Hybrid bike for commuting / exercise
Discussion
I am after a bike for commuting and exercise, but my knowledge of bikes is quite nastily limited.
I had a look in a local cycle store and they had the dawes discovery range which seemed to fit the bill (specifically the 301), but I spoke to a friend who is into his bikes and he was suggesting that anything less than 500 quid would have compromises in its components that would mean it would be extremely unreliable. He pointed me at merlin cycles.
I suspect that he might be overblowing it a bit, or is it really the case that 90% of bikes ive seen sold in shops are unreliable trash?
Criteria -
less than £300
frame that weighs less than a ton
not excessively complicated (e.g. v-brakes not discs)
potential for expansion in the future (e.g. change of forks and wheels would make it passable off roads)
Thanks in advance
I had a look in a local cycle store and they had the dawes discovery range which seemed to fit the bill (specifically the 301), but I spoke to a friend who is into his bikes and he was suggesting that anything less than 500 quid would have compromises in its components that would mean it would be extremely unreliable. He pointed me at merlin cycles.
I suspect that he might be overblowing it a bit, or is it really the case that 90% of bikes ive seen sold in shops are unreliable trash?
Criteria -
less than £300
frame that weighs less than a ton
not excessively complicated (e.g. v-brakes not discs)
potential for expansion in the future (e.g. change of forks and wheels would make it passable off roads)
Thanks in advance
shouldbworking said:
I am after a bike for commuting and exercise, but my knowledge of bikes is quite nastily limited.
I had a look in a local cycle store and they had the dawes discovery range which seemed to fit the bill (specifically the 301), but I spoke to a friend who is into his bikes and he was suggesting that anything less than 500 quid would have compromises in its components that would mean it would be extremely unreliable. He pointed me at merlin cycles.
I suspect that he might be overblowing it a bit, or is it really the case that 90% of bikes ive seen sold in shops are unreliable trash?
Criteria -
less than £300
frame that weighs less than a ton
not excessively complicated (e.g. v-brakes not discs)
potential for expansion in the future (e.g. change of forks and wheels would make it passable off roads)
Thanks in advance
I had a look in a local cycle store and they had the dawes discovery range which seemed to fit the bill (specifically the 301), but I spoke to a friend who is into his bikes and he was suggesting that anything less than 500 quid would have compromises in its components that would mean it would be extremely unreliable. He pointed me at merlin cycles.
I suspect that he might be overblowing it a bit, or is it really the case that 90% of bikes ive seen sold in shops are unreliable trash?
Criteria -
less than £300
frame that weighs less than a ton
not excessively complicated (e.g. v-brakes not discs)
potential for expansion in the future (e.g. change of forks and wheels would make it passable off roads)
Thanks in advance
Try this from SCOTT. Sportster P5 RRP £279
www.scottusa.com/product.php?UID=9782
or Sub 30 RRP £329
www.scottusa.com/product.php?UID=9788
Cheers,
Ian.
PH5121 said:
Why not get a mountain bike and put road tyres on it for the commute, rather than use a hybrid off road.
The primary use of it would be a road bike so id rather it was biased that way than for offroad.
ps. thanks for the suggestions. I will search through existing threads. Are scott bikes available through uk retailers?
Edited by shouldbworking on Thursday 16th November 16:58
Kona Smoke.
www.konabikes.co.uk/2k7bikes/smoke_2k7.php
Hardly seems to have changed this year, so worth seeing if you can get a good deal on an 06 model.
Essentially it's a classic, old-school Kona mountain bike - steel, rigid fork, v-brakes, all good reliable stuff. Comes set up for commuting on with mudguards and slick tyres, but take those off and put some off-road tyres on and it'll be great on mud too (most people riding MTBs 10 years were on something very similar!). Could even stick a budget suspension fork on there later if you wanted.
They're ace - I've recommended them to a few people and all are very happy with them.
www.konabikes.co.uk/2k7bikes/smoke_2k7.php
Hardly seems to have changed this year, so worth seeing if you can get a good deal on an 06 model.
Essentially it's a classic, old-school Kona mountain bike - steel, rigid fork, v-brakes, all good reliable stuff. Comes set up for commuting on with mudguards and slick tyres, but take those off and put some off-road tyres on and it'll be great on mud too (most people riding MTBs 10 years were on something very similar!). Could even stick a budget suspension fork on there later if you wanted.
They're ace - I've recommended them to a few people and all are very happy with them.
shouldbworking said:
PH5121 said:
Why not get a mountain bike and put road tyres on it for the commute, rather than use a hybrid off road.
The primary use of it would be a road bike so id rather it was biased that way than for offroad.
ps. thanks for the suggestions. I will search through existing threads. Are scott bikes available through uk retailers?
Edited by shouldbworking on Thursday 16th November 16:58
SCOTT Bikes are available through UK retailers. There is a Dealer locator on there website:
www.scottusa.com/dealers/
Cheers,
Ian.
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