Newbie after a bit of buying advice
Discussion
Evening all, I'm after a bit of advice with regard to buying a mountain bike. In particular what to look out for and questions I should be asking in the bike shops. I have a budget of around £500.
Hoping to call into a local shop this weekend so I have an idea on what size frame I need. From looking at various bikes for sale online I don't know what I should look for to distinguish one from another. There seems to be hundreds!!
I'm guessing now will be a good time to buy with the 2013 models coming out or is it best to wait for the sales after Christmas?
I have came across the following which I liked the look of:
http://m.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountai...
http://www.cyclestore.co.uk/productDetails.asp?pro...
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mobile/MobileMo...
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
Thanks
Hoping to call into a local shop this weekend so I have an idea on what size frame I need. From looking at various bikes for sale online I don't know what I should look for to distinguish one from another. There seems to be hundreds!!
I'm guessing now will be a good time to buy with the 2013 models coming out or is it best to wait for the sales after Christmas?
I have came across the following which I liked the look of:
http://m.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountai...
http://www.cyclestore.co.uk/productDetails.asp?pro...
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mobile/MobileMo...
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
Thanks
Out of the 4 you've listed, the decathlon and the voodoo are the best specced with the decathlon slightly edging it. Bigger brands like trek, giant and specialized will not come with that level of components at that price so you're mainly paying to have a good name on the frame.
Probably the most important part is the fork, its the most expensive part to upgrade and has the biggest impact on the bikes feel and handling. Most bikes at this price will come with heavy coil sprung suntour xcr/xcm which are pretty rudimentary and basically just a spring in a tube.
The voodoo and decathlon come with decent forks and the rest of the components aren't too bad either. Out of these two I'd go for whichever is lighter and/or looks the best.
Also check out pauls cycles for older models sold off cheap. I've had 2 bikes from them and had no problems with either.
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b...
Probably the most important part is the fork, its the most expensive part to upgrade and has the biggest impact on the bikes feel and handling. Most bikes at this price will come with heavy coil sprung suntour xcr/xcm which are pretty rudimentary and basically just a spring in a tube.
The voodoo and decathlon come with decent forks and the rest of the components aren't too bad either. Out of these two I'd go for whichever is lighter and/or looks the best.
Also check out pauls cycles for older models sold off cheap. I've had 2 bikes from them and had no problems with either.
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b...
Good site that is. I've found the following bike I like the look of.
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b...
I didn't get a chance to look at any bikes this weekend but I'm in Stockport next weekend so can check out the decathlon.
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b...
I didn't get a chance to look at any bikes this weekend but I'm in Stockport next weekend so can check out the decathlon.
Yo,
I started out life on a £350 GT Avalanche Peak 3.0 (hardtail, Suntour spring forks, v brakes) and drove it into the ground within 6months of "easy" trail riding. I never really rode it that much because it just wasn't fun to ride (although I didn't know this was the case then)
I then upgraded to a £750 Revolution Triad 1.0 (hardtail, Reba SL's, Avid Exlir 5 disc's, SRAM x7/9 gears) and the difference was unreal. Lighter, faster, smoother... It has no value (no brand name) but the 2011 one doesn't look too shabby either (only the 16" available though): http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/revolutio...
I'm now on a 6 week old, 2013 Specialized Epic 29er - it's a different world up here (and the one I have is base spec)! It's in the shop getting repaired at the moment (problem with the fork) so I've been riding a Rockhopper about - it's heavy, the forks are terrible, the brakes are none existent, the gearing is shot... Sure it's a loner, but man, it's noticeable the difference in bikes!
Oh, and for my 2p worth - go with a 29" wheel if you can. It's much easier to ride than the 26" I find and whilst I don't take liberties I've got away with a lot more 'near misses' on the Epic than I ever did on the Triad!
I started out life on a £350 GT Avalanche Peak 3.0 (hardtail, Suntour spring forks, v brakes) and drove it into the ground within 6months of "easy" trail riding. I never really rode it that much because it just wasn't fun to ride (although I didn't know this was the case then)
I then upgraded to a £750 Revolution Triad 1.0 (hardtail, Reba SL's, Avid Exlir 5 disc's, SRAM x7/9 gears) and the difference was unreal. Lighter, faster, smoother... It has no value (no brand name) but the 2011 one doesn't look too shabby either (only the 16" available though): http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/revolutio...
I'm now on a 6 week old, 2013 Specialized Epic 29er - it's a different world up here (and the one I have is base spec)! It's in the shop getting repaired at the moment (problem with the fork) so I've been riding a Rockhopper about - it's heavy, the forks are terrible, the brakes are none existent, the gearing is shot... Sure it's a loner, but man, it's noticeable the difference in bikes!
Oh, and for my 2p worth - go with a 29" wheel if you can. It's much easier to ride than the 26" I find and whilst I don't take liberties I've got away with a lot more 'near misses' on the Epic than I ever did on the Triad!
I got myself one of these last week, have only done a few miles on it so far.
http://www.ukbikesdepot.com/m15b0s776p8087/SARACEN...
they were running an offer on 2013 bikes so got 10% off too.
http://www.ukbikesdepot.com/m15b0s776p8087/SARACEN...
they were running an offer on 2013 bikes so got 10% off too.
count duckula said:
I got a voodoo from halfords in the summer, very nice bike, It was way better than I thought it would be. Just make sure if you get one you check all the bolts etc are tight.
Voodoo an excellent choice, but definitely check bolts. I bought a Boardman Pro HT from local Halfords, love the bike except when going downhill (on 3rd ride) on A road the pedal arm fell off!!..not idealhttp://www.bike-discount.de/shop/k1830/a58202/zr-t...
Worth a look - you won't get a better spec for the money.
Worth a look - you won't get a better spec for the money.
gradeA said:
http://www.bike-discount.de/shop/k1830/a58202/zr-t...
Worth a look - you won't get a better spec for the money.
Just looked at the sizes - you'd want to be 6' or over really as they only have 20" and 22" left.Worth a look - you won't get a better spec for the money.
gradeA said:
Just looked at the sizes - you'd want to be 6' or over really as they only have 20" and 22" left.
2nd time this has been posted recently.It's insaine!
The forks alone are £300, madness how it's that price...
Get it!
(They'll even set the suspension up to your weight for free before shipping, i've just read!)
Had a sit on a few bikes today and a 20 inch frame felt perfect. The guy in evans was pushing me towards the 2013 specialised hardrock, he seemed pretty knowledgeable. Had a look in halfords but the staff seemed clueless. I didn't really like the look of the voodoo either. I love the look of the radon but need to see if I can stretch to that budget.
Am I right in thinking for the spec of a 2013 hardrock I could get a 2012 bike for cheaper than the £500 price?
Am I right in thinking for the spec of a 2013 hardrock I could get a 2012 bike for cheaper than the £500 price?
DaveyA said:
Had a sit on a few bikes today and a 20 inch frame felt perfect. The guy in evans was pushing me towards the 2013 specialised hardrock, he seemed pretty knowledgeable. Had a look in halfords but the staff seemed clueless. I didn't really like the look of the voodoo either. I love the look of the radon but need to see if I can stretch to that budget.
Am I right in thinking for the spec of a 2013 hardrock I could get a 2012 bike for cheaper than the £500 price?
Halfords staff are sometimes clueless unfortunatley, I have 2 stores nearby, one staffed by quite knowledgeable and helpful people and the other by numpties. If you didn't like the look of the voodoo then dont buy it, aesthetics are important.Am I right in thinking for the spec of a 2013 hardrock I could get a 2012 bike for cheaper than the £500 price?
The hardrock is an ok bike with a nice, light frame. I bought my son one last year and its fine but let down by the forks, however he's only using it ocasionally to knock about the streets on so doesn't need good suspension.
You could get a 2012 from here:
http://www.leisurewheels.co.uk/products.php?plid=m...
with £75 off but I think this is a 26inch wheeled bike whereas the 2013 is 29.
26 vs 29 is a whole other debate.
Bear in mind the radon has a £30 delivery charge on top which takes it further over your budget. Probably worth it though.
Which Rockhopper are you looking at?
I've been riding around a hardrock whilst my Epic was getting repaired - it's noticeable thats it's a very heavy bike! The front fork on the one I had was Suntour spring (rather than air) so it's heavy and doesn't respond well. There are too many gears meaning most are unuseable / the chain slips off as it's long and not tight. I personally would steer clear and look at a no-name brand at your price bracket - that German bike looked like a steal in comparison...
Hasn't the 2013 bike moved to 29" wheels up from 26"?
I've been riding around a hardrock whilst my Epic was getting repaired - it's noticeable thats it's a very heavy bike! The front fork on the one I had was Suntour spring (rather than air) so it's heavy and doesn't respond well. There are too many gears meaning most are unuseable / the chain slips off as it's long and not tight. I personally would steer clear and look at a no-name brand at your price bracket - that German bike looked like a steal in comparison...
Hasn't the 2013 bike moved to 29" wheels up from 26"?
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