What Bike......

[Kingdom35]

Looking for some advicer here

I already have a Road bike on the turbo trainer - a Boardman Race bike bout 5 years old (Red) through the cycle to work scheme

But im looking at getting a Hybrid bike again as i used to own a Specialised Sirrus.......My only problem is im a bit confused with what to go for, id like to use it on the road and off road in the sense of gravel tracks.
So what do i actually go for, Hybrid with suspension that can be locked, Mountain bike or Gravel Bike. I think the latter is out of my price range as im looking at either buying through the cycle to work scheme - Halfords or any independent that offers the scheme up to £600 or going the 2nd hand route up to £250

So far ive seen Trek FX1, Boardman HYB 8.6, Specialised Sirrus X3.0, GT Transeo 3.0, Carrera Parva....all on the 2nd hand market for around the £200 mark

Whats the best route to go here, looking for some experienced advice as in my mind the hybrid without suspension, will that be able to cope with the bumps etc on a gravel track?

[Julian Scott]

Kingdom35 said:

Looking for some advicer here

I already have a Road bike on the turbo trainer - a Boardman Race bike bout 5 years old (Red) through the cycle to work scheme

But im looking at getting a Hybrid bike again as i used to own a Specialised Sirrus.......My only problem is im a bit confused with what to go for, id like to use it on the road and off road in the sense of gravel tracks.
So what do i actually go for, Hybrid with suspension that can be locked, Mountain bike or Gravel Bike. I think the latter is out of my price range as im looking at either buying through the cycle to work scheme - Halfords or any independent that offers the scheme up to £600 or going the 2nd hand route up to £250

So far ive seen Trek FX1, Boardman HYB 8.6, Specialised Sirrus X3.0, GT Transeo 3.0, Carrera Parva....all on the 2nd hand market for around the £200 mark

Whats the best route to go here, looking for some experienced advice as in my mind the hybrid without suspension, will that be able to cope with the bumps etc on a gravel track?

From what you say, go for a Gravel Bike (which very seldom have suspension - not needed unless you head towards MTB-level technical off-road riding)

I'd certainly never go for suspension unless on a true MTB.

[Kingdom35]

Thanks, so a Gravel Bike i can use on the road? It will just be slower than a Hybrid?
Any recommendations on a Gravel bike withing my budget, probably the 2nd hand route?

Thank you

[emicen]

Kingdom35 said:

Thanks, so a Gravel Bike i can use on the road? It will just be slower than a Hybrid?
Any recommendations on a Gravel bike withing my budget, probably the 2nd hand route?

Thank you

Voodoo Limba from Halfords would fit your Cycle2Work criteria @ £525 brand new, if you could push it the Nakisi would be a nice little upgrade (£650).

Gravel would be much faster than hybrid on road imho. I don’t actually ride my gravel bike on gravel, it’s just a way more compliant road bike to me which sacrifices a little ultimate speed for a more comfy ride.

[Julian Scott]

Kingdom35 said:

Thanks, so a Gravel Bike i can use on the road? It will just be slower than a Hybrid?
Any recommendations on a Gravel bike withing my budget, probably the 2nd hand route?

Thank you

A gravel bike won't be slower on road unless you have very knobbly/off-road focus tyres.
A bike with suspension WILL be slower on the road than one without.

Have a look at the Planet X offerings, cracking value.

Other than that, low model Ribble & Canyon are great bikes.

[Julian Scott]

emicen said:

Voodoo Limba from Halfords would fit your Cycle2Work criteria @ £525 brand new, if you could push it the Nakisi would be a nice little upgrade (£650).

Gravel would be much faster than hybrid on road imho. I don’t actually ride my gravel bike on gravel, it’s just a way more compliant road bike to me which sacrifices a little ultimate speed for a more comfy ride.

I use my gravel bike as a winter road bike as well as using it on gravel. Can easily manage 32/33kph average over 50-100km on road.

[Kingdom35]

Thanks Voodoo's look good but im 6ft 3 and Halfords dont seem to stock the XL Frame sizes.....typical

The Ribble and Planet X they look a bit more pricey to me and i cant see to find any second hand at first glance

[Waitforme]

Kingdom35 said:

Thanks, so a Gravel Bike i can use on the road? It will just be slower than a Hybrid?
Any recommendations on a Gravel bike withing my budget, probably the 2nd hand route?

Thank you

If it’s heavier it’ll be slower going uphill, but other than that pretty negligible difference.

[Julian Scott]

Waitforme said:

Kingdom35 said:

Thanks, so a Gravel Bike i can use on the road? It will just be slower than a Hybrid?
Any recommendations on a Gravel bike withing my budget, probably the 2nd hand route?

Thank you

If it’s heavier it’ll be slower going uphill, but other than that pretty negligible difference.

No reason why a gravel bike will be heavier than a hybrid. Arguably the other way around.

[Barchettaman]

It’s likely that the hybrid will be slower; heavier, higher rolling resistance, less aerodynamic rider position. Not that it really matters, the point is to get the OP out there and enjoying himself.

[dvshannow]

I would agree with gravel bike option

But for that can also consider a road bike with capability to take wider tires - now discs are common road bikes with say 38s are v similar to gravel bikes
There is a nice trek domaine al3 eg that does this at a reasonable price