You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Hi, my wife is looking to buy a new bike. She’s had a Specialized Vita since 2012.
She doesn’t cycle much but wants to do more. She likes the Vita but it’s a little too unforgiving on trails.
Bike would be used for road, paths, fire roads, non technical trails. Think some of the off road cycle paths around Aviemore, a bike than can handle that.
It’s also got to be light enough for me (a one handed man with a weak left arm) to lift onto a bike roof rack. So 12kg or less.
We had a look in Edinburgh bike co op today.
I like the Whyte Pimlico, it has a 42-51 bottom gear which ticks a box. But the shop assistant says it’s more of an urban bike
He suggested the Specialized Sirrus X, but it’s £1300 to get the carbon fork and bottom gear is 40-42, I’m not sure that’s enough.
Any thoughts / suggestions please? Any Pimlico owners who take their bike off road?
Thanks
ive got a Saracen Levarg. flat bar...
not sure if they do the FB model any more.. it was under 700 2 years ago, and came with 42 x 11/42 iirc, and big squidgy 37mm tyres, it's actually really fun and rapid, i use it mostly as a commuter
However.. if i was buying now, id be looking a a Marin DSX.. its beautiful IMHO
Sonder do a flat bar Camino, I don't know if that would suit.
You can only pre-order at present and it looks like deliveries are expected in May.
https://alpkit.com/products/sonder-camino-al-v3-apex1-flat
^ Camino looks a good option.
Or this is more towards the MTB end of the spectrum, but quoted as 11.4kg in medium and £1,299. Could drop more weight with gravelly tyres instead of the MTB tyres. 90 days build time mentioned: On-One Rocky Road Ti
I've got a 2018 Sirrus which has a 32/48 on the front & a 11/34 cassette. I rarely use the small ring on the front but It's pretty flat locally.
It's now got Roval wheels, Speedrocker mudguards & 38 Gravel tyres on. However It's heavy, so I'm waiting for an On One Freeranger to arrive tomorrow. I'm hanging on to the Sirrus in case I don't like the drops or the gearing set up on the new bike, or I might keep it for winter use.
I love it & It's had loads of off road use.
It’s so hard to know what people mean by light off road.
I do wonder if use carbon mtb with a swap to a rigid fork from exotic would be a good option.
My experience is that I’d rather have 50mm tyres on road than 32mm tyres off road
On One Whippet with rigid carbon fork?
It’s so hard to know what people mean by light off road.
I do wonder if use carbon mtb with a swap to a rigid fork from exotic would be a good option.
My experience is that I’d rather have 50mm tyres on road than 32mm tyres off road
True - in the OP's case the mention of the sort of trails around Aviemore (I'm imagining the non-techy trails around Glenmore etc) is similar to how I use my flat-barred Gravel bike, but that's likely different to others' interpretation of light off road 🙂
Not carbon in my case but ti-framed with a carbon Exotic fork works well for me, especially with 50mm tyres. Currently on slightly lower-volume tyres over winter and I really notice the comfort difference off road. Mine's more MTBy than what'd normally be considered a gravel bike though.
I was after something similar, and I settled on the On-One Whippet. It seems to have everything you’re after - the only problem might be the lack of options for fenders/racks etc.
I have mine fitted with nukeproof neutrons and halo twin rails, which means it’s capable off road and rides nicely on the street.
1299 at the moment for GX, though it returns to 1399 soon. I’m really happy with mine.
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBOOWHGX/on-one-whippet-sram-gx-mountain-bike#CBOOWHGX
Thanks all for the suggestions.
I think basically we are looking for a hybrid that can take at least 40mm tyres and has hill friendly gearing.
And can take a rack for bags / panniers
This ticks most of your boxes and takes up to 50c! Basically a rigid 29er.
https://www.sportsdirect.com/pinnacle-lithium-3-2022-hybrid-bike-939173#colcode=93917302
I love my Marin DSX1
Mine is last years model. As stock it came with 47mm tyres and 42T Chainring and an 11-51 cassette.
Take a look at Boardman hybrids.
I picked up a Boardman Hybrid Pro from Halfords a couple of years back, easily runs 40mm tyres on 700c wheels and for a long time I was running 47mm WTB gravel tyres on 650b wheels.
It has mounts for racks and guards and came with very hill friendly 1x11 gearing with a 44t chainring and 10/42 cassette.
With the right tyres it flies along fire roads and can easily handle Swinley Forest level blue trails, complete with rack and panniers 😂
^
Current Boardman HYB 8.9 is £1k and claimed weight is 10.4kg (not specified with or without pedals)
Chainring: 44T
Cassette: Shimano Deore 12 speed 10-51t
This ticks most of your boxes and takes up to 50c! Basically a rigid 29er.
https://www.sportsdirect.com/pinnacle-lithium-3-2022-hybrid-bike-939173#colcode=93917302
/blockquote>Doesn't look bad at all.
My sis has one of those Pinnacle Lithiums. She's not a hard off=road user, but she does cycle to work every day in all conditions.
I do the maintenance on her bike, and it's held up well for the 3 1/2 years she's had it. I reckon it was great value for money. The only changes I've made are the pedals and tyres, and it's a good, fun, solid bike.
The lithium looks good although triple chain ring puts me off (perhaps irrationally?)
And the Boardman looks great but even small is too big for a 5’ 2” lady
This is the same frustration I went through 3 years ago trying to find a “flat bar gravel bike” that could take 40mm+ tyres for myself. I ended up buying an orange speedwork frame and getting it built to my spec. (The Speedwork is also too big for 5’ 2”)
Pinnacle and Boardman do great fast hybrids- I have an older Boardman comp and tbh it's the best bike i've ever owned, as fitness for purpose goes. I could put mtb tyres on it and go and do some proper mountain biking, but it's comfy and quick on the road, too.
(it helps that it's fully old mtb standards- I know some are using road standards now but for mountain bikers it makes no sense, mine has become where old mtb parts go to die. But that meant I could get cheap light tubeless wheels, cheap disc brakes...
Oh as an aside, this works better with older bikes. I know you're looking for new, but it's not like there's really much progress in hybrids and lots see only very light use, so getting one a few years old in good shape can work great. 100/135 QR seems like a drawback, til you discover you can buy superlight xc wheels for £100.
The norco search xr looks a good option but can’t seem to find anywhere in UK to buy
Another vote for a Whippet. Gravel tyres on mine.
singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/hybrid-flat-bar-gravel-bike/#post-12270807
That looks amazing. I could immediately swap all my decent 9 speed kit onto it too!
I just wish I needed one, and had space for it!
Look out for a used Cotic Roadrat. Can get them cheap and should be ideal for what you describe. If looking at more off road than on I’d personally go for a rigid 29er. Only my opinion and experience but I find the gravel bikes I’ve owned (NS RAG+ and Genesis Fugio) lacking and uncomfortable over any sort of off road distance if things get even a tad bumpy.
If looking at more off road than on I’d personally go for a rigid 29er.
+1. But they do tend to be somewhat heftier than 11kg
Another vote for the whippet - email from them today saying discounted to £899 with next day delivery. Rude not to
Specialised Sirrus X 4.0 ?
(claimed 10.6kg (23.3lbs)
1×10 Shimano Deore kit
Specialized's higher-spec A1SL Premium alloy frame
full-carbon forks
Future Shock suspension
I think 40mm would be the max tyre size, check first