Hybrid/Commuting Bike

tom_nieto

tom_nieto

tom_nieto

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Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
13,083
Location
Birmingham
Hi all,

I'm looking for a bike to commute round London with a budget of £500. After my rubbish Halfords special I want something decent this time!

I've been looking at the Specialised Sirrus Elite and the Trek 7500 and 7.5FX. I don't think I really need front suspension, and unless anyone has some really good ideas on here I'm probably going to go with the Specialised after riding it the other day.

Has anyone had any experience with these sort of bikes? I know there are a lot of MTB users on here and I was hoping on some insightful thoughts before I blow a whole lot of cash.

I don't really want a road racing bike because I prefer the more upright position, especially for weaving through traffic. I was very happy with the speed and feel of the Specialised bike which I rode the other day, so I'd be after something similar.

Thanks for your thoughts!
 
I wouldn't rule out front suspension altogether, commuting bikes tend to have quite skinny tyres on, and your wrists will take a fair old pounding from hard tarmac roads.
 
I did think of that, I was also worried about pot holes, but the lack of rear suspension would mean that I would damage the wheels anyway if the tyres weren't pumped up. The Specialised bike has carbon front forks which felt really nice to ride on. I didn't do too badly on my older bike which didn't have front suspension either, the wheels were made of cheese and tin foil so I got loads of buckling.
 
You wouldn't damage the wheels as such, unless you head for the potholes sat down. A half decent bike can take quite a lot of punishment, your wrists won't though if you're doing a lot of miles.

Just my opinion though mind, lots of people survive quite happily without suspension, whatever feels right when you ride it in the end :).
 
I think the halfords special has gave you a bad opinion of lower end bikes. The 700c wheeled Cx10 in halfords really is dire.....1 in 2 come out the box with buckles that cant be fixed(1" each way etc) so they really are bad.
 
Jonny ///M said:
The 700c wheeled Cx10 in halfords really is dire.....1 in 2 come out the box with buckles that cant be fixed(1" each way etc) so they really are bad.
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D'Oh! That was the exact bike that I had! I'm going to get to the bike shop (Not Halfords!) today with any luck and look again at the bikes and see if I can negotiate a deal.
 
Well to be fair to Halfords, its not their fault you bought the cheapest bike they had (or next to it)

They have some decent commuting bikes, e.g. the subway range.

A cheap bike will be rubbish whereever you go to.
 
chucky said:
Well to be fair to Halfords, its not their fault you bought the cheapest bike they had (or next to it)

They have some decent commuting bikes, e.g. the subway range.

A cheap bike will be rubbish whereever you go to.
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It's my fault entirely! I simply should have spent more! However that isn't the point now. I looked into the Carrera Subway bikes today, and they seemed pretty decent, however I think the features of the Specialised bike is really swaying me. The Carrera bikes are under my budget which is a bonus.

I also had a look at a Merida bike (speedster t2 if you're interested). I've not heard the name before, are they any good? I think the fact that I can get a carbon front fork for £50 extra in the specialised bike is quite a bonus. Also the merida bike felt heavier.

Any more comments are of course very welcome :)
 
You don't need suspension for road riding.
What bike to choose will depend on your mileage, if you need to carry a load. A bike with drops but with brakes on the flat (ie Kona Snake) will allow you to ride upright in traffic but go lower when it's quieter/country lanes.

Riding a bike with wide tyres might be comfy, but it's not very efficient.

Specialized do a couple of hybrids, 700cc tyres, flats. Looking into something similar probably more racy, Kona Jake it it weren't so expensive. Or you could look into bikes with slightly wide rims, that take 30-35.

I've rode over potholes with 700x20 rims and perfectly true. No tired wrists either.
 
I must admit, having drop handlebars does appeal, but I'm only really doing city riding, so an upright posture helps a lot. The 700/28 rims made pedalling effortless in comparison with my mate's chunky mountain bike. I think my mind is made up, I just need to wait for funds to clear!
 
Depending on how hilly your route is something like the Revolution Courier 07 from my favourite bike shop might be suitable, 9 gears and it looks like nothing special which is quite good in town but it rides well and has had multiple magazine awards. However it is described as an "urban" bike, they do hybrid bikes here but I know less about them. :)
 
The courier looks pretty good, and I definitely don't need 27 gears in the city. The advantage of not having a flashy bike in the city is definitely that it looks less attractive to thieves. I am dispensing with quick release wheels and will look into a better D-lock than I already have. I'll probably buy a cable to stop my front wheel going walkies.
 
Phnom_Penh said:
pfft old tech. Get clipless tbh, although you don't need clipless/pedal straps to bunny hop... do you? :\
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I'm rubbish, so it'd probably help! Pedal straps and clip ons terrify me anyway!
 
tom_nieto said:
I'm rubbish, so it'd probably help! Pedal straps and clip ons terrify me anyway!
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Oddly enough clipless pedals are the ones that use cleats to stick your feet to the pedals so if straps terrify you clipless is probably not the way to go. Good flat pedals will offer enough grip for most town use although I do quite like pedal straps on my (very old) road bike as it feels like I get more power out of every stroke.

If you want the ultimate in flat pedals then Brooklyn Machine Works Shin Burgers (if they are still made) offer stupendous amounts of grip and a built in bottle opener but they cost about £100 last time I looked and as the name suggests they are very unforgiving should your feet be unlucky enough to slip off. :D
 
I couldn't go back to platforms after riding in clips.
Straps are bad design, in a crash you don't plop out of them so your ankle will twist. With clips you will plop out.
 
tom_nieto said:
D'Oh! That was the exact bike that I had! I'm going to get to the bike shop (Not Halfords!) today with any luck and look again at the bikes and see if I can negotiate a deal.
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My heart goes out to you. :(

The subways are good but they are still 26" with 1.5" sort of slick tyres.
 
Looking for a hybrid myself, which is geared more to road use for about the same price range. I'll be stalking this thread I think :)
 
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