Bike purchase - Advice please

[halsallb86]

Good Afternoon,

Sorry if this is on the wrong page as i am a complete Bike novice.

I am looking for a bike for the following:

General bike rides
Commuting to/from work (road use)
I will be looking for the odd bit of offroad (not too much) but would be gravel/uneven grass etc.
Longest ill probably ride is 20 miles.

My budget is around £500 max, and looking at them i presume Hybrid would be my best bet.
I have seen the following bikes and wondered if these are any good or if you would suggest anything else?

https://www.evanscycles.com/specialized ... e-EV244806

http://www.formbycycles.co.uk/cannondal ... -2016.html

http://www.formbycycles.co.uk/cannondal ... -2016.html

http://www.formbycycles.co.uk/cube-natu ... -2015.html

Many thanks in advance.
Ben

[iviehoff]

If you are commuting, it is wise to have mudguards, so you can ride in your normal clothes and don't have to change them on arrival. If you don't have mudguards, when the road is wet your clothes/legs get splattered. A pannier rack is also wise for carrying luggage on the bike, so you don't get a wet back, and of course you should never carry heavy luggage on your back. If you might ride in the dark, budget for lights. These can be very cheap if you only need to be seen - adequate LED flashers are cheap these days. But if you want to see where you are going on a poorly lit road or cycle track, or be seen really well to help stay alive, you might want to pay more for lights with lithium rechargeable battery which are much brighter.

The bikes you are looking are a strange mix, with tyres varying from 28mm to 44mm. They look rather similar at a glance, but one is a cross bike, etc. Personally I would have thought you wanted something around 35-40mm tyres for light off-roading. Some of them are a bit heavy. One does see lots of commuters on road bikes and mountain bikes without mudguards and racks. But if having a bike like that gives them the incentive to get on it, rather than something sensible, then fair enough.

This bike I know would meet your purposes very well, because we have got one and use it in the manner you say you want to. It is very light, very responsive, OK on all but very steep hills, and generally a joy to ride. It is fast enough for commuting but the tyres are wide enough for light rough-stuff. You have to buy the rack and mudguards in addition, but they come fitted, and that adds £50 or so to the price. What it isn't is fashionable or showy.
http://www.islabikes.co.uk/products/bikes/item/beinn-29

[eileithyia]

As a veteran of commuting on shifts for many years i agree with Ivan; mudguards, some means of carrying your kit and lights are an essential addition to be factored in and should be easily accommodated on any bike you purchase. A reasonable touring style road bike will cope with road commutes and some light off-road tracks (mine have done more severe off road tracks and cope).
Another shop to consider is Decathlon as you can often get better kitted out bikes due to their purchasing power and the fact many of the parts are badged as their own.

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/hoprider-520 ... 07666.html

[Zanda]

We have had a Cannondale Quick in our household for three years during which time it's been used daily for a five mile commute. I fitted mudguards and a pannier rack, plus lights. The bike has an aluminium frame so it's reasonably efficient - meaning it's not too tiring to ride - with a carbon fork for a bit of comfort. It came to us second hand with 28mm tyres IIRC and there was still plenty of clearance for mudguards and fatter tyres. I've since fitted 35mm tyres. No problems with the bike. I can recommend them.