting without them is really really sucky.

edit: Beaten.
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I'm 100% going to be needing mudguards. Is it possible to add a Pannier to a CX bike?

Asprilla said:
I love my CX, but these days tend to be a bit expensive for what you get.
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they bloomin well are expensive!
 
Asprilla said:
Rubbish. If you bought from them then get a decent local bike shop to check it over to make sure they put it together right.

However, they are in the process of bringing back their cycle specific shops. Cant remember what they are called.
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grudas said:
agree... even saw a bmx on the shop screen with a fork that was fitted the wrong way round! fixed a kids bmx in a park when he was riding with the fork pointing the wrong way too.. - bought from halfords, setup by "professional" bike mechanic lol :eek:
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Vonhelmet said:
There was a picture on road.cc of a whole row of bikes at Asda with the forks on backwards and the brakes behind the forks. The steering would be unbelievable.
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Woah! I'll be going to a little independent shop then.
 
Begbie said:
Agreed.

Halfords is fine if your happy to spend some time setting up the bike after. Same with a lbs too though, either know your going to a good one or be confident in checking over your bike before you ride.

Can always drop it round mine if you do buy from Halfords too, I've got everything you'd need to check it over.
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I'd need to get it checked out for sure. I haven't done any 'real' bike maintenance before!

Roughly where are you based down here?
 
Begbie said:
Same place as yourself ;)

Well I live there, work elsewhere (with Zefan). Though I'm sending most of my stuff of next week.
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Well thats freaking me out. Didn't realise Zefan was still down here! Either of you actually living at my location or are you in town? Where you moving to?

edit: I'm potentially buying a bike this weekend. (I say potentially, the credit card is ready to go!)
 
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grudas said:
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/road-bikes/boardman-cx-comp-bike

is good bang for your buck.. if you're going with high street retailer! on that note.. what type of bike did you decide to go for then?
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I keep looking at the bike - it looks PERFECT for what I want. Just need some mud guards and a rack on the back!

They don't have it in stock at my local Halfords.
edit: They have them in stock 12miles away from me. I'd like to see one in real life, I'd also need to purchase the additonal items such as Helmet/Lock!
edit2: THIS IS GETTING EXPENSIVE lol!

I'm 6ft, would this require a 57.5cm frame? I'm tempted to buy that online and then take it to Begbie (If he doesn't mind :D )!
 
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Begbie said:
No problem at all, take two seconds to check over bolts etc. Also I have a helmet here, that I was going to chuck in my box as I've forgot to sell it. It's pretty old now, but still decent. Giro Hex, you're welcome to it.
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Legend! Are you around at the weekend? And if so can I borrow you to drive to Halfords with me? :p
 
Begbie said:
I'm not, away to Wales this weekend. I'm back Saturday night. I'd be available Sunday, not sure I'd be any help though.
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Planning on buying this weekend, would have just been useful to have somebody around who knew what they were on about! I really don't feel like I could trust the Halfords employee!
 
Just added you (or some random person who is about to get confused) to communicator.

You sure you're happy for me to take the Helmet?

edit: Double post confusion!
 
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Wow great advice thanks!

Just got back from Halfords and I had a really weird experience!

The chap there was very helpful, really enthusiastic and actually owned one of the more expensive Boardman Road bikes. We discussed mud guards and racks/bags etc and he actually went into depth about some of the items rather than just saying 'this will work'.

He had the Boardman road/mx and another one I can't remember in stock, but not the CX. He measured me up and I ordered the bike, hoping it'll be delivered on Friday if not i'll have to wait till Monday!!
 
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