Charge Plug

The most popular Charge bike, the plug is on sale for less than £500. Despite being single speed it isn’t the lightest bike (around 22lbs, which is quite heavy given price tag), but, the solid steel frame is durable and reliable. The Steel frame also helps absorb a bumpier ride.

There is a choice of dropouts for example, the Charge Plug Griffin comes with horizontal dropouts. The New Charge Plug comes with bullhorn bars, these are a little more aerodynamic and help enable a stronger push when pedalling the single speed off from a standing start. They also help the bike stand out from the pack

The frame and fork is a cro-molo (,ainly steel) Tange Plain Gauge. The gearing is by default a 42 tooth chainring by 16 rear cog. Should be enough to get up all but the steepest hills. Tektro caliper brakes are good quality, though like many bikes off the peg, it is worth upgrading the tyres. Many have felt the Kenda tyres offer poor performance. Upgrading to any of a  wide range of better commuting tyres, will help offer better puncture protection and also a better quality ride. Personally, I like to put something like Armadillos tyres on commuting bikes. They are very strong, resistant and great at resisting punctures.

A quick test ride of the charge plug was enjoyable. It’s very different riding a single speed to a normal road commuting bike. Of course, lower end road bikes are cheaper than these single speed. But, at £500, the Charge road bikes offer a good value single speed, which is both good looking and solid components.

Given that one of the main attractions of these single speed bikes is the aesthetics, it would be worth charge considering offering custom paint colours. There is a reasonable choice between different versions. But, clearly choice of handlebars and colour are two big factors for people choosing between single speeds.

When buying a single speed like the charge plug, you have to bear in mind, there are no mudguard, pannier eyes. It is good for sleek looks, but, not so practical if you want to be carrying more than in a messengers bag.

• Charge Single Speed bikes at Evans Cycles
• Charge Plug bikes at Wiggle
• Best Commuting bikes under £500
• Single Speed Bikes

• Charge Bikes.com

The Dawes Kalahari, is a good value town / hybrid bike.

Shimano Altus gives steady if not unspectacular gear changes. There is an ample choice of gears for all but very hilly towns.

The bike gives a comfortable ride with a RST Sofi front suspension fork and wide saddle.

It is sold as a hybrid bike, but, is really geared more towards town riding. For real road riding of any distance I would look for a more sporty model, though if you value comfort over speed this might be a good choice. It comes fully fitted with mudguards and pannier rack, so will be useful for carrying luggage and shopping.

The stem and saddle are fully adjustable so there is a good choice of positions.
It comes in both a male and female version.

Dawes Hybrid Bikes at Evanscycles.

Dawes Diploma Hybrid Bike

seat on front and back of bike

There has been a sharp rise in Adults taking their children by bike. The rise in demand for child carriers has occurred because of the

• Economic benefits – less petrol costs
• Easier to park and avoid congestion
• Environmental benefits of going carbon neutral
• More cycle friendly policies adopted by local councils

Seat on Top Tube

Seat before the handlebars. The advantage is that your child feels close to you and you can easily keep an eye on your child. The disadvantage is that the movement of your arms is somewhat restricted.

Seat on Back

Bike Seats

Make sure your kid is well strapped in to the seat. Kids can often fall asleep in the comfort of their seat.

Helmets and Child Seats.

The benefits of helmets are debated. But, most agree they are most effective at:

• Low speeds
• More benefit for young children whose skulls haven’t fully developed.

Therefore, for young children travelling in child seats, it really makes sense for them to always wear a helmet.

Hamax Child Seats

Hamax offer a solid range of child seats for the rear of a bike.

The cheapest child seat is the Hamax Discovery at £40

The next in the range is the Hamax Siesta at £71.99

Co Pilot Limo Seat

A top of the range child seat is the Co Pilot limo seat at £112.

• Hamax Child Seats
• Child Seats at Wiggle

The Raleigh Oakland is a good value hybrid bike coming in both male and female versions.

Features of Raleigh Oakland

• Raleigh hi tensile steel frame
• 18 speed Shimano Revoshift gears. Some versions come with 6 speed so check the details of the bike for sale.
• Built for commuting with mudguards, chainguard and pannier rack
• Wheels are 700c * 28. This makes it fine for using on off road cycle paths like a canal path.
• Comfort spring saddle.

Other useful features include easy to adjust handlebars and seat to help get a comfortable position.

At under £180, this offers a good introduction level commuting bike, suitable for light recreational use. Built to Raleigh’s usual standards it makes a good deal compared to cheaper hybrid bikes. If well looked after, there is no reason why it cannot last a long time.

• Best Hybrid Bikes

Ladies Raleigh Oakland Hybrid Bike

Raleigh Oakland at Amazon.co.uk

• Raleigh Oakland hybrid bikes at Evans Cycles

Dawes Diploma

Firstly, I think this looks a really attractive stylish bike. For £320 it looks great value and could make an excellent buy for someone want something a little more stylish than a gharish coloured mountain bike.

It is not built for speed but for a comfortable and practical ride. The ladies version comes with a step through frame design – suitable for skirts. (The Men’s Dawes Diploma comes with a standard horizontal top tube). The chain guard helps protect any loose clothing from getting oily. It means you don’t have to worry so much about tucking your trousers into your socks. The basket is practical and large. Though filled with heavy items it will make steering more difficult.

At 17.1Kg it is not light and with only 3 sturmey archer gears it may prove somewhat inhibiting for hillier cities. However, for most cities, a 3 speed sturmey archer is sufficient. If you buy this bike, you won’t be racing people at traffic lights. But, you will get a few admiring glances. At £320 its pretty good value. You could get a hybrid or mountain bike for £200 and it would have more gears. But, they wouldn’t have anywhere near the same class as this.

• Dawes Diploma at Evans Cycles

• Dawes Diploma 2009 Women’s bike

Related

• Dawes Galaxy touring bike
• Best Hybrid Bike

• Commuting relatively short distances and getting round town.
• Light touring e.g. for the non serious cycle tourer, but who wants to enjoy cycling for a small amount
• Cycling on canal paths

The main attraction of a hybrid bike is that they offer good comfort for a low price. They tend to have thinner wheels than mountain bikes, meaning that they are quicker on roads – where hybrid bikes are mainly used. Hybrid bikes usually come with upto 27 gears offering a wide range of choice. In practise most people wouldn’t use such a wide range of gears, you would probably be fine with less.

Some of the Best Selling Hybrid Bikes

Trek 7.3 FX 2010 Hybrid Bike – £449 from Evans cycles. This is an excellent all rounder offering good value for money and gives everything most commuters would be looking for in a relatively short commute or a bit of leisure riding. Comes with upright riding position and 700cc wheels, so is quite speedy for a hybrid bike. Comes in a stylish metallic black finish.

Specialised Sirrus 2010

The specialised Sirrus has the speed and agility of a road bike with flat handlebars and a wide choice of gears. Good value at £399.

Dawes Diploma Similar price to the Dawes Harlem but more stylish evoking a classic appeal. In both men and female models.

Giant Escape N7 – £332 from wiggle. The Giant is a solid Aluminium frame, with 7 gears mounted on the handlebars. It’s tyres are chose for the road, but handlebars are straight like a mountain Bike

Focus Marakas – Under £250. The Focus Marakas is built around a 6061 Aluminium frame with front suspension forks for more comfortable ride. Only £220 at Wiggle

Bootleg Hoy Hoy Rats- Over £500. Based on Columbus tubing and Shimano bar sifters groupset. This is a more sporty hybrid bike, built for a quick commute. Bootleg Hoy Hoy Rats

• Hybrid Bikes at Evans Cycles

Related

• Dawes Diploma Hybrid bike
• Dawes Harlem Hybrid

• Hybrid  Bikes at Wiggle

At the end of the loan period, your firm can agree to sell you the bike for a fair market price. This is usually around 5% of the original value.

The cost of buying a bike through the cycle to work scheme can be typically 43% of the initial price. If you are a higher tax rate payer, the savings can be closer to 50%

Requirements for Cycle to Work Scheme

• Must be a UK citizen paying via PAYE
• Your Employer must be willing to enter into the project

Electric Bikes and Cycle to Work Scheme

Can electric bikes be used in the cycle to work scheme? – Yes

Mail Order and Cycle to Work Scheme

It is possible to get a bike via mail order and the cycle to work scheme

More details – www.CycletoWorkScheme.co.uk

• Bell (indispensable for commuting in towns)
• Kick Stand for easy parking in the middle of town
• Mudguards
• extended seat post also doubles up as a pump to make blowing up tyres easy.
• Suitable for riders upto 6 foot 4
• 8 speed Shimano Tiagra gears for range of gear ratios and all round performance
• Frame based on durable and good value Aluminium 7005 frame

• City Bikes from Wiggle

Other foldup bikes

Hybrid commuting bikes

Made with lightweight aluminium frame it keeps weight relatively low. There are more than enough gear choices for the average commuter with Shimano Deore 27 speed. Simano Deore are the bottom of the range for Shimano, but it is adequate for the non racing commuter. The bike offers a good riding position with comfort and visibility at the forefront. It comes with 26″ tyres which are designed for the road rather than a country track. however, 26″ wheels are fine for a canal path or non tarmaced surface.

Overall Review

Good versatility and value for money. The reputation of Giant to produce good value bikes is well justified in this model. Don’t be misled by the name ‘Escape’. It is not to be used for escaping into the mountains, rather escaping the congestion of an inner city commute

* Frame: ALUXX Aluminium, Fluid Formed
* Fork: CroMo rigid
* Brakes: Avid Juicy 3 hydraulic disc, 160mm rotors
* Wheels: Alex ACE 18 rims Shimano 475 hubs
* Drivetrain: Shimano Deore 27 speed shifters and mechs
* Cranks: Truvativ ISOFlow 3.0 26/36/48

Hybrid Commuting Bikes
Giant Escape at Wiggle – £399

Other City Bikes worth considering

Tips for Cycling around Town