Hybrid or mountain bike?

monkeynuz

Hi chaps,

Hoping you might be able to help me make up my mind.

I need to take up cycling for exercise soy physiotherapist says, I'm not particularly overweight or unhealthy it's more to help with a back problem and swimming is out of the question.

She says that I need an upright cycling position rather than a drop bar road bike.

So, do I go for a hybrid or a mountain bike with not so knobbly tyres.

I'll be riding quiet sections of the Beara, not expecting to do high miles at first probably 5-10 per outing although it's over twenty years since I last rode a bike.

There might be some very light gravel track ish bits but not full on off-roading.

And also what budget or even specific bike should I be going for, I don't really want to spend a huge amount but similarly I don't want the "you can always upgrade in a year" scenario either because I only intend buying once, I'm not averse to upgrading components in the future though.

I hadn't set a budget yet as I'll more be guided by what's available than aiming for an unrealistic figure.

Thanks in advance.

M.

Bigus

I'd go secondhand hybrid and upgrade to road bike when your back improves , my friend took up cycling for the same reason and now has better back and did the 100 k great DB ride today on his drop bar road bike, never looked back once he gets out more than once a week .

monkeynuz

Bigus wrote: »

I'd go secondhand hybrid and upgrade to road bike when your back improves , my friend took up cycling for the same reason and now has better back and did the 100 k great DB ride today on his drop bar road bike, never looked back once he gets out more than once a week .

My only concern with secondhand is I'll be buying "blind" as nothing secondhand comes up round here so I'll probably be buying from a distance.

aFlabbyPanda

I'm going to suggest the hybrid with large tyres and forget suspension. I tried a road bike and a CX bike but never really felt comfortable on either one (I have no mobility issues either).

I don't buy into the speed thing either unless your bike is ultralight or your racing since I was the same speed/pace across all three bikes.

Anywhere from 400 will get you started with a nice alu hybrid to 800 will get you a higher spec hybrid (disc brakes, carbon fork). Its up to you really how much to spend.

smacl

monkeynuz wrote: »

I'll be riding quiet sections of the Beara, not expecting to do high miles at first probably 5-10 per outing although it's over twenty years since I last rode a bike.

The Beara's pretty lumpy in spots, so I'd recommend a light hybrid with no front suspension unless you're actually planning on a lot of off road. Wider (e.g. 32-35mm) slick tyres will give you good comfort and road handling without adding too much weight.

Bigus

Today's great Dublin bike ride really showed how efficient , road bikes are, compared to everything else, everything other than a road bike was passed by 20 km or sooner even though they started ahead, efficiency leads to greater distance and therefore variety and enthusiasm .

ford2600

smacl wrote: »

The Beara's pretty lumpy in spots, so I'd recommend a light hybrid with no front suspension unless you're actually planning on a lot of off road. Wider (e.g. 32-35mm) slick tyres will give you good comfort and road handling without adding too much weight.

OP what height are you?

The country is full of decent hybrids with next to nothing done.

Adverts, done deal etc. €200 would get you a lovely bike.

Wanted add in cycling adverts might work to

monkeynuz

ford2600 wrote: »

OP what height are you?

The country is full of decent hybrids with next to nothing done.

Adverts, done deal etc. €200 would get you a lovely bike.

Wanted add in cycling adverts might work to

5'9", 5'10" or 5'11" not entirely sure never really bothered to remember!

I'll try that, I was just worried about buying something without seeing it first as its a long time since I've had anything to do with bikes. I would have thought postage might be an issue too.

ford2600

monkeynuz wrote: »

5'9", 5'10" or 5'11" not entirely sure never really bothered to remember!

I'll try that, I was just worried about buying something without seeing it first as its a long time since I've had anything to do with bikes. I would have thought postage might be an issue too.

http://touch.adverts.ie/adcomments.php?item_id=8766473

Something like that.

Or else get on phone tomorrow and call every bike shop in Cork. A few will do second hand

packedin

Don't pay too much - secondhand €200 is probably a good mark. You don't know what you really want or what will suit you yet. I got on a hybrid after 20 years earlier this year. Within a month it was too clumbersome and I moved to a second hand cheap steel frame road bike. Did a few 100k routes and bought a full carbon one on the bike to work scheme. If you havnt cycled in 20 years you might be surprised where the journey takes you!

MB Lacey

Considering you'll be cycling bacause you have back issues I'd recommend buying new from a shop.

1.New hybrids are usually really light in weight, which will be easier on your back rather than straining your muscles cycling a heavier steel bike around.
For this reason I would also stay away from mountain bikes, they're much heavier.

2. If you have back issues, the size of your bike is going to be really important. If you buy new from a shop they will be able to advise which size frame would best suit you. If you start cycling on a bike which is the wrong size you might exacerbate your back problems.

I have lots of issues with my back and find cycling hugely beneficial.
Good luck.

lgk

There are lots of recent hybrids on the second hand market, plenty of light ones too. The hybrid scene hasn't moved on that much over the last few years that they've all become significantly lighter. If you find yourself enjoying cycling, and your back improving, you will likely be tempted to move on to a road bike.

My full-suss MTB weighs less than my GF's hybrid, so don't take that as a rule.

monkeynuz

MB Lacey wrote: »

Considering you'll be cycling bacause you have back issues I'd recommend buying new from a shop.

1.New hybrids are usually really light in weight, which will be easier on your back rather than straining your muscles cycling a heavier steel bike around.
For this reason I would also stay away from mountain bikes, they're much heavier.

2. If you have back issues, the size of your bike is going to be really important. If you buy new from a shop they will be able to advise which size frame would best suit you. If you start cycling on a bike which is the wrong size you might exacerbate your back problems.

I have lots of issues with my back and find cycling hugely beneficial.
Good luck.

I am inclined to agree with you.

I think I will be going for a new bike, out on the Beara secondhand bikes are hard to come by and I rarely (about once every five years) go to Cork.

I suppose I will end up spending €700 ish on a bike.

It is unlikely I will ever want or need a full on road bike, this is for fitness/exercise and my physiotherapist strictly warned against anything other than a hybrid for the foreseeable future.

I will also be going for a professional bike fit, to ensure everything is correct and optimised for me.

Thanks everyone for you help and advice.

Bigus

Don't forget about bike to work tax breaks.

monkeynuz

Bigus wrote: »

Don't forget about bike to work tax breaks.

Thanks for the advice but they won't apply to me.

Esroh

Op. Is there a local bike shop that does Seasonal bike hire. Its the time of the year they might be selling of their stock. You would be buying t local from experienced people.

tomasrojo

Esroh wrote: »

Op. Is there a local bike shop that does Seasonal bike hire. Its the time of the year they might be selling of their stock. You would be buying t local from experienced people.

I know someone who bought after the tourist season from one of these rental places and he was pretty happy with the state of the bike and the price. It was a hybrid, and I think they mostly rent out hybrids.

Hybrids are fine for getting exercise while getting around on the road, or indeed for utility cycling (shopping, going to work/school, etc), which I never found to be the case for mountain bikes. If you're interested in getting fit, try to do as many everyday "utility" journeys by bike. The kilometres build up very quickly, and it's easier than trying to fit in big spins in your spare time.

monkeynuz

tomasrojo wrote: »

I know someone who bought after the tourist season from one of these rental places and he was pretty happy with the state of the bike and the price. It was a hybrid, and I think they mostly rent out hybrids.

Hybrids are fine for getting exercise while getting around on the road, or indeed for utility cycling (shopping, going to work/school, etc), which I never found to be the case for mountain bikes. If you're interested in getting fit, try to do as many everyday "utility" journeys by bike. The kilometres build up very quickly, and it's easier than trying to fit in big spins in your spare time.

Our nearest town is 13 miles and hilly and the other one is about 16 miles and hillier.

I'll dedicate an hour or so a day through the winter when I don't have much else on.

Spare time is a luxury I have from October to April.

monkeynuz

Esroh wrote: »

Op. Is there a local bike shop that does Seasonal bike hire. Its the time of the year they might be selling of their stock. You would be buying t local from experienced people.

There is a bike shop that rents 45 miles from me, I'll ask but will probably just go for new as in Kerry the best you'll get knocked off for a used bike is probably 10%

BobCobb

O'Sullivans in Killarney sell off their rentals from around mid October on.

I was down there looking at them this past January and they had hybrids for what looked like great prices; around the 200 mark for a good condition Giant Escape or Specialized Sirrus.
Well worth ringing them at least, as they have a good range of bikes and are good to deal with.

tomasrojo

monkeynuz wrote: »

Our nearest town is 13 miles and hilly and the other one is about 16 miles and hillier.

I'll dedicate an hour or so a day through the winter when I don't have much else on.

Spare time is a luxury I have from October to April.

13 miles is a fairly unhurried hour of cycling (especially if few traffic lights). But the road might have a lot of fast-moving heedless motorists. If the road isn't intimidating, I'd personally do that cycle a fair bit to combine exercise and getting things done. But it is longer than most utility cycling journeys, that's for sure.

monkeynuz

tomasrojo wrote: »

13 miles is a fairly unhurried hour of cycling (especially if few traffic lights). But the road might have a lot of fast-moving heedless motorists. If the road isn't intimidating, I'd personally do that cycle a fair bit to combine exercise and getting things done. But it is longer than most utility cycling journeys, that's for sure.

That's 13 miles each way and not the quietest of roads.

mrcheez

Specialized Sirrus hybrid is what you want OP. Go for the best one you can afford.

I've been riding them for years (I prefer the flat bar with bullhorns over drop bar because I similarly have a permanent upper back problem. Drop bars just give me a crick in my neck.). The upper-market comp and pro versions are essentially road bikes with flat bars, so you get the commuting speed doubled with upright comfort.

Although I emphasise, get bullhorns on the handlebars, makes the ride so much more comfortable.

tomasrojo

monkeynuz wrote: »

That's 13 miles each way and not the quietest of roads.

The former wouldn't be such a problem (for me) for going to work. The latter well might be a deal breaker.

smacl

monkeynuz wrote: »

That's 13 miles each way and not the quietest of roads.

There's some stunning cycling all over the Beara with quite a few opportunities to avoid the busier roads. I've holidayed a number of times based in Adrigole, and you've a network of roads signposted Glen Lough loop running parallel to the main Glengarrif - Castletown Bere run that are fantastic for cycling with minimal traffic. If you're cycling for exercise and leisure, you're in the right place!

monkeynuz

smacl wrote: »

There's some stunning cycling all over the Beara with quite a few opportunities to avoid the busier roads. I've holidayed a number of times based in Adrigole, and you've a network of roads signposted Glen Lough loop running parallel to the main Glengarrif - Castletown Bere run that are fantastic for cycling with minimal traffic. If you're cycling for exercise and leisure, you're in the right place!

Not really any quiet runs on the north side of the peninsula. But I'll get used to it.

monkeynuz

So a bit of an update.

I went to a bike shop yesterday that also hires bikes, and they are selling off this years rentals, I was offered a giant csr or csf with a deore rear dérailleur for €300 or a specialized sirrus with whatever for €275, I think I'll go for the sirrus for now because it had flat bars and the other one had slightly bendy ones.

The bikes all seem in pretty good condition and I figure that for now even if it's only for six months initially I'll give you a a go and see if it helps my back and if it does, either upgrade some bits on the bike or get a better one.

I know this goes against what I said initially but at the time I didn't think I'd be able to get secondhand from a bike shop and didn't want to go through the hassle of buying off donedeal or adverts.ie

Thanks for all your help fellas.

M.

traprunner

mrcheez wrote: »

Although I emphasise, get bullhorns on the handlebars, makes the ride so much more comfortable.

I've got these grips and they are by far the most comfortable grips I ever had. IMO better than bullhorns too. http://www.bontrager.com/model/11837

mrcheez

traprunner wrote: »

I've got these grips and they are by far the most comfortable grips I ever had. IMO better than bullhorns too. http://www.bontrager.com/model/11837

Hmm, hard to lean forward (when cycling in headwinds etc) though with those types of grips, compared to (what I call) bullhorns.

When I say bullhorns I mean these, they might be called something else:

traprunner

mrcheez wrote: »

Hmm, hard to lean forward (when cycling in headwinds etc) though with those types of grips, compared to (what I call) bullhorns.

When I say bullhorns I mean these, they might be called something else:

Well I learn something new every day! I haven't seen bullhorns with the ergonomic (what I'd call wedge) grip as per the ones I have. They look like a good option.

mrcheez

traprunner wrote: »

Well I learn something new every day! I haven't seen bullhorns with the ergonomic (what I'd call wedge) grip as per the ones I have. They look like a good option.

Actually they're probably called "ergonomic grips"... d'oh!

monkeynuz

Another update.

I went to another bike shop today and tried a brand new shiny lapierre shaper 100 (2016) for €649

I am now in a quandary as to what bike to get, I think it'll be the new one

M.