biketowork: question re choosing a bike

McConkey

Hi all,

Have been lurking here for the past while, been a while since I've done any cycling but I think I'm going to take up the offer of getting a bike as I'm doing a bit of running and would like to have a bike for cross training as well as getting to work in the city, plus I can't run at the moment due to a foot injury and would like to try keep up the exercise.

I've taken a look in a couple of shops in Galway and I've seen a nice racer (Dawes E360) and a couple of hybrid bikes (Raleigh Oakland E289; Merida Crossway E340) and I suppose when I am in the city the hybrid sounds like a better option due to having to ocassionally get up and down off footpaths etc. But I'd like to hear your opinions?

I'll never be into very long cycles I think (at the moment anyway) but would I be laughed out of the shop if I wanted to change the MTB handlebars of a hybrid to some kind of dropped handlebars (where you have the option to use either depending on whether its a 1-2 hour cycle or the short commute to work). Would this be expensive/crazy/a waste?

I think including the safety gear and pumps etc I want to spend less than E500, so my bike budget would be around 250-350.

Any suggestions?

McConkey

Sorry to do this but
Bump

Anyone think it's crazy to get the drop handlebars but on a hybrid bike? I'll be going to my local shop tomorrow and I am just wondering if its feasible/there is any point to doing this....don't want them to laugh at me as the whole bike thing is new to me...thanks, McC

daroadlescycled

McConkey wrote: »

Sorry to do this but
Bump

Anyone think it's crazy to get the drop handlebars but on a hybrid bike? I'll be going to my local shop tomorrow and I am just wondering if its feasible/there is any point to doing this....don't want them to laugh at me as the whole bike thing is new to me...thanks, McC

Its really up to you what style bars you want. There are many styles available. Usally the flat bars on a hybrid have different inner brake cable to the drop bar. so you may well need brake levers and inner cable with you drop bars. Cost wise not sure . Maybe your Lbs will switch the flat for the drops and just charge for the extra bits and labour.(There may be some gear for sale on these pages.) I would definetly discuss with them, if there not interested I would take my buisness elsewhere.

Morgan

Sounds like a touring/audax bike might suit your needs. These are road bikes with drop bars but they're a bit sturdier than a race-bike. They'll have wider tyres and room for mudguards.

For example:
Dawes Horizon
http://www.dawescycles.com/p-25-horizon.aspx

Kona Sutra
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Kona_Sutra_2009/5360039414/

They're both outside your budget but you get the idea.

McConkey

Thanks a million for the advice guys, I wasn't sure if what I was thinking about was even safe or sensible so thanks for pointing out that these bikes do exist even if they are (ever so slightly ) outside my price range.

I can go back again and take another look and see if they can help me in the local shops...thanks again

Lumen

A cyclocross bike would do the job, although also out of your budget.

Converting a hybrid to drop bars is not unreasonable, and has the advantage that the starting price will be cheap (have gone that route myself before). The brakes won't be the best, but if you've nothing to compare against it probably won't bother you. OTOH, flat handlebars won't necessarily stop you from doing longer rides.

A normal "racer" road bike may have some of the following disadvantages: lack of clearance for mudguards, lack of eyelets for mudguards or panniers, harder narrower tyres, slightly reduced visibility and less comfortable position. Upside: speed.

Try and break down your requirements and understand the compromises.

blorg

Converting a hybrid to drops is pretty expensive, it cost me around €250. The shifters are very expensive and you also have to change the brakes and possibly the derailleurs depending on what you started with.

Lumen

blorg wrote: »

you also have to change the brakes

Not sure what hybrids come with nowadays but I ran centre-pull brakes with Ultegra brifters and they worked fine.

Shifters are damn expensive though.

oh the shame

McConkey

Thanks guys for all yer suggestions, at least I'll have some ideas now when I talk to the people in the bike shop.

Cheers

McConkey

So it looks like I may have picked my bike, asked the guy in the shop (owner) all my questions, said I could increase the budget to e360 (it was lower when I spoke to him first) but we still ended up with the same bike for the money. Still waiting on my boss to get back about the scheme so we were just chatting in the bike shop.

Raleigh urban 1: it's E290 before any extras like pump, mudguards etc and going with the flat bars....when I looked online though I saw the same bike for GBP178 which is E200-now I'm confused. Is a raleigh the only option I have for the money i.e. the best of whats in my price range?

I feel like I should stick with this guy cos he seems to know his stuff and it would be handy to have someone local for servicing etc.

But I also saw these offers, what do ye think?
http://marreybikes.com/shop/giant-commuter-package-p-602.html?osCsid=7ca09ca67365ad338a89a6227f0ffdb4
and
http://marreybikes.com/shop/lapierre-rcr100-commuter-pack-p-604.html?osCsid=7ca09ca67365ad338a89a6227f0ffdb4

Would it be worth the money to change to one of these brands-are they a better bike?