Giant escape disc 2 - any alternatives
Discussion
I'm just about to order a giant escape2 disc in medium
Not having had a push bike for ages is there anything else I should look at around the £500 mark?
It wil be a hopefully get a bit fitter bike, a ride gentle trails/tow paths with the kids type bike.
Had a carrera front suspension hybrid last a few years and thought it was too heavy and could not see the point of the sprung forks
Ta Ray
Not having had a push bike for ages is there anything else I should look at around the £500 mark?
It wil be a hopefully get a bit fitter bike, a ride gentle trails/tow paths with the kids type bike.
Had a carrera front suspension hybrid last a few years and thought it was too heavy and could not see the point of the sprung forks
Ta Ray
I looked at this when buying last week: City/hybrid bikes at the same price point seem to be very similar in spec, as you pay more you get more gears, and less weigtht - up to a point. So there's a lot of choice.
Giant Escape 2 has alloy frame and forks so at least it should be light. The rest of the spec: Altus/Tourney/Tektro/Suntour is standard at the price point and easy to replace if it wears out. Bike has a sealed bottom bracket bearing: also good.
Geometry is 'upright' - good for towns.
MTB gearing is missing ultra-low 38T on the rear some of the competition has.
Sus forks on city bikes is little more than a fad, but excellent on fast dirt/trails. Otherwise you're just dragging weight around. I went for old skule.
If you need to put a bike in the back of the car, quick release front wheel helps a lot.
Disc brakes save rim wear but can be fiddly to adjust though all mine have been cable, not hydrabolical.
Giant don't give weights but that looks to be around 12Kg.
As to alternatives, there's a stack of bikes at that price point with similar specs, There's been a couple of Decathlon purchases on here last week, Halfords have their well regarded Carerra Subway/Parva ranges, or the Boardman bikes for a bit less weight, more upmarket spec. Halfords have a sale on at the moment.
If you want a similar spec bike at a lower price there's the Vitus Mach 3 - although it goes for a more sporty and lower MTB style headset with slightly narrower tyres.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/vitus-mach-3-ur...
If you don't need the MTB triple sprockets on the crankset, Evans have their well reviewed Pinnacle 8 speed hybrids, plus a trade-in offer. Alloy frame and forks, plus V-Brakes and sub 10KG weight. Front sprocket is a 42T but can be changed for a 38T if you need to go a bit lower:
https://www.evanscycles.com/pinnacle-neon-1-2018-h...
Giant Escape 2 has alloy frame and forks so at least it should be light. The rest of the spec: Altus/Tourney/Tektro/Suntour is standard at the price point and easy to replace if it wears out. Bike has a sealed bottom bracket bearing: also good.
Geometry is 'upright' - good for towns.
MTB gearing is missing ultra-low 38T on the rear some of the competition has.
Sus forks on city bikes is little more than a fad, but excellent on fast dirt/trails. Otherwise you're just dragging weight around. I went for old skule.
If you need to put a bike in the back of the car, quick release front wheel helps a lot.
Disc brakes save rim wear but can be fiddly to adjust though all mine have been cable, not hydrabolical.
Giant don't give weights but that looks to be around 12Kg.
As to alternatives, there's a stack of bikes at that price point with similar specs, There's been a couple of Decathlon purchases on here last week, Halfords have their well regarded Carerra Subway/Parva ranges, or the Boardman bikes for a bit less weight, more upmarket spec. Halfords have a sale on at the moment.
If you want a similar spec bike at a lower price there's the Vitus Mach 3 - although it goes for a more sporty and lower MTB style headset with slightly narrower tyres.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/vitus-mach-3-ur...
If you don't need the MTB triple sprockets on the crankset, Evans have their well reviewed Pinnacle 8 speed hybrids, plus a trade-in offer. Alloy frame and forks, plus V-Brakes and sub 10KG weight. Front sprocket is a 42T but can be changed for a 38T if you need to go a bit lower:
https://www.evanscycles.com/pinnacle-neon-1-2018-h...
Edited by Slushbox on Wednesday 18th July 07:25
Another vote for the pinnacle 1. Lightweight and you can use thicker tyres on it (I have 38x700 tyres). I also have Giant Defy racer so I can see the appeal of a Giant as the geometry is relaxed.
V-brakes are quite adequate for a hybrid on road/canal type environment (in my opinion). The eight speed on the neon is simple, it just means I have to work harder but the gears are well spaced so hills are no problem. Only thing i have changed are the tyres and a charge spoon saddle (the standard saddle is fine).
V-brakes are quite adequate for a hybrid on road/canal type environment (in my opinion). The eight speed on the neon is simple, it just means I have to work harder but the gears are well spaced so hills are no problem. Only thing i have changed are the tyres and a charge spoon saddle (the standard saddle is fine).
Good luck to Ray buying a new bike. Always fun.
"V-brakes are quite adequate for a hybrid on road/canal type environment (in my opinion). "
I think so, always got on with them OK. There's some weiner-waving debate on another bike forum about hydrobolical disks stopping in half the distance from 40 mph. Well, I won't ever see 40 mph on a bike again. :-)
I wish new bikes came without a saddle, though. I generally have to bin whatever is fitted from stock, and buy one I can sit on for more than ten minutes. Same with tyres. New bikes always come with the 'wrong' ones.
Viz Pinnacle Neon, if I had seen that when I was looking last week it would have been on the shortlist.
"V-brakes are quite adequate for a hybrid on road/canal type environment (in my opinion). "
I think so, always got on with them OK. There's some weiner-waving debate on another bike forum about hydrobolical disks stopping in half the distance from 40 mph. Well, I won't ever see 40 mph on a bike again. :-)
I wish new bikes came without a saddle, though. I generally have to bin whatever is fitted from stock, and buy one I can sit on for more than ten minutes. Same with tyres. New bikes always come with the 'wrong' ones.
Viz Pinnacle Neon, if I had seen that when I was looking last week it would have been on the shortlist.
A small update
I stuck in between work and the cyclescheme, one needs something from the other and both say they need the other to do something!!!!
Also the local shop I was going to use have said the disc 2 escape is sold out, so if zi still want that one it may be mail order which is a shame as I wanted to shop local for once.
I think the only other type of bike I would like would beba cx/gravel/adventure type but unless the sales hit at the same time as the voucher code £400 aint getting one
I stuck in between work and the cyclescheme, one needs something from the other and both say they need the other to do something!!!!
Also the local shop I was going to use have said the disc 2 escape is sold out, so if zi still want that one it may be mail order which is a shame as I wanted to shop local for once.
I think the only other type of bike I would like would beba cx/gravel/adventure type but unless the sales hit at the same time as the voucher code £400 aint getting one
Just tried this in Halfords, felt nice and not too heavy
Downsides?
https://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet...
Downsides?
https://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet...
You will not go far wrong with the Giant, I have had one as a all rounder for over a year now with over 3000 miles on it.
Love it, not the most sporty bike but just is a great bike to ride most of the time.
Be careful with the size, they do come up a bit short so to speak, I ride a m/l
I would avoid Halfords.
Love it, not the most sporty bike but just is a great bike to ride most of the time.
Be careful with the size, they do come up a bit short so to speak, I ride a m/l
I would avoid Halfords.
Collected today from cycle surgery in brum
They set it up for me and made ride around the shop a few times.
Took it most of the way home on the train and cycled the last few miles(not the uphill bits)
Its so smooth and quiet when compered to my carrera hybrid, the gears seem nicely spaced and its nice and light
They set it up for me and made ride around the shop a few times.
Took it most of the way home on the train and cycled the last few miles(not the uphill bits)
Its so smooth and quiet when compered to my carrera hybrid, the gears seem nicely spaced and its nice and light
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