| Cycling Experts - Bike Advice Required 13:18 - Apr 29 with 2426 views | OsborneOneNil |
Just wondered if there is an answer to my query, although I am starting to think I may be caught between 2 options, a Hybrid and a Mountain Bike.
I've got a road bike, decent Carbon Orbea. Hardly ever used it, and I know I'm never going to get into road biking. An expensive mistake. What I initially thought I would like is a Hybrid, a bike that can be used on tarmac and is still relatively pacey, but can be used around town, on tracks etc.
My dilemma comes in that I have been haking around, of late, on a old (but good quality when bought) Mountain Bike, and I'm keen to explore off roading as a hobby/exercise moving forward. I wouldn't been downhill racing through forests but mainly off road, bridle paths, tracks. I anticipate 20/30 mile rides. So this may be a tad too much for a Hybrid.
Basically, is there a bike that can handle going off road, that is relatively quick with minimal drag (sometimes associated with a MTB) . So, a sturdy Hybrid, or a lightweight MTB.
TIA |  | | |  |
| Cycling Experts - Bike Advice Required on 13:23 - Apr 29 with 1905 views | Swansea_Blue |
Hardtail mountain bike (so no rear suspension) where you can lock out the front forks, sounds like a good option. If it's most tracks and bridle paths you're targeting, you won't get the same comfort on a hybrid/gravel bike that you will on a mountain bike. And you can always add a pair of cheap slick tyres if you want to do more tarmac stuff on a MTB.
This was my solution for a few years before buying a road bike. I had a fairly aggressive position/racey hardtail MTB that I could do all-dayer road rides on with a pair of slicks (at decent speeds).
Edit - sorry, don't have any specific recs. I had a fairly top end Cannondale x-country hardtail and it was just the job for mixed riding cross-country. Weight would be the issue when comparing to a hybrid - you want something getting down to the ~12kg mark rather than 14/15 kg as a lot of MTBs are (or lose a few kilos if you can lol!). [Updated weights as I was a bit out on first go, not that they're that critical] [Post edited 29 Apr 2020 17:03]
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| Cycling Experts - Bike Advice Required on 13:33 - Apr 29 with 1879 views | OsborneOneNil |
| Cycling Experts - Bike Advice Required on 13:23 - Apr 29 by Swansea_Blue |
Hardtail mountain bike (so no rear suspension) where you can lock out the front forks, sounds like a good option. If it's most tracks and bridle paths you're targeting, you won't get the same comfort on a hybrid/gravel bike that you will on a mountain bike. And you can always add a pair of cheap slick tyres if you want to do more tarmac stuff on a MTB.
This was my solution for a few years before buying a road bike. I had a fairly aggressive position/racey hardtail MTB that I could do all-dayer road rides on with a pair of slicks (at decent speeds).
Edit - sorry, don't have any specific recs. I had a fairly top end Cannondale x-country hardtail and it was just the job for mixed riding cross-country. Weight would be the issue when comparing to a hybrid - you want something getting down to the ~12kg mark rather than 14/15 kg as a lot of MTBs are (or lose a few kilos if you can lol!). [Updated weights as I was a bit out on first go, not that they're that critical] [Post edited 29 Apr 2020 17:03]
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Cheers Swansea.
Yeah I've been leaning towards hardtail MTB when looking. Saw a lovely one in a sale recently, 2018 model, at £750 from £1,599.....went!
On the road bike front, have you only recently gotten into it? My Dad is a huge fan, covers lots of miles at a decent pace too. Think I'm a whimp though, get worried about the whole traffic thing . [Post edited 29 Apr 2020 13:53]
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| Cycling Experts - Bike Advice Required on 13:42 - Apr 29 with 1860 views | factual_blue |
Make sure you stick to off-road tracks etc on which cycling is permitted. And remember you are required by law to give way to both pedestrians and horses.
And to stop at red lights. |  |
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| Cycling Experts - Bike Advice Required on 13:47 - Apr 29 with 1851 views | NotSure |
| Cycling Experts - Bike Advice Required on 13:33 - Apr 29 by OsborneOneNil |
Cheers Swansea.
Yeah I've been leaning towards hardtail MTB when looking. Saw a lovely one in a sale recently, 2018 model, at £750 from £1,599.....went!
On the road bike front, have you only recently gotten into it? My Dad is a huge fan, covers lots of miles at a decent pace too. Think I'm a whimp though, get worried about the whole traffic thing . [Post edited 29 Apr 2020 13:53]
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I agree that a hybrid where you can lock the front suspension if you want is the best idea. Although I only spent £350 on a Giant, I then bought some good Schwalbe puncture protection tyres which means I have confidence when taking it off road. |  | | |
| Cycling Experts - Bike Advice Required on 13:54 - Apr 29 with 1840 views | OsborneOneNil |
| Cycling Experts - Bike Advice Required on 13:47 - Apr 29 by NotSure |
I agree that a hybrid where you can lock the front suspension if you want is the best idea. Although I only spent £350 on a Giant, I then bought some good Schwalbe puncture protection tyres which means I have confidence when taking it off road. |
That's the question, whether a Hybrid could handle off road? Swansea suggested a hardtail mountain bike. | | | |
| Cycling Experts - Bike Advice Required on 13:55 - Apr 29 with 1835 views | OsborneOneNil |
Nice thought, but I'm Dorset based, South Coast. Some lovely rides along the Jurassic coast here. | | | |
| Cycling Experts - Bike Advice Required on 13:57 - Apr 29 with 1835 views | Swansea_Blue |
| Cycling Experts - Bike Advice Required on 13:33 - Apr 29 by OsborneOneNil |
Cheers Swansea.
Yeah I've been leaning towards hardtail MTB when looking. Saw a lovely one in a sale recently, 2018 model, at £750 from £1,599.....went!
On the road bike front, have you only recently gotten into it? My Dad is a huge fan, covers lots of miles at a decent pace too. Think I'm a whimp though, get worried about the whole traffic thing . [Post edited 29 Apr 2020 13:53]
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I used to do triathlons (very amateurly) but the last one was about 8 years ago now. Hardly done anything since on any sort of bike. So I'm re-getting back into it so to speak. It's hard when you've had a long break. Went out for an hour the other day and it nearly killed me! We do have a lot of hills though. Traffic doesn't bother me too much, but I try to avoid it wherever possible for a nicer ride.
Yeah, you're probably looking at £1,500 full price to get a lightweight flying machine. Something like this: https://www.canyon.com/de-de/mountain-bikes/cross-country-bikes/exceed/exceed-cf
But that's serious money and I'm sure it's easily doable on cheaper aluminium versions half the price. | |
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| Cycling Experts - Bike Advice Required on 14:00 - Apr 29 with 1829 views | NotSure |
| Cycling Experts - Bike Advice Required on 13:54 - Apr 29 by OsborneOneNil |
That's the question, whether a Hybrid could handle off road? Swansea suggested a hardtail mountain bike. |
Well my cheap one does. I've had it years. Never had a puncture and no issues when it's been serviced. | | | |
| Cycling Experts - Bike Advice Required on 14:03 - Apr 29 with 1823 views | bluelagos |
| Cycling Experts - Bike Advice Required on 13:54 - Apr 29 by OsborneOneNil |
That's the question, whether a Hybrid could handle off road? Swansea suggested a hardtail mountain bike. |
I can confirm that cycling through brambles and on pebble beaches isn't the best place to be cycling if punctures are a worry. Long walk home last week... |  |
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| Cycling Experts - Bike Advice Required on 14:16 - Apr 29 with 1822 views | SaleAway |
A little bit of input from me - as I know a bit about where you're coming from - but I'm going to suggest something that some people ( especially those of a road persuasion) might take issues with.
I've got a road bike ( Trek 1000) - its old, but it does a job. I also have a hard tail 29er ( Specialized Rockhopper comp)
I do about 90% of my riding on the 29er... some of the roads around manchester are pretty ropey, so I've got a bit fed up of damaging the roadie on potholes.
The 29er is bomb proof... I've taken it out on some of the big welsh MTB trails, and also regularly just run it round the bridleways and local paths near where I live, as well as going on on the roads with the wife. Its brilliant.
Now - the controversial bit - you mention " relatively pacey". Why? unless you're using your bike to commute, in which case I understand the need for a bit of efficiency, then it really doesn't matter. YOu're not racing anyone except yourself, so absolute pace is irrelevant. If you're just out for exercise, then get a bike that is comfortable and reliable, and go from there. If you want to "race" yourself, you still can.
I'm constantly amazed by people, particularly roadies, that seem to think that splashing thousands on a light, quick bike makes them quicker. Don't focus on the absolute speed that you go - just get out on your bike, enjoy the process, and if you want to get quicker, you can compare yourself against previous runs.
In terms of hybrids, you can either buy a "heavy road bike with chunkier tires" or a "lightweight MTB with slicks". They're both pale imitations of the real thing, and don't really help you much.
To sum up - get a hard tail MTB and get out and play. You can take it anywhere without worrying about it. If you find yourself on the tarmac alot, by all means swap out the tires for something slick, but I really wouldn't bother going down the hybrid route. |  |
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| Cycling Experts - Bike Advice Required on 14:16 - Apr 29 with 1818 views | Swansea_Blue |
| Cycling Experts - Bike Advice Required on 13:54 - Apr 29 by OsborneOneNil |
That's the question, whether a Hybrid could handle off road? Swansea suggested a hardtail mountain bike. |
All depends on your trails/tracks. If they're all no worse than smoothish forest roads, a hybrid/gravel bike with reasonably chunky tyres is probably ok.
If they include a lot of rougher bridle paths with some mud or stones, then I'd go MTB. A fast MTB can handle the smoother stuff just as well as a hybrid.
Or you could try one. And then buy a different one in a couple of years if it doesn't work out 
I used to do the Polaris MTB orienteering events where you spend two days in some classic outdoory area, trying to work out the best way to reach checkpoints and collect the most points. It covered roads, lanes, graded gravel paths, muddy fields, rocky bridle paths, you name it. A XC MTB was absolutely perfect for them, it could handle anything you find outside of a downhill MTB course. | |
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| Cycling Experts - Bike Advice Required on 14:21 - Apr 29 with 1816 views | monytowbray |
I’m currently looking at hybrids for when I move back. Realised from being carless for 2 years I really don’t need one these days. |  |
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| Cycling Experts - Bike Advice Required on 14:25 - Apr 29 with 1811 views | BrianTablet |
| Cycling Experts - Bike Advice Required on 13:42 - Apr 29 by factual_blue |
Make sure you stick to off-road tracks etc on which cycling is permitted. And remember you are required by law to give way to both pedestrians and horses.
And to stop at red lights. |
...and to doff your crash helmet to the superior species that is the car driver.
He (it inevitably is a he) likes to be known by the moniker 'petrolhead', although with oil on the way out, you can replace that with 'dick'. |  |
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| Cycling Experts - Bike Advice Required on 14:40 - Apr 29 with 1794 views | OsborneOneNil |
| Cycling Experts - Bike Advice Required on 13:57 - Apr 29 by Swansea_Blue |
I used to do triathlons (very amateurly) but the last one was about 8 years ago now. Hardly done anything since on any sort of bike. So I'm re-getting back into it so to speak. It's hard when you've had a long break. Went out for an hour the other day and it nearly killed me! We do have a lot of hills though. Traffic doesn't bother me too much, but I try to avoid it wherever possible for a nicer ride.
Yeah, you're probably looking at £1,500 full price to get a lightweight flying machine. Something like this: https://www.canyon.com/de-de/mountain-bikes/cross-country-bikes/exceed/exceed-cf
But that's serious money and I'm sure it's easily doable on cheaper aluminium versions half the price. |
Wow! That's a beauty! | | | |
| Cycling Experts - Bike Advice Required on 14:42 - Apr 29 with 1790 views | OsborneOneNil |
| Cycling Experts - Bike Advice Required on 14:16 - Apr 29 by SaleAway |
A little bit of input from me - as I know a bit about where you're coming from - but I'm going to suggest something that some people ( especially those of a road persuasion) might take issues with.
I've got a road bike ( Trek 1000) - its old, but it does a job. I also have a hard tail 29er ( Specialized Rockhopper comp)
I do about 90% of my riding on the 29er... some of the roads around manchester are pretty ropey, so I've got a bit fed up of damaging the roadie on potholes.
The 29er is bomb proof... I've taken it out on some of the big welsh MTB trails, and also regularly just run it round the bridleways and local paths near where I live, as well as going on on the roads with the wife. Its brilliant.
Now - the controversial bit - you mention " relatively pacey". Why? unless you're using your bike to commute, in which case I understand the need for a bit of efficiency, then it really doesn't matter. YOu're not racing anyone except yourself, so absolute pace is irrelevant. If you're just out for exercise, then get a bike that is comfortable and reliable, and go from there. If you want to "race" yourself, you still can.
I'm constantly amazed by people, particularly roadies, that seem to think that splashing thousands on a light, quick bike makes them quicker. Don't focus on the absolute speed that you go - just get out on your bike, enjoy the process, and if you want to get quicker, you can compare yourself against previous runs.
In terms of hybrids, you can either buy a "heavy road bike with chunkier tires" or a "lightweight MTB with slicks". They're both pale imitations of the real thing, and don't really help you much.
To sum up - get a hard tail MTB and get out and play. You can take it anywhere without worrying about it. If you find yourself on the tarmac alot, by all means swap out the tires for something slick, but I really wouldn't bother going down the hybrid route. |
That all makes perfect sense, thanks for the excellent advice!
You've pretty much nailed where I am. The 'pacey' thing....bloody good question. I just quite enjoy nipping along, but as you say, just get out an enjoy it, race yourself.
Top man. | | | |
| Cycling Experts - Bike Advice Required on 14:43 - Apr 29 with 1785 views | OsborneOneNil |
| Cycling Experts - Bike Advice Required on 14:16 - Apr 29 by Swansea_Blue |
All depends on your trails/tracks. If they're all no worse than smoothish forest roads, a hybrid/gravel bike with reasonably chunky tyres is probably ok.
If they include a lot of rougher bridle paths with some mud or stones, then I'd go MTB. A fast MTB can handle the smoother stuff just as well as a hybrid.
Or you could try one. And then buy a different one in a couple of years if it doesn't work out
I used to do the Polaris MTB orienteering events where you spend two days in some classic outdoory area, trying to work out the best way to reach checkpoints and collect the most points. It covered roads, lanes, graded gravel paths, muddy fields, rocky bridle paths, you name it. A XC MTB was absolutely perfect for them, it could handle anything you find outside of a downhill MTB course. |
Thanks for your advice bud. Ideal. | | | |
| Cycling Experts - Bike Advice Required on 14:50 - Apr 29 with 1772 views | Swansea_Blue |
| Cycling Experts - Bike Advice Required on 14:16 - Apr 29 by SaleAway |
A little bit of input from me - as I know a bit about where you're coming from - but I'm going to suggest something that some people ( especially those of a road persuasion) might take issues with.
I've got a road bike ( Trek 1000) - its old, but it does a job. I also have a hard tail 29er ( Specialized Rockhopper comp)
I do about 90% of my riding on the 29er... some of the roads around manchester are pretty ropey, so I've got a bit fed up of damaging the roadie on potholes.
The 29er is bomb proof... I've taken it out on some of the big welsh MTB trails, and also regularly just run it round the bridleways and local paths near where I live, as well as going on on the roads with the wife. Its brilliant.
Now - the controversial bit - you mention " relatively pacey". Why? unless you're using your bike to commute, in which case I understand the need for a bit of efficiency, then it really doesn't matter. YOu're not racing anyone except yourself, so absolute pace is irrelevant. If you're just out for exercise, then get a bike that is comfortable and reliable, and go from there. If you want to "race" yourself, you still can.
I'm constantly amazed by people, particularly roadies, that seem to think that splashing thousands on a light, quick bike makes them quicker. Don't focus on the absolute speed that you go - just get out on your bike, enjoy the process, and if you want to get quicker, you can compare yourself against previous runs.
In terms of hybrids, you can either buy a "heavy road bike with chunkier tires" or a "lightweight MTB with slicks". They're both pale imitations of the real thing, and don't really help you much.
To sum up - get a hard tail MTB and get out and play. You can take it anywhere without worrying about it. If you find yourself on the tarmac alot, by all means swap out the tires for something slick, but I really wouldn't bother going down the hybrid route. |
Agreed on weight v money. It's better to spend 3 months losing 3 kg than spend £1000 extra to save those 3kg on the bike.
That Specialised is a proper bike though, I think you need to be looking at that level as an entry point (a £150 bike from go outdoors will probably give a very different experience).
Wheel size is a good mention - a 29er is going to roll so much better over trails and be better on smooth tracks/roads too, so will feel quicker. Good call. | |
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| Cycling Experts - Bike Advice Required on 14:53 - Apr 29 with 1765 views | TIB |
I have had my Felt Nine 80, a hardtail 29er mountain bike for near on 10 years. It's been around Norway and Iceland, chucked about by BA, ridden on tarmac, gravel, lava field, through snow, wind and rain and it's still going strong. I've clocked up 1200 miles on it so far in 2020 and was tempted to get something else but it ticks all the boxes and still has life in it so am sticking by it. A hardtail is deifnitely best option. Vitus Nucleus by all accounts is bang on for the sub-£500 mark. [Post edited 29 Apr 2020 14:55]
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| Cycling Experts - Bike Advice Required on 15:01 - Apr 29 with 1743 views | ElephantintheRoom |
Mountain bikes are pretty useless at most things apart from rough riding on slopes.... a sensible bike for mixing road and bridle paths would be something slightly out of fashion... a bike with front suspension only 'hardtail' in bikingspeak. You'll probably fall off and get punctures more - so beware of fragile bikes.
Most hybrid/gravel bikes are pretty similar to ye olde mountain bikes in the pre-suspension era. I have a 30 year old saracen which is probably better than bikes costing 10x more now.
Is your orbea the avant - or whatever they call their comfort road bike nowadays? A decent road bike with a 'sportive' label should meet the needs of any casual rider wandering country lanes in lycra.... but clearly not gravelly bits.... maybe you just bought an unforgiving road bike when you should have bought a comfort one?
Personally i find the joys of gravel and bridle path riding compared to country lanes distinctly underwhelming - but each to their own. | |
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| Cycling Experts - Bike Advice Required on 18:12 - Apr 29 with 1670 views | ronnyd |
Just happened to glance across into woods on a little back road between Risby and Fornham All Saints on Monday, as a flash of blue caught my eye. Went back to have look and it was a fantastic sea of bluebells amongst the trees and shrubs. Little things like that make bike rides fantastic. | | | |
| Cycling Experts - Bike Advice Required on 18:16 - Apr 29 with 1662 views | ronnyd |
| Cycling Experts - Bike Advice Required on 14:03 - Apr 29 by bluelagos |
I can confirm that cycling through brambles and on pebble beaches isn't the best place to be cycling if punctures are a worry. Long walk home last week... |
Don't you carry a spare tube/puncture outfit?  | | | |
| Cycling Experts - Bike Advice Required on 21:16 - Apr 29 with 1623 views | BlueForYou |
Why has nobody mentioned a Cross Country bike..? |  | | |
| Cycling Experts - Bike Advice Required on 21:30 - Apr 29 with 1619 views | TractorWood |
I have a Kona hardtail and it's excellent for proper MTB trails like Scotland or the Peak District. Tbh it's probably overkill for lanes and you'd want something faster.
I have the Ribble sportive bike and love it. I'd recommend their gravel range. It would be ideal for the range of stuff you are talking about. Go tubeless too if you want confidence.
https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-cgr-al/
I'd avoid a hybrid they are bad at everything whereas a gravel bike is excellent at everything.
Lmk if you want more information. Bikes are sort of my thing. |  |
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| Cycling Experts - Bike Advice Required on 00:15 - May 1 with 1478 views | OsborneOneNil |
| Cycling Experts - Bike Advice Required on 14:53 - Apr 29 by TIB |
I have had my Felt Nine 80, a hardtail 29er mountain bike for near on 10 years. It's been around Norway and Iceland, chucked about by BA, ridden on tarmac, gravel, lava field, through snow, wind and rain and it's still going strong. I've clocked up 1200 miles on it so far in 2020 and was tempted to get something else but it ticks all the boxes and still has life in it so am sticking by it. A hardtail is deifnitely best option. Vitus Nucleus by all accounts is bang on for the sub-£500 mark. [Post edited 29 Apr 2020 14:55]
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Ah yes, the Vitus Nucleus.....I've seen that rated really highly in the £500-600 bracket.
Cheers for the info! | | | |
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