Any keen bikers out there? (Cyclists not motorbikers)

Gazing_On_Sunsets

I got a Scott hybrid last year, entry level, about £300 but then spent a few hundred more over the year on accessories! Helmet, padded shorts, cycle computer, bottle cage, water bottles, gloves, magical cycling shoes, new pedals, bar ends...actually if you go for a hybrid I recommend bar ends as they let you use your arms in different positions and it can relieve aching.

Look at bikesoup.co.uk for second hand bikes, too.

Although I thoroughly recommend local bike shops, as they offer good service, and after 6 weeks on a new bike you'll need your cables tightening up - a local shop will offer this free, not so on the internet and you 'll have to do it yourself.

You could sign up to the Yet Another Cycling Forum (yacf.co.uk) because there's a classifieds section on there with good bikes from people who know their stuff. Also, a really good place to go for more advice.

You CAN get a bike for a few hundred quid. Don't go too cheap and end up with a Bicycle Shaped Object from a supermarket, you'll hate it and it'll break.

Problem is...cycling can get addictive. I bought my third last week :-S

mqandy

Someone else has already mentioned the Specialized Sirrus, and that is one good looking bike, but even that is nearly the £500 mark.

The other problem with hybrid bikes is they are neither a fully decent road bike nor mountain bike, and once your husband works out which sort of routes he ends up riding most, he might wish he had a proper road / mtb.

I've done a similar thing and bought a Specialized Tricross, which is a road bike but strong enough for trails, canal paths, etc. I'd say it was ideal, but not for the money! (£750).

Because of the risk of changing his mind over a hybrid, I'd suggest used full mountain bike or full road bike. Can always get a second in a year if he really gets the bug!

geri1965_2

I ride mostly roads/cycle tracks and I use a mountain bike, have done for over 20 years. They are just so sturdy, and Bristol is very hilly so I need a lot of gears. I just changed the tyres over to something more suitable.

mqandy

This is MSE, so it's probably not the done thing to mention, but my wife and I got bikes at the same time from the bike shop on 0% finance for the year, which might be helpful.

Gazing_On_Sunsets

In the original post they do say not road as such, more trails and hills.

Mind you, have to look at what he wants to do on it - if it's a mix of commuting/going to pub/canal tow paths and so on, then it'd be a hybrid I reckon.

For fitness purposes - well, he needs to look at what's available in the local area. ARE there any trails and off road mountain bike areas? If they are all 40 minutes drive away, how much use will he get out of a decent MTB? He might need to rethink, if it's fitness he wants, because he will want to be out on it around 3 times a week - and in which case, a road bike would be the better option as mqandy says. A road or a cyclocross bike.

VestanPance

My concern with going for a mountain bike is that they only really come into their own on proper mountain trails. Perfect if that's what you want to do, but way OTT if your idea of a trail in a country path or canal tow path.

Plus if you get addicted to real mountain biking prepare to get ready to spend. I know a few mountain bike fanatics and not one of them rides a bike worth less than about 1.5k. That type of person is also the one that is happy to drive to a place a couple of hours away to hit the trails.

Road bikes are my passion, but only worth it if you are happy to hit the roads which many aren't. This can also become a very expensive hobby if you get addicted.

Cyclocross bikes are good, but I can't think of any in the price range mentioned without hunting the second hand market. Even that is a limited market as there's not many about compared with other styles. I'd also say they suit people that are used to a road bike position. Being a roadie I love power/efficiency/aero riding styles, but I'm honest enough to know it's not the most comfortable riding position and many are happier in a more relaxed riding style.

One word of warning. If he does get into cycling in a big way he will end up with more than one bike, and yes he will need them all!

aliasojo

pavlovs_dog wrote: »

(until he crashes into your cucumbers :rotfl:)

That's not even funny.

See > No sense of humour when it comes to my gardening. Have you any idea how bad it's been this year with the weather? My cucs are only just growing now.

:D


Anyway...back to biking.... OH wont be on the road too much. His work is a 60 mile round trip mainly on dual carriageway and he has a 4am start so commuting by bike is not an option he wants to consider. He also feels he's not really into the idea of having to dodge traffic and thinks road biking would be more stressful than it's worth. He would really only be on local roads to get to the areas where he would bike, or for short trips between neighbouring towns via the 'alternative tourist route' type roads'. (We live in a rural area.)

The type of 'paths' he would mostly be on are forest type trails, uneven ground both earthy and stony if that makes sense.

jellymid

Decathlon, a large french sports superstore, have branches in Glasgow and Edinburgh, I don't know if you are close enough to either of them. Their bikes seem good for the price, but I have no idea if they are 'good enough'. I'm sure we'll be advised here if they are not up to scratch! I suspect maintenance might be a problem if you are a long way from the stores. There are some comments here

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/decathlon-bikes-3

and other reviews if you google.

No cucs, carrots or parsnips for me this year, I sympathise. We do, however, have an unused unicycle in the garage!

Gazing_On_Sunsets

If it's forest paths etc, then a hybrid with a change of tyres - nobblies for off road, and a spare set of smoother ones if he gets roped into any distance down country lanes. Perhaps. It's a thought. Or, a mountain bike, but avoid paying out for full suspension as you won't get anything decent in your price range. Go for hardtail (ie front suspension only). You might get a bargain by waiting a little while until next year's bikes come out at the end of this year, and you can snap up the old season's stock.

aliasojo

jellymid wrote: »

Decathlon, a large french sports superstore, have branches in Glasgow and Edinburgh, I don't know if you are close enough to either of them. Their bikes seem good for the price, but I have no idea if they are 'good enough'. I'm sure we'll be advised here if they are not up to scratch! I suspect maintenance might be a problem if you are a long way from the stores. There are some comments here

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/decathlon-bikes-3

and other reviews if you google.

No cucs, carrots or parsnips for me this year, I sympathise. We do, however, have an unused unicycle in the garage!

We could travel in one day to have a look, we're roughly the same distance away from both but might be too far for regular maintenance trips. Will run it by OH.

Lol @ the unicycle.