That said, those dinner plate sprockets do look like they could allow for some serious Everesting!Īlthough the cassette goes to a considerable 46 teeth as the lowest gear, over 10 speeds there will be some uneven increments between gears, and I sometimes found it hard to obtain that sweetspot cruising gear, particularly on terrain with just gentle undulations. I must say I am still not entirely comfortable with single chainrings and I feel more at ease with my good old double. The single vs double chainring choice is one of personal preference. That may be welcome, particularly to the novice cyclist, who might feel happy to just have to deal with the rear gears. Another benefit is reduced wear and tear on the chain, and less chance of mechanicals. Boardman has gone out on a limb by fitting just the one chain ring, as this is not often seen on women’s hybrid bikes.Īn oft touted benefit of a single chainring is the simplicity this provides, there's one thing less to think about when changing gear compared with a double chainring. With just one chainring – a 44T, the 10-speed cassette comes with a wide spread of gears, with an 11-46 cassette provides a healthy set of choices for the varying terrain you might encounter. What struck me when I looked at the bike was the dinner plate sized cogs on the cassette. The single ring Deore set up comes from Shimano's mountain bike family, so with the HYB you are sure to be getting something that can cope with being taken on more rugged terrain. Kitted with the 10-speed Shimano Deore groupset, this specification is higher than similar hybrids at this range such as the Liv Alight 1 or Giant Escape 1, which at £799 both come with Shimano Atlus shifting, and the Cannondale Quick which at £800 features a Shimano Altus/Alivio/Acera mix. Whilst it doesn't look as clean, this external approach does make maintenance easier if you work on your bike yourself, and cheaper if you tend to book in at a bike shop. The moulds are smoothly finished, though most of the cables are routed on the outside of the frame, which I found slightly surprising for a hybrid bike at this price point many higher-end hybrids opt for integrated cables. Comparisons include the Specialized Sirrus, whose 388mm reach is paired with a 555mm stack (so it's a little bit higher), and the Liv Alight Disc, where a 388mm reach comes with a much higher 583mm stack. The stack/reach of my size small came in at 549mm/388mm.
The HYB's geometry is based on that of the popular SLR road bike, meaning that it places the rider in a fairly fast position – at least by hybrid standards - it's not a bike that will put you in an upright stance.
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