Need help finding a lightweight hybrid/mountain bike

[Sadik]

Firstly, please, please don't start by recommending an independent bike shop. I live in a very rural area, and my 'local' (ie 30 odd mile radius) shops don't have much of a selection at all, are very focused on serious cycling and tbh from experience at the price point I'm looking at (say up to £600 or so) they will be selling me what they have rather than helping me find the right bike.

At the moment I have a Dawes Galaxy Cross - it's a real workhorse bike, weighs about 15kg plus I have mudgards, trailer hitch, heavy duty pannier rack etc etc on it. It takes a lot of abuse & is perfect for hacking around with 2 full panniers & crates strapped on the back.

What I'd like is something lighter that I can have fun on - I've been riding dd's bike (Islabikes Beinn 27) a bit while mine was being serviced, and it's just been amazing feeling the difference in weight even though it's really too small for me. I ride mostly on road & reasonably decent tracks, so don't need suspension or a 'proper' mountain bike, but definitely want a bit of grip on tyres / not drop handlebars. Pretty reasonable hills where I live (my commute to work involves a 120m climb in 2 miles) so again need some reasonable gears. Any suggestions very welcome :)

...

Actually wondering if what I really want is the adult version of dd's Islabike (Though sadly the small size which is what I'd need is out of stock)

I've got a Giant Escape 2 which I love. The Escape 1 is lighter but would be slightly over your £600 budget.

What about a frog bike? My oldest has one (youngest has an Islabike). They’re lightweight :)

Any idea of the weight for the Giant Newshoes? Annoyingly they just say 'ask your dealer to weigh' on the description - all very well, but I'd like a rough idea to start with!

I have a Giant Liv Thrive Disc 1 2018. They don't give the exact weight, but it's super light weight and responsive to ride - I've used it on road and tracks but I've recently bought a Gravel bike which is more suitable for my needs really.

What about a cross bike and change the handle bars to cow horns if you don't like drops.

Love your name BikeTart These are really helpful - what I'm hoping to do is come up with some ideas then go into the bike shops & see what they have available. TBH I probably could go a bit over my budget for the perfect bike, I know it'll get a lot of use over the years.

Any suggestions of models Unescorted? - that would definitely be a good option for me

Ah, mine loved their Islabikes up to the Beinn 24... at that point there are more lightweight options.

Look at Rutland Cycles online. They will build and ship you your bike. Lots of choice, lots of lightweight options, and often get a good end of season sale this time of year ... just bought another one from them for one of my boys.

I have to say this one is for me Dragons! DD age 16 is still only 5 foot & still fits her Islabike very comfortably. I'll check out Rutland Cycles, thanks for the suggestion :)

I got a Liv Alight bike from Rutland cycle, Liv is the female branch of Giant.

Very nice bike. N O idea of weight but seems lightweight. Comparable to my road bike which I think is 9kg.

Have to say I found Rutland cycles not the best. I ordered and paid for a bike and after a week of being messed about and the bike not turning up when it was meant to they admitted they couldn’t find it in the warehouse....it was the last one on offer. I ended up having to pay £50 for a different bike but they threw in a bike rack and mudguards......but refused to not throw those in and give me £50 off instead. Also it was meant to be delivered built up and it wasn’t. It was in bits and I had to build the bloody thing which took a whole day!

Cycles UK. The bees knees of bike shops IMHO (or at least where I live they're fab and knock spots off my LBS). They'll do a proper fit and you don't leave the sop until you're ride ready.

I'm well invested in this thread OP

I immediately thought of the Islabikes Beinn29 when I saw your OP. Islaare masters of the hybrid.

A bike that works for you will be one that fits. The Giant Liv range is excellent, but I have always felt more comfortable on a Specialized. If you are going to invest a few hundred pounds in a new bike (one of my favourite things to do!) tgen are you abke to go somewhere that sticks several brands and try sine out? All frame geometries are not equal.

@BikeRunSki I just bought a Specialized Diverge EComp Gravel bike and it's the BEST FUN EVER and just all round lovely in terms of spec.
I need to get a life go to work now

@BikeTart sounds awesome, i’m currently sniffing round hardtails. I sold my full duds about 5 years ago because I wasn’t using it and I couldn’t put baby seats, trailers etc on it. Since both children are now big and independent mtb’ers (and CX and roadies), the time has come for a new mtb. Looking at fat wheel hardtails. Love the looking.

Sadly Cycles UK appear to be Cycles England Biketart But, I've just realised that I'm going to Swansea with dd for a uni open day in a couple of weeks, and hopefully I can work in a first visit to a bike shop while we're there to try out a few makes :) If Giant suits, I've looked & there is one of the local shops that is a dealer for them so that would be ideal
The problem local to me is that while there are plenty of bike shops, they
mainly cater to 'proper' cyclists looking to spend serious money. It's not like where I used to live in Cambridge, where every shop totally gets the customer who wants to cycle 80-100 miles a week, say, but in the course of their every day life rather than VERY FAST in lycra or up and down mountains. (Also doesn't help that I'm only 5' 1" so there's rarely bikes in stock to try out in the frame size I need.)

I'm glad you are getting responses to your question Op. When I asked last year I got told to go and find a bike forum by a poster!!

If you are going to Swansea, try Tredz. They stock loads.

At 5'1" is a Beinn 27 really too small? - maybe it would just need longer cranks? Although I appreciates that Isla's thing is that their bikes are proportioned for children.

DS is 5'0" and rides a Creig 26.

I agree with BikeRunSki, if you can find somewhere to try out a few different brands that would be ideal, as the geometries will vary for a given frame size. For what it’s worth, I’m the same height as you and love my Specialized hybrid (vita sport) for the sort of use you’re talking about. I do understand how hard it is to find bikes to try when you’re our height!

Giant are an excellent make OP - the lighter frames are made from aluminium or carbon fibre but the CF frames may be out of your budget. I woudn't recommend Rutland Cycles either - shocking after sales service.

Evans cycles have always been very helpful when I've been in although I haven't ordered a bike from them.

My friend is the same height as you, similar sort of cycling requirements and treated herself this year to a bike built specifically for her - says it was the best thing she has ever done!! The frame was the smallest adult one available which she couldn't have got if she bought a ready made bike!

I must admit Bikerunski that when I bought dd the beinn 27 I had in my mind that I could adopt it when she outgrew it. I could definitely make it fit me nicely with a bit of tweaking. Unfortunately she shows no signs of wanting to give it up... (& one reason for wanting a lighter bike is to have some hope of keeping up with her )
Tredz definitely looks like the place to go, I'm sure we can fit a visit in for an initial try out

Getting the right frame size isn’t just about the frame being the right height, the reach from saddle to handlebars counts for a lot too, although saddles can be adjusted horizontally to some extent too.
I’m 5’8”. I have never had a problem with frame height, but my back is very long for my height, my feet are huge and my legs relatively short. Off the peg bikes need a lot of tweaking, but my best bike has a custom build frame. This is why you need to try a few out. A 16” frame from Kona has a shorter reach than many others. All manufacturers work to slightly different geometries, even within their own range.

BikeRunSki I'm the opposite to you!! - long legs but relatively short body!! I borrowed my brothers bike recently which is a large frame - perfect size for my legs but the reach was just too much to be comfy on a longer ride.