Can I do better than this...

Can I do better than this...

Author
Discussion

cannedheat

Original Poster:

953 posts

287 months

Sunday 1st October 2006
quotequote all
Here??

It ticks all the boxes as far as I'm concerned - disc brakes, front shock, right money, looks ok...but I'm wondering If I can do better from looking elsewhere? My local bike shop has an appalling selection and many of the brands on say Evans cycles are unknown to me...

Can someone point me in the direction of something that ticks the same boxes as the one above, upto say, £250?

thanks.

chimburt

751 posts

271 months

Sunday 1st October 2006
quotequote all
www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=60016
not my suggestion - from another forum user who can't post here.

cannedheat

Original Poster:

953 posts

287 months

Sunday 1st October 2006
quotequote all
Ahh, just seen that one myself, does look nice...

Just been reading a few bits about the Carrera Vulcan and it seems it has some fairly low quality components to it and that Halfords have a habit of jacking up the price before offering discount to make the savings look bigger!!

rico

7,916 posts

267 months

Sunday 1st October 2006
quotequote all
If you can afford the GT, it'll be a better bike. GT's triple triangle frame design is legendary.

Carreras are fine, but are generally not as well made as the more famous makes.

gazzab

21,331 posts

294 months

Sunday 1st October 2006
quotequote all
GTs used to be ok but they changed the quality etc a few yrs ago.

Ultimately £250 is going to get you a a mountian bike that is no good for mountains. spend £400 or more (preferably £600 plus) and you are into good components.

or if you just want a bike for the road then buy a better one without discs and suspension. For £300 you should get a bike with an ok frame.

Edited by gazzab on Sunday 1st October 21:07

cannedheat

Original Poster:

953 posts

287 months

Monday 2nd October 2006
quotequote all
Ok, so say £300 or there abouts... That'll get me on an '07 GT Avalanche 3.0 like this. Surely something like that will be good for trails and moorland? I don't intend to do anything too hardcore...

edited to add: this or this??



Edited by cannedheat on Monday 2nd October 00:19

g_stacey

644 posts

245 months

Monday 2nd October 2006
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[redacted]

pdV6

16,442 posts

273 months

Monday 2nd October 2006
quotequote all
The GT beats the Halford's one into a cocked hat.

minicity

1,009 posts

243 months

Monday 2nd October 2006
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Mr E

22,344 posts

271 months

Monday 2nd October 2006
quotequote all
Just bought 'bint' a Giant Rincon. Extra small ally frame means it's probably lighter than my Kona. Bottom end shimano groupset, but there's not a lot wrong with low end shimano kit to be honest. Generic V-Brakes. RockShock Judy J1 fork on the front. I reckon it's a pretty decent bike for all round use, including light off road work and it was 260 quid.

At this price point, I'd avoid discs as they'll be mechanical. I have mechanical discs on the Kona, and they're rubbish (no better than decent V-Brakes and a lot more expensive and heavier). Hydro discs are what you want.

Edited by Mr E on Monday 2nd October 16:14

cannedheat

Original Poster:

953 posts

287 months

Monday 2nd October 2006
quotequote all
minicity said:


yup, is it a good'un?

minicity

1,009 posts

243 months

Tuesday 3rd October 2006
quotequote all
cannedheat said:
minicity said:


yup, is it a good'un?



I have this www.edinburgh-bicycle.co.uk/catalogue/detail.cfm?ID=22637 - (a somewhat different bike, I know) and it's great. Edinburgh generally spec bikes really well. They go for what works, rather than what looks good.

cannedheat

Original Poster:

953 posts

287 months

Tuesday 3rd October 2006
quotequote all
minicity said:
cannedheat said:
minicity said:


yup, is it a good'un?



I have this www.edinburgh-bicycle.co.uk/catalogue/detail.cfm?ID=22637 - (a somewhat different bike, I know) and it's great. Edinburgh generally spec bikes really well. They go for what works, rather than what looks good.


How do you mean they 'spec the bikes well' ?? As in they pick and choose what components to put on themselves rather than the bikes being standard manufacture spec?

edited to add: I've just seen that revolution are Edinburgh's own brand stuff...


Edited by cannedheat on Tuesday 3rd October 18:50

minicity

1,009 posts

243 months

Wednesday 4th October 2006
quotequote all
cannedheat said:
minicity said:
cannedheat said:
minicity said:


yup, is it a good'un?



I have this www.edinburgh-bicycle.co.uk/catalogue/detail.cfm?ID=22637 - (a somewhat different bike, I know) and it's great. Edinburgh generally spec bikes really well. They go for what works, rather than what looks good.


How do you mean they 'spec the bikes well' ?? As in they pick and choose what components to put on themselves rather than the bikes being standard manufacture spec?

edited to add: I've just seen that revolution are Edinburgh's own brand stuff...


Edited by cannedheat on Tuesday 3rd October 18:50


Yes - they pick and choose parts from hear and there and do it well. My bike only cost £240 and I can't find a single duff part on it. It's the cheapest bike I've bought for years but everything is of decent quality. A lot of manufacturers specify good quality gear mechanisms and cranks because they know people will choose the bike because of that feature - then they put on poor quality headsets, hubs and wheel rims which are worn out after a few months.

bga

8,134 posts

263 months

Thursday 5th October 2006
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minicity said:

Yes - they pick and choose parts from hear and there and do it well. My bike only cost £240 and I can't find a single duff part on it. It's the cheapest bike I've bought for years but everything is of decent quality. A lot of manufacturers specify good quality gear mechanisms and cranks because they know people will choose the bike because of that feature - then they put on poor quality headsets, hubs and wheel rims which are worn out after a few months.


I've got the race version with 700c's & despite the monumentally crap (and now rebuilt) wheels it's really good. I get the impression that I got a duff one from other people who ride them

snotrag

15,100 posts

223 months

Friday 6th October 2006
quotequote all
The Revolution Cuillin does represent excellent value... Yes, admission i USED to work for them, no longer though. As a genuine reccomendation, they are the best you'll get for the money IMO. Importantly, its an excellent frame...

Remember its just like cars, no matter how much flash stuff is attached, you gotta have a good chassis. Frame is the heart of any bike, followed by the the wheelset and on a mtb, the suspension and brakes.

cannedheat

Original Poster:

953 posts

287 months

Sunday 8th October 2006
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Well I've bought a bike...went to a decent bike shop in Truro and ended up buying a Specialized Hardrock disc. Rather happy with it so far

_tc

1,938 posts

261 months

Sunday 8th October 2006
quotequote all
Very good bike. a friend of mine has a bike shop and has sold 100's this summer. no complaints so far. enjoy!

Rednut05

9,173 posts

225 months

Tuesday 10th October 2006
quotequote all
www.edinburgh-bicycle.co.uk/catalogue/detail.cfm?ID=22632

That bike has cable disc brakes. Cable disc's are normally cheap and cheerfull. A good pair of V-Brakes would brake just as well if not better at times.

If you ever plan to upgrade your bike in the future. It is a good idea to buy a bike with disc hubs as otherwise it is an expensive upgrade as a new wheel has to be built encorperating a disc hub.
Or buy a bike with cable disc's and then uprate them for hydraulic ones.

I do agree that many don't care but it's just a heads up!

And Specialized Hardrocks are a good buy. Good choice, it's one I would have recomended if I wasn't replying after you had already brought it........
I'll get my coat.

cannedheat

Original Poster:

953 posts

287 months

Tuesday 10th October 2006
quotequote all
thanks anyway

I've already started looking at upgrade bits for mine and I've only had it 4 days Looking at a new slightly longer stem and a nice new seat post, maybe a carbon one...