08 Jan 2017

A question about : Hybrid bike with Ј300 budget

My husbands bike has bitten the dust so he is looking for a new one. Our budget can only stretch to Ј300.
We went to our local Halfords today which was a joke, 15 mins spent waiting and looking around for anyone to help us but not one person on shop floor. Needless to say we left. We went there because my hubby had seen a couple of Carrera's on their website that looked quite good.
Just wondered if anyone could recommend decent bike for our budget!
Be grateful for any input.

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Best answers:

  • The Bike Radar web site carries quite a lot of reviews of bikes and equipment, but this tends to be more for high-end (more expensive) machines:
    https://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes
    Cycling Plus, other monthly cycling magazines and the CTC magazine (if you're a member) are perhaps a better source of reviews.
    Also in my experience independent bike dealers tend to offer better advice and service than Halfords. To find local bike shops in your area try:
    https://www.thecyclingexperts.co.uk/find-a-business/
  • I've never had a hybrid myself but a mate of mine got a cheap pinnacle from Evans, like this. https://www.evanscycles.com/products/...-bike-ec035872
    Hes used it a lot and has been very pleased with it.What you can do at Evans is try before you buy so get your husband to choose 3 bikes try them and then he can decide which he likes.Or if he doesnt want one from there, no bother. I like to try my bikes before I buy and the majority of shops will not let you go for a ride. Check this out as theres nothing worse than realizing your bike doesnt fit you! Good luck.
  • I'm currently on my second Claud Butler Classic (one stolen five years ago!) and would recommend it as a solid, dependable, well built hybrid. Never had a problem with either bike apart from usual punctures etc. I paid Ј299 for mine but now see them available for significantly less.
    https://www.bikes2udirect.com/B4057.html?mv_pc=gp1
    If you have a decent independent bike shop near you it's worth going in for a chat and giving them your budget and requirements. They might even have a second hand bargain hanging around that would fit your needs.
  • Well we've been to Evans who had no bikes in our price range and the size that Dave needs to try so we then went to the Cycle Centre in Byker
    and they were extremely helpful and had 15% off everything so on the advice of the very knowledgeable and helpful assistant he went with the Giant Roam 4 and he's very happy with it.
    https://www.cyclecentreuk.co.uk/products.php?mode=search
    Thanks for all your help everyone.
  • I bought a second hand Giant Rapid 4 on ebay for Ј250 and it is brilliant - I really can't praise it enough. It's more of a road biased hybrid that a MTB so possibly depends on what he's after. If you're lucky you can find ones on there that have hardly been used. Saw one on there the other day that had only been ridden 50 miles. The one I bought looked brand new - it still had the injection mouldings on the tyres.
  • I still miss my Giant Sedona Hybrid
    https://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/pr...Mens_Bike_2011
    Nice solid bike, shame it got nicked
  • I have a Sedona in the garage gathering dust, I hate it - so slow. I ride this instead:
    The Roam looks a little better, but generally I would never buy a bike with suspension.
  • I was looking 2 years ago and had exactly the same issue- Halfords are not great for customer service or for their choice of bikes either. I bought a Trek T30 Navigator which is a great Hybrid commuter bike from Evans. 2 years on, no issues with it, few scratches through my own fault, It depends what gear he wants on a bike, I bring a laptop home from work or packages so I needed a carrier on it and this model comes with it already, I also have my D Lock attached, both of these add quite a bit of weight to the bike but it's a great bike. Highly recommend, one sale for Ј330 on the site at the moment
  • Decathlon do some quite reasonable hybrids if you have one near you, have a look online first https://www.decathlon.co.uk/C-10829-bikes
  • A good local friendly bike shop will beat companies like Halfords hands down.
    I have had a Mongoose Crossway 250 for over a year and I love it. It meets your budget too.
  • Check out Edinburgh Bicycle Co-ops own range of Revolution bikes
    https://www.edinburghbicycle.com/
    Courier race 12 is currently on sale for Ј280.
    Whatever bike he likes, I would always take a test ride first.
  • I bought a Globe Work hybrid in September, which both I and my waistline love.
    The Specialized store in Birmingham price-matched Evans at Ј315, so only just outside your budget, BUT don't forget all the extra kit you need with it. A pump, lights, helmet (if he so chooses), a good lock, mudguards if he wants to ride it in the wet without getting a big wet stripe down his back, spare inner tube, some sort of multitool - the list goes on. I reckon my total cost has been nearer Ј500.
    If anything, the above bike's a bit heavy, but I don't mind that. A bit of extra weight to move about = more calories burnt. I'm over a stone lighter already.
  • A really good range of cycles are provided by Edinburgh Cycles - a workers co-operative from, well, Edinburgh! They have stores as far south as Sheffield but they sell on line and deliver very well designed and specced bikes at great prices. They are very well regarded by the cycling community and regularly win awards. their trailfinder is only Ј225! A Lot of Bike for the money
    Great delivery and service too! Then there is their courier disk slightly more but reduced from Ј370 nice frame and disk brakes.
    Probably the best value bikes anywhere!
  • If you can stretch an extra Ј40 then this is amazing: https://www.leisurewheels.co.uk/produ...s=gb&vid=32756
  • At Ј300 this will be really good: https://www.cyclesurgery.com/giant-ex...-product/47865
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