what hybrid to get

token

Sorry forum is probably full of these threads but anyways.. I've moved to dublin and have started to commute to work by bike. It's 25k round trip and i'm looking to buy a hybrid for it. I get a corporate discount of 12.5% with http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie so I'll probably get it there. I've a 600..675 budget but might stretch it if theres an outstanding recommendation.

If i was to go with a lapierre is it worth getting the 300 over the 100, whats the difference? I've to apolgise again because i know shag all about bikes. There's a few giant FCR x's in my range as well.

If there's good bikes at good prices to be had outside of the above i'm welcome to suggestions also.

Cheers

Pj!

Got myself the FCR 2.5 and am very happy with it. Then again, new to cycling so nothing to compare it to but havent heard a bad word about them.

tibor

Cycling n00b here too - got the FCR 2.5 just recently and am loving it so far.
Saved 150eurobucks by getting it up North - worth considering.

blorg

Token- if you get 12.5% off in CSS (are you sure it includes complete bikes?) I reckon you would be better off buying there for the backup support etc.

token

ya it includes full bikes

kenmc

for a 25km roundtrip you should spend as much as you can afford, it'll be worth it in terms of reliablilty and comfort. the difference of the rcr300 vs 100 is the carbon forks, which reduce the road buzz and make it a bit comfier on your hands arms and wrists. In the same category as the 300 is the Giant FCR 2.5, and probably also the specialized sirrus entry models. I know CSS do the Giants, dunno about the Specialized though. You can then look at moving up to the RCR 500 or FCR 2 or similar. For that sort of distance I'd probably also start to consider a racing bike (e.g. giant SCR4.0/3.0 or equivalent), but it's a personal preferance really as to whether or not you're comfortable on drop-handled bars. I dunno if your budget is for the bike only, or includes extras like locks, mudguards, lights, rack etc which you will need to get. But generally you should spend as much as you can (within reason of course!), cos you really do tend to get what you pay for. Carbon forks are definitely worth the extra.

token

I allocated that much just for the bike. I'm willing to go higher though if its recommended, which it seems it is . I think i'd prefer the upright of the hybrid. I've barely cycled in the last 8 years since i started driving and that was on a mountain bike so i've no cycling experience with a racer.

Easy Rider

I have the FCR 2.5 and have no problems so far, great for my commuting needs....I got mine in cycle superstore, got 10% off....they did try push the lapierre 300, but it felt a bit heavier than the 2.5, but it was a nice bike but more expensive so could not justify it...

Hybrid is a good way to go if you have not cycled in 8 years I reckon,.....you will fly past those on their mountain bikes...

stuf

The RCR300 has road gearing whereas the RCR100 has a more mountainbike setup. I had to replace the cassette on my RCR100 and would definitely go for the RCR300 if you have the budget

DeepBlue

I have the RCR 300 and tbh I wouldn't really reccomend it.
Shifting with the sora would break your heart. I can't shift down to the granny wheel when going up a steep incline although it will shift on the flat - go figure!

If comfort is a factor then the carbon forks don't really absorb the shock if you're cycling over poor roads - although padded gloves do a good job reducing that.

It's light, reasonably fast but I prefer my ageing Specialized Hardrock for commuting. Even though it's heavier and slower it feels more comfortable and more "solid" on the road.
The 300 is good for longer trips for exercise, training etc.

Just my €0.02.

kenmc

DeepBlue wrote: »

I have the RCR 300 and tbh I wouldn't really reccomend it.
Shifting with the sora would break your heart. I can't shift down to the granny wheel when going up a steep incline although it will shift on the flat - go figure!

If comfort is a factor then the carbon forks don't really absorb the shock if you're cycling over poor roads - although padded gloves do a good job reducing that.

It's light, reasonably fast but I prefer my ageing Specialized Hardrock for commuting. Even though it's heavier and slower it feels more comfortable and more "solid" on the road.
The 300 is good for longer trips for exercise, training etc.

Just my €0.02.

If that's the case then look at Tiagra components upwards, e.g. the FCR2
I've used my FCR2 on the Ring of Kerry and the Wicklow 200 - admittedly I have moved it to drop handlebars, but the components are all still Tiagra, and I've not had any issues shifting, even on the steepest of climbs in wicklow.
That said I don't understand why you can't shift DOWN, cos the spring wants to bring it there itself. I'd have a look at the derailleur limit screws and the springs.

odonovanb

I recently got this for €370 including p&p from bikes2udirect.com

http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/id37351.html

The 2008 version is a bit more expensive (£386 + p&p)

http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/id42433.html

I am very happy with it so far.

A couple of websites I found useful were:
www.jejamescycles.co.uk
www.holcroscycles.com
www.bikes2udirect.com

token

I've decided on either the Lapierre RCR 500 or the Giant FCR 2. The Giant is 70 euro cheaper for me though so is there a reason to pick the Lapierre? Does anybody have experience with both these bikes?

kenmc

i have the fcr2, as I mentioned above, and have no problems at all with it.

token

I think i'll go with the giant fcr2 so, thanks ken. I'll be sticking with the upright handle bars but for curiosity sake what different do the dropdown's make? Your in a better position to apply more force?

blorg

token wrote: »

I think i'll go with the giant fcr2 so, thanks ken. I'll be sticking with the upright handle bars but for curiosity sake what different do the dropdown's make? Your in a better position to apply more force?

Generally a bike with drops will have a different geometry also and place you more forward and down, balancing your weight more between saddle and bars (and of course pedals where hopefully you are applying some force.)

Apart from that though, drops have (1) a default vertical rather than horizontal hand position, which many find more natural; (2) more hand positions, including the flat horizontal one you get on flat bars; (3) a more aerodynamic position down in the drops which is a godsend on a windy day (or just if you want to go fast )

If you get flat bars get bar ends which cost only €10-20 and will give you an extra hand position that I found very good for climbing.

A flat bar hybrid is a very good choice though if starting out cycling, especially a "fast" one, it is less intimidating and there is less room for getting it catastrohically wrong. I cycled hybrids for over 10 years before I got my first road bike and got the sizing a bit off on that I think as it ruined my back. Back to the hybrid for another few years before finally converting to drops and then getting a proper road bike.

lukester

For what it's worth, I got my first bike with drops earlier this year. I had always had a preference before that for flat bars. Initially it took a little getting used to, but now I would ride drops out of preference- I resent riding my old commuter with flat bars. It's soon to be replaced with another bike with drops. The drops feel much more comfortable to me, and as blorg mentions, I like the variety of hand positions they offer, and also really appreciate being able to tuck out of the wind.

FrankGrimes

lukester wrote: »

For what it's worth, I got my first bike with drops earlier this year. I had always had a preference before that for flat bars. Initially it took a little getting used to, but now I would ride drops out of preference- I resent riding my old commuter with flat bars. It's soon to be replaced with another bike with drops. The drops feel much more comfortable to me, and as blorg mentions, I like the variety of hand positions they offer, and also really appreciate being able to tuck out of the wind.

+1 on that. I actually have my drops in an unusually high position due to a back injury. I ride with my hands in behind the top of the brakes and find I'm in a happy medium not too high, not too low, and like breaking it up with holding onto the flats of the bars when I need a breather or to cruise. Would never go back to flat bars.

token

How much would it cost to put in drops say after a few months?

kenmc

around 250 euro or so the brifters are the most expensive bit.
far better off getting them from the off

blorg

Like Ken, I too converted, but after having the hybrid for several years. It is not really worth considering before you get the bike, only if you already had one (and even then it's marginal, might be better off selling the bike.) Apart from the brifters you have to change brakes (presuming you had canti bosses) and probably your front derailleur.

token

yous have me thinking about getting a racer now *shakes fist* What is the lower position like if your wearing a backpack though?

kenmc

fine for me. I'm carrying a laptop on my back daily for commuting, and I'd usually hit the drops into a headwind. Usually on the hoods though, cos then you can brake quickly.

blorg

token wrote: »

yous have me thinking about getting a racer now *shakes fist* What is the lower position like if your wearing a backpack though?

It's OK as long as you don't have too much into the backpack. Up to around 2.5kg is OK, 4-5kg is probably managable. I have carried 20-30kg (once) and that was painful, really pressed bits you don't want to be pressed into the saddle and gave a very intimate relation with the road surface. If for commuting though I'd consider something that will take a rack though (a lot of entry level racers will do this.)

blorg

@Ken- you should have better braking performance in the drops (more leverage.) Being able to brake from the hoods at all is a relatively modern occurence (mind you the braking on your bike is a bit sub-par TBH, I would really consider mini-Vs :>)

kenmc

it's not so much the braking performance as much as the reaction time for me - I can get to the brakes a lot faster on the hoods. Also can shift a lot better on the hoods too, usually if I'm braking hard I also shift down a couple of gears at the same time...

token

is staying on the hoods as high as using normal handlebars? if it is the racer would seem the logical choice as you can switch to whichever catches your fancy at the time.

kenmc

staying on the hoods is probably a bit more like being on the bar-ends of a flat bar'd bike. On the tops is more like being on a normal handlebar.

lukester

token wrote: »

yous have me thinking about getting a racer now *shakes fist* What is the lower position like if your wearing a backpack though?

I usually carry a backpack, and it's fine, although I don't carry huge weight.
If you get into doing longer cycles at all, you'll be very glad of the drops IMO. And as it's more enjoyable all round, you'll probably want to cycle more too Re the hoods vs tops of the bars, once you get used to the hoods they're very comfy. I tend to stay on the hoods around town for stop start riding where I need quicker access to the brakes, and when I hit longer stretches I'll put my hands wherever is comfortable. Mainly am on the drops to either get out of the wind on the flat or when descending.

token

I wouldn't be carrying much weight just a change of clothes mostly. You's have convinced me to get a racer. I'm looking at the Giant SCR 2. Whatever I'm getting i'm picking it up tomorrow anyway

token

do people put mudguards on racers? Trying to imagine what it looks like

lukester

I was wondering the same myself- I'm probably going to get some race blades for mine, they're removable mudguards that you can clip on and off.

If you're picking the bike up tomorrow, make sure they spend a bit of time getting you on a bike that fits.

beans

You could put full mudguards on a racer if the frame allowed for it, it'd look something like this perhaps




Or you could opt for whatever clip-on options you could find. I used to have a plastic strap-on mudguard that attached to the frame just behind the front wheel, and one that attached to the seatpost - both removable and very handy. As mentioned above, race-blades are great too.

Civilian_Target

What's the commute like? Are you going through town (stop-start) or are you commuting across subarbs or into town?

My recommendation is always make sure you end up with something equipped. When deciding your price should include mudguards, lights, pannier racks, a bell and possibly a bag too. Helmets, mirrors and a carry-pump are good too.

blorg

token wrote: »

do people put mudguards on racers? Trying to imagine what it looks like

Reckon I'll be sticking my race blades on for today, I'll take a photo for you

token

the commute is rathfarham to citywest. There's cycle lanes majority of the way but most of the cycle lane is up on a path and not on the road. On a racer id probably stay on the road as much as possible. Theres not too much stop starting, more of case of slowing down a bit mostly. Theres a few roundabouts and a couple of turns/lights. Apart from drop handlebars what else would the difference be between a racer and hybrid. I've narrowed it down to the giant FCR 2 hybrid and the giant SCR 2 racer.

FrankGrimes

Depends on what kind of person you are in some way too: if you're happy to put up with having to be careful with the road bike in some places in order to get the rewards of what will just be a much more fun ride, go for the road bike.

If you'd be worrying the whole time about doing damage to the road bike and are more interested in completing the commute in as comfortable a manner as possible, go for the hyrbid.

For me, I always time my commute and compete against my time, keeps it fresh and I just love cycling a road bike, it's just more fun. You'll be more crouched forward in the road bike so mightn't suit a big weight on your back (though I carry 12kg regularly with no hassle), but to be honest, you can setup your road bike to be a bit more vertically positioned to by tilting the drops forward etc. - when you're cruising on open roads you can always hold onto the horizontal parts of the bars as I do sometimes and you're pretty vertical then.

I have the SCR 2.0 and really like it though I'm no expert on bikes, but it's a very nice ride.

lukester

token wrote: »

the commute is rathfarham to citywest. There's cycle lanes majority of the way but most of the cycle lane is up on a path and not on the road. On a racer id probably stay on the road as much as possible. Theres not too much stop starting, more of case of slowing down a bit mostly. Theres a few roundabouts and a couple of turns/lights. Apart from drop handlebars what else would the difference be between a racer and hybrid. I've narrowed it down to the giant FCR 2 hybrid and the giant SCR 2 racer.

That's a decent enough commute. The wheels on both bikes are the same according to the spec. Actually the specs are pretty similar for both, main differences are the bars and the shifters.

I'd say the main difference, apart from the drops, will be that with the road bike (racer) you have a slightly more forward position than on the hybrid. You might think this would be more uncomfortable, but once you get used to it's very comfortable- most of the people doing serious road mileage on here will be on drops.

blorg

token wrote: »

do people put mudguards on racers? Trying to imagine what it looks like

I did indeed put them on this morning, here you go, mudguards on a standard racer:

beans

^^ nice saddle, looks really fresh. Mine seems to have attained a battered, black, saggy look... and Ive got saddle-sores up the wazoo... well, not quite up the wazoo but around it fo sho

blorg

@Beans- Regarding the saddle-sores, I presume you mean just hardness/callousing rather than the infection? Could just be that it is going to take a while to break in. I do find the B17 while very good for shorter distances is not as good as the Swift or Swallow for really longer (150km+) distances; I got a bit sore having done a 230km on the B17.

Did you use Proofide on the saddle? Do bear in mind that the Honey will significantly darken with age/use; this photo shows my well used B17 together with my new Swallow, both are the same Honey colour.

Civilian_Target

lukester wrote: »

most of the people doing serious road mileage on here will be on drops.

OT... but how far is serious road mileage?

token

I had a look at some bikes yesterday. They try to sell you lapierres before anything else which I figurered they would from reading other threads. They were pushing the Lapierre S-Tech 400 '08 over the giant scr 2. The main reason they said was that the lapierre has more higher quality components over the giant. Lapierre make the frames but source the components else where, where as giant try to do everything. There's a 160 euro difference in price.

I'm going in again during the week to make my final pick and get the bike configured for me. The lapierre looks really nice but i think it might be too flash for its own good for commuting. It would really stick out sitting on a bike rack. It's gone way over my initial budget as well so I'm thinking I'll stick with the giant.

Easy Rider

Yeah they pushed the Lapierre on me too, I think it is due to the fact that they hold the dealership and supply on them, they also mentioned the components but the bike was more expensive so I would hope so...I still went for the Giant in the end, just go for what you think is best for you.

blorg

Civilian_Target wrote: »

OT... but how far is serious road mileage?

I guess beyond the point that flat bars are optimal for comfort, although you will certainly have cases of people on flat bars doing further than people on drops. Most (but not all!) people doing sportive-type cycles like the Wicklow 200 will be on drops whereas you will find alot more people on flat bars doing the Wicklow 100, etc.

20 Times 20 Times

how do you get a 12.5% discount if you dont mind me asking

token

The company i work for have an account with them so i get corporate prices. I'm heading in after work today to get the bike. Either the giant scr2 or the lapierre s-tech 300. The s-tech 400 is going too far beyond my budget.

FrankGrimes

I make it that there's only €44 difference in price between the Lappiere S-tech 300 and the GIant SCR 2.0. The Lappiere has Sora components, the Giant has Tiagra - no brainer there, the Giant takes it hands down. Unless I'm mistaken too, the more knowledgeable lads than me on here generally rate Giant above Lappiere.

As it happens, I have a 2007 SCR 2.0 I got for €775 in November and it's a lovely bike, great value at that price too, though still seems like a decent option at that price for the 2008 model (which doesn't seem to have any significant differences).

I have a Lappiere hybrid too and it's a very nice bike too by the way.

karl17

Hi Guys, just a quick question read through the previous posts but has anyone any opinion on the bikes on ebay?

http://cgi.ebay.ie/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320283991242&ssPageName=MERC_VIC_RCRX_Pr4_PcY_BID_IT&refitem=320284094645&itemcount=

For the price they are I assume they are not the top of the range but for a commute from city center to tallaght would they suffice?

Stark

Delivery to Ireland: £99

token

I've bought the giant. They dont have my size in stock so I've to wait a couple more days before I get it. I'll give ya's an update after I've had a few trips on it. Thanks everybody for the help and recommendations.