Cyclescheme – best spec Hybrid for the money

[seadragon]

Hi

Colleague of mine is on ‘Cyclescheme’ and looking for the best possible spec Hybrid for around the £700-800 mark.

Any advice much appreciated. The LBS has mentioned the Spec Sirrus but I dont think he was too impressed they only gave him one bike to choose from, so if there are other options out there can someone please advise?

Many thanks

[jcas]

I bought my Trek 7.5 FX on the cycle scheme a few years ago, it was one of the highest spec I could get on the money I had available.

[Disco You]

Why does he want a hybrid?

If it's purely because he's intimidated by drop bars, then he would most likely be very glad a few months down the line if you talk him into getting a proper road bike.

[Matt_N]

Check out the new Boardman range.

[muthaducka]

Friend of mine has just bought a his and hers Sirrus for £800 a pop. Nice bike, carbon front fork, 23mm tyres. They do the same model in full carbon but its pricey.

Visit the Evans site and click hybrids - has Trek FX 7.5 and there is also a cannondale something or other hybrid - at least thats three to look at.

[Agoogy]

I like'd the Ridgeback Flight 03 I think it was.... use the whole budget £999 and get Alfine internal hub gears, carbon fork...looked lovely..

[aberdeeneuan]

I have a trek 7.5fx, does the job perfectly. Fast, good gear on it.

For me, it's the versatility over the road bike. I can use it to go to the shops, take my son on it in a kids seat, and commute 26 miles a day on it. Just does everything I throw at it, part of the commute is tow path and its perfectly at home there too.

My road bike is for outright speed though. Place for both in my house.

[uncinqsix]

Giant make good value bikes too. The Rapid would be one to look at.

I really don't buy the idea that getting a hybrid is a compromise. In a lot of cases, they are genuinely the best tool for the job.

[MiseryStreak]

I don't get hybrids, they don't do anything well, slower than a road bike, less comfortable than a mountain bike, can't jump things. They're the polar opposite of cyclocross bikes, which are actually really useful.

Tell him to man up and get a road bike, or just stick some courier tyres on a full sus mtb and have the best of both worlds. Hybrids are for pussies.

[uncinqsix]

MiseryStreak said:

I don't get hybrids, they don't do anything well, slower than a road bike, less comfortable than a mountain bike, can't jump things. They're the polar opposite of cyclocross bikes, which are actually really useful.

Tell him to man up and get a road bike, or just stick some courier tyres on a full sus mtb and have the best of both worlds. Hybrids are for pussies.

...or put another way, hybrids are faster than mountain bikes and more comfortable than road bikes

My daily, all weather commute contains:

Narrow, winding paths going up/down steep hills
Lots of rough/uneven pavement with plenty of scope for punctures
Kerbs
Traffic
Some fast, smooth roads

My hybrid does that better than either a mountain bike or a road bike would. The only thing that I think would be as suitable (and may even be better) is a cyclocross bike...

[MiseryStreak]

While I was being a bit troll like in my post (I don't really care what people ride), I don't get why the main difference between hybrids and road bikes, the flat handle bar, is considered superior for negotiating traffic. Since commuting on a road bike I find it is far easier getting through narrow gaps in stationary traffic with the drop bars.

The only thing I can think of is that the general riding position on a mountain bike/hyrbid is more upright and allows slightly better situational awareness and stability looking over shoulders etc.

[uncinqsix]

It does depend on the type of hybrid though. Some are basically road bikes with flat bars, others are more like rigid mountain bikes with 700c wheels and disc brakes. Horses for courses and all that

[ClassicMercs]

You could always consider what I did. A good hybrid - replaced the stem with a riser stem to get better reach and height. Then swapped the flat bars for butterfly bars.

Endless options to get comfortable. And a lot faster than a sit up and beg - only weak link is me (or VERY cold <sub-zero> winter weather then the oil/grease freezes in the freewheel - two wheels are still easier / safer than an old Merc in snow).

Edited by ClassicMercs on Thursday 11th July 07:41

Edited by ClassicMercs on Thursday 11th July 07:42