Why is it so hard to find a decent mountain bike?
Discussion
I've been searching for a mountain bike, originally looking at a budget of 400, now willing to go up to a grand. Some were in middle would be ideal.
I'm looking for a decent frame with the potential to upgrade components in future.
Problem is almost every decent bike is out of stock. It's ridiculous.
Any suggestions would be more than welcome. I've got two more days at work then I'm off for 12 and was hoping to get sorted and get out riding.
I'm looking for a decent frame with the potential to upgrade components in future.
Problem is almost every decent bike is out of stock. It's ridiculous.
Any suggestions would be more than welcome. I've got two more days at work then I'm off for 12 and was hoping to get sorted and get out riding.
Paul's cycles have some great deals on 2016 Cube 27.5" wheel bikes.
Tredz have a bank holiday sale that gives you £125 off any bike over £750 just use the code 'SAVE125'
Hargroves are also doing a bank holiday sale with 10% off every bike using code 'BANK10'
Leisure lakes doing 10% credit back on all bikes
You are bound to find something from all that and get it delivered within a few days
Tredz have a bank holiday sale that gives you £125 off any bike over £750 just use the code 'SAVE125'
Hargroves are also doing a bank holiday sale with 10% off every bike using code 'BANK10'
Leisure lakes doing 10% credit back on all bikes
You are bound to find something from all that and get it delivered within a few days
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Cube-Attention-Sl-27-5-Mou...
What you think of this one?
674 quid with the offer. Probably more comfortable spending that than the 850 for the one the guy above recommend.
Sizing is a worry. I'm 5'9 with a inside leg of about 30 inch. The sites guide says I need a 16 or 17 inch frame... My last bike was a 18 inch. It's hard deciding without seeing them in person.
What you think of this one?
674 quid with the offer. Probably more comfortable spending that than the 850 for the one the guy above recommend.
Sizing is a worry. I'm 5'9 with a inside leg of about 30 inch. The sites guide says I need a 16 or 17 inch frame... My last bike was a 18 inch. It's hard deciding without seeing them in person.
What do you want to do?
Moderately serious off road? Consider the Calibre Bossnut. £900 with go outdoors discount.
Bimbling around the trails? Giant Talon 0 maybe although may be better than you need..£750ish.
Riding with the kids and occasional off-roading? A lower spec Giant maybe? Can be had for around £400.
Not a lot of point in spending £1000 if you only need a £400 bike.
Moderately serious off road? Consider the Calibre Bossnut. £900 with go outdoors discount.
Bimbling around the trails? Giant Talon 0 maybe although may be better than you need..£750ish.
Riding with the kids and occasional off-roading? A lower spec Giant maybe? Can be had for around £400.
Not a lot of point in spending £1000 if you only need a £400 bike.
I am a bit biased as I am a Cube fan, I have had 3, they are great spec for the money. I had a Ltd Race before and now a Ltd SL which is very light with full XT and hydraulics.
Regarding the one you have selected I would say if possible go up either one model to the Acid or if possible to the LTD race as they have both got 2x11 gearing rather than 3x10 as it is lighter and less to go wrong, a lot of bikes are even going 1x11
Definitely worth considering a 2016 model from Paul's Cycles either a LTD race or Ltd SL as the spec is better than new models and the price reductions are great.
Regarding sizing I am 5'9 and 31 inch leg and both mine have been 18 and fit perfectly, definitely would not want smaller. My GF has used it a few times and she is 5'4, obviously it's a bit big for her but I would think a 16" would be too small for you.
Here's mine
Regarding the one you have selected I would say if possible go up either one model to the Acid or if possible to the LTD race as they have both got 2x11 gearing rather than 3x10 as it is lighter and less to go wrong, a lot of bikes are even going 1x11
Definitely worth considering a 2016 model from Paul's Cycles either a LTD race or Ltd SL as the spec is better than new models and the price reductions are great.
Regarding sizing I am 5'9 and 31 inch leg and both mine have been 18 and fit perfectly, definitely would not want smaller. My GF has used it a few times and she is 5'4, obviously it's a bit big for her but I would think a 16" would be too small for you.
Here's mine
Edited by R1gtr on Sunday 28th May 22:24
Thanks for the replies.
https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m1b0s182p6748/CUBE-L...
Or
https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m1b0s182p6747/CUBE-L...
Or
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Cube-Attention-Sl-27-5-Mou...
Getting harder this.
As for what I need the bike for... Mixed use really. I don't know how far I will go, I just know I want a quality bike.
https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m1b0s182p6748/CUBE-L...
Or
https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m1b0s182p6747/CUBE-L...
Or
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Cube-Attention-Sl-27-5-Mou...
Getting harder this.
As for what I need the bike for... Mixed use really. I don't know how far I will go, I just know I want a quality bike.
Edited by benjijames28 on Sunday 28th May 23:14
TwilightJohnny said:
What do you want to do?
Moderately serious off road? Consider the Calibre Bossnut. £900 with go outdoors discount.
Bimbling around the trails? Giant Talon 0 maybe although may be better than you need..£750ish.
Riding with the kids and occasional off-roading? A lower spec Giant maybe? Can be had for around £400.
Not a lot of point in spending £1000 if you only need a £400 bike.
Moderately serious off road? Consider the Calibre Bossnut. £900 with go outdoors discount.
Bimbling around the trails? Giant Talon 0 maybe although may be better than you need..£750ish.
Riding with the kids and occasional off-roading? A lower spec Giant maybe? Can be had for around £400.
Not a lot of point in spending £1000 if you only need a £400 bike.
A friend has just got a boss nut and she thinks it's great, was riding a rock hopper for ages and finds it a revelation, for the casual rider who wants suspension I think it's hard to beat.
Cheap bikes are almost all good these days, have a friend who's attached to his 15 year old custom build (frame made to measure at great expense) Roberts, honestly any £800 off the shelf mtb would be better in every way. I think it's really not hard to find a good mountain bike these days, things have progressed a lot. I did a cheap build buying parts to leave at work (high theft risk so don't want my expensive left there) and ended up at £550 I with hindsight would have gone £13 more on the wheels to get proper good tubeless rims, that bike I could KOM on strava most of the chilterns down hill sections riding and if fitter the climbs as well, it's great.
Brand X HT01 frame, suntour raidion forks, superstar ex23 wheels, Deore cranks, Amazon Narrow Wide single ring, slx mech and shifter, Clarke's hydro brakes (£40 discs, calipers, pads, levers, amazing work as well as XT), cheap Planet X / on one finishing kit. Would kick any older 2nd hand bikes butt for the price. Badge snobs won't like it but proof is in how it rides.
Next door neighbour has recently bought a boardman pro 29er. Nice and light and good spec. Often available for quite a bit under the £1k rrp too.
I went for a DB heist 2.0(2017) to be different which I got for £660,rrp around 750.
Mines a bit heavier but does have similar spec but also a stealth dropper seatpost.
I'm mainly a roadie theses days so it suits me fine for a bit of fun.
I went for a DB heist 2.0(2017) to be different which I got for £660,rrp around 750.
Mines a bit heavier but does have similar spec but also a stealth dropper seatpost.
I'm mainly a roadie theses days so it suits me fine for a bit of fun.
Greendubber said:
Look at the Vitus Sentier VRS, can be had for £810.00 from Chain Reaction with the British Cycling discount.
IMO this is the best advice posted so far.Always a better bet to get a good HT than a cheapo FS.
Particularly as the VRS has a geometry designed to tackle a LOT of stuff, unlike most volume bike like Boardman or Cube who are still living in the middle ages with their short top tube and XC angles...
It's simply incredible value for such a good all rounder. The 10% discount will cost you £22 on the British Cycling site btw but will give you a 10% discount at CRC every month.
Edited by nickfrog on Tuesday 30th May 00:56
What about something like this.....??
Just creeps in under budget...
https://www.orangebikes.co.uk/shop/factory/ex_demo...
Just creeps in under budget...
https://www.orangebikes.co.uk/shop/factory/ex_demo...
Lots of good things to look into here. Thanks guys.
Any one know anything about the Sonder transmitter?
https://www.alpkit.com/sonder/sonder-transmitter
Not read anything bad about the company. Will have to wait a few weeks for it to be built tho. I'm off work for 12 days after today, was hoping to get out and enjoy.
Really stretching the budget at a grand. I probably don't need a expensive bike, but I don't want to buy crap either, I may evolve with experience.
Any one know anything about the Sonder transmitter?
https://www.alpkit.com/sonder/sonder-transmitter
Not read anything bad about the company. Will have to wait a few weeks for it to be built tho. I'm off work for 12 days after today, was hoping to get out and enjoy.
Really stretching the budget at a grand. I probably don't need a expensive bike, but I don't want to buy crap either, I may evolve with experience.
The Sonder is meant to be really good.
In answer to the topic question, the cycle industry has tightened up a lot in the last couple of years, even more so post-referendum. Just about everything is imported and production runs decided many months in advance - they're just not as willing to over-order and end up with a load of unsold stock (which has be deeply discounted) at the end of the season. Hence the popular bikes in the most common sizes can completely sell out by this time of year. Prices have been creeping up, and many have been downgrading specs to keep hitting the same price points.
That said, the cheaper groupsets have had years of trickle-down from the higher ones and the likes of Deore and SLX are excellent - likewise the low-midrange suspension forks. Sizing has changed over time too - many don't size on seat tube length any more (as it's irrelevant, many frames are smaller for better standover) but on the relationship between where your feet and hands end up (reach/rise).
In answer to the topic question, the cycle industry has tightened up a lot in the last couple of years, even more so post-referendum. Just about everything is imported and production runs decided many months in advance - they're just not as willing to over-order and end up with a load of unsold stock (which has be deeply discounted) at the end of the season. Hence the popular bikes in the most common sizes can completely sell out by this time of year. Prices have been creeping up, and many have been downgrading specs to keep hitting the same price points.
That said, the cheaper groupsets have had years of trickle-down from the higher ones and the likes of Deore and SLX are excellent - likewise the low-midrange suspension forks. Sizing has changed over time too - many don't size on seat tube length any more (as it's irrelevant, many frames are smaller for better standover) but on the relationship between where your feet and hands end up (reach/rise).
sjg said:
The Sonder is meant to be really good.
In answer to the topic question, the cycle industry has tightened up a lot in the last couple of years, even more so post-referendum. Just about everything is imported and production runs decided many months in advance - they're just not as willing to over-order and end up with a load of unsold stock (which has be deeply discounted) at the end of the season. Hence the popular bikes in the most common sizes can completely sell out by this time of year. Prices have been creeping up, and many have been downgrading specs to keep hitting the same price points.
That said, the cheaper groupsets have had years of trickle-down from the higher ones and the likes of Deore and SLX are excellent - likewise the low-midrange suspension forks. Sizing has changed over time too - many don't size on seat tube length any more (as it's irrelevant, many frames are smaller for better standover) but on the relationship between where your feet and hands end up (reach/rise).
Defo makes senseIn answer to the topic question, the cycle industry has tightened up a lot in the last couple of years, even more so post-referendum. Just about everything is imported and production runs decided many months in advance - they're just not as willing to over-order and end up with a load of unsold stock (which has be deeply discounted) at the end of the season. Hence the popular bikes in the most common sizes can completely sell out by this time of year. Prices have been creeping up, and many have been downgrading specs to keep hitting the same price points.
That said, the cheaper groupsets have had years of trickle-down from the higher ones and the likes of Deore and SLX are excellent - likewise the low-midrange suspension forks. Sizing has changed over time too - many don't size on seat tube length any more (as it's irrelevant, many frames are smaller for better standover) but on the relationship between where your feet and hands end up (reach/rise).
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