Mountain bikes - what do I need?

[mitzy]

Not sure about what mountain bike to buy, been to halfords today seen 14 inch wheels, 17 inch wheels, and 21 inch wheels.

Im 5 ft 5 inches and am looking to spend up to £100 on one. So any advice whould be handy from fellow PH's. Also if anyone knows any places in kent where to buy a cheap bike.

Only want to use it for pottering round the racetrack.

[Mars]

Mountain bikes have 26 inch wheels.

£100 won't get you much. Buy from Ebay instead. Bikes are stupidly cheap there.

[anonymous-user]

have to say, buying a bike form halfords would be a big mistake, the components will be seriously poor quality and it will not be a good ride. look secondhand for that money, try ebay, lots of cheap stuff on there from proven manufacturers, try saracen, kona, specialized, ridgeback or GT. you should be able to get something for under £100 which has reasonable quality kit, Deore LX orsomething similar, rockshox indy forks and some other stuff that wont let you down... for starters

http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/search.dll?sofocus...

http://search.ebay.co.uk/specialized-hardrock_W0QQ...


http://search.ebay.co.uk/specialized-rockhopper_W0...

[heligreg]

with halford bikes the are don't last after a week my mate had on and one week the brakes failed

[pdV6]

heligreg said:

with halford bikes the are don't last after a week my mate had on and one week the brakes failed

[mitzy]

But whats the deal with the wheel size , what do I need?

[WildCards]

Mars said:

Mountain bikes have 26 inch wheels.

[pdV6]

mitzy said:

But whats the deal with the wheel size , what do I need?

WildCards said:

Mars said:

Mountain bikes have 26 inch wheels.

^ As above.

What you probably saw were a load of bikes with different frame sizes.

At 5'5" you're probably going to need something at the smaller end of the scale (14" - 16" or so) but you really need to try them out and see which size fits you.

[mk1fan]

If you intend to use it for pottering around the Paddock / pits then why not get a BMX? No frame sizing issues (shops don't tend to carry 14/15 inch frmaed mountain bikes - a 16-inch Cove Hummer frame has a two-month lead in time), simple mechanics, £100 notes will get you a decent one from Halfords. You'll just need a helmet and gloves.

[pimpin gimp]

pablo said:

have to say, buying a bike form halfords would be a big mistake, the components will be seriously poor quality and it will not be a good ride. look secondhand for that money, try ebay, lots of cheap stuff on there from proven manufacturers, try saracen, kona, specialized, ridgeback or GT. you should be able to get something for under £100 which has reasonable quality kit, Deore LX orsomething similar, rockshox indy forks and some other stuff that wont let you down... for starters

http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/search.dll?sofocus...

http://search.ebay.co.uk/specialized-hardrock_W0QQ...


http://search.ebay.co.uk/specialized-rockhopper_W0...

Just so you know, Halford sell Gt and kona.

Not all halfords stock is rubbish, in fact i use some bikehut handlebars on my scott. most bike shops in the land have an idiot saturday boy who know's as little as the halfords idiots... the thing is that in a bikehut halfords, there are also staff who aren;t idiots, they are keen riders/mechanics and they do know their stuff.

[choc]

as an ex-halfords bike mechanic, i can tell you that all of halfords own-brand stuff is not very good, although Carrera have become alot better (the new carrera banshee actually uses the same frame as the old Kona Stinky DH/freeride bike) so if you do buy from halfords, look at either carrera, GT or kona (although these bikes start from around the £300 mark)

If you are on a strict budget, 2nd hand is the way to go, since shops like halfords began selling dirt cheap 'budjet' bikes, the 2nd hand bike market has pretty much crashed, so good bikes can be easily and cheaply found, check out the forums

choc

[anonymous-user]

pimpin gimp said:

pablo said:

have to say, buying a bike form halfords would be a big mistake, the components will be seriously poor quality and it will not be a good ride. look secondhand for that money, try ebay, lots of cheap stuff on there from proven manufacturers, try saracen, kona, specialized, ridgeback or GT. you should be able to get something for under £100 which has reasonable quality kit, Deore LX orsomething similar, rockshox indy forks and some other stuff that wont let you down... for starters

http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/search.dll?sofocus...

http://search.ebay.co.uk/specialized-hardrock_W0QQ...


http://search.ebay.co.uk/specialized-rockhopper_W0...

Just so you know, Halford sell Gt and kona.

Not all halfords stock is rubbish, in fact i use some bikehut handlebars on my scott. most bike shops in the land have an idiot saturday boy who know's as little as the halfords idiots... the thing is that in a bikehut halfords, there are also staff who aren;t idiots, they are keen riders/mechanics and they do know their stuff.

i am aware that halfords sell GT and Kona but doubt either would be under £100... most bike shops i know dont have an idiot saturday boy either?!?

if its the choice of a secondhand kona from ebay for £100 or a brand new Apollo from Halfords for £100, only a dribbling fool would go to halfords....

[mitzy]

What a result.

Was online to a mate last night and his mates wife is selling a mountain bike, 18 gears and suspension only used twice.

£25

Not sure what make or where from but I think it was over £100.

Many thanks for all your help and info
Thats what PH is all about

Mitzy

[pdV6]

Excellent. At that price if it's no good to you you can always flog it on in the paper.

[prand]

A group fo friends went on a cycle tour trip of the Andes. One of them went with a cheapo Appollo, while the rest of them took their on high end bikes.

Can you guess which one was the most reliable? He was able to leave his bike over there to - donated to a very grateful local family.

[mitzy]

Its for going round the racetracks Brands Hatch etc to get from place to place and sometimes you can go on the circuit in the evenings too.

Drunk in charge of a bike lol lol