Recommend an MTB?

[Some Gump]

Hi PP forum!

Dirty road bike noob here. I've got an MTB, but it's a decrepit old Trek 4500 with gears sufficiently worn that today when I tried to use it off road, the chain came off 3 times under power and I almost neutered myself! (it's set as good as I can get it, but the chainring moves on the crank spider, it's officially fubar!)

I don't see the point of refreshing the components on such an old, heavy, and 400 quid new (in 2006) bike, so obviously n+1 kicks in! I'm down to 3 bikes (from 5) so I think it passes the test...

So, what to get? I have no idea!

I am:
Mid 40's, a coward downhill, but a bike fan.

I'd like to ride:
Explore-y uphill trails like the ones above Castleton in the peaks
The less challenging downhill trails at places like Phillips Park, Whinlatter etc

I'm not going to ride:
Scary jumps (I'm 45)
Crazy downhills (I'm a dad, if I break a bone it'll just make wor lass miserable)..

..So now I need advice - because I know jack all about MTB's! I have no idea if a high spec but older 26" hardtail, or a newer but more lowly 29 is better, I have no idea about what the good groupsets are etc. Figuring I want relaxed geo not twitchy (my Focus roadie is pointy as hell, my GT roadie far more benign) - but I have no clue as to what bikes have what geo etc.

Budget aiming for 300 ish, but could do 5 if needed. Obviously, this is ebay / FB territory, so I don't want to go to a bike shop and waste their time only to not give them a sale.

Do any PH'ers have any suggestions in general / "buy this on ebay"?

Cheers
Gump

[Super Sonic]

Why not upgrade the bike you have?:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/365584060219?_skw=spoke...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/405976307400?_skw=bike+...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/382885242881
Or get a Carrera Krakatoa.
Carrera Krakatoa Mountain Bike| eBay UK https://share.google/vpEbyFYq8zQcgFMt3
c/w biopace chain set.

Edited by Super Sonic on Saturday 28th June 21:33

[trashbat]

Where are you? Sounds like Manchester or similar.

[Some Gump]

Super Sonic said:

Why not upgrade the bike you have?:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/365584060219?_skw=spoke...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/405976307400?_skw=bike+...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/382885242881
Or get a Carrera Krakatoa.
Carrera Krakatoa Mountain Bike| eBay UK https://share.google/vpEbyFYq8zQcgFMt3
c/w biopace chain set.

Edited by Super Sonic on Saturday 28th June 21:33

Haha made me crease that!
Also thanks for recommendation

[Some Gump]

trashbat said:

Where are you? Sounds like Manchester or similar.

Aye, not far from Manchester airport. Got Mac Forrest, Bolly hills, etc etc within a ride, Philips park, dellermere etc a drive and ride…

Flat as a witches tit near me though, which is why I ended up going down the road route - I’m not aware of any decent man trails within about 12 miles ish…

[trashbat]

Some Gump said:

Aye, not far from Manchester airport. Got Mac Forrest, Bolly hills, etc etc within a ride, Philips park, dellermere etc a drive and ride

Flat as a witches tit near me though, which is why I ended up going down the road route - I m not aware of any decent man trails within about 12 miles ish

There's two Philips Parks with bike trails in Manc; I'm going to guess you mean the Prestwich one.

I live around there. If it's useful, you could bring your Trek around at some mutually convenient time and I'd be happy to give you an idea of whether it's worth bothering with fixing up, and what you might need to make it workable. I'm not a bike mechanic and I actually don't ride much any more, but my MTB preferences are similar to yours and I've had a fair bit of experience with bikes like that over the years.

I offer that because I think there's probably a balance to be struck here: not spending a load of money before figuring out whether you actually like this kind of riding, but not having a bike so st that it unnecessarily puts you off. I don't know where £300 on eBay gets you in that respect - could be very random, anywhere between a disappointment no better than the Trek, and a really nice bike.

[OutInTheShed]

Some Gump said:

Hi PP forum!
.....

..So now I need advice - because I know jack all about MTB's! I have no idea if a high spec but older 26" hardtail, or a newer but more lowly 29 is better, I have no idea about what the good groupsets are etc. Figuring I want relaxed geo not twitchy (my Focus roadie is pointy as hell, my GT roadie far more benign) - but I have no clue as to what bikes have what geo etc......

Cheers
Gump

How do you quantify 'better'?

It's a weigh-off between modern lazy geometry and older bikes with quality forks, among other things.
I bought an older full sus bike with nice components on it and enjoy it a lot.

I could probably go faster downhill and hurt myself more spectacularly on a more modern bike. But that's not what I'm looking for.

You could probably sort your Trek quite cheaply if you enjoy wielding spanners. But equally you can probably find a good used bike with decent suspension, XT--level gears, nice brakes etc.

It's nice to try different stuff to see what you enjoy.

[AB]

I have a Cannondale Rush and I'm on the Wirral, recently bought a new bike and you can come and take it away for £300 if you want?

Let me know if you want pictures/details. It's a decent bike which is now resigned to the garage.

[DE1975]

At that price point a Voodoo Bizango would be a decent shout. They were always highly rated as good value for money bikes and were sold by Halfords in decent numbers so plenty available on FB marketplace to find one near you in the right size.