Hybrid or Gravel/adventure bike
 

Looking to buy my first bike in a long time for occasional leisure use. Was almost decided on the Boardman HYB 8.8 but have since come across gravel bikes and now can't decide if I should get the Boardman ADV 8.9.

Any advice would be appreciated. Just looking for a all rounded bike that I can keep long term and will build my interest in biking.

Thank you in advance.

The Boardman ADV 8.9 looks significantly better to me: wider gear range, tubeless tires/rims, better tires, thru-axles, etc.

And drop bars allow multiple hand positions which helps in longer rides.

[QUOTE=tyrion;22548419]The Boardman ADV 8.9 looks significantly better to me: wider gear range, tubeless tires/rims, better tires, thru-axles, etc.

And drop bars allow multiple hand positions which helps in longer rides.[/QUOTE

I concurr

Get a gravel-ready hybrid.

You’re planning on leisure use. Consider alt bars. Why put up with riding drops if you’re not racing? Better control, better for looking around. Definitely better on trails!
If it gets windy, bend your elbows….
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1bb7b5df3.jpeg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...72b74fa02.jpeg

Thank you.

Any thoughts on the Sirrus X 4.0 which has a hardtail. I've read previously that's it's not worth having suspension on a hybrid bike would the same apply for this bike?

Sirrus X is a great bike for what you want to do. I have one in the household.

I'm not a fan of suspension on bikes that are not going to be used on terrain that requires it. I understand that Specialized Future Shock is short travel and designed to buffer the bumps. Even though it is being incorporated on multiple models, there is no guarantee that there will be support for it down the road when it becomes Past Shock and follows in the namesake's heritage.

John

I advise you to decide what style of bike you want- flat bar or drop bar before asking for suggestions on which to buy. They are fundamentally different in feel and use. One isnt better than the other, they are simply different enough that it matters.
Nobody here can(should) advise you on which style you should choose because there isnt a 'right' or 'wrong' option.

Flat bar would be ideal as this is my first bike. However from what I have read hybrid bikes are limiting in the long run. I think it may be worth investing in a gravel bike as they seem to be more all rounded. I may be wrong.

Either way it's a decision between the Boardman HYB 8.8 or Boardman ADV 8.9.

Thank you all

While I think either bike will suit your general purposes, you might find that the gravel bike is more versatile in the long run. I like that the wheels are tubeless-ready, and IMO thru-axles are a better option for disc brakes. A gravel bike can go anywhere a hybrid bike can go, but I'm not sure the opposite is true.

This. In addition, consider a swept bar. All of my bikes now have them. Drop bars are useless for me because "my neck don't bend that way no more," and flat bars pound the hell out of my wrists. You can buy attachments for flat bars that address the comfort issue, but at least for me, a swept bar gives me hours of riding with no discomfort.

But it's hard to find bikes with swept bars that are also versatile and sporty. The industry is phenomenally style-conscious. On the other hand, it's pretty easy to adapt most flat-bar bikes to swept bars, not so easy to adapt a drop bar bike.

Flat bars make sense for mountain bikes due to controlling the bike on rough terrain, but not for pavement use. This is evident when you see people riding with their hands cupped around the ends of their bars, or with their fists on top of the grips. They're trying to give their wrists a break.

Yep!! My Cross Check had flat, straight bars when I got it. My wrists hated it. Much better now.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ce909ae56.jpeg

And here I was thinking that I was the only one who did that! 😅

Then go for flat bar. The Specialized Sirrus or Specialized Diverge Evo would work great for you.

go flat bar for first bike