Help please...

who007

I'm looking for a hybrid bike.. reason being I want to get a bike for triathlons, but don't want to be confined to road races but cross country tris too, and also want to be able to go cycling in the local forest... I feel a hybrid would offer the best of both worlds.. so of the £299 (yep sterling) bikes on this link http://www.wiggle.co.uk/CategoryProducts.aspx?Cat=cycle&CategoryName=Hybrid%20Bikes

can anyone advise which one would be the best to go for? I a, not planning on winning, just competing and am on a limited budget so about €300- €400 is my limit..

Thanks for any help

niceonetom

who007 wrote: »

I'm looking for a hybrid bike.. reason being I want to get a bike for triathlons

eh? triathlons on a hybrid? that's kinda odd isn't it? not exactly aero are they?

who007 wrote: »

and also want to be able to go cycling in the local forest...

hmmm. most hybrids are basically road bikes with flat bars so they are not going to be very good over rough surfaces (it'll probably break). you could get a bike with flat bars, 26 inch wheels and cantilever or disc brakes which would be good in the forest but you'd be at a serious disadvantage on the road.

bikes are generally designed to be fairly specific in purpose (hybrids are aimed at commuters mostly, and people who are intimidated by the look of a road bike) so trying to find a bike that can do everything on your list could lead to a poor compromise and ultimately to a bike that isn't very good at any of the things you want to do with it.

my advice would be to think about exactly what you want the bike to be good at and prioritise that, and to accept that there is no bike that can do everything. this is why most cyclists end up owning more than one bike and are constantly thinking of buying others.

so what's the most important thing this bike should be good at? that's your starting point for shopping.

who007

hmmm... hadn't really considered that...

yep tri's on a hybrid... like I said some will be cross country.. I'm a bit dubious about how a road racing bike would hold up to it.. and |I could get aero bars for the hybrid too.

You've made good points there but like I said I'm not gonna really be competing seriously - just participating. Plus, at my level a specific road bike wouldn't make any odds. I'm a good runner and swimmer - the bike bit is just a necessity... but no harm as cross training either.

Still kinda set on a hybrid. Granted you have good points about what I really want from a bike - but basically I don't think a racing bike would hold up to the kind of roads around me or the forest floor, and I don't think a mountain bike would be suitable for road races...

Anyone else actually solve this problem for themselves?

who007

oh, and niceonetom - if you were to pick a road bike from that site for the same price, is there one you'd recommend? Or anywhere else in the price range I am looking at? Thanks

RtD

Maybe a cyclocross bike would also fit the bill, going from fast road bike to something that can take on more muddy trails would at a basic level only require a tire change, if even. Unfortunately I don't know enough about them to recommend a model, I'm sure others here would know alot more.

who007

yeah someone said a hybrid bike with slicks might be suitable??

penexpers

who007 wrote: »

Still kinda set on a hybrid. Granted you have good points about what I really want from a bike - but basically I don't think a racing bike would hold up to the kind of roads around me or the forest floor, and I don't think a mountain bike would be suitable for road races...

If you use a hybrid off road, it might very well break. Hybrid's are meant for road use only.

You could get either a Kona Dew Deluxe (mix of mountain bike and hybrid) or a Kona Jake (cyclocross bike). Both of these would be outside your budget though.

niceonetom

who007
a cyclocross bike might be a good call if you really insist on an all rounder. i think you're misunderstanding what hybrids are designed for, they are not all purpose machines, don't let flat bars fool you into thinking they're will survive without tarmac, they won't.

basically i don't think there's any bike on the linked page that will do what you're asking it to.

who007

ok guys... that's great feedback - thanks. I think I will go for a road bike.. most common tri races will be on roads and I can still use it to train and get to work and back.. so on a budget can anyone recommend a reasonable road bike? I don't need anything really really good - just lightweight and won't fall apart for a couple of years..

penexpers

You're going to have to look beyond €400 to get something anyway decent. I would look at a Giant SCR3 or Specialized Allez. People on these forums have said good things about the BeOne bikes too, have a look on www.chainreactioncycles.com for them.

daymobrew

who007 wrote: »

yep tri's on a hybrid...

It's not all about the bike. My first few duathlons in the Phoenix Park were on my FS Rockhopper mtn bike with slick tyres. IMO my times were respectable.
Last year, on a good racer, I had a tough time keeping up with a guy on a Specialised Sirrus hybrid.

I recommend aero bars no matter what bike you choose. You can relax your upper body and concentrate your energy on pedaling.

Raam

daymobrew wrote: »

It's not all about the bike. My first few duathlons in the Phoenix Park were on my FS Rockhopper mtn bike with slick tyres. IMO my times were respectable.
Last year, on a good racer, I had a tough time keeping up with a guy on a Specialised Sirrus hybrid.

Imagine how far behind you would have been on your Rockhopper

niceonetom

daymobrew wrote: »

It's not all about the bike.

fúck you lance it's ALL about the bike.