brand new bike please

[nervous]

I'm itching to get myself a new bike and go and get muddy and shatter my hips in thetford forest. However, my Claude butler is about 10 years old now and since bike technology seems to have moved on I now no longer understand anything thats being described in any of the bike adverts or whats good, whats bad, or what I need. So, please, spend my money for me.

heres what i know:

I'm 6ft 4.
I'm 16 stone.
I want to mainly use the bike to go blasting around in the woods and down death defying slopes like some kind of awesome youngster without delicate bones and the likelihood of a broken face almost immediately, but Id also like to be able to use it on the road to go for rides with the missus if i must.
Id like to spend 500 quid ish, preferably less.
Id like chics to think I'm hot (this isn't as relevant, but Id still like it).

So, tell me what I need and where I can get it and Ill send you free and hilarious copies of my inevitable multiple x-rays.

Thanks gang,
N.

[Trooper2]

Hi Nervy, I'd help but am out of touch as well, being 5 years since I repaired and sold them. The gang'll be along shortly to get you all advised up...

[snotrag]

500 quid.

Remember, 400 of that goes on the bike, the rest on Helmet, gloves, shorts, multitool, and spare tubes.

[BOR]

The std answer at your budget is hardtail and avoid disc brakes. Particularly with your weight I think putting the cash into a better, stronger frame is more important than having the latest shifters.

It's impossible to say "get a Specialized" or "get a Kona", because of the slight variation in fit - unfortunately you have to physically try them.

Get a magazine, look for deals on 2006/2007 bikes and physically try them at the dealer.

I suspect you know all this already, if so, sorry !

[nervous]

Trooper2 said:

Hi Nervy, I'd help but am out of touch as well, being 5 years since I repaired and sold them. The gang'll be along shortly to get you all advised up...

del

[nervous]

snotrag said:

500 quid.

Remember, 400 of that goes on the bike, the rest on Helmet, gloves, shorts, multitool, and spare tubes.

what? god. thats no fun. cant we assume im invincible to injury and punctures?

ps Im not buying those stretchy shorts however fast they allow to pedal
pps you said tool :snigger:

[nervous]

BOR said:

The std answer at your budget is hardtail and avoid disc brakes. Particularly with your weight I think putting the cash into a better, stronger frame is more important than having the latest shifters.

It's impossible to say "get a Specialized" or "get a Kona", because of the slight variation in fit - unfortunately you have to physically try them.

Get a magazine, look for deals on 2006/2007 bikes and physically try them at the dealer.

I suspect you know all this already, if so, sorry !

thanks chum (ignoring the paranoia inducing carelessness of the phrase 'particularily with your weight'...)

hardtail= no suspension on the back? if so, why not? those things look way cool.

Theres precious few bike shops around here, at least without loosing a day, so can you give me some guidelines as to the kind of size of wheel and frame I should be looking for? or is it 'xxxl: for the fatter gentleman?'

Ill go get a mag, but Ive still got no idea what Im looking for or at im afraid. so ill just end up buying one that was a million pounds and is now in my budget. its down to you to stop this happening.

no pressure then.

[BOR]

Hardtail means front suspension only. You are right, full suspension is cool, and I've just ordered one myself, but they add weight and complexity which = cost. This either means low quality at a low price or high quality at a high price (quoted from my book of the bleeding obvious). A high quality hardtail will be superior to a lower quality full-suspension.

Re. size. I'm 6ft 2ins, and not as "big boned" as you, which put me at the lower end of an XL, but with my shorter legs and longer body (my ape-like body as my ex-shirtmaker liked to call it) I was OK with an L. I would guess you need an XL, which is about 22". Wheel size is now contentious, but to cut a long story short, 26".

So there it is, XL, hardtail, rim brakes,26" wheels. Or be like the rest of us, and slowly let your budget double or treble.

Edited by BOR on Saturday 20th October 12:33

[Tim.s]

Have you had a look at the Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc? About the price you mentioned with enough left over for some safety gear.

I had one as my first bike although mine was the older rim brake one, im about your size and despite trying i never managed to break it! The frame is excellent and you can upgrade the components as your skills come flooding back!

[nervous]

BOR said:

Hardtail means front suspension only. You are right, full suspension is cool, and I've just ordered one myself, but they add weight and complexity which = cost. This either means low quality at a low price or high quality at a high price (quoted from my book of the bleeding obvious). A high quality hardtail will be superior to a lower quality full-suspension.

Re. size. I'm 6ft 2ins, and not as "big boned" as you, which put me at the lower end of an XL, but with my shorter legs and longer body (my ape-like body as my ex-shirtmaker liked to call it) I was OK with an L. I would guess you need an XL, which is about 22". Wheel size is now contentious, but to cut a long story short, 26".

So there it is, XL, hardtail, rim brakes,26" wheels. Or be like the rest of us, and slowly let your budget double or treble.

Edited by BOR on Saturday 20th October 12:33

brill, good man yerself. to the internet!

thanks again B.

ps Ive able to get giants at a really good rate, any of them any good?

[nervous]

Tim.s said:

Have you had a look at the Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc? About the price you mentioned with enough left over for some safety gear.

I had one as my first bike although mine was the older rim brake one, im about your size and despite trying i never managed to break it! The frame is excellent and you can upgrade the components as your skills come flooding back!

no. wherewherewhere?

[nervous]

Tim.s said:

Have you had a look at the Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc?

they have cable powered disc brakes...i thought that was bad?

[Gooby]

I found a carbon fibre Giant XTC with great disk breaks, light and fast - far more capable bike than I am rider second hand for £500. It had only done 4 miles! Scan those ads and find a bargain.

Also some companies will get bikes at cost if you justify it and say it is for work.

[nervous]

Gooby said:

I found a carbon fibre Giant XTC with great disk breaks, light and fast - far more capable bike than I am rider second hand for £500. It had only done 4 miles! Scan those ads and find a bargain.

Ill give you 200 quid for it. everyone wins.

[nervous]

anyone know anything about the felt q720?

Edited by nervous on Saturday 20th October 16:01

[nervous]

or the giant xtc 4.5?

[WildCards]

This seems ok, and right up your street.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...

Decent brand name kit and proper disc brakes.

ETA, both the Felt and the Giant look good, although the Giant pips it for me.

Edited by WildCards on Saturday 20th October 20:37

[nervous]

WildCards said:

This seems ok, and right up your street.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...

Decent brand name kit and proper disc brakes.

that does look good, thanks mate

diets as an involuntary reaction all the same

[nervous]

WildCards said:

although the Giant pips it for me.

mind telling me why?

[WildCards]

nervous said:

WildCards said:

although the Giant pips it for me.

mind telling me why?

Purely down to Giant being a bigger brand, I don't know much about Felt frames and haven't ever seen any out on trails. On the flip slide, I've ridden quite a few Giant bikes and they've always been nice.