spec me a bike

dunn2010

dunn2010

dunn2010

Associate
Joined
6 Jan 2011
Posts
1,335
Hi guys

Looking to get a bike on the cycle to work scheme

Limit is £400 or a little over, prefer a hybrid , i'm 178 cm tall, advice on frame size would be appreciated

Living in north east of England if that makes a different in case anyone knows any good shops that does the cycle to work also.

Any general advice on what to look for and what to avoid would be appreciated , don't want to spend the money on a duffer bike as I really don't know what is good and what isn't

Cheers

Dunn
 
Planet X do cycle to work out that way, but they bump their prices for c2w customers. Otherwise there's the usual chains - Evans, Halfords, etc.

How far is the commute? How rigid is your budget? Why a hybrid in particular?

Be warned, umpteen people will rock up demanding you buy a road bike, so get your excuses ready :D
 
Not sure everyone else doing the cycle to work seems to be using hybrids , and I think a hybrid would be better for when autumn comes around and weather isn't as nice

Budget has some flexibility depending on how much of a difference it would make to ease / reliability

Commute will be 9 - 10 miles
 
Weather doesn't relate to hydrid or drops for me - that's more tyre width and quality related.

As vonhelmet prempted, I stated on a hybrid and dumped it in 3 months for a road bike. I honestly think hybrids are jack of all trades but master on none. Yes the steering is more twitchy at first on a road bike but that takes a few minutes to adjust to and then it's faster, safer on the descents and allows you the possibility of doing much longer rides if you get the bug.
 
Not sure if Decathlon does the cycle to work scheme but I have found my Triban 5 really good and that goes for £430 but yes it is a road bike. They do a flat bar version too called the Fit 5 which you may prefer.
 
GSVBagpuss said:
Weather doesn't relate to hydrid or drops for me - that's more tyre width and quality related.

As vonhelmet prempted, I stated on a hybrid and dumped it in 3 months for a road bike. I honestly think hybrids are jack of all trades but master on none. Yes the steering is more twitchy at first on a road bike but that takes a few minutes to adjust to and then it's faster, safer on the descents and allows you the possibility of doing much longer rides if you get the bug.
Click to expand...

This.

My first bike was a hybrid because I assumed it would be easier and more comfortable to ride and to be honest I found the idea of using drop handlebars a bit stressful.

I was completely and utterly wrong. My crappy Trek 7.3 FX was stolen and in some ways I'm thankful to the thief as after that I moved to a CX/road bike and I've never looked back. Road bikes are more comfortable, faster at the same effort for peddling and just all round nicer to ride.
 
FrenchTart said:
This.

My first bike was a hybrid because I assumed it would be easier and more comfortable to ride and to be honest I found the idea of using drop handlebars a bit stressful.

I was completely and utterly wrong. My crappy Trek 7.3 FX was stolen and in some ways I'm thankful to the thief as after that I moved to a CX/road bike and I've never looked back. Road bikes are more comfortable, faster at the same effort for peddling and just all round nicer to ride.
Click to expand...

Exactly the same thoughts That I had which is why I'm going to plump for a CX bike now and hopefully it'll suite.
 
FrenchTart said:
This.

My first bike was a hybrid because I assumed it would be easier and more comfortable to ride and to be honest I found the idea of using drop handlebars a bit stressful.
.
Click to expand...

yea I was exactly the same when you first start using a bike with drops it is actually scary changing hand positions or riding one handed whilst taking on fluids but it's amazing how quickly you adjust and feel one with the bike.

I'm finding my self going down nice steep hills at 30-35mph and just cramming my face right down into the stem it's amazing how much difference there is between riding on the hoods and riding in the drops.

also when I'm coming up to a hill I'll find my self moving down into the drops, I'm not sure quite why but to me it feels like you can get more power/cadence in that position without actually feeling as if it's more effort

I guess it uses your glutes more or something in that position if you have your seat right, almost makes me feel sorry when I see someone on a hybrid struggling like I used to with no escape from the wind and only one riding position
 
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