Help choosing bicycle

[oaklec]

As previously said, mountain bikes are for mountain biking. Hybrids are for riding on a variety of surfaces and terrain.

Yes you could fit more narrow tyres to a mountain bike but that adds cost to the purchase.

I think the article on stiction was written by someone who had never ridden a short travel fork. When suspension forks first came into being they were all short travel and they provided cushioning over rigid forks. Believe it or not, short travel forks do actually compress boingy boingy.

I would say that if you plan to cycle down a mountain, buy a mountain bike. Otherwise buy a hybrid.

[rareposter]

Also that is very important... if the suspension offers no benefit as that article says, then why get it?

Many many bikes at entry level (and kids bikes too) are specced with suspension forks because they're assumed to be better. That's not necessarily true but it also makes it hard to find decent bikes without suspension forks because it's got to the point where most manufacturers spec them because "everyone else is doing it".

I would rather save money and get the Carrera though.... Me cry. Money money money

You're the one that suggested the Giant 10 pages back which (we assume) means you can afford it. It's the better bike out of the two but then it should be, it costs more!

[freiston]

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/reviews/h ... d-test-lab

However, suspension on a hybrid bike doesn’t do a particularly good job at its intended purpose. Telescopic suspension forks are notorious for suffering from stiction. This means a large initial force is needed to overcome the static friction of the fork in order for it to start to move through its travel.

Mountain bike versus hybrid: What's the difference?

Fox 32 Step-Cast
Super high-end forks (costing over £1,000) minimise this issue, but some degree of stiction is always present. Lower end forks, such as the ones that tend to be specced at a mid-range price point, tend to suffer from significant degree of stiction.

This isn’t too much of an issue for mountain bikes, which will be subjecting the forks to large enough hits to get the suspension to move through its travel. But for hybrid bikes and the high frequency - but small - bumps they’ll be hitting, the suspension will barely move and offer little in the way of cushioning.

Wider, more supple tyres combined with lower pressures is a far more effective way to improve comfort when travelling over smaller bumps and potholes. Added to that, without a suspension fork, the bike will be significantly lighter and also cheaper. Meaning you can either save some money or get a bike with better components for the same price.

- Thoughts? -

That's basically saying that suspension forks, especially cheap ones, don't work well for little bumps - the sort that a hybrid rider will typically experience but they work better for big bumps, the sort that a mountain bike rider will typically experience - therefore if you're buying a hybrid for little bumps, don't bother with suspension forks.

IMHO, the joints on the path along the sea front would count as little bumps. Riding head on up kerbs would probably count as big bumps.

[SummitFreedom]

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/reviews/h ... d-test-lab

However, suspension on a hybrid bike doesn’t do a particularly good job at its intended purpose. Telescopic suspension forks are notorious for suffering from stiction. This means a large initial force is needed to overcome the static friction of the fork in order for it to start to move through its travel.

Mountain bike versus hybrid: What's the difference?

Fox 32 Step-Cast
Super high-end forks (costing over £1,000) minimise this issue, but some degree of stiction is always present. Lower end forks, such as the ones that tend to be specced at a mid-range price point, tend to suffer from significant degree of stiction.

This isn’t too much of an issue for mountain bikes, which will be subjecting the forks to large enough hits to get the suspension to move through its travel. But for hybrid bikes and the high frequency - but small - bumps they’ll be hitting, the suspension will barely move and offer little in the way of cushioning.

Wider, more supple tyres combined with lower pressures is a far more effective way to improve comfort when travelling over smaller bumps and potholes. Added to that, without a suspension fork, the bike will be significantly lighter and also cheaper. Meaning you can either save some money or get a bike with better components for the same price.

- Thoughts? -

That's basically saying that suspension forks, especially cheap ones, don't work well for little bumps - the sort that a hybrid rider will typically experience but they work better for big bumps, the sort that a mountain bike rider will typically experience - therefore if you're buying a hybrid for little bumps, don't bother with suspension forks.

IMHO, the joints on the path along the sea front would count as little bumps. Riding head on up kerbs would probably count as big bumps.

You just repeated what the article says....

[oaklec]

Guide to mountain biking

https://www.halfords.com/bikes/buying-g ... video.html

Might give you an idea if a mountain bike is what you need

[Bonefishblues]

Have you considered these?

https://www.balfesbikes.co.uk/bikes/hyb ... 3UQAvD_BwE

Excellent cycles, light, very highly regarded, super colour - quite like grey but rather more exclusive, plenty of gear range for those hilly parts of the trails.

[oaklec]

likewise for hybrid

https://www.halfords.com/cycling/buying ... video.html

[Bonefishblues]

likewise for hybrid

https://www.halfords.com/cycling/buying ... video.html

Loving this opening sentence:

Hybrid bikes feature all the best bits of a road bike and a mountain bike!

[re_cycler]

likewise for hybrid

https://www.halfords.com/cycling/buying ... video.html

Loving this opening sentence:

Hybrid bikes feature all the best bits of a road bike and a mountain bike!

That may be topped by " the bigger the wheels the faster you go "

[oaklec]

I’m off to buy a 36 er then

Rigid or suspension though?

[SummitFreedom]

Have you considered these?

https://www.balfesbikes.co.uk/bikes/hyb ... 3UQAvD_BwE

Excellent cycles, light, very highly regarded, super colour - quite like grey but rather more exclusive, plenty of gear range for those hilly parts of the trails.

Deore is better than what Giant provide right? And this cycle has better tires than Giants right?

So isn't this a better cycle than the Giant?

Does it have less gears than the Giant and does that make it worse?

The single gear on the front makes things much easier and less maintenance I guess?

Looks decent in Bronze, but there is only 1 user photo of it.

Thanks

[oaklec]

Have you considered these?

https://www.balfesbikes.co.uk/bikes/hyb ... 3UQAvD_BwE

Excellent cycles, light, very highly regarded, super colour - quite like grey but rather more exclusive, plenty of gear range for those hilly parts of the trails.

Deore is better than what Giant provide right? And this cycle has better tires than Giants right?

So isn't this a better cycle than the Giant?

Does it have less gears than the Giant and does that make it worse?

The single gear on the front makes things much easier and less maintenance I guess?

Looks decent in Bronze, but there is only 1 user photo of it.

Thanks

It looks a really good bike for the money. Only downside I can see is that the tyres might be more for road use than for off road

[Bonefishblues]

Have you considered these?

https://www.balfesbikes.co.uk/bikes/hyb ... 3UQAvD_BwE

Excellent cycles, light, very highly regarded, super colour - quite like grey but rather more exclusive, plenty of gear range for those hilly parts of the trails.

Deore is better than what Giant provide right? And this cycle has better tires than Giants right?

So isn't this a better cycle than the Giant?

Does it have less gears than the Giant and does that make it worse?

The single gear on the front makes things much easier and less maintenance I guess?

Looks decent in Bronze, but there is only 1 user photo of it.

Thanks

It looks a really good bike for the money. Only downside I can see is that the tyres might be more for road use than for off road

Those Road Cruisers are quite deeply-treaded and very tough and have a goodly profile. Unless OP wants out in mud and grease offroad in winter, they'll cope with anything that trails will throw at them IMHO. Daughter has them on her Squish - not that she rides it much

[SummitFreedom]

It looks a really good bike for the money. Only downside I can see is that the tyres might be more for road use than for off road

Do you know the answers to the questions?

[SummitFreedom]

Mountain bikes are apparently lighter than hybrid?!

Weight: solid vs. light
Hybrid bikes (16 to 19 kg) almost always add weight, while mountain bikes (11 to 16 kg) are lighter. Depending on the materials used (aluminium or carbon) and the features, there are also outliers in both categories in one direction or the other.

https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/blog-conte ... 92021.html