Recommend a hybrid bicycle - £300ish

ericonabike

I'd seriously consider the Ridgeback Rapide Speed http://www.ridgeback.co.uk/bike/speed It's fully equipped with mudguards and rack, which themsleves cost a good £50. Decent Continental tyres [37mm] will roll happily on road or trail with some comfort. It doesn't have anything that you don't need [like a suspension fork] and at £349 is excellent value IMHO. My wife bought an equivalent Ridgeback model as her first bike a few years back and loves it. Please don't go for a full-on mountain bike - at that kind of price they're more bike-shaped objects than proper bikes, and they're really not suitable for the kind of riding you describe.

Tucker

That's basically my bike with mud guards and a rack added.

Very good value all round.

tbourner

Tucker wrote: »

By the way, I don't want to poo poo Halford's.

Why? Halfords are rubbish! I just don't have a choice about it.

poontang

Tucker wrote: »

That's basically my bike with mud guards and a rack added.

Very good value all round.

Actually pretty much every component, apart from the frame, is different:

front derailleur - C051 (Tourney) vs M310 (Altus)
cassette - 7-speed 14-28 (Tourney?) vs. 8-speed 11-32 (unnamed maybe Altus?)
chainset - FC-M171 (Tourney) vs. Acera
fork - hi-ten (cheap) vs chromoly
hubs - Formula vs Rm30 (Shimano Altus)
bottom bracket - ?. vs Shimano
brakes - tektro 836al vs shimano acera
stem - hi-ten vs. alloy
grips and saddle - cheap vs. less cheap
rear derailleur - tx55 (tourney) vs Acera
chain - ug51 (tourney) vs. hg50 (alivio)

Basically the Shimano component hierarchy for hybrid bikes goes, from worst to best:

Tourney
Altus
Acera
Alivio
Deore
SLX
XT

Everything below Alivio is basically OEM-only, not sold in bike shops. Tourney, as found on the mudguard-equipped bike, is particularly cheap and nasty.

While the Rapide Speed has had serious corners cut, the Rapide Meteor is the same spec as the velocity, but basically with free mudguards and rack:

http://www.ridgeback.co.uk/bike/meteor
cf.
http://www.ridgeback.co.uk/bike/velocity

TiTheRev

Tucker wrote: »

By the way, I don't want to poo poo Halford's but seriously, look at a professional bike shop instead.

My cycle to work scheme uses a decent specialist bike shop. I wouldn't touch a Halfords bike.

\
I am FAR from a fan of the Halfrauds establishment, but the Boardman & Carrera range are good VFM and well spec'd. You can also get other bikes ordered in, if you know what you want, and pay for it with the cycle to work scheme.

Steer clear of the lower end Apollo et al brands, and as a rule you can ignore the staff, but as long as you go in knowing what you want you can get a good deal.

krycek985

My girlfriend and I both have trek T30s.

Cycled across Cuba and didnt have one fault with either bike. Arrived in one piece (well several but not broken) and not one spot of bother (only two flats) the whole 700miles.

We cycled motorways to dirtroads and everything between.


They come with racks and mudguards as standard. My mudguards were poor and changed them over but the girlfriends are fine (no rubbing etc)


They cost about £350 brand new but that was over a year ago and with the new models comming in Im sure it will be reduced.

Great bike for the money.

thescouselander

TiTheRev wrote: »

\
I am FAR from a fan of the Halfrauds establishment, but the Boardman & Carrera range are good VFM and well spec'd. You can also get other bikes ordered in, if you know what you want, and pay for it with the cycle to work scheme.

Steer clear of the lower end Apollo et al brands, and as a rule you can ignore the staff, but as long as you go in knowing what you want you can get a good deal.

I'd second that, I've got a Carrera Virtuso for my commute to work and it has been pretty good - it is by no means an expensive bike either.

Also, regarding the competence of Halfords staff - I've found the people at my local branch to be pretty knowledgeable - at least as good as the staff at the local bike shop.

So I'd say Halfords is definitely worth a look - especially if you are on tight budget.

Tucker

poontang wrote: »

Actually pretty much every component, apart from the frame, is different:

front derailleur - C051 (Tourney) vs M310 (Altus)
cassette - 7-speed 14-28 (Tourney?) vs. 8-speed 11-32 (unnamed maybe Altus?)
chainset - FC-M171 (Tourney) vs. Acera
fork - hi-ten (cheap) vs chromoly
hubs - Formula vs Rm30 (Shimano Altus)
bottom bracket - ?. vs Shimano
brakes - tektro 836al vs shimano acera
stem - hi-ten vs. alloy
grips and saddle - cheap vs. less cheap
rear derailleur - tx55 (tourney) vs Acera
chain - ug51 (tourney) vs. hg50 (alivio)

Basically the Shimano component hierarchy for hybrid bikes goes, from worst to best:

Tourney
Altus
Acera
Alivio
Deore
SLX
XT

Everything below Alivio is basically OEM-only, not sold in bike shops. Tourney, as found on the mudguard-equipped bike, is particularly cheap and nasty.

While the Rapide Speed has had serious corners cut, the Rapide Meteor is the same spec as the velocity, but basically with free mudguards and rack:

http://www.ridgeback.co.uk/bike/meteor
cf.
http://www.ridgeback.co.uk/bike/velocity

Then that's not the one I have. This as far as I can see it the version I have which was the 2007 model.... I think!!:

Ridgeback Velocity Hybrid Bike

Ridgeback Velocity Hybrid Bike Specification 2007

• Frame - 6061 Heat treated Aluminium
• Fork - Cro Mo blades
• Headset - Sealed
• Shifters - Shimano EZFire
• Rear Derailleur - Shimano Acera
• Front Deraileur - Shimano T301
• Chainset - Shimano Acera 48/38/28
• Bottom Bracket - Shimano Cartridge
• Chain - HG50
• Freewheel - Shimano Cassette 11-34 8sp
• Hubs - Shimano RM40
• Rims - Alex ACE-19 SSE 36h
• Spokes - Stainless steel black
• Tyres - Continental Contact 700 x 37c
• Brakes - Shimano Acera Brake
• Levers - Shimano Handlebar - 6061 Aluminium Lo-rise
• Stem - Alloy multi position
• Grips - Dual Density
• Saddle - Ozone Ergo 1
• Seatpost - Alloy Suspension 27.2mm
• Pedals - Nylon Street w/mini clips

aeb_2

Hi, I can't help with the bike question but I did look into the 'cycle to work scheme'

1. If you are within 3-5 years of your pension please be very careful. As the saving comes off your salary, then if your pension is calculated using your final salary it will be a lower pension FOR EVER! Only slightly I know but it would add up to more than you will initially save.

2. When it comes to the end of the scheme you have to 'purchase' the bike. This used to be a nominal sum but I did read that they are now charging a more realistic sum, again cancelling out the initial saving.

3. Agree with others about supporting local bike shops for good deal and follow up service - remember when the little shops are gone they're gone!

tbourner

Well I'm about 40 years from retirement!

And my company has never upheld the 'rules' for anyone as far as I know, you're supposed to use it for at least 50% commuting to work but I know of at least 1 person who doesn't use it for work at all! Nobody has ever had to 'buy' it either as far as I'm aware.