I wanna a new bike: Hybrid or Mountain bike?

Lorian

About a month ago I ditched the car for my trip to work and started riding. Currently my route is mostly country lanes and cycle paths.

My old bike is in need of replacement. If I had a better bike I think I could shorten my route (and make it more interesting) but I'd need to go via a steep and very bumpy bridal way and across two fields (they have rights of way).

I'm having trouble deciding if I'm going to buy a better "hybrid" and stick to the current route, or buy a "mountain bike" with front or front&rear suspension and then have the choice to go the alternative route when I want to.

liight-weight, quality and build are more important than badge to me, Budget is up to about £400.

I'm also interested to know if cable operated disc brakes really are better than traditional V brakes? I guess I'd like hydraulic discs but they'll blow the budget.

jane_72

i have just got one from edinburgh cycles. i love it. delivery was free and it arrived in a couple of days. buy online or over the phone. really good friendly service too.

http://www.edinburgh-bicycle.co.uk/

billy_the_kid_2

You could always buy a light weight hybrid with a suspension seat post. I would recommed this if most of your route is on roads or cycle tracks. Lugging a heavy mountain bike will soon lose its appeal. If you are doing more rough work, go for a hybrid with a front suspension as well as the suspended seat post.

I have a Marin San Alselmo, bought five years ago for 460, its been a great buy, ultralight.

tjd-tjd

Once you've decided what kind, take a look at evanscycles.com. I've bought from them four times. Excellent service and the prices are amazing. Good luck!

boatman

I'd second Edinburgh cycles and Evans cycles bought from both, sounds like you need something like this Specialized Crossroads. It gives a more upright riding position which if your commuting would be better than a mountain bike.

http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=5317
Evans Cycles: Product: Specialized Crossroads Sport FS 2005 Bike

Lorian

The specialized bikes look good. I've also sat on one of these today, a Trek 7300 and liked that a lot:

http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=60630

vertical_fool

Hello fellow rider. My main point is that I think a dual suspension bike is over the top for your needs, plus at sub £400 I think it would be difficult to get a quality bike and it would also add a large amount of weight. Also to make a dual suspension bike the extra money that needs to be spent on the float and frame etc will be less money spent on components. With a dual susser when pedalling some of the energy is absorbeb by the float, although more prominent in cheap bikes ( watch peoplle bouncing up and down as they ride on flat surfaces).

I think the big question is how rough is this alternate route, does it require a mountain bike, would a hybrid with grippy tyres be sufficient. How far is your route, if its not far then just get a good quality hard tail.This is the option I`ve gone with, an old Marin Bear Valley, although I keep thinking about getting a 700cc hybrid as the bigger wheels are supposed to be better for speed, they have bigger gear ratios so will be faster ( quite fancy a GT ZUM).

With going to work, will you be able to travel this alternate route, will you get muddy,likely to fall, riding across rough terrain is more tiring, is this OK, you`ll also get more sweaty(well I do anyway).

Another factor is where you keep your bike, mountain bikes are alot more fashionable to thieves, hybrids, 700cc especially are much less fashionable.

With the brakes some of the cable operated discs are very good, I forget which makes especially for offroad use as they come in contact with less mud. During wet they fade less than V brakes, althugh pads cost £10-15 yet £5 for V pads. I think V brakes, well cantilevers would be fine although discs do look cool! I haven`t got any yet although I`m due for an upgrade.

Maybe it would be possible to have two bikes, keep you current hybrid as a rat bike and have a hard tail for offroad riding/fun.

Try these links:

http://www.cyclingforums.com/

http://www.cyclingplus.co.uk/forum/default.asp

Good Luck and enjoy (Maybe try local bike shop for more advise to confuse you choices)

P.S. When I got my bike I was confused, whilst at local bike I saw a reduced bike (previous season, these are always good buys) that I liked the look of ( Looks can be important) it was the right size so I test rode it, it felt comfy, I enjoyed it, it made me smile ( I think this is important ) so I bought it, been happy ever since, well almost it is tired now and I think I deserve a new on as it will probably cost as much to replace everything as it is to buy a new one.

Musique

I can vocuh for https://www.evanscycles.co.uk - good quick service or https://www.wiggle.co.uk for bike bits (free delivery included).

I recently bought a specialized bike - lightweight frame - front suspension which is perfect and V breaks - I couldn't afford the disc breaks but these stop on a dime and I do lots of wet riding.

billy_the_kid_2

I feel that the current trend for disc brakes is a fashion over form trend. For most rider's (competition excepted) V brakes will be more than adequate. They are also less complicated and lighter. I can easily lock up both wheels with mine.

Lorian

billy_the_kid wrote:

I feel that the current trend for disc brakes is a fashion over form trend. For most rider's (competition excepted) V brakes will be more than adequate. They are also less complicated and lighter. I can easily lock up both wheels with mine.

That's exactly what the guy in the local shop said. I'm tempted to buy a bike locally (although it goes agains the MSE ethos) as they will make sure I get one that fits and will set it up with the right riding position etc.

The GT Zum bikes look interesting, and seem a little less expensive than the Trek for similar equipment. I think I'm going to have plan a trip to a town nearby with stockists for the Specialised and GT bikes.

The GT Zum 4.0 catches my eye: http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=60072 I like the idea of lock-outs on the front suspension. You don't get that on the Trek models at that price. I just struggle to compare the rest of the equipment on this bike for functionailty and weight versus say the Trek 7300 http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=60630 It seems it has heavier/lower quality gears, changers etc than the Trek.

billy_the_kid_2

I have Shimano Deore components on my Marin Hybrid. They have never let me down yet. Very slick changes. If it were my money, I'd go with the better spec/lightweight components.

I'd agree with you about shopping, you must get on the bike to see if it suits. Then try and find it cheaper on the net.


Just my thoughts, hope the bike you choose works well for you. I also have a chip (like the ones in cats and dogs) inserted into my frame tube, postcode stamp and sticker antitheft warnings attactched.

Billy the kid