Discussion
Hi all, I'm looking to get a MTB for single track paths, mainly grass/mud/gravel and pretty hilly.
I've got about £500-£1000 to spend and am frankly bewildered by the choice.
I think I should get an aluminium framed hard tail. I also think I want hydraulic brakes, single gear set and internal cabling (cos it looks better
). An ability to fit a dropper post would be good as some of the downhill paths here are pretty steep.
I have no clue about front fork travel or whether 27 or 29 inch wheels are best for me.
I am a short arse so suspect a small frame and 27s might be the way to go.
I throw myself at the mercy of pedal powered PHers and any advice is gratefully received. Thanks
I've got about £500-£1000 to spend and am frankly bewildered by the choice.
I think I should get an aluminium framed hard tail. I also think I want hydraulic brakes, single gear set and internal cabling (cos it looks better
). An ability to fit a dropper post would be good as some of the downhill paths here are pretty steep.I have no clue about front fork travel or whether 27 or 29 inch wheels are best for me.
I am a short arse so suspect a small frame and 27s might be the way to go.
I throw myself at the mercy of pedal powered PHers and any advice is gratefully received. Thanks
I think you've got most of the boxes ticked. Hydraulic brakes, 1x drive train, and hardtail for that budget. Have a look at what's available in your budget and have a look at a few reviews, post them up here I'm sure you'll get some opinions!
https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/buyers-guides/bes...
Always a good place to start. Some great choice in your budget. Decent brakes, decent forks and geometry.
Re wheel size, if you're getting a small frame, I wouldn't worry too much personally. Others will have better informed thoughts though.
https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/buyers-guides/bes...
Always a good place to start. Some great choice in your budget. Decent brakes, decent forks and geometry.
Re wheel size, if you're getting a small frame, I wouldn't worry too much personally. Others will have better informed thoughts though.
New or second hand? You'll get a lot more for your dosh second hand but there's obviously damage possibilities... check out Pink Bike for probably the best 2nd hand selection (from people who care enough to bother. Otherwise ebay/Gumtree as normal).
If new, can you get a cycle to work voucher? It can bring the step above entry level bikes into budget (my £1500-ish Radley Big Al actually cost me £860-ish (IIRC) on C2W).
And, yes, generally smaller bikes come with 27.5, but neither size should be a deal breaker. 27.5s are supposed to accelerate better; 29s are supposed to keep on rollin' over stuff better. But I'm nowhere near good enough to tell
If you happen to get a 29er and feel like it's over-wheeled, you can always put a set of 27.5s on (may not be possible the other way around!)
If not, then the Boardman bikes from Halfords seem to get good reviews for their prices, but seem to sell out production runs quickly.
And just hunt for bargains - the covid days of nothing available at any price are well over and sales are back. When I'm looking through the sales, it always seems like the only stuff left is "small", so you should be alright... although I did just click on a nice looking £650-down-from-950 Whyte hardtail on the Evans site, and it was XL only, which actually would suit me (I'm not advocating buying from Evans, BTW - cheap prices, but even cheaper service levels by recent accounts...)
One last tip from someone who only started MTBing last year - the first bike i bought second hand to get started was a very nice old 26" XC racey type carbon fibre beauty... far too twitchy on the flat even and hard to ride downhill... modern downhill bikes with longer, slacker geometry may not turn as fast or tight, but they're much easier to get on with, IMO. Look for a front wheel that seems to be sticking a tiny bit too far forwards.
https://www.bikeradar.com/features/opinion/spoke-t...
If new, can you get a cycle to work voucher? It can bring the step above entry level bikes into budget (my £1500-ish Radley Big Al actually cost me £860-ish (IIRC) on C2W).
And, yes, generally smaller bikes come with 27.5, but neither size should be a deal breaker. 27.5s are supposed to accelerate better; 29s are supposed to keep on rollin' over stuff better. But I'm nowhere near good enough to tell
If you happen to get a 29er and feel like it's over-wheeled, you can always put a set of 27.5s on (may not be possible the other way around!)
If not, then the Boardman bikes from Halfords seem to get good reviews for their prices, but seem to sell out production runs quickly.
And just hunt for bargains - the covid days of nothing available at any price are well over and sales are back. When I'm looking through the sales, it always seems like the only stuff left is "small", so you should be alright... although I did just click on a nice looking £650-down-from-950 Whyte hardtail on the Evans site, and it was XL only, which actually would suit me
(I'm not advocating buying from Evans, BTW - cheap prices, but even cheaper service levels by recent accounts...) One last tip from someone who only started MTBing last year - the first bike i bought second hand to get started was a very nice old 26" XC racey type carbon fibre beauty... far too twitchy on the flat even and hard to ride downhill... modern downhill bikes with longer, slacker geometry may not turn as fast or tight, but they're much easier to get on with, IMO. Look for a front wheel that seems to be sticking a tiny bit too far forwards.
https://www.bikeradar.com/features/opinion/spoke-t...
This could be a good option.....
https://www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk/product/...
It was overpriced at £949 but Specialized recently re-aligned their pricing so it's a good solid spec bike for the money now. 1x11 Shimano drivetrain, Shimano hyd disc brakes and a Rockshox Judy air fork, and £749 leaves plenty in the kitty for a helmet, gloves, shorts etc.
https://www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk/product/...
It was overpriced at £949 but Specialized recently re-aligned their pricing so it's a good solid spec bike for the money now. 1x11 Shimano drivetrain, Shimano hyd disc brakes and a Rockshox Judy air fork, and £749 leaves plenty in the kitty for a helmet, gloves, shorts etc.
Have a look at the Planet X gravel bikes and their On One hard tail MTB’s, they do very reasonable specs for their prices.
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/DBCL0000456/on-one-h...
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/DBCL0000456/on-one-h...
Edited by BlindedByTheLights on Thursday 11th May 07:41
Pablo16v said:
This could be a good option.....
https://www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk/product/...
It was overpriced at £949 but Specialized recently re-aligned their pricing so it's a good solid spec bike for the money now. 1x11 Shimano drivetrain, Shimano hyd disc brakes and a Rockshox Judy air fork, and £749 leaves plenty in the kitty for a helmet, gloves, shorts etc.
I know looks shouldn't matter but that's a good looking bike (to my eyes). Thanks for the link. https://www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk/product/...
It was overpriced at £949 but Specialized recently re-aligned their pricing so it's a good solid spec bike for the money now. 1x11 Shimano drivetrain, Shimano hyd disc brakes and a Rockshox Judy air fork, and £749 leaves plenty in the kitty for a helmet, gloves, shorts etc.
BlindedByTheLights said:
Have a look at the Planet X gravel bikes and their On One hard tail MTB’s, they do very reasonable specs for their prices.
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/DBCL0000456/on-one-h...
Thanks, I also like the look of this one too. https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/DBCL0000456/on-one-h...
Edited by BlindedByTheLights on Thursday 11th May 07:41
phil_cardiff said:
BlindedByTheLights said:
Have a look at the Planet X gravel bikes and their On One hard tail MTB’s, they do very reasonable specs for their prices.
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/DBCL0000456/on-one-h...
Thanks, I also like the look of this one too. https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/DBCL0000456/on-one-h...
Edited by BlindedByTheLights on Thursday 11th May 07:41
Both great options suggested. Between the two the Specialized is likely more comfortable riding on the uphills and cross country than the on-one. The on-one is likely to be more confidence inspiring on tricky downhill technical stuff. Due largely to the frame geometry and forks they have.
Both will be fun though!
Both will be fun though!
andyeds1234 said:
phil_cardiff said:
andyeds1234 said:
My teenage kids have the Rockhopper elite, and a Trek Marlin 8. You won’t go wrong with either at that price.
Although some way from being a teenager I'll check them out. Cheers 
phil_cardiff said:
Any thoughts on the Forme Curbar Pro 2022 Hardtail? I can get one for about £630 through my cycle to work scheme and it seems to tick a lot of my boxes. Scant reviews online though.
Forme are closer to Bike Shaped Objects than tidy bikes, which is why it's difficult to find reviews on them from decent bike sites. Top end of the person-on-a-bike market, rather than entry level cyclist. I'd look elsewhere...phil_cardiff said:
I know looks shouldn't matter but that's a good looking bike (to my eyes). Thanks for the link.
Looks absolutely do matter with bikes. The better it looks (to you, opinions may vary ), the more you'll be keen to get out and Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff