Hybrid Bike Help

jai247

Hi

I am looking to purchase an Hybrid Bike and have a budget of around £250 and was hoping someone could give me some advise and some bike models I could look into please.

I have seen the Carrera Subway Hybrid priced at £229.99 at Halfords, does anyone else have any ideas please.

Thanks

ShAnE

I recently bought the Carerra Subway and although I don't have much to compare it against I think it is a very nice bike.

My one complaint would be that the seat is very hard so speed bumps/pot holes or off roading can be quite a painful experience, as the bike has no suspension.

Flugelhorn

A couple of people I know have bought ridgebacks and have been pleased with them - they are round about that price in the local cycle shop

SilverSapphire

My OH very kindly bought me a Pendleton Brooke Hybrid bike from Halfords recently and I am very pleased with it. Nice sturdy bike and comes in 18" or 16" frame which is great for my little legs!

I think it is about £225.

No suspension on that either so I can feel the bumps on rough surfaces but it is bearable.

jai247

i have also seen the Giant Escape 3 which is more expensive at £299
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Giant-Escape-3-2014-Hybrid-Sports-Bike_66455.htm?sku=198113&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=AdwordsProductAds&utm_campaign=Adwords&gclid=CLKej6_Xwr8CFagewwodgakAlw

anyone had any experience with these bikes?

ohreally

You do know there's a cycling forum?

Ryuu

Well, in this price range, I would suggest to try to go for a test ride on as many as possible and then choose. The equipment in this range will be +- the same all the time.

Btw: That Giant is a proper Hybrid, while the Carrera Subway is just a regular old-school MTB. (Different wheel size, tyre thickness, frame and fork design).

That being said, if I had to choose from those 2 purely on online basis, I would choose Giant, since the company makes a range of great bikes.

bicycling.com/tour-de-france/tour-features/giant-shimano-s-giant-propel-advanced-sl

quiet_advisor

I have been using hybrids for about 30 years, usually bought at your level of budget.

Present bike, after a lot of research, is a Halfords Carrera Crossfire 1. Normally around £225 - £250 but .e.g. last week £199 for one day only.

Certainly agree with the comments to try them out first - I find that the fit of your frame to the bike frame, with all the relative geometries, is very important.

Very pleased with the Crossfire. One point - if I had followed the Halfords sizing chart on the web I would have ordered a less suitable bike - try them out first - I found Halfords very helpful.
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes/carrera-crossfire-1-hybrid-bike-extra-large-21


QA

vladivostok

Absolutely agree with the advice to try first for comfort fit.

andygb

With regard to "hard saddles", anyone taking up cycling for the first time, or maybe coming back to it after a layoff, will be plagued by a sore "derriere" for the first week. This is because of the bones in that region being bruised - I know this from painfull experience.
Maybe buy a cheaper, more padded saddle to start with and then swap the original saddle back when you find the "easy" saddle lacks support.

JulianBarnes

Ref: saddles....are those gel saddle overlays any good / worth getting?