Im thinking of getting a new bike, my old one isnt brilliant. How much would one look to spend? I go cycling on roads and trails.

A rigid hybrid with 35-40mm tires is the best bet unless youre talking bouldery off road trails. Comfy in the city, and perfectly happy on groomed dirt and gravel.

Stateside a basic hybrid thats suitable for real world riding without bearings disintigrating in a couple weeks will set you back $300+. Same amount will often get you a used $500 bike somebody rode around the block twice and parked in their garage.

$300 cant buy you a mtb worth jack, as thats what a decent front sus fork alone will set you back. Theres always used, but buyer beware.

Quote from: maximusotterA rigid hybrid with 35-40mm tires is the best bet unless youre talking bouldery off road trails. Comfy in the city, and perfectly happy on groomed dirt and gravel.

Stateside a basic hybrid thats suitable for real world riding without bearings disintigrating in a couple weeks will set you back $300+. Same amount will often get you a used $500 bike somebody rode around the block twice and parked in their garage.

$300 cant buy you a mtb worth jack, as thats what a decent front sus fork alone will set you back. Theres always used, but buyer beware.

http://www.stif.co.uk/gear/select_options.asp?productid=3844 :?:

Quote from: Badabinghttp://www.stif.co.uk/gear/select_options.asp?productid=3844 :?:

ats about the shape of the mechanicals I was getting at, 8 speed Alivio is fine at the lower price point. Might be cheaper if it was a domestic brand and not a Trek.

Would definately follow maxs advice Mines great, but its clear it needs some TLC and Ive only done a few hundred miles on it.

Quote from: M3ta7h3adWould definately follow maxs advice Mines great, but its clear it needs some TLC and Ive only done a few hundred miles on it.

No offence, but Apollos really arent great.  They might be bike shaped, but theyre made of cheese and even without doing any serious distance theyll drop to bits after a couple of years of regular use.

Since we last had this discussion, a third friend of mine has made the decision to scrap his apollo, after less than two years of daily town riding (maybe 2-4 miles a day).  Thats pretty telling  :shock:

I dont have money to waste on anything more expensive. Prefer to have to do a weekly clean and repack of the hubs or something than spend Ã,£500 on a bike that I will use to travel to work. When I move to cardiff come september it also means Ill only be doing a few miles and be locking it up in a rather dodgy place of town.

Here is the perfect bike. Dont laugh, Ive ridden many urban miles on similar bikes in both Chicago and Gothenburg. They can fetch beer, or be used deep in the amazon basin to deliver antibiotics.

379 is dirt cheap for a bike with both Sturmey Archer rear mech and front dyno-hub. Plus, it has a sign plate option, so you can use it to advertise your business, and write it off on your taxes as a business expense.

Quote from: maximusotterHere is the perfect bike. Dont laugh

Too Late...

Im going to stick with the MTB approach.  An MTB is perfectly useable in the city, and good when the going gets tough.

Just depends how tough sam wants to take it.

http://wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?W=0&Manufacturer=Kona&UberCatName=&Cat=cycle&CategoryName=bikes%20-%20mtb%20ht&ProdID=5360020173&UberCat=0

Kona Firemountain.  An long standing Kona favourite.  Good price and good componentry.

Ideally, Id say spend a minimum of Ã,£300 but spend the most you can afford.
Stick with the big brands, if your not sure whats a big brand just ask us on here.

Quote from: soopahflyIm going to stick with the MTB approach.  An MTB is perfectly useable in the city, and good when the going gets tough.

Just depends how tough sam wants to take it.

http://wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?W=0&Manufacturer=Kona&UberCatName=&Cat=cycle&CategoryName=bikes%20-%20mtb%20ht&ProdID=5360020173&UberCat=0

Kona Firemountain.  An long standing Kona favourite.  Good price and good componentry.

Ideally, Id say spend a minimum of Ã,£300 but spend the most you can afford.
Stick with the big brands, if your not sure whats a big brand just ask us on here.

IT sounds like hes doing trail riding, not full on off road.. That kona would be a bitch to get about on compared to a hybrid, why make like more difficult for yourself on the road, by using a bike which wont be fully utilised off-road... Hybrids may not look cool, but theyre the sensible choice...

Wrong geometry, knobbies, suspension fork...in town...its about as funny as a F-1 driver recommending driving a race car as "perfectly usable in the city".

Spending 400 pounds on an entry level mtb with the money focused on things you dont need, like disc brakes and a suspension fork, is supremely dumb.

200 gets you in the door with a perfectly usable rigid hybrid with linear pull brakes.

Youve not seen the state of the UKs roads.

Makes the rocky mountains look like a babys bottom.

UK roads are OK for racing bikes. The only reason I have a mountain bike with suspension is to reduce stress on my joints.

Think about the terrain youre going to be riding, and compare that to the terrain different bikes are designed for.  People still think me having a racing bike is so frightfully individual, but theyre designed for use on the road, where it spends its entire life.  By the same card, theres no point buying a fat-tyred MTB if youre gonna pootle it round town, etc etc.