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Post by mclovin on Oct 31, 2012 10:49:25 GMT
Not that I can get one yet but I'm trying to make an informed decision around what bike to get next.
First question is:
a) Should I get a road bike of a hybrid?
I quite like the idea of keeping my current hybrid for general use and getting a road bike for the triathlons. Though my current bike is very old so I could do with replacing it completely with another hybrid. Is there a big difference in the speed of a hybrid over a road bike?
b) I'll not look to be spending a great deal of money so are the something like the Carrera's from Halfords any good?
Thanks
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Post by higgy on Oct 31, 2012 11:12:12 GMT
I have a Carrera Kraken MTB from Halfords and I'm pleased with it. When it went back in for it's 6 week service I think they were stunned when they asked if I'd ridden it down a local trail (like a doggie walk thing) nearby and I told them that the weekend before I'd ridden it halfway up Ingleborough in the Dales ! So they are capable bikes for the money.
As for Road or Hybrid I think the difference probably comes down to weight. Road bikes tend to be lighter, but both should have skinny tyres and you can always check that the gearing is the same so that should even it up a bit. Also, the drop handlebars on a road bike give you more options for bod positioning which can help you on a longer ride to move around a bit to take the strain off..
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Post by gruffeddie on Oct 31, 2012 11:23:23 GMT
Having recently purchased a hybrid, I'm starting to think I should have bought a road bike. Perhaps I'll buy a road bike next I suppose it comes down to the weight of the bike, and how they're geared. My Mrs has a Carrera road bike, and it's very good. Looks good, nice and light, the components seem pretty good.
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Post by mclovin on Oct 31, 2012 11:51:52 GMT
Cool, thanks guys. I think it'll be a Carrera - seems as good as any for the price. I guess I should give a road bike a ride to see if I get on with it? It'll probably come down to what the old bikes conditions like when I look to buy.
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Post by higgy on Oct 31, 2012 12:20:43 GMT
Yes - def try it out first. It feels very different to a MTB/hybrid. I can't get over how much faster I can go on the road bike compared to the MTB...
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Post by mclovin on Oct 31, 2012 12:35:34 GMT
Yes - def try it out first. It feels very different to a MTB/hybrid. I can't get over how much faster I can go on the road bike compared to the MTB... I will, got plenty of time to find someone willing to let me have a go on theirs.
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Post by Wino on Oct 31, 2012 16:46:08 GMT
Having recently purchased a hybrid, I'm starting to think I should have bought a road bike. Perhaps I'll buy a road bike next I suppose it comes down to the weight of the bike, and how they're geared. My Mrs has a Carrera road bike, and it's very good. Looks good, nice and light, the components seem pretty good. That was my thoughts a few weeks back so I bought the Allez and found it nice and light but I wasn't any quicker it over 10 miles well not by much were talking a few seconds if owt. I also found with the Allez I kept hitting the rear of the frame with my ankles for some odd reason which I dont with the Roam. Don't get me wrong The Allez was a lovely lightweight bike but just didn't suit me so I stuck with the Roam in the end.
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Post by mclovin on Oct 31, 2012 17:12:19 GMT
Having recently purchased a hybrid, I'm starting to think I should have bought a road bike. Perhaps I'll buy a road bike next I suppose it comes down to the weight of the bike, and how they're geared. My Mrs has a Carrera road bike, and it's very good. Looks good, nice and light, the components seem pretty good. That was my thoughts a few weeks back so I bought the Allez and found it nice and light but I wasn't any quicker it over 10 miles well not by much were talking a few seconds if owt. I also found with the Allez I kept hitting the rear of the frame with my ankles for some odd reason which I dont with the Roam. Don't get me wrong The Allez was a lovely lightweight bike but just didn't suit me so I stuck with the Roam in the end. This is what I'm wondering, the hybrid would be a much better all-rounder and would I lose that time much over say 15 miles seeing as the biggest issue with performance is me.
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Post by gruffeddie on Oct 31, 2012 17:15:38 GMT
I drew the same conclusion. Same with weight - the heavy bit is on the saddle.
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Post by mclovin on Oct 31, 2012 17:20:06 GMT
I drew the same conclusion. Same with weight - the heavy bit is on the saddle. Lol, exactly. Also do I want to look too much like I know what I'm doing? You know setting the expectation high amongst my fellow triathletes only for them to realise just how crap I am when I get going?
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Post by MartinD on Oct 31, 2012 18:09:06 GMT
The main differences between the average hybrid and a road bike at the same sort of price level are (as far as I can tell): - tyres - the hybrid will have wider tyres, which will probably mean a bit more rolling resistance (although they'll also smooth out the bumps a bit better) - riding position - the road bike will allow you to get into a lower position over the bars (which should be more aerodynamic and more efficient) - it is a bit harder on the body, though (particularly flexibility in the lower back...) - weight - the road bike will probably be a little bit lighter, although the flip side of that is that the hybrid will be more solidly built (in other words, more capable of dealing with trails and other 'light' off-road stuff) I have one of the Carreras from Halfords (got a good deal on the TDF Road Pro over the summer), and it's decent for the money - the issue with buying a bike from Halfords is making sure that it's set up correctly (as the quality of their bike staff can be a bit variable). If you have a Decathlon near you, it's definitely worth looking at their Triban road bikes - the entry-level Triban 3 is £300 (less than the entry-level road bikes at Halfords), and gets very good reviews for a bike at that price (in particular, the Triban 3 has a carbon fork, which does help with reducing vibration from the road surface). You do get what you pay for with road bikes, though - anything available for under £500 new is likely to be heavier than the more expensive bikes (my TDF is at least 2kg heavier than my Boardman Road Race, and I can feel the difference when I switch from one to the other, particularly on riding uphill), and will have lower-quality components. It may be a bit late this year, but there are usually some very good deals available on current-year bikes when the 'next-year' models start to come out - have a look at some of the reductions available here as an example: www.wiggle.co.uk/mens/road-bikes/ (Not expecting that you have that sort of money available, just pointing out that there are deals available - don't have a lot of experience of this, but they usually start around August/September each year.)
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Post by lunarlucy on Nov 3, 2012 19:46:18 GMT
The main thing I'm thinking is gears. My road bike only has 18, and I want a new chain ring on the front, as there's space for one. Whatever you get, the gears, and the possibilty of upgrades, are important.
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Post by warreng on Nov 3, 2012 20:17:25 GMT
I've got a surprisingly heavy Hybrid, shocks front, susp seatpost rear, discs, 700c 38 tyres and so on. all Aluminium. more recently I got a roadie, and the difference is unbelieveable, lightness, responsiveness etc etc. I then found out about CX bikes. My current line-up is as follows; dual susp MTB hybrid road.
for the kind of riding I actually do, it would be better if I used the hybrid instead of the MTB, got a CX bike to replace the hybrid and the roadie does exactly what it says on the tin.
funny isn't it? I used to ride a roadie to school, because nothing else had been invented yet, then the ATB/MTB came in, and really they were cross-country bikes, and then DH bikes demolished the mtb market.
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Post by mclovin on Nov 7, 2012 12:34:35 GMT
Thanks guys.
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