Thetownend.com

I know we have some expert cyclists on here  :)
My trusty Kona MTB is now 12 years old and has a bit of a creaky saddle (but that could be down to the weight on it). I'm thinking of changing it but don't feel I need a mountain bike anymore as most of any cycling I do is on road or cycle path, sometimes on gravel etc. Been looking at the hybrid bikes as I think I'll be able to cover the ground quicker on something that doesn't have big nobbly tyres.
Couple of questions,  does anyone own a hybrid bike? What's it like to live with? Can you still pop up and down kerbs etc without knackering the wheels?

I bought a hybrid a few years ago as, like you, I do no off road riding, mainly cycle paths and roads.
I like it, it's got the feel of a mountain bike, but sleaker and with thinner tyres.
I find it a bit quicker than a mountain bike too.

I am slightly more cautious going up kerbs than I would be on a mountain bike.

However, i'm not really into bikes, I just wanted something mainly for cycling to work.
I got on it for the first time in 9 months this week.

Cheers

Buying a new saddle and tyres would be considerably cheaper.

Funnily enough I popped out and cleaned the bike, changed the saddle  (I have a few spares) and am now fixing the derailleur. Might look out for some smoother tread tyres.

The rage at the moment is gravel bikes. Drop handle bars And 28-32mm tyres. Look up a Triban rc100 for the cheapest in the range.

Taking a tumble in December and breaking my neck has put pay to my cycling for a while.

You'll be back on it, I had a shoulder dislocation fracture a couple of years ago  :)
I've bought some slightly narrower and smoother tyres, pick em up tomorrow.

I switched from mountain bike to hybrid for similar reasons a year and a half back and would recommend it for the sort of cycling you suggest you’d be doing (if you do decide to buy). I got a Carrera Crossfire (pretty run of the mill Halfords bike) in a post Xmas sale for £200 which I’ve ridden most days since acquiring. I’ve always avoided expensive bikes thinking they are less nickable but lo and behold mine was nicked last week! I’m now looking for a hybrid replacement so any recommendations for around 300 to 450 from anyone would be appreciated.

Are you looking new or 2nd hand?

New as I can get it tax free due to cycle 2 work scheme, unless there was a dirt cheap 2nd hand one about.

That's saved me a few hundred notes, £26 on new city tyres and I cleaned and serviced the bike. Not bad for a 12 year old bike.

looks great

Decathlon is your friend

I Feel your pain as over the years I had my Trek & Giant mountain bikes pinched and haven't bought another since but keep thinking about getting another one maybe a hybrid

Turns out my cycle2work scheme is tied to Evans Cycles. They seem a bit more expensive to begin with (though may be superior quality?) and mostly out of stock due to unprecedented demand since lockdown.

I've always had pretty good service from Evans. Mike Ashley owns them now.

*EDIT*

I've always had pretty good service from Evans but Mike Ashley owns them now.

I used Evans for my Trek MTB, their scheme at that time was cheapest compared to the alternative the company offered.

but that was pre-ashley

No. Not superior quality.

As other have said - Decathlon is your friend.

Probably a stupid question. Apart from fitting new brake blocks and spraying a bit of Wd 40 0n the chain,
what else is involved servicing a bike ?



 

New cables and readujsting gears are often necessary. And making sure that everything is well oiled. There's sometimes a lot of faffing about to be done.

Adjusted the brake cables, adjusted the gear cables to align them correctly, oiled the chain etc.

As you can probably tell, I am not a keen cyclist.
The last bike I rode had a 3 speed Sturmey  Archer.

I've got a bike,
I could ride it if I like...

Ok not a play on Pink Floyd lyrics but I genuinely have a bike that I'd like to ride. I "inherited" it when I moved to my new place. It needs the usual stuff doing to it to get it roadworthy but there's one much bigger problem. The main central column, that the handlebars sit on, they're loose, very loose and turn independently to the main shaft.

Essentially, I have zero control over steering. I know I need to align it and there is a nut I need to tighten which I've tried doing but it doesn't seem to want to shift so unsure if it's the correct nut or I need something with a bit more purchase so I can tap it round with a hammer.

I'm also not hugely "bikey" due to more naturally slower twitch hamstrings, which with prolonged cycling fucks them up an needs longer recovery. It's a bit of a pain in the ass because I'm not bad at spinning/intensive training but, yeah. It then sets me back from running/long distance hiking and I much prefer and have stamina for the latter. But anyway, I'd quite like to use the bike for shorter/less intense/more leisurely rides from times to time.

So any help from the bicycle nerds would be great.

What is the bike? Or could you post a picture. Difficult to explain without seeing as there are a couple of different types.

is it's an old bike then it's probably a quill stem, sort of bolt through a wedgy thing, just loosen the top bolt, pull it out give it a clean, grease and re-tighten. If it's an a-head with a star fangled nut (frictiony type steel thingy) buy another one and reset it ( with a bit of tube and a small hammer). You can buy different ahead fasteners if you want ( compressed with rubber, I think)

Will post a pic in a bit but I think it's a relatively cheap Sceptre Challenge or Challenge Sceptre?

Oh and it's the column that leads into the main shaft that is loose not the part that connects to the handlebars if that makes sense? So of the "r" shaped column, it's the "stem" leading into the main shaft that is loose and not the "leaf" that brackets onto the handlebars.

Try this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TihBJNn0Bck

Thanks but this bike doesn't have that type of fixing on the headset. The central column (the stem) goes into the shaft. ie there's no bracket and top cap that go around the shaft like int the vid? :hmmm:

Quill stem?

https://youtu.be/yM90mfrjkUA

Hmmm, after watching that, mine is totally missing the top cap and long bolt that goes down the stem I think. So basically I can't tighten up said stem. I'm assuming I could buy a top cap and long bolt and just FIM? Or is buying a whole new stem (with top cap and l/b) the more sensible decision?

Thanks though btw.

You can buy the star nut and top cap and attempt to fit it yourself but it can be a right pain to get the nut in and level. Best bet is just to take it to your local bike shop and get them to fit it, they’ll have the right tool for the job and will take them about 30 seconds to do. Won’t cost much at all.

I would second this, getting a star nut in the right place and more importantly level is nigh impossible without the right tools. Support your LBS.

I will take a trip to mine on the 15th then (I think that's when it reopens?).

Bike shops have been open the whole time, except maybe really tiny ones. My "LBC" has been doing a roaring trade, including selling me an electric bike.

Got a road bike that I can't fix the back brake on, and booked it in with them yesterday for 22nd June. They could have done 16th but I'm working that week so couldn't drop it in. Quick jobs they will do on the spot.

Sold my Hoy Hybrid this morning to a bloke who caught the train from Streatham to Oxford. Yesterday I put it on Shpock, Gumtree and FB marketplace and he contacted me within 20 minutes of it going live, and paid the full asking price before I'd even met him! Had the usual bunch of twats messaging "£120?" (it was on for £220).