Chuckling to myself here as the title sounds a little, well, a little 'interesting' shall we say lol.
I'll set my stall out and hope you guys on here can help make the mine field that is bike choice seem a little less confusing.
Hubby and I are looking to buy a couple of hybrids after many decades of not cycling - our last bikes had three speed Sturmy Archers! Our budget is around £700 a bike plus mudguards, helmets etc.
We are looking at hybrids as although most of our cycling will be on the road, we do want to be able to do tow paths and perhaps the odd bit of rougher track - but not serious mountain bike territory stuff. I'm 5'3" and believe that's a Small or a 15" frame. Hubby is 6'2" and a 58cm or Large frame. We are keen hill walkers, so whilst we are walking fit, neither of us is cycling fit yet.
Our local Evans suggested I try bikes both with and without suspension so I have a couple of 2011 Specialized's on order from them - a Vita Comp and an Ariel Comp Disc (whatever that means) - each coming in at just under £700 but my problem is in knowing whether they are any good and what exactly good looks like, and will they suit my needs. I know that the bike with suspension will weigh more, but I'm not sure whether I really need it or not - or out of the two which is the better spec bike.
Hubby is looking at a Specialized Crosstrail Elite and a Kona Dew Deluxe - these are 2010 models reduced down to £450 from over £600. He's also keen on the Specialized Sirrus - possibly the Comp or the Elite, but he's hoping that one of the 2010 bikes will do him 'cos he's a cheap skate! The bikes are expected in store next week for us to try out - I guess I'm asking whether we have made reasonably good choices for the money - or is there something better maybe a Trek or Scott? Or could we get better for less money? Any help/advice/comment would be much appreciated.
I'll set my stall out and hope you guys on here can help make the mine field that is bike choice seem a little less confusing.
Hubby and I are looking to buy a couple of hybrids after many decades of not cycling - our last bikes had three speed Sturmy Archers! Our budget is around £700 a bike plus mudguards, helmets etc.
We are looking at hybrids as although most of our cycling will be on the road, we do want to be able to do tow paths and perhaps the odd bit of rougher track - but not serious mountain bike territory stuff. I'm 5'3" and believe that's a Small or a 15" frame. Hubby is 6'2" and a 58cm or Large frame. We are keen hill walkers, so whilst we are walking fit, neither of us is cycling fit yet.
Our local Evans suggested I try bikes both with and without suspension so I have a couple of 2011 Specialized's on order from them - a Vita Comp and an Ariel Comp Disc (whatever that means) - each coming in at just under £700 but my problem is in knowing whether they are any good and what exactly good looks like, and will they suit my needs. I know that the bike with suspension will weigh more, but I'm not sure whether I really need it or not - or out of the two which is the better spec bike.
Hubby is looking at a Specialized Crosstrail Elite and a Kona Dew Deluxe - these are 2010 models reduced down to £450 from over £600. He's also keen on the Specialized Sirrus - possibly the Comp or the Elite, but he's hoping that one of the 2010 bikes will do him 'cos he's a cheap skate! The bikes are expected in store next week for us to try out - I guess I'm asking whether we have made reasonably good choices for the money - or is there something better maybe a Trek or Scott? Or could we get better for less money? Any help/advice/comment would be much appreciated.