Hybrid Advice

Thanks! It looks like the best advice would be to buy a better brand, second-hand.

yup

There's some 2009 Kona Smokes going for 189 on ZeBay. Pretty basic Shimano kit, but a nice package none the less.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/KONA-SMOKE-24-SPEED-CITY-HYBRID-BIKE-RRP-300-16-FRAME_W0QQitemZ330379981423QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Bikes_GL?hash=item4cec2e726f

The Kona Smoke are excellent bike, I should know I used to own two of them.

It's actually the bike that I've recommended to a few people who wanted a cheap run around.
Surprisingly decent for the cash.

The other best option is the new Kona Worldbike, that's pretty much like the Smoke, but with 3 speed internal gears;

Cool, thanks for all the info/help! She's gone quiet so I guess I'll just wait and see what she decides...

Hey guys,
so my ladies dad wants a new bike... and yes he wants a hybrid. He's 65 and has always ridden a road bike but now wants something with a more forgiving geo. He's looking at a flat bar kind.

So I haven't any knowledge on gears (or brakes) so would love some advice. Being 65 and a man of style he can be stubborn at times and he thinks he wants a Orbea Carpe. They vary between £600 - £1000 depending on model/spec. I can only find so much info on them online and not many shops have them in stock so I'm finding it differcult to track one down and have a look at one.

All I want to know is with the above budget is my father in law spot on in his choice? or is there better hybrids in that price range and what are they?

Thanks,

Ben

What does he want it for?

If he's got a road bike why not just convert that to flats/risers? Shimano 9 speed trigger shifters are easy to get hold of, so are 9 speed RD's.

If he wants a new bike that's OTP and practical then what about the alfine pompetamine:

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBOOPOMPALF/on_one_pompetamine_alfine_8_speed

PX carbon / force is a bit sexier:

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBPXSLPFBFOR/planet_x_pro_carbon_sram_force_hybrid_bike

Personally for that money I'd be tempted to go for something like a modern rando like jammy's cross check, but with a compact double and Sram apex with a 32t cassette:

... you don't need to switch from drops to flats just because you're old. You may just want them a lot higher. I invariably find that although flats or risers are fun for a bit, they just leave you wanting more than one hand position.

You can even have the handlebar set above the saddle, perfectly acceptable on touring/audax bike.

Thanks man... I'll show him these tonight.

He wants it for cycling to and from work (8 miles each way from south to central London). I'm pretty sure he wants a OTP bike because when I suggested he swap some parts about on his existing bike he gave me the look of shame.

I mentioned his age not because he is physically old, more because he is set in ways. He is set on needed a new bike. He is set on it being flat bar. He is set on it being as hi spec as possible for that price. He is set on a Orbea (unless I find better) and I just want to make sure there isn't a cheaper equivalent out there. And if not cheaper better for the same price.

Ultimately I just want him to get the right bike... while still he feels he made the decisions why its the best bike for him. Maybe he'll test ride the hybrid and realise he should've stuck to the road bike.

Any other advice would be appreciated.

Without knowing which Orbea he's looking at its a bit hard to judge.

Looking on Evans I'm amazed first by how many hybrids there are now and second at the range in value for money - there are +£1k bikes that really don't look all that, while some of the sub-£600 ones look better speced.

I'd just not get involved - no offence but from your description it sounds like he's not going to listen to you anyway.

Also I think he needs to work out what he wants.

If I were in the market for a flat bar hybrid in that price range my wish list for that sort of ride would be along the lines of:

*Mudguard / rack bosses
*2x10/9 drive train - decore or higher / SRAM exquivilent
*28c tyre and guards

He really needs to try them out. There was a trek with a belt drive that looked good, but had a "roller" rear brake, which might be shit in reality but you won't know till you try it.

These were the ones that caught my eye.

http://m.evanscycles.com/products/trek/76-fx-2012-hybrid-bike-ec030292
http://m.evanscycles.com/products/bmc/alpenchallenge-ac01-deore-slx-700c-2012-hybrid-bike-ec031083
http://m.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/sirrus-comp-2012-hybrid-bike-ec030743
http://m.evanscycles.com/products/trek/soho-deluxe-2011-hybrid-bike-ec026281

Trek - do not recommended.

Specialized Sirrus - very popular for a reason - they're a decent bike.

Ridgeback Flight - fantastic hybrid for the money, even their cheapest one are solid and well made.

Kona Dew - perfect for a mixture of everything, hydraulic brakes make light work of commuting - reliable, no cable stretch, predictable performance in all weather condition and cheaper to maintain (I worn my brake block and rotor already, replacing them is a lots cheaper than replacing the rims/wheel).

Kona MinUte - a shorter "long bike" but much more flexible, it's a great car replacement, well "hatchback" replacement really, likely to be the last bike he'll need for the future.

Charge Tap - expensive but a great bike that's popular in C+, the more expensive disc brake specific one (Mixer) is also worth going for but it's £1300 (I think).

Jamis - not recommended unless it's the Coda Elite, basically a flat bar 700c tourer.

Pinnacle Neon - The old Neon were extremely popular for it's light weight and reliablitiy, so worth going for the new 2012 model.

Fuji Absolute - another one worth going for.

This is my take.

How awesome is this Titanium Ridgeback?

Someone brought the frameset and made it into a ti road bike with the Genesis fork;

Thanks to both of you... Loads of options!
Looks like my weekend is sorted.