Decent All-Purpose (hybrid) Bicycle?

[Radagast]

I didn't see any "which bicycle?" threads in the last year, so time to make one!

My spouse wants a bicycle (currently she has none), so I thinking to gift one as a birthday/Christmas present. She will not foreseeably be commuting to her 12-hour shift by bike, so this would be a strictly "recreational" bike. That said it needs to handle steep hills, paths with tree roots, maybe some gravel and dirt, as well as pavement cruising. High performance for any of these is not needed. Wind drag is not a concern because it only affects people that go fast. No racing or rock climbing or jumping planned.

I know very little about bicycles which is why I started this thread. I'm thinking 40mm-ish tires sound right. Low weight would be nice, but not at significantly added cost. I don't think there is any need for a motor. Chains, gears, derailleurs, and shifting were always my most hated parts of a bicycle, so I was looking at options to minimize those. Here are a few options I came across.

Standard looking hybrid bike. I like the 1x12 gear.
https://www.rei.com/product/186759/cannondale-quick-cx-1-womens-bike?color=SILVER

I came across this. The CVT and carbon belt drive are intriguing, and IMO it is the most visually appealing of these. It has less gear range and may not be as capable at some tasks, but not sure if that would affect anything in practice.
https://www.prioritybicycles.com/products/turi

This seems like an all around more capable and conventional version of the above, but it is also a lot more expensive. Which is fine, but only if it can be justified.
https://www.prioritybicycles.com/products/the600?variant=12100300013644

Any thoughts on these three? Is there another similar model I should be looking at? Thanks in advance! The input could affect a future personal bicycle as well, as mine is 30 years old and not well maintained.

[nereo]

My wife had a  Cannondale Quick for our around- town rides and she likes it. The 1-12 setup helps simplify maintenance and gives the casual rider enough gear choices.

The big concern I’ve had with any CRV hub or internal hub is whether there’s shop near you that can service it. Often in the US it can be exceedingly difficult. Worth calling around before buying IMO

Another suggestion I really like is Canyons hybrid line.  Check out the Roadlight 5/6… very good bikes for the price point.

Personally I think 40mm tires are overkill for what you describe. I’ve got 30mm on my commuter and it’s more than enough to go on dirt bike paths and mixed use gravel trails. The wider tires really slow you down on pavement.

Absolutely get a bike with disc breaks. Much better stopping power (especially in wet/muddy conditions) and much, much easier to adjust.

I typically don’t recommend suspension for bikes like this, especially at the lower price points.

[FINate]

I like the Priority. Gates carbon drive means no grease/oil, no mess, quiet. Hydraulic disc brakes (vs. mechanical on most cheaper bikes). The CVT makes things very simple for the rider. These are sealed and should essentially be maintenance free, though I agree that repairs could be difficult if something breaks. The big downside of a CVT is that it's less efficient, but that's not an issue for casual riding. I'm a lazy, lazy man, so a bike that requires almost no work on my part and just works and is easy to use... that's what I'm usually looking for.

[Radagast]

I typically don’t recommend suspension for bikes like this, especially at the lower price points.

The 12x1 was only available with a suspension. There are 9x1 options with no suspension, I'm not sure how much the extra three gears matter though.

Another suggestion I really like is Canyons hybrid line.  Check out the Roadlight 5/6… very good bikes for the price point.

Personally I think 40mm tires are overkill for what you describe. I’ve got 30mm on my commuter and it’s more than enough to go on dirt bike paths and mixed use gravel trails. The wider tires really slow you down on pavement.

Thanks the Canyons look pretty good, with 12x1 and 11x1 options too.

[Radagast]

I like the Priority. Gates carbon drive means no grease/oil, no mess, quiet. Hydraulic disc brakes (vs. mechanical on most cheaper bikes). The CVT makes things very simple for the rider. These are sealed and should essentially be maintenance free, though I agree that repairs could be difficult if something breaks. The big downside of a CVT is that it's less efficient, but that's not an issue for casual riding. I'm a lazy, lazy man, so a bike that requires almost no work on my part and just works and is easy to use... that's what I'm usually looking for.

Am I correct that the 600 does not have a CVT, and thus would have no loss in efficiency?

[FINate]

I like the Priority. Gates carbon drive means no grease/oil, no mess, quiet. Hydraulic disc brakes (vs. mechanical on most cheaper bikes). The CVT makes things very simple for the rider. These are sealed and should essentially be maintenance free, though I agree that repairs could be difficult if something breaks. The big downside of a CVT is that it's less efficient, but that's not an issue for casual riding. I'm a lazy, lazy man, so a bike that requires almost no work on my part and just works and is easy to use... that's what I'm usually looking for.

Am I correct that the 600 does not have a CVT, and thus would have no loss in efficiency?

Correct. I'm not an expert on Priority bikes or anything, just looking at their website. The 600 has a gearbox, which is like a transmission at the bottom bracket (where the cranks turn). It also has a more aggressive riding position, less upright. I would say this is more of a commuter bike than a around town bike.

ETA: I should add that a gearbox is also less efficient than a derailleur+cassette. I'm not sure how it compares to a CVT.

[JungYo]

I went through this same thing this year - flat-bar hybrid bikes for recreational riding, some dirt and gravel (no mtb, jumping etc), decent quality, good support. Actually got to try several bikes by buying used (and reselling for what I paid or more).

The one bike I could not take my eyes off of was the Marin DSX2. That 1x12, hydraulic braking, carbon fork; geometry and positioning seemed perfect. Alas, no dealers anywhere within a reasonable drive had any in stock, none popped up used, so I never did get to ride one.

I tried a Specialized Sirrus X 3. Quite a nice ride! but the geometry was a bit off for me. I wasn't super-impressed by the Microshift transmission, it was ok.

Rather than run through the others I tried, I finally settled on a Kona Dew Plus. Reasonably priced, good componentry, bike fit me perfectly and was a true pleasure to ride. I did manage to mangle the rear brake, and when I took it in for service the shop had a used Kona Dr. Dew, so we worked out a deal. The Dr. Dew is basically the same geometry, has a 1x12 vs the 1x10, great drivetrain, so-so brakes. It is steel, and riding it is so much smoother than an aluminum-framed bike with a maybe 1-2lb weight penalty. Did a 30mi ride on it this weekend and at the end, felt I could easily go another 20-30mi, it's that comfortable and easy to pedal!

Contrary to popular belief, modestly wide tires do not slow you down - see https://www.renehersecycles.com/why-wider-tires-are-not-slower/ for one explanation. They do improve the ride as they smooth out or absorb road/path irregularities. I am running 650x47b and according to my stats am using less effort on my weekday route than I did with 700x38mm or 700x42mm tires, and get extra comfort from the slightly lower psi.

[La Bibliotecaria Feroz]

This is a super random recommendation. I had a Cannondale Q6 that I loooooved so much. Bought it in 2010. I think you can actually still buy them. My 11yo son wrecked it beyond repair (he actually got hit by a car but was lucky enough to get away with nothing worse than an ankle sprain and a couple weeks on crutches).

Anyway, the bike shop that wrote it up for insurance recommended this one as a replacement. I think it's a little fancier (eg, disc brakes instead of rim): https://www.liv-cycling.com/us/alight-dd-disc-2-2022

[ixtap]

As someone who is not particularly athletic, I find that gear range is important for me to keep up with my husband on the hills. Also, the hub gearing I had made it sooooo hard to replace the rear tire. I took it into the bike shop thinking they would have some trick, but it took them just as long.

I also appreciate the disc brakes for getting the wheels on and off, but I have to take my front wheel off to fit the bike in the car. And yes, I will be putting the bike in the car as soon as they bring the car around. More frequently, I take.the bike someplace new to ride, or when we lived where everything involved hills I would take it someplace flatter to get more time in the saddle to build strength.

[nereo]

This is a super random recommendation. I had a Cannondale Q6 that I loooooved so much. Bought it in 2010. I think you can actually still buy them. My 11yo son wrecked it beyond repair (he actually got hit by a car but was lucky enough to get away with nothing worse than an ankle sprain and a couple weeks on crutches).

Anyway, the bike shop that wrote it up for insurance recommended this one as a replacement. I think it's a little fancier (eg, disc brakes instead of rim): https://www.liv-cycling.com/us/alight-dd-disc-2-2022

That’s a nice looking bike.

[use2betrix]

As you mentioned your needs, Priority bicycles was one of the first that came to mind, although I expected it to be cost prohibitive. Since it was already on your list, that’s fantastic.

They make a great bicycle. I love watching Ryan Van Duzer’s Bikepacking videos on YouTube (check him out) and he has recently designed a bicycle with Priority that he’s been doing huge rides on.

The only question I would ask is - where she is riding it, is there a very safe place to park it? Some places, it would be a completely non-issue (in the building, office, etc.), but I’d be reluctant to leave a $2500 bike tied to a rack in a big city on a regular basis. I had a couple trips to the Netherlands last year, which is one of the bike commuting capitols of the world. With that in mind, you don’t see many high end bikes in the racks for obvious reasons.

You could also check out Surly bikes. They make some great commuter models.

[GuitarStv]

Personally I think 40mm tires are overkill for what you describe. I’ve got 30mm on my commuter and it’s more than enough to go on dirt bike paths and mixed use gravel trails. The wider tires really slow you down on pavement.

FWIW, I've found that it's not width of tires as much as tread that slows you down.  Slick 2 inch wide tires weren't significantly slower than 28mm road tires.  The trick is actually finding smooth wider tires.  :P  Wider are much more stable feeling, especially in bad weather if you can turn some up.  Big knobs are brutally slow and dragging on smooth tarmac.

Rim brakes are fine if you're riding in good conditions mostly.  In rain, snow, or muck it's a lot nicer to have discs, although you can make rim brakes with really good pads work OK.

Agree on the suspension - if you don't need it for regular riding it's just pointless weight and expense with no real benefit.

[baconschteam]

No suspension needed. Extra weight that won't really add to ride quality.

I got my wife a midrange Specialized Sirrus and she enjoys it. This bike should be able to fit 38c tires just fine, which should be fat enough for any use case you'd need. I put some more swept back handlebars on it and her hands are more comfortable than with the straight bars. She is 5'1" and it took me quite a while to find her a used XS size, but I found one.

Size is probably more important than most other factors. Make sure it's the right size.

[Askel]

No good recommendations to add beyond what's been said (besides, asking me for bike advice is like asking a heroin addict what to take for a headache), but some notes from a priority bikes customer (L-Train Disc). 

Surprisingly good for a mail order bikes company, I went through everything on the bike and found it all to be properly lubricated and adjusted. 

But... beware that their lower end bikes come with the lower end Gates CDN components, the guys you see riding belt drive bikes all around the world through horrendous conditions are likely using the much more expensive CDX components.  It's not necessarily a bad thing, it's just built to a price point and has its limitations. I exceeded them. 



Other than that, I just posted my thoughts on belt drive/IGH in another thread:  https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/share-your-badassity/more-biking-to-work!/msg3202120/#msg3202120

[La Bibliotecaria Feroz]

This is a super random recommendation. I had a Cannondale Q6 that I loooooved so much. Bought it in 2010. I think you can actually still buy them. My 11yo son wrecked it beyond repair (he actually got hit by a car but was lucky enough to get away with nothing worse than an ankle sprain and a couple weeks on crutches).

Anyway, the bike shop that wrote it up for insurance recommended this one as a replacement. I think it's a little fancier (eg, disc brakes instead of rim): https://www.liv-cycling.com/us/alight-dd-disc-2-2022

That’s a nice looking bike.

LOL, isn't it? I might even buy one if I decide to get another nonpowered bike. I think the reason they recommended that and not Cannondale is that Cannondale doesn't make a "petite" frame anymore, which is what I had. I'm 4'11" and this bike does come in an XS. Hard size to find. My other son has a bike that is a more typical "small" size and it is too big for me.

[GuitarStv]

This is a super random recommendation. I had a Cannondale Q6 that I loooooved so much. Bought it in 2010. I think you can actually still buy them. My 11yo son wrecked it beyond repair (he actually got hit by a car but was lucky enough to get away with nothing worse than an ankle sprain and a couple weeks on crutches).

Anyway, the bike shop that wrote it up for insurance recommended this one as a replacement. I think it's a little fancier (eg, disc brakes instead of rim): https://www.liv-cycling.com/us/alight-dd-disc-2-2022

That’s a nice looking bike.

LOL, isn't it? I might even buy one if I decide to get another nonpowered bike. I think the reason they recommended that and not Cannondale is that Cannondale doesn't make a "petite" frame anymore, which is what I had. I'm 4'11" and this bike does come in an XS. Hard size to find. My other son has a bike that is a more typical "small" size and it is too big for me.

Looks a lot like the Giant Escape W that I bought for my wife but with added disc brakes.  Giant offered them in XS and there are some used ones floating around out there if you're patient.

[La Bibliotecaria Feroz]

This is a super random recommendation. I had a Cannondale Q6 that I loooooved so much. Bought it in 2010. I think you can actually still buy them. My 11yo son wrecked it beyond repair (he actually got hit by a car but was lucky enough to get away with nothing worse than an ankle sprain and a couple weeks on crutches).

Anyway, the bike shop that wrote it up for insurance recommended this one as a replacement. I think it's a little fancier (eg, disc brakes instead of rim): https://www.liv-cycling.com/us/alight-dd-disc-2-2022

That’s a nice looking bike.

LOL, isn't it? I might even buy one if I decide to get another nonpowered bike. I think the reason they recommended that and not Cannondale is that Cannondale doesn't make a "petite" frame anymore, which is what I had. I'm 4'11" and this bike does come in an XS. Hard size to find. My other son has a bike that is a more typical "small" size and it is too big for me.

Looks a lot like the Giant Escape W that I bought for my wife but with added disc brakes.  Giant offered them in XS and there are some used ones floating around out there if you're patient.

I'll have to keep my eye out- the LBS has been so helpful with this crash that I wouldn't mind paying them money to, say, tune up a newly purchased used bike for me!

[G-String]

I've got a Giant Escape 3 that I really like.  Super reliable and great value. 

[Holocene]

I've been really happy with my 13 year old Trek 7.2FX WSD.  I've got probably 30k miles on it, maybe more.  I mostly ride on pavement, but also some multi-use paths that are crushed limestone.  I use pretty slick tires 32-35mm.  I think it can handle at least 38s, and maybe 40s.  Newer FX bikes are all disc now I think and may be different.

It's good to get an idea of what kind of bikes to go look at.  But I'd highly recommend that your wife actually test ride the bike rather than you just buying it for her.  It's really important to get something that fits her and she's comfortable with, otherwise she probably won't want to ride as much.  I did an online mail-order bike for my winter mountain bike.  It was cheap and a winter beater so I didn't care much.  I was able to mostly adjust it to suit my needs, but it's not nearly as comfortable as my main Trek bike.  Your wife may also find that a women's design fits her better.  The proportions are slightly different to better fit with the average female body.  It may or may not be better for her - that's why it's important to try out a bunch and see what works.

[nereo]

I've been really happy with my 13 year old Trek 7.2FX WSD.  I've got probably 30k miles on it, maybe more.  I mostly ride on pavement, but also some multi-use paths that are crushed limestone.  I use pretty slick tires 32-35mm.  I think it can handle at least 38s, and maybe 40s.  Newer FX bikes are all disc now I think and may be different.

It's good to get an idea of what kind of bikes to go look at.  But I'd highly recommend that your wife actually test ride the bike rather than you just buying it for her.  It's really important to get something that fits her and she's comfortable with, otherwise she probably won't want to ride as much.  I did an online mail-order bike for my winter mountain bike.  It was cheap and a winter beater so I didn't care much.  I was able to mostly adjust it to suit my needs, but it's not nearly as comfortable as my main Trek bike.  Your wife may also find that a women's design fits her better.  The proportions are slightly different to better fit with the average female body.  It may or may not be better for her - that's why it's important to try out a bunch and see what works.

Yup. Fit is absolutely the #1 consideration. If you get something for her as a gift make sure there’s a good return/exchange policy (most independent bike shops will let you test-own multiple bikes). Stress to your SO that you wanted to get them a bike, but you want her to have the right bike and won’t mind if she exchanges it for another brand.

[GuitarStv]

I've been really happy with my 13 year old Trek 7.2FX WSD.  I've got probably 30k miles on it, maybe more.  I mostly ride on pavement, but also some multi-use paths that are crushed limestone.  I use pretty slick tires 32-35mm.  I think it can handle at least 38s, and maybe 40s.  Newer FX bikes are all disc now I think and may be different.

It's good to get an idea of what kind of bikes to go look at.  But I'd highly recommend that your wife actually test ride the bike rather than you just buying it for her.  It's really important to get something that fits her and she's comfortable with, otherwise she probably won't want to ride as much.  I did an online mail-order bike for my winter mountain bike.  It was cheap and a winter beater so I didn't care much.  I was able to mostly adjust it to suit my needs, but it's not nearly as comfortable as my main Trek bike.  Your wife may also find that a women's design fits her better.  The proportions are slightly different to better fit with the average female body.  It may or may not be better for her - that's why it's important to try out a bunch and see what works.

Yup. Fit is absolutely the #1 consideration. If you get something for her as a gift make sure there’s a good return/exchange policy (most independent bike shops will let you test-own multiple bikes). Stress to your SO that you wanted to get them a bike, but you want her to have the right bike and won’t mind if she exchanges it for another brand.

I'd even break that down further and say that the most important thing really comes down to just one measurement - reach.  Get your saddle in the correct position and the reach to the bars right and you'll be happy.

[aimlesstourist]

I use a Specialized Sirrus X 3.0. It's a great hybrid bike, good for commuting, running errands, going up hills, and just biking around for fun. Can handle gravel, road, some dirt. I've used it for 3 years and will probably use it until I can't anymore.

[Dicey]

Posting so I can find this thread again. DH and I are considering ebikes to take along on our RV travels.

[STEMorbust]

There are a bajillion bikes that fit this category. All major manufacturers make one. I’d base your choice on which bike shop you like best. For me, that’s usually the one with the cutest dog (preferably an ancient rescue that likes head scratches). Get steel/chromoly for cool points and to narrow down options.

PS don’t get an internal hub or whatever other fanciness. It’s her only bike. Just get a 1x9+ anything.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Radagast]

Thanks everyone! We decided we value money over a new bike for now, but I will refer back to this thread in 6-18 months when presumably we will be back in the bike market.

FYI @Dicey we have been discussing pedal bikes not eBikes.

[Dicey]

Thanks everyone! We decided we value money over a new bike for now, but I will refer back to this thread in 6-18 months when presumably we will be back in the bike market.

FYI @Dicey we have been discussing pedal bikes not eBikes.

What??? Ebikes don't have pedals? Shows how much I know.

Seriously, I missed that. I s]stand[/s] bike corrected.