"All-rounder" hybrid for the wife for approx £500?

[Zigster]

My wife currently potters around our town on a sit up and beg town bike (Ridgeback, I think).

However, she has signed up to a longish (c. 45 miles) charity ride, and our kids are now at the age where we do a bit more cycling as a family (nothing too vigorous - parks and gentle trails rather than full on MTB). So I'm thinking another bike might be a good option for her.

Ideally,
better for a long road ride than her current town bike
able to cope with gentle off-roading
probably a "mans" frame as it would be ideal to pass it on to our kids when they have grown a bit more
cost around £500.

Rather than the specific brand and model (so many options out there), I was wondering more around the type of hybrid that would best suit. In particular, would a hybrid with a suspension fork be better or worse than one with a rigid fork? I can see the suspension fork would be better off-road (although fattish tyres on a hybrid might well be enough) but, conversely, a suspension fork would add weight and sap energy on-road. A locking fork might be a good compromise, but such a fork still adds weight, complexity and cost relative to a rigid fork.

Opinions welcomed, thanks.

[Barchettaman]

A suspension fork on a hybrid is a waste of time. It’s just because the ‘market’ thinks it’s necessary.

I’d look at a flat-bar hybrid, alu frame / carbon fork, with tyre clearance at least 28mm.

Think about swapping in a pair of Ergon grips or similar, if it comes with round grips.

A lot of the faster hybrids come with nasty saddles so make sure she’s comfy.

[Zigster]

Barchettaman said:

A suspension fork on a hybrid is a waste of time. It’s just because the ‘market’ thinks it’s necessary.

I’d look at a flat-bar hybrid, alu frame / carbon fork, with tyre clearance at least 28mm.

Think about swapping in a pair of Ergon grips or similar, if it comes with round grips.

A lot of the faster hybrids come with nasty saddles so make sure she’s comfy.

Thanks. That pretty much backs up the conclusion I'd come to. Flat bard hybrid, rigid, space for fat off-road (but not full MTB) tyres which I can swap out to skinnier ones for long road rides. I'll see how she gets on with the standard saddle and swap over if necessary.

[Usget]

Same requirements as I had for my partner, plus hydraulic discs (reliable stopping power) and 1x (easier to get your head around for a non-bike-nerd, one lever to make it harder or easier to pedal)

Ended up with a Whyte Shoreditch if that helps. Discounted, it didn't quite sneak under your budget, but it wasn't far off.

Added a set of pink DMR V6s, pink Raceface grips, and a pink bottle cage from Decathlon. She's made up with it, must have ridden it at least four times....

[Master Bean]

Trek FX2 is the answer.

[snake_oil]

Master Bean said:

Trek FX2 is the answer.

I do 20 miles a day commuting in and out of London and didn't really want a road bike due to the variable quality road surface. I do a lot of MTB though so in a way didn't want to 'waste' my cash on a hybrid either.... so I bought a Trek X-Caliber 7. It was end of year (2017 model) and was reduced from 700 to 450 odd.

Important spec highlights for me were Shimano hydraulic disks and a lock out fork. Only downside really is it tips the scales at 30lbs... but it just makes you work a bit harder, right? #rule10

I also swapped in a skinny flat bar, Schwalbe Marathons and some Ergon GP3 grips. Win.