Upex

Hi all,

Hope you're all staying safe and sane.

Sorry in advance for the length, but wonder if anyone has 5 mins to help with my quandary...

I used to race road, track, mtb, dh, cx but have had circa 15 years off bikes since then and now decided to do some exercise and get fit again (bloody desk jobs &#128556

I've managed to get the Mrs interested (very little experience) and we've bought her a cheap bike to start, a marin ds4, which to be fair, I like. How bikes have moved on since my day 🤣

I've been looking for a bike for me, but I'm struggling and wonder if there are any suggestions/recommendations?

Our rides will be mainly little road, back country roads full of gravel and crap, cycle paths, gravel tracks and hard pack easy offroad forest trails and the like. No mtb needed for sure.

I have my old road bike (Allen alu Car) and an ancient cheapo mtb already (Raleigh mtrax 250 with everything bar frame and fork replaced) so was thinking a hybrid with some suspension that can be locked out is the way to go as our rides will be easy going and gentle, no stomping, and means I can do all the surfaces on one bike, but...

I keep finding myself getting carried away with spec (old habits &#128580 and don't want to spend a fortune especially as we'll only be riding generally for a couple of hours a couple of times a week.

I'm happy to pay more if the spec warrants it, as I don't want to find myself staring to replace groupsets and wheels in 3 months etc, but given how much the tech has moved on nowadays, I'm unsure what is worth it, nor of what is 'decent' nowadays, bet my days of xtr, dura ace and record are equalled far lower down the price point now 🙄

Was looking at the

Cube Nature Exc,
Merida Crossway 200
Specialised crosstail sport
Specialised sirrus x4

I like the x 5 sirrus, but thats getting silly and I know its not worth the extra or needed despite my sway to the carbon 🙄

Any other ideas folks, as I've been back and forth for days and getting no where 🙄 been toying with building my own, but have same issues with choosing frame and fork and components 😂

Ideally I'd like hydro disks and through hubs and these new fangled bottom brackets (want to see what they like &#128559 but only if cost extra on the bike is worth it.

Cheers all and ride and stay safe 👍

TakingMyTime

Specialised Sirrus x4 only single chainring.

The remaining bikes look to be quite similiar. The Cube seems to have some nice components but I'm not familiar with the maker. If I were making the choice for myself I would get the Cube or the Crosstrail. Actually, I would go for the cheapest of the 2 if you're only going to be riding as much as you stated. Also, since you mentioned that you were considering building a bike, when the time comes I'm sure you'd be able to upgrade either of these bikes as it becomes necessary.

YankeeInTX

I got a giant escape 3– previous years model for $340. I think msrp is around $420. Pleased with the bike. If I was to get any entry level hybrid, I’d go with the quick 7 or 8. The cannondale was better fit, but not for my wallet at the time.

YankeeInTX

do you prefer specialized over other brands? I know it’s so cliche, but go ride a few and see?

Gangplank

What about the Trek Dual Sport line? I just got a Trek DS1. It’s entry level and it’s sounds like your looking for a bit better components. The DS2, 3 or 4. Might be good for what you’re looking for.

Upex

Thanks for all the inputs folks 👍 no preference to specialised, just the site I was looking at, cyclesolutions, stocks them.

Done a lot of looking and wonder if a 29er is a better bet, seems can get better kit for the same money and I can then use it with different wheels to replace my ancient MTB. Plus the site has zero stock of anything decent and I want to use them as can buy via works cycle to work scheme and save a few hundred (or rather spend same and get more for my cash &#128521

Can't see that I'd struggle to keep up with the mrs on a 29er vs a hybrid and it'd be more versatile in the long run and less likely to need upgrades.

Just need to look into those now, as 29ers didn't exist when I was riding 🤣 however I did see some marked as 27.5 / 29ers, does that mean I can put in both sizes of wheel in the frame and fork? ie 27.5 offroad and 29s with slicks (albeit sill quite wide tyres unless I build some with slimmer rims &#129300 interesting concept....

hokiefyd 

Yes, you can generally swap wheel sizes as long as you have disc brakes. There are some things to watch, because tire diameter can impact geometry some.

I have a Giant Roam that came with 38-622 tires. I've used as large as 50-622 tires on it (often called 29x2"), and I've also used 52-584 tires on it (often called 27.5x2.1"). There are some small differences in how the bike rides, but nothing major. I'm back to 622mm wheels and tires, for various reasons, but disc brakes make this stuff way more interchangeable than it used to be!

Wanderer

I have a Crosstrail, and a Sirrus - both vastly different bikes. For your intended use, the Crosstrail would suit you better.

That being said. look at the Giant line, also - some really nice bikes for a little less money!

Don't get me wrong, I like Specialized - A LOT!