Bike advice

Hi guys, I registered on here ages ago to defend a friend over an unfortunate incident but have been lurking posts for a while now and seeing as my bike got nicked last night I am on the lookout for some new wheels and advice on what would suit me.

The bike that got jacked was a GT aggressor mountain bike which I have been riding for 6 years. I posted about it in the stolen bikes thread.

I am after a bike that is not as thin as a racer but is not as bulky as a standard mountain bike. Somewhere in between would be great as my balance, although quite good, was never that good when I used to ride a racer when I was a kid. I fell off twice and have scarred shoulders

I don't think Iwant fixed gear or single speed (wrong forum right haha) but really I am not too sure. I have it in my head that 3-5 gears would suit as that is all I ever used on my mountain bike. I want to spend somewhere between £300-500 so nothing too fancy. I have been looking at charge plugs but I am not sure if they are for me.

Any advice on what would suit would be greatly appreciated. I will probably be buying something Sunday unless my bike turns up in Brick lane in which case I'll save some cash.

thanks

How a about a hybrid bike with a 5 speed hub gear?

This particular one looks a bit granny but there are trendier ones about.

Or if you want fixed (which you said you don't, but hey) ask in the Tricks sub-forum. Those guys always have fatter tyres and frames, but still skinnier than MTB.

Hybrid could work. I am not gonna lie and say I am a bike expert so I could try that out.

That bike is fully Old woman and would kill my street cred haha

thanks for the info, hybrid could work out for me

obligatory UTFS

but if your looking for a hybrid a charge mixer might be worth a look.

Your local Evans / Cyclesurgery would be a better place to ask this question

You said, that you're not bothered about having many gears so I suggest a hub gear. Easier to maintain and reliable.

They are harder to find though.

Your local Evans / Cyclesurgery would be a better place to ask this question

Or bike radar commuting section.

Assuming you don't go off-road, you don't need a mtb, the bigger wheels of a hybrid will be better suited. You do not need any suspension either. Something like this:

but there are literally hundreds that would cover you needs from Evans alone.

As far as the balance thing goes - it shouldn't be any different from bike to bike really - probably more pschological. But getting a road bike will be lighter - so faster and easier (a bit), and you don't have to have drops and can put on wider, more comfortable tyres, which should help you feel more confident.

Your local Evans / Cyclesurgery would be a better place to ask this question

I will be doing that as well, but figured that i trust people on here a bit more as they aren't trying to sell me anything and would drop some unprejudiced knowledge.

Thanks for all of the advice so far and in between bits of work I am researching as we speak. I think a charge mixer might be a bit out of my price range

Your local Evans would be a better place to ask this question, not cyclesurgery because they suck

Fixed.

and we pricematch ;)

Revolution courier race. 8-speed derailler for ease of use, 700c, tough as ol' boots.
about 300 notes from Edinburgh Coop or half that second hand from me (though I live in Brum so prolly not worth it).

http://www.evanscycles.com/categories/complete-bikes/hybrid-bikes?brand=All&page=1&per_page=100&price=&price_from=300&price_to=550&x=34&y=10

If you can get one in your budget, I'd say get a cycloX bike. Basically a road bike designd to be ridden in the mud, so there is clearance for ~35mm tyres. Alot of people commute with them (me included, now) and manufactures have reacted by adding mudguard eyelets and sometime rear rack braze-ons.
I recently put one together using a GrahamWeigh frame I bought from their EBay sore for £84.
http://www.londonfgss.com/post766590-11510.html
Loads of fun on light trails (stripped down and wearing knobblys), feels fast(ish) and comfy on bad roads (with 35mm slick tyres) the and a perfect everyday workhorse (now with full muguards, rear rack, childseat etc.). EG: The dolan city cross comes in both drop and flat bar versions.

My other fave commuter is the Planet-X 'uncle john'. Does'nt look like the'r doing them at the mo though. These also come in both flat and drop bar versions.

Quite like the idea of taking something like a Spesialized Singlecross, kitting out with mudguards and rack, and rebuilding the back wheel with a Shimano 8-speed Alfine hub. This would end up costing a bit though, and you would need to work out a good place to put the shifter.

I will be doing that as well, but figured that i trust people on here a bit more as they aren't trying to sell me anything and would drop some unprejudiced knowledge.

I don't think Iwant fixed gear or single speed (wrong forum right haha)

If it's knowledgeable opinions of hybrids you're after, you've come to the wrong place. But it seems like you already know that.

If you were to build up something comfy that can take a beating, fixed gear/SS
I would recommend going with a charge plug, put some big ol tyres on it, a short stem with some big risers, et voila, thats you pretty much sorted.

If you are not going fixed, check out the charge mixer. That tange frame and forks are pretty nice.

obligatory UTFS

but if your looking for a hybrid a charge mixer might be worth a look.

If you are not going fixed, check out the charge mixer. That tange frame and forks are pretty nice.

+2 Really nice hybrid.
Nice Alfine hub gears
Disc brakes
Tange steel
Strong wheelset
£780 here : http://www.all-about-the-home.co.uk/charge-mixer-2009-hybrid-bike---free-delivery-2389-p.asp
Although with only three sizes and a horizontal top tube. You'll need to try before you buy.

sadly the OP said it's over his price range.

secondly if you only use 3 to 5 gear on your mountain bike, then you'd get used to a single speed bicycles easily, riding MTB on road isn't exactly easy especially with MTB tyres, so a singlespeed bicycles will likely to feel a LOTS easier to ride than an geared MTB.

best option? go to your local Evans and test ride the Charge Plug, to see whether you'd want to go down that road or not.

best way to decided if the bike is for you is to simply test them out.

sadly the OP said it's over his price range.

I'll have you know that all of my suggestions were out of the given price range :)

secondly if you only use 3 to 5 gear on your mountain bike, then you'd get used to a single speed bicycles easily, riding MTB on road isn't exactly easy especially with MTB tyres, so a singlespeed bicycles will likely to feel a LOTS easier to ride than an geared MTB.

best option? go to your local Evans and test ride the Charge Plug, to see whether you'd want to go down that road or not.

best way to decided if the bike is for you is to simply test them out.

Yeah, totally agree.

Still lots to decide though....

If want something easy to ride like a hybrid theres always the centrum sport (cheap too).
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/centrum-sport-2008-hybrid-bike-ec001472

Or could go cyclocross, with the specilized tricross.
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/tricross-singlespeed-2009-road-bike-ec016875

or MTB with something like the GT peacemaker
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/gt/peace-2008-single-speed-mountain-bike-ec000676

or road bike ie. Gary fisher triton.
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/gary-fisher/triton-2009-single-speed-road-bike-ec017199

More here:
http://www.londonfgss.com/thread9085.html

All of these bikes have horzintal drop-outs, so if you find yourself wantin gears in the future. You can simply buy a Hub gear, and rebuild your back wheel. Hub gears are great for bikes that are used everyday in all conditions.

Thanks a lot to everyone who has given advice. Definitely given me a lot to think about

Kona Humu £350.00 it's what I got for my short commute, put on some slicks et voila!

I like the look of the Charge Mixer- seems very well thought out.

My surely got cheifed outside the royal academy on picadilly and I'm in the market for a replacement - only problem there's no way I can fork out another 600 SHEETS :(