Recommend me a simple, elegant hybrid

[BorniteIdentity]

Hello Friends

Like the rest of planet earth, I started cycling earlier this year. Note how I say started cycling, not "took up" cycling. No lycra here.

I've really enjoyed getting out with my sons, and have lost half a stone with no effort at all - so all in all it's good.

I'd like to treat myself to something new. It will, I'm sure, be the very antitheses of what most men what cycle would buy!

I'd like a hybrid bike, sit up and beg style, with an elegant look. I'd like absolute bomb proof simplicity, so Sturmey Archer gears and brakes. There's zero chance of me buying something needlessly complicated. Like my cars, I really appreciate good simple engineering - no chintz, trinkets, adornments or anything else that's not required for the task at hand.

15mph is ample - my youngest son is 4!.

I live in Cambridge and this looks rather nice. Apparently the gears are the same as the SA 3 speed but with one lower and one higher gear - the middle 3 are the same.

https://www.townsends-lb.co.uk/bikes/hybrid-bikes/...

I've also looked at Pashley Roadsters which look smashing, but perhaps a little too pretentious for moi.

Is there anything else I should consider?

Thanks in advance!

[anonymous-user]

Unfortunately there aren’t many bikes for sale at the moment in shops, due to the rush.
Your choices will be limited, top recommendations won’t be available!
Even low end stuff is selling at inflated prices used ..

[joshcowin]

BorniteIdentity said:

Hello Friends

Like the rest of planet earth, I started cycling earlier this year. Note how I say started cycling, not "took up" cycling. No lycra here.

I've really enjoyed getting out with my sons, and have lost half a stone with no effort at all - so all in all it's good.

I'd like to treat myself to something new. It will, I'm sure, be the very antitheses of what most men what cycle would buy!

I'd like a hybrid bike, sit up and beg style, with an elegant look. I'd like absolute bomb proof simplicity, so Sturmey Archer gears and brakes. There's zero chance of me buying something needlessly complicated. Like my cars, I really appreciate good simple engineering - no chintz, trinkets, adornments or anything else that's not required for the task at hand.

15mph is ample - my youngest son is 4!.

I live in Cambridge and this looks rather nice. Apparently the gears are the same as the SA 3 speed but with one lower and one higher gear - the middle 3 are the same.

https://www.townsends-lb.co.uk/bikes/hybrid-bikes/...

I've also looked at Pashley Roadsters which look smashing, but perhaps a little too pretentious for moi.

Is there anything else I should consider?

Thanks in advance!

Lokk on facebook marketplace (you dont need a facebbok account to look) prices are slightly higher at the moment but there are still deals out there!

[IroningMan]

I have a Pashley Roadster and while it's quite nicely put together it's also a pretty unwieldy 23kg and there's a long lead time for new ones. Planet-X might be worth a visit: have a look on their website under 'Urban Bikes',

[smifffymoto]

What about a Cube Hyde Pro,hub gears and belt drive.

[lufbramatt]

Saw the Ribble Hybrid AL in their Bluewater showroom the other day, looked smart in British Racing Green. Had "modern" hydraulic disc brakes and derailleur gears though so might not meet your criteria ;-)

[davidd]

Hello (also sort of Cambridge)

Have you ridden the one in townsends? If you have and you like it then buy it.
I bought my wife a dutch bike a couple of years ago, alarmingly simple, really nice to ride about as long as you are not in a hurry.

D

BorniteIdentity said:

Hello Friends

Like the rest of planet earth, I started cycling earlier this year. Note how I say started cycling, not "took up" cycling. No lycra here.

I've really enjoyed getting out with my sons, and have lost half a stone with no effort at all - so all in all it's good.

I'd like to treat myself to something new. It will, I'm sure, be the very antitheses of what most men what cycle would buy!

I'd like a hybrid bike, sit up and beg style, with an elegant look. I'd like absolute bomb proof simplicity, so Sturmey Archer gears and brakes. There's zero chance of me buying something needlessly complicated. Like my cars, I really appreciate good simple engineering - no chintz, trinkets, adornments or anything else that's not required for the task at hand.

15mph is ample - my youngest son is 4!.

I live in Cambridge and this looks rather nice. Apparently the gears are the same as the SA 3 speed but with one lower and one higher gear - the middle 3 are the same.

https://www.townsends-lb.co.uk/bikes/hybrid-bikes/...

I've also looked at Pashley Roadsters which look smashing, but perhaps a little too pretentious for moi.

Is there anything else I should consider?

Thanks in advance!

[BorniteIdentity]

Thanks for the suggestions. I think the Pashley is, sadly, a little bit too - err - Tory Hipster for me. If they're 23kg then I might as well buy an Elephant bike (these also greatly interest me!)

I'm going to ask Townsends for a trial on the Parkside 5 speed at some stage. For the meantime, me and my Raleigh Pioneer have a date in the rain!

[IroningMan]

BorniteIdentity said:

Thanks for the suggestions. I think the Pashley is, sadly, a little bit too - err - Tory Hipster for me. If they're 23kg then I might as well buy an Elephant bike (these also greatly interest me!)

I'm going to ask Townsends for a trial on the Parkside 5 speed at some stage. For the meantime, me and my Raleigh Pioneer have a date in the rain!

Have you been speaking to my children?

[klootzak]

You might want to take a look at this one from Townsends also ...

https://www.townsends-lb.co.uk/bikes/hybrid-bikes/...

It'll be lighter than the Parkside 5 speed, seems like it has a better riding position and to my eyes looks a whole lot better too.

In Cambridge you won't really need five gears unless you plan to slog up Castle Hill on a regular basis, and then the extra weight of the Parkside will hurt a lot more than having two less gears on the Double Shot.

Incidentally, there's nothing particularly simple, or even reliable, about Sturmey Archer hub gears. Just sayin'

k

[Captain Smerc]

I bought one of these
https://www.gessato.com/10-reasons-cannondale-bad-...
It's good, very good.

[anonymous-user]

IroningMan said:

I have a Pashley Roadster and while it's quite nicely put together it's also a pretty unwieldy 23kg and there's a long lead time for new ones.

I impulse purchased one of those a few years ago, to use a cycle voucher
Never used it, it’s in boxes in my attic
I’ll put it together & sell it on!

[Doofus]

I have a Whyte Shoreditch.