Trek have really come through this year . From under-dog status to alpha wolf in the hybrid wars. Specialized have built on the success of the Sirrus range, while Trek have jumped off their Midwest fence and produced some fine machines.

Prices have crept up but not so much to make us look elsewhere for our bike range.
We stock Trek 7.2 @ £425 and above. They make a cheaper bike, but if it ain't got decent wheel sets we don't bother selling them. The 7.2 shines in comparison to its previous incarnations. Better looks. Better brakes. Still with a cro-moly fork, but now with a Tektro branded disc brake option @£475. Really a sweet bike that moved on from it's middle of the road, don't upset anyone blandness of yore. 7.3 @£525 a lighter higher spec'd bike again with a disc brake version. A new model @£600 the 7.4 has taken the steam out of the 7.5 that used to be a favorite of mine until the price went over £700! These bikes now offer a real run for Specialized's money.

The Specialized Sirrus (Vita for ladies) range will I believe still be our best selling hybrids but Trek will be breathing down their neck. Sirrus jump to £400 for the base model and £500 for the Sport. £600 for the Elite which is in direct competition with Treks 7.4! Sirrus do offer a disc brake option at £750, so Trek pips them with the 7.2 disc @£475.
Let bike battle commence!

Elsewhere in planet bike road bikes are still proving huge. The Wiggo effect cleared all road bikes from the shelves this past 12 months and the competitive commuter will be snapping them up in the next I'm sure.
Specialized Allez from £550 and women's road Trek Lexa @£550 will be popular, Specialized's Dolce Equipped is slightly focus group orientated, so might not fly to high with you/ us!

Surly? Can't be bothered to keep up with the Joneses? Aren't arsed with a yearly spec change? Want to keep the same machine for a decade+?

Just buy a Surly. Still the best. Still steel. Good don't need upgrading.

Genesis

We respect this UK brands chutzpah .We push their steel models over aluminum. Equilibrium road bikes, beautifully and thoughtfully designed. The practicality of a frame that accommodates mudguards if desired (bike components live longer with them) yet still sporty and responsive. Reynolds tubing over the range that just gets better.

- Genesis Equilibrium 00 @£900; 2013 Shimano Sora components that now make bike snobs shut up.

- G.E 10 @ £1150, Shimano Tiagra and carbon forks.

- G.E 20 @ £1350 Shimano 105.

Oh look it up yourselves ! I've got one! So should weekend warriors ,seriously snappy commuters and anyone who likes pretty. Lighter than you assume yet durable enough to drop your longboard on... like a friend of mine did... Er... and live without the repercussions: posh plastic or tin would.

Don't get Nigel and me talking/fencing about the Genesis CDF / Croix de Frigg or something. Like the Surly Crosscheck its a multi purpose cyclo-cross frame that i admit sparkles and wows. In plain fact it could be described as superior to the Crosscheck!! Who likes rich educated successful superior people any way? I trust the Crosscheck not to screw the economy... but I see what Nigel's saying. They're 'superior' value. 'Superior' specification!
Crosscheck = compliant, old school, nine lives reincarnation compatible!
Cdf = ( in the style of Jeremy Paxman ) "Superior"!!