Hard tail MTB around £600

[SteveSteveson]

I know nothing about mountain bikes, but I have realised that I have a way to work that is 75% off road, from flattish single track to rocky rutted farm track, with about 4 miles on road (well, on Tarmac cycle path). I did it on my CX bike the other day and whilst I did make it, it was very rough at some points and I lost a water bottle. So, rather than occasionally buy a new water bottle from time to time and avoid the worst bits when I chose not to use the road, clearly I need a new bike! (N+1 and all that).

So, on the basis that my wife won't put the kibosh on it (I need a good excuse as well if anyone has one) I need some advice.

My requirements, max budget around £600, lockable forks (for the on road bit), hydraulic disks. That's about it. All suggestions welcome. Suggestions up to about £800 full price if something is worth waiting for the sales would be worth looking at too.

I know very little about mountain bikes so anything I need to know when buying would be good too.

[ShiningWit]

Voodoo Bizango.

[danrc]

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/genesis/core-3...

I love my genesis mountain bike. Well made, British and has taken everything I have thrown at it in it's stride

[vanordinaire]

http://www.merlincycles.com/beone-crd-pro-alloy-29...

My son just bought one of these, fantastic specced bike for the money. I'm going to try it tomorrow and get one for myself if I like it.

[dienamic]

Bizango.

[SteveSteveson]

Hummmm.... Looks like I may have to overcome my natural aversion to halfords and have a look. It has got some very good reviews. Just one issue, the name.

[HenryBee]

Do it! Get a Bizango! A bargain is waiting for you if you can just see past the name and the nasty yellow theme it's got going on

[ukbabz]

I was in a similar position at the start of the year and picked up a cube attention

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/cube-attention-...

Really like it, and seems to do pretty well around swinley

[richardxjr]

Just spotted this, nice Shimano + Reverb build, bargin.

(nowt to do with me, just spotted it)

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/fs-on-one-...

[JustinF]

Do you have access to a bike to work scheme,if so you could get a £1000 bike and save £300 off that in tax reductions.

[Deanno1dad]

Have you thought second hand..don't know where in the UK you based..that price range could grab a bargain...may have something to suit you.

[SteveSteveson]

JustinF said:

Do you have access to a bike to work scheme,if so you could get a £1000 bike and save £300 off that in tax reductions.

Unfortunately not. My employer does a cycle loan but not the bike to work. I can get 10% off at most of the LBS's in town through work, but no cycle to work or Halfords bikes.

[anonymous-user]

Have a look at Radon bikes from www.bike-discount.de
http://www.radon-bikes.de/en/bikes/mountainbike/ha...

[Andy888]

Ordered a Bizango off the back of this thread and using the Halfords discount route of codes and gift vouchers. I didn't really need another bike but hey ho it's Pistonheads, it's what we do! Can't wait to collect it now. Hope it fits me...