New hybrid bike

Carnmore

I'm looking for a practical hybrid bike with full mudguards, rear pannier rack, lights and no suspension.

I've looked at the Pashley Roadster Sovereign and I like the classic styling, hub brakes and gears but would prefer something a bit more sporty looking.

The Creme range has only two with rear carriers but the five-speed is only available in white.

Possibly the Ridgeback Tradition but it's quite low spec.


Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

smacl

Couple of good ideas on the tail end of this thread; http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057713467

iwillhtfu

Have a look at the giant hybrid bikes.

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-ie/bike-catalogue/series/hybrid-city-bikes/48/

Or canyon do a very nice commuter it would certainly be unique I've yet to see new in the flesh.

https://www.canyon.com/en-ie/urban/commuter/

Fian

I like the look of the canyon 4.0 commuter. One question though - what does fixing a puncture on the rear wheel involve on a belt drive bike? Can you remove and replace the wheel easily?

HivemindXX

Fian wrote: »

I like the look of the canyon 4.0 commuter. One question though - what does fixing a puncture on the rear wheel involve on a belt drive bike? Can you remove and replace the wheel easily?

I have a belt drive bike although it's a Cube. If you are considering the Canyon then probably a Cube Travel is in the same price range and you can see them at Cycle Bike just off Capel Street. I did really like the look of that Canyon before I went for the Cube, but it looked a little too cool for me to feel confident leaving it out where scumbags could get access.

I've yet to have to get a puncture (a phrase I seriously considered not typing out) but for the Cube the process is that you break the rear triangle using an allen key and get the wheel off this way. I've read that in general people don't bother taking the wheel off but instead patch the tube at the side of the road without taking it off the bike, something that I've not done in decades. I should probably practice just in case.

Either way it shouldn't be too difficult, but slightly more awkward than a standard derailleur and chain set up. I'd certainly go for bullet proof tyres, although I would do that regardless. Fixing punctures is no fun whatever the set up.

iwillhtfu

Fian wrote: »

I like the look of the canyon 4.0 commuter. One question though - what does fixing a puncture on the rear wheel involve on a belt drive bike? Can you remove and replace the wheel easily?

Id say it would be tough enough to swap out as the hear cables etc are attached to the hub of the wheel.

As above I'd probably get tubeless ready tyres and fill them with stans fluid they'll run till the wear off the wheel with that set up.

mrcheez

What's your budget OP ?

Carnmore

Great suggestions - thanks for the replies!

Re a Giant - I'd need full mudguards and a rear pannier rack. Do their hybrids lend themselves to fitting these?

The Canyon is an impressive looking bike. The pannier rack is only bolted tot he frame at two points - how practical would it be, such as for carrying two large bags of groceries?

By the way, I only do A-B journeys - a couple of miles every day through traffic - to work, socialise, grocery shop et al.

I don't really have a budget - I want a quality durable bike with as little maintenance as possible. It's to replace a thirteen-year old Dawes Sonoran.

mrcheez

Carnmore wrote: »

I don't really have a budget - I want a quality durable bike with as little maintenance as possible. It's to replace a thirteen-year old Dawes Sonoran.

Specialized Sirrus always get my vote. I've got 2. One is a cheaper/heavier model that I used with panniers and the other is a more expensive one I got with my bike to work.

Both are very fast and very durable. I'm often the fastest on my route to/fro work and only get overtaken once in a blue moon (though admittedly that's down to the rider as much as the bike)

https://www.evanscycles.com/en-ie/specialized-sirrus-disc-2017-hybrid-bike-EV279733

I got mine in Cycleways, but perhaps there are other places (or buy online/NI)

mr spuckler

Carnmore wrote: »

Re a Giant - I'd need full mudguards and a rear pannier rack. Do their hybrids lend themselves to fitting these?

if you zoom in on the giants you can see on the frame whether they have mounts for a rack. the couple i've looked at there certainly do.

i recently got a Fuji Absolute 1.1 with a rack and full length mudguards. i carry reasonable weight on the rack as well as my 1 year old on a child seat mounted above the crossbar and it handles the weight absolutely fine. i think tbh that if you pick a price range, most of the hybrid bikes from the well known brands will be very similar. i found there was around €50-€100 max in it between the one i got and similarly specced bikes from other brands. only thing i needed to do with mine after i bought it was change the stock slick tyres to schwalbe marathon plus.

http://www.fujibikes.com/global/bike/details/absolute-11-disc

Fian

HivemindXX wrote: »

I have a belt drive bike although it's a Cube. If you are considering the Canyon then probably a Cube Travel is in the same price range and you can see them at Cycle Bike just off Capel Street. I did really like the look of that Canyon before I went for the Cube, but it looked a little too cool for me to feel confident leaving it out where scumbags could get access.

I've yet to have to get a puncture (a phrase I seriously considered not typing out) but for the Cube the process is that you break the rear triangle using an allen key and get the wheel off this way. I've read that in general people don't bother taking the wheel off but instead patch the tube at the side of the road without taking it off the bike, something that I've not done in decades. I should probably practice just in case.

Either way it shouldn't be too difficult, but slightly more awkward than a standard derailleur and chain set up. I'd certainly go for bullet proof tyres, although I would do that regardless. Fixing punctures is no fun whatever the set up.

Thanks, not actually in need of a new commuter atm, was just curious when i looked at the canyon ones linked.

I think this would swing it for me and i will probably avoid a belt drive when i ever do get around to changing hybrid bike. I would want to be able to throw a new tube on if necessary when cycling to / from work.

_Brian

I'm looking myself for something similar OP..
Herself got a Giant bike a few years ago and its been brilliant..

Was looking at this, Giant Escape 2 City Sports
https://www.cyclestore.ie/giant_escape_2_city_2017_sports_hybrid_bike-ID_70598

I'd love any opinions on these...

iwillhtfu

_Brian wrote: »

I'd love any opinions on these...

All of the examples above are nicer

Just kidding but at a certain price point they'll all be very similar.

Carnmore

Does anyone know this bike?

https://www.cube.eu/en/2017/trekking/travel/cube-travel-sl-blacknred-2017/

HivemindXX

Carnmore wrote: »

Does anyone know this bike?

https://www.cube.eu/en/2017/trekking/travel/cube-travel-sl-blacknred-2017/

I have that one although it's a previous year's model. It works well.

My biggest complaint is probably that the narrow carrier makes trying to balance something on there (like a cake box) kind of a farce. I think that's a pretty good indication that there are no serious problems.

Do you have something specific you are interested in about it?

Carnmore

HivemindXX wrote: »

I have that one although it's a previous year's model. It works well.

My biggest complaint is probably that the narrow carrier makes trying to balance something on there (like a cake box) kind of a farce. I think that's a pretty good indication that there are no serious problems.

Do you have something specific you are interested in about it?

Thanks for your reply.

Can I ask what you use it for and have you had any punctures?

I'm looking for a low maintenance bike - have you found that it is?

Also, I see the mudguards aren't quite full length - are they effective?

Carnmore

I'm going to Dublin on Wednesday - which cycle shops would have the biggest selection of hybrids?

mrcheez

Carnmore wrote: »

I'm going to Dublin on Wednesday - which cycle shops would have the biggest selection of hybrids?

Cycleways on Parnell St have a good selection

HivemindXX

Carnmore wrote: »

Thanks for your reply.

Can I ask what you use it for and have you had any punctures?

I'm looking for a low maintenance bike - have you found that it is?

Also, I see the mudguards aren't quite full length - are they effective?

I use it for commuting through Dublin city centre and also for longer journeys, 30km or so, on occasion. I have not yet had any punctures yet. I guess I've done around 2000km. The bike came with Marathon Supremes which seem good. If you buy good quality puncture resistant tyres, keep them well inflated and take care riding over sharp objects (including potholes) you should not be getting a lot of punctures regardless of the bike.

It is low maintenance so far, but I haven't really used it that much. Disc brake pads wear slower than rim break ones, the minor downside is that it can be more difficult to tell they are worn and to get the right replacements. They also don't need adjustment as they wear like rim breaks do. If the pads only need replacing once a year then you can get this done as part of a service. The belt drive or gear changer do not require any oil which is nice. My gears were very slightly out of alignment after a month or so but the shop pretty much insisted that I bring it in to be adjusted after a breaking in period and as part of this they adjusted the gears to be aligned again. This sort of thing happens as a result of the cable stretching so it will happen with pretty much any bike. The problem was pretty minor anyway. At some point you will need to replace the tyres and break pads, the same as any other bike. You should need to replace the 'chain' and gears FAR less often then a bike with a conventional chain and derailleur.

The mudguards are fine. I consider them to be full length actually. It is possible to get extremely long versions but these ones are the usual. I did have extremely long guards on a previous bike and they weren't significantly more effective and they were constantly getting banged in to things, to the extent that the rear one eventually lost about six inches after being clipped by a kerb.

For a city commuter bike having dynamo lights is a big benefit. They are always there so I never have to think about whether I'll be out after dark or if the weather will turn bad during the day. I never have to worry about batteries or charging. I wouldn't want to use a commuter that didn't have dynamo lights in the future. I'd be happy to go back to a regular chain and derailleur or rim brakes if there was a good reason to, or to get a new bike with a belt and disc brakes either. Those features are interesting to me but not a deciding factor. Mudguards are essential, but they can be retrofitted to most bikes and most bikes for commuting will already have them.

If you are looking in shops and you go to Cycleways (which is a good shop) you may as well go to Cycle Bike off Capel Street on the Luas line too since they are close by. They have a good selection and I was happy with the customer service.

Rokta

The Giants are nice, however with them it is worthwhile swapping tires as I was not impressed with the factory ones. The Canyon one looks nice but for a commuter bike, depends where you work, secured bicycle shelter, yeah, at the side of the road or business park with no dedicated shelter, that would be to much money for a commuter bike and I would be worried to much.

It is that kind of a nice bike that it attracts the wrong crowd as you can see it is an expensive bike.

smacl

HivemindXX wrote: »

The bike came with Marathon Supremes which seem good.

I've been running 32mm Marathon Supremes on a couple of bikes for the last few years. Lighter and faster rolling than regular Marthons or Marathon plus but also less puncture resistant. I usually get one or two punctures a year on them over ~5k, including one sidewall tear last year. A good tyre IMO, but expensive.

A Neurotic

Said I'd hijack this thread instead of posting a new one:

Looking for a hybrid my commute, and the odd spin around the park. I currently have a Dawes Discovery 301 which I bought years ago and has served me well, but I'm looking to upgrade. Something around €700-€800 mark, reliability being a main factor.

Getting lost in online comparisons at the moment, but some frequently mentioned bikes include:

Cannondale Quick,
Trek FX,
Giant Escape,
Trek Zektor

Just wondering if anyone would have any particular insight or wisdom for me. I note that some of these seem to be marketed as 'fitness' as opposed to commuter bikes - is that something to take into account?

AndrewJRenko

How about a Scott - they come well equipped for commuting;

http://www.wheelworx.ie/2016%20Scott%20Sub%20Sport%2030%20Men