Help; Is this bike any good for an amateur?

[Flanders.]

Now the weather is nice I think I'd quite like a new Bike. I've never bought one before. Is this one any good from Halfords http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

Also, can I ask if this is any good aswell?

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/trek/3700-2009...


Cheers.

Edited by Flanders. on Sunday 11th April 22:21

[DamienCBR]

GT have a good rep, i have an older GT Avalanche 1.0 and still use it a lot. I have never had any problems, not really up on MTB's at the moment but looks like a god deal.
D

[wagon and horses]

I picked up one of these:

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

and its top notch.

However i have just bent the rear axle slightly!!

[Flanders.]

wagon and horses said:

I picked up one of these:

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

and its top notch.

However i have just bent the rear axle slightly!!

My budget is really between £200 and £300, I don't think I could quite stretch as far as yours . What do you reckon of the one in the OP, the more opinions the better ?

[Flanders.]

DamienCBR said:

GT have a good rep, i have an older GT Avalanche 1.0 and still use it a lot. I have never had any problems, not really up on MTB's at the moment but looks like a god deal.
D

Excellent, thanks. How do you reckon it will cope with your general Bridle Paths, Cycle tracks and Country road affairs?

[wagon and horses]

tbh GT dont make crap.

I had a decathlon roadie which I broke pretty badly 2 months before i got my new GT through the cycle to work scheme.

I bought an 8 year old GT tempest for £30 and it felt much more solid than other new bikes i have ridden.

If you buy a GT and look after it it should be a good bike.

[Parrot of Doom]

It'll be fine for all the things you mention. Don't forget to leave some spends though for padded shorts, top, gloves, drink bottle, lights, helmet, etc.

No use cycling if you don't have the accessories to make it comfortable.

[anonymous-user]

just another positive comment about the GT, at the lower end of the price bracket, you cant go wrong there.

[cliff123]

Hi, I previously had the Trek 4300 which was £50 more than your Trek 3700 and which was a great bike. I would happily recommend it. The frame geometry was very good and perfect for my build. So both bikes are good for their money. Go sit on them, find which feels best for you, and enjoy.

[Roman]

That GT looks fine - it will be hard to find a better bike for the same cost.

[E21_Ross]

Flanders. said:

DamienCBR said:

GT have a good rep, i have an older GT Avalanche 1.0 and still use it a lot. I have never had any problems, not really up on MTB's at the moment but looks like a god deal.
D

Excellent, thanks. How do you reckon it will cope with your general Bridle Paths, Cycle tracks and Country road affairs?

for that it will be absolutely fine. unless doing proper full on mountain biking trails like those in wales and scotland etc then it won't struggle at all.

[dubbs]

I spent three days (around 2005) in the Sierra Nevada going along dry riverbeds, boulder falls, fire roads and all sorts of general nastiness on a GT Avalanche 1.0... it held up well.. I'd recommend as a budget purchase hardtail.

[Flanders.]

Parrot of Doom said:

It'll be fine for all the things you mention. Don't forget to leave some spends though for padded shorts, top, gloves, drink bottle, lights, helmet, etc.

No use cycling if you don't have the accessories to make it comfortable.

I see, how much does all the Gubbins cost ?


Cheers everyone .

[E21_Ross]

Flanders. said:

Parrot of Doom said:

It'll be fine for all the things you mention. Don't forget to leave some spends though for padded shorts, top, gloves, drink bottle, lights, helmet, etc.

No use cycling if you don't have the accessories to make it comfortable.

I see, how much does all the Gubbins cost ?


Cheers everyone .

a fair amount!! well, you need at least a couple of spare innertubes, at £4-5 each. some gloves £10-15 ( have some fox cut off finger ones, they're great.....just like the tiger from the frosties advert). decent MTB shorts about £40 (most come with padded inner shorts), lights...don't cheap out...a set for around £20+, helmet the sky is your limit really, basic ones for about £20-30. pump for tyres about £30 for a track pump (then another £10-15 for hand held).

thats before a multi tool, tyre levers etc. then you want SPD pedals and you get like me...you just keep wanting more!

[Flanders.]

, this is getting expensive

[E21_Ross]

Flanders. said:

, this is getting expensive

if you are doing just leisure though you don't need gloves, you might want padded shorts though. track pump for mountain bike not REALLY necessary, but if you get a puncture a hand held pump can't go above 30-40psi. and for road/bridle path i'd have mountain bike tyres up at 55psi or so. you don't need spd pedals and shoes either. you will want lights though, especially come winter time!

[superlightr]

Flanders. said:

DamienCBR said:

GT have a good rep, i have an older GT Avalanche 1.0 and still use it a lot. I have never had any problems, not really up on MTB's at the moment but looks like a god deal.
D

Excellent, thanks. How do you reckon it will cope with your general Bridle Paths, Cycle tracks and Country road affairs?

I have a GT Avalance 3.0 (from mem) MTB with discs and its been great. Absolutly no maintenance for the last 3 years - wash and oil only and its still great.