Best 'cycle to work' hardtail

[ScruffPatch]

Going to get a 26" xc mtb with the cycle to work scheme (using the full £1000). Thinking about the Giant XtC 2, I can't see the 2013 bike on the website but imagine it's similar spec to the 2012,

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/xt...

Would I be better off with the Boardman Pro?

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

I'm not sure how the components compare, just looking to get the best value I can...

[Gargamel]

I am currently thinking about this

http://www.cannondale.com/gbr/2013/bikes/mountain/...

It's £1099. the next spec down is £750

Looks pretty good to me.

[Simbu]

I've got the same conundrum - Cyclescheme opens at work next month. I'll be buying from Evans who have got a pretty good selection around £900.

Options I'm considering are:

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cannondale/tra...
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/kona/cinder-co...
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/trek/cobia-201...
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/jarra...

These bikes all have a lot in common; Recon air forks, Avid Elixir brakes (apart from the Pinnacle), all between 12kg and 13kg in weight. There's some variance in the groupsets, which I'm trying to understand! Seems there's a fair bit of debate about Shimano vs SRAM...

I think the best thing you can do is try a few of them out and find out which frame suits you the best. It's not a small investment so taking the time to find what suits you best is important.

[DanCup]

I picked up the following last August and chuffed with it so far...

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bmc/teamelite-...

[dave_s13]

Bought this very bike last week



http://www.drakescycles.co.uk/m1b0s356p3028/SCOTT_...

Didn't get it through C2W obut did take advantage of a bit of 0% finance.

My old bike was a Specialized Rockhopper Comp Disc with 26" wheels. This 29er feels much quicker, everywhere. Get a 29er!!!

[paulmon]

Pound for pound you'd be hard pushed to better the boardman. Same bike with a Scott/Cannondale/spesh badge will cost 200-400 more.

[Simbu]

paulmon said:

Pound for pound you'd be hard pushed to better the boardman. Same bike with a Scott/Cannondale/spesh badge will cost 200-400 more.

I really liked the look of the Boardman, but it's not available on CycleScheme.

Same with Canyon bikes. Epic spec for the money. Almost wonder if I'd be better off buying one of those outright.

</thread hijack>

[dave_s13]

Simbu said:

paulmon said:

Pound for pound you'd be hard pushed to better the boardman. Same bike with a Scott/Cannondale/spesh badge will cost 200-400 more.

I really liked the look of the Boardman, but it's not available on CycleScheme.

Same with Canyon bikes. Epic spec for the money. Almost wonder if I'd be better off buying one of those outright.

</thread hijack>

That's what I did. Our C2W scheme is limited to edinburgh cycle co. For £1k nothing tickled my fancy.

Getting last years models seems to be the way to go too, they are quickly drying up now though.