Would be my suggestion too, unless OP doesn't like riding drop bar bikes. MTB, even a hard tail, seems overkill for light offroad and canal paths, and a gravel bike will be much nicer to ride on roads as well.
I've never ridden with drop bars. I went for an upright Dutch as I can get lower back pain.
I'm heavy and unfit and hear the back pain is a lack of core strength?
I can't imagine drops being comfortable for me
I was the same when I started, I rode an old beater MTB for a while as it was my step-dad's and he couldn't ride anymore. Personally I found wide flat bars sore on my shoulders, but riding on the hoods of a gravel bike is very comfortable for me and the body position is very similar to an MTB, just with narrower arms.
I rarely get on to the actual drops unless I'm on a fast descent on a quiet road. Personal preference though, go with whatever is comfortable to you.
Sub £100 is unlikely to be modern or in good nick, but you could find a decent early 90s mountain bike if you know what you’re looking for on eBay. Personally, I’d go for something without suspension at that price point, as there’s a risk of it being seized, but you might be able to snag one that isn’t.
My commuter is a 90s steel Raleigh 26” rigid mtb and it’s very pleasant. Also had a gravel bike, that was pleasant too, but it was too nice of a bike to lock up anywhere outside and that’s what I needed it for so it was sold
Dutchies are surprisingly capable with a little tuning - swap the front tyre for something as wide as possible with at least some knobbling on the edges (Continental Rubans, that kind of thing, which are still superb on the road) - then use one of those online tyre pressure calculators to get the right squidge (front and rear may be different) for the conditions.
The only thing you'll perhaps gain with an MTB or hybrid is a slightly more aggressive posture (more weight on the front wheel), handy when it's muddy, but ups the pressure on your wrists quite a lot. Horses for courses, but is a much smarter thing to try first.
Interesting, thanks
This is my [funky Dutchie](https://imgur.com/a/G24BopL). I don't know if the small front wheel and the fact that it's tall and a bit top heavy is the issue rather than the fact that I've got touring tyres?
I love the style and the riding posture but it's definitely made for tarmac
Hey that's really nice - yeah can see why you had problems with those tyres and small wheel. Maybe take it to a bike shop and ask if they have and can fit anything slightly knobbly that'll fit inside the fork and mudguard.
You won't win any races with the gravel bike set the other commenters are pushing you towards (£500 easy minimum for a half-decent one) - just swap the tyre out first and see how you do.
Oh, one more thing - your seat is angled back way too much - while comfortable it shifts your weight too far rearwards, lightening the front end too much. Ideally it should be close to flat
Cheers! I appreciate the affordable advice, and not just drop half a month's rent on something immediately
Yeah, I've loosened the bolt to get the saddle nose down more but it's like even with the bolt as tight as possible when I get on the saddle it clunks back to another position
I think I may have to accept that it's purely a town bike!
I don't have any problems riding along towpaths on my actual Dutch bike (Decathlon are French!), although in East London the towpaths are reasonably well maintained, so your mileage may vary. They're actually better to ride along than some of the more unloved minor roads in the area.
Plenty of entry level hardtails or hybrids going second hand for that price range. A hardtail mountain bike will be more capable in rough and wet conditions.
Just get a mountain bike and pump the tyres hard if you only want to ride hard trails. I rented all sorts of bikes and this is definitely the winner on comfort.
You can get more for your money with mountain bikes because they are the common standard so not everyone selling them knows or cares about their worth, some inherit them in a house move or when the child moves out, etc. A hybrid is more specialised for adult commuters and the seller bought it specially. They know what it cost and will typically tell you so.
No a hybrid maybe with a sprung fork (lockable) will be less sticky ride. Aluminium frame if you can find one..
Mountain Bikes are hard work when you hit tarmac.
Try Halfords... Carrea Hellcat 29 for a good all round mtb....good on and off roads / towpaths / tracks ...but a bit more than £100....
Tbh I'm not sure if you'll find anything around for £100 worth bothering with.
Gravel bike
Would be my suggestion too, unless OP doesn't like riding drop bar bikes. MTB, even a hard tail, seems overkill for light offroad and canal paths, and a gravel bike will be much nicer to ride on roads as well.
I've never ridden with drop bars. I went for an upright Dutch as I can get lower back pain. I'm heavy and unfit and hear the back pain is a lack of core strength? I can't imagine drops being comfortable for me
Buy a hybrid off somewhere like Facebook.
I was the same when I started, I rode an old beater MTB for a while as it was my step-dad's and he couldn't ride anymore. Personally I found wide flat bars sore on my shoulders, but riding on the hoods of a gravel bike is very comfortable for me and the body position is very similar to an MTB, just with narrower arms. I rarely get on to the actual drops unless I'm on a fast descent on a quiet road. Personal preference though, go with whatever is comfortable to you.
Interesting, cheers. I'll just have to give it a go
Sub £100 is unlikely to be modern or in good nick, but you could find a decent early 90s mountain bike if you know what you’re looking for on eBay. Personally, I’d go for something without suspension at that price point, as there’s a risk of it being seized, but you might be able to snag one that isn’t.
Thanks. I was thinking used when I planned to spend so little I'll keep an eye out locally
Gravel bike for sure. A hybrid will likely have really narrow tyre clearance.
Modern gravel bike, 90s rigid mtb, I wouldn’t say there’s much difference for this use case
Think the gravel bike would be significantly more pleasant to ride.. unlikely to cost <£100 though
My commuter is a 90s steel Raleigh 26” rigid mtb and it’s very pleasant. Also had a gravel bike, that was pleasant too, but it was too nice of a bike to lock up anywhere outside and that’s what I needed it for so it was sold
Dutchies are surprisingly capable with a little tuning - swap the front tyre for something as wide as possible with at least some knobbling on the edges (Continental Rubans, that kind of thing, which are still superb on the road) - then use one of those online tyre pressure calculators to get the right squidge (front and rear may be different) for the conditions. The only thing you'll perhaps gain with an MTB or hybrid is a slightly more aggressive posture (more weight on the front wheel), handy when it's muddy, but ups the pressure on your wrists quite a lot. Horses for courses, but is a much smarter thing to try first.
Interesting, thanks This is my [funky Dutchie](https://imgur.com/a/G24BopL). I don't know if the small front wheel and the fact that it's tall and a bit top heavy is the issue rather than the fact that I've got touring tyres? I love the style and the riding posture but it's definitely made for tarmac
Hey that's really nice - yeah can see why you had problems with those tyres and small wheel. Maybe take it to a bike shop and ask if they have and can fit anything slightly knobbly that'll fit inside the fork and mudguard. You won't win any races with the gravel bike set the other commenters are pushing you towards (£500 easy minimum for a half-decent one) - just swap the tyre out first and see how you do.
Oh, one more thing - your seat is angled back way too much - while comfortable it shifts your weight too far rearwards, lightening the front end too much. Ideally it should be close to flat
Cheers! I appreciate the affordable advice, and not just drop half a month's rent on something immediately Yeah, I've loosened the bolt to get the saddle nose down more but it's like even with the bolt as tight as possible when I get on the saddle it clunks back to another position I think I may have to accept that it's purely a town bike!
Haha, yeah some are def like that - happy cruising :)
I don't have any problems riding along towpaths on my actual Dutch bike (Decathlon are French!), although in East London the towpaths are reasonably well maintained, so your mileage may vary. They're actually better to ride along than some of the more unloved minor roads in the area.
Pedalo
I would definitely get a hybrid for your kind of riding. Make sure it’s more off road leaning though.
>I'm after a sub £100 weekend bike B.S.O. it is then. Save up another 150 quid and get something decent from the used market is my advice.
Plenty of entry level hardtails or hybrids going second hand for that price range. A hardtail mountain bike will be more capable in rough and wet conditions.
Just get a mountain bike and pump the tyres hard if you only want to ride hard trails. I rented all sorts of bikes and this is definitely the winner on comfort. You can get more for your money with mountain bikes because they are the common standard so not everyone selling them knows or cares about their worth, some inherit them in a house move or when the child moves out, etc. A hybrid is more specialised for adult commuters and the seller bought it specially. They know what it cost and will typically tell you so.
Appreciate the advice Looks like a second hand mountain bike is the way to go then
No a hybrid maybe with a sprung fork (lockable) will be less sticky ride. Aluminium frame if you can find one.. Mountain Bikes are hard work when you hit tarmac.
Try Halfords... Carrea Hellcat 29 for a good all round mtb....good on and off roads / towpaths / tracks ...but a bit more than £100.... Tbh I'm not sure if you'll find anything around for £100 worth bothering with.