Mountain bike advice

[andiritchie]

I am thinking of purchasing a mountain bike for exercise more than anything as injury from running is taking toll on on golf.

But i am clueless where to start tbh.I will be riding on a mixture of roads and some not so demanding trails so maybe a hardtail bike might be best suited for me however a day spent online and i am more confused than before i started.

My starting budjet would probably be around the £400 mark which aint a lot looking at the prices so has anyone got any advice on what bike i have seen this

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/hardrock-disc-2010-mountain-bike-ec019400

It has decent reviews but would i be better off buying a more expensive bike second hand

 

[EaseNgrace]

Thats a great bike for the money, I was looking for a similar bike for similar money last year. I got a Trek 4500 which im very pleased with, but the Specialized looks as good or better. Others to look at would be the CBoardman (I think) range, Giant as a brand seems to have gone downhill in quality lately. If you have a look for secondhand bikes, Kona made some great bikes a few years back, also Marin are good.

 

[Macster]

Andy - I've Mountain biked for quite a few years, local trails, Coast to Coast, and even the Alps too, so am well versed with what you'll need.

Beleive me, for a do-it-all bike, you wont find a better value bike than that, Specialized are excellently put together pieces of kit.

Whilst the Gear kit and everything is 'mid-range' stuff, its all perfectly adequate for an entry bike, and even the 'mechanical' cable operated Disc brakes will be fine, - I have them on my Sirrus road bike too.
You could easily upgrade to Hydraulic discs if and when you wanted.

Go for it, you wont go wrong. Careful on sizing tho, I see they have only a 17", which is fine for maybe up to 5'9", I'm 5'11" and would get a 19" or Large.

 

[Macster]

True, the Boardman bikes at Halfords are good too from what I have seen, but Specialized are a more recognised 'Mountain Bike' name.

Beware, - its addictive too, and equally expensive as Golf if you're not careful !

 

[andiritchie]

Thanks for the advice guys.the reviews i have read only say good things about it

I went into Go Outdoors today and i need a 19" so i will have to do some more searching.I did notice that the 2011 bike is coming out soon so like golf club's they will just bang a new paint scheme on it

 

[andiritchie]

Beware, - its addictive too, and equally expensive as Golf if you're not careful !

I can imagine although all the talk of upgrading shocks and brakes i will try to stay clear of for the time being

I cant have too many expensive hobbies.Running was expensive enough

 

[kid2]

Hi Andi,
I have a Giant Talon zero......2010 Model.....I bought it just a few months ago after.....I do a bit of biking myself after retiring from football last year....Its great for the fitness......

The model i bought is purpose built for U.K. riding and i have to say im very pleased with it......Frame is strong and light and the components are very good also......Im not sure of the sterling price but i paid 1100 euro for it here.....A good bike though

 

[RGDave]

I have a MTB and it's just such hard work.
I really think the excessive knobbly tyres don't help and I'd never go for a full suspension bike as they weigh a ton.
I'm considering putting some semi slick Schwalbe 26 x 1.75s on it.
And my forks have died.....
All in all, I wish I'd bought some sort of hybrid/rescue bike!

 

[birdieman]

If you're just buying for some exercise and the odd trip off tarred roads then there isn't much point spalshing out for the latest ultra lightweight alloy materials.
Just get an old style hardtail steel tubing mountain bike for £200, I've got a Claud Butler that cost about that and I stuck slick tyres on it as I'm on road more than off it and it's just fine for getting about.
A steel bike is heavier so as long as you're not racing so have to keep up or a real mountain biking nut as opposed to just an average cyclist you'll expend more calories pedalling teh steel bike than a Cannondale/trek/Specialised etc therby getting more exercise!
Don't get sucked into spending a fortune if you're just going to cycle to the pub with it!

 

[Macster]

For sure - you dont need/want excessively knobbly tyres on, it does make hard work of road use. Something inbetween is great though.
As for Full sussers, well, I guess its down to what you want. yes, they are a little heavier, but not stupidly, but without a doubt, if you are riding hard on hard packed trails, they are considerably faster, beleive me. You just glide across rough stuff that would have you standing up on a hardtail, meaning you can crank the pedals more, = more speed.

If you plan on getting 'off-road', ie Bridleways etc, away from traffic, then get a Mountain Bike, and not a hybrid, which can only just manage a canal towpath.

 

[Deleted member 1740]

You can't go wrong with specialized mate. Just stay away from halfords and buy from your local bike shop.

The guys in evans cycles know there stuff and care about the gear they sell unlike certain places.

 

[andiritchie]

I aint even heard of specialized before,my last bike was a raleigh which was for my paper round lol

They have a Evan's at the ski centre next to the Trafford centre i might pop in this week.I dont fancy buying online and putting it together myself

 

[Deleted member 1740]

I aint even heard of specialized before,my last bike was a raleigh which was for my paper round lol

They have a Evan's at the ski centre next to the Trafford centre i might pop in this week.I dont fancy buying online and putting it together myself

Go to evans cycles mate they have real bike mechanics on hand to build all their bikes properly unlike some of the clueless spotty teenagers halfords employ.

 

[Yerman]

I've had Trek and Carrera(Halfords) both excellent. Full sussers are only for serious downhillers - cheaper ones tend to be heavy and waste energy make the suspension go up and down when pedaling. Good front rockshox or similar and a pump worth the investment, and if you go on tracks or roads rather than soft terrain some semi-slick tyres also worth the investment.

 

[Macster]

'Full sussers are only for serious downhillers'

Sorry - Not true. 'Downhill' bikes are for Downhillers. Massive suspension and built like tanks.
On country tracks and rough Bridleways, a Hardtail will shake your ass off and a susser will leave you gliding over the rough with ease. Beleive me, Ive had both, and currently have a Specialized Stumpjumper Full suspension which just eats trails up.

For what andiritchi wants, a Hardtail is a good start.

 

[Snelly]

'Full sussers are only for serious downhillers'

Sorry - Not true. 'Downhill' bikes are for Downhillers. Massive suspension and built like tanks.
On country tracks and rough Bridleways, a Hardtail will shake your ass off and a susser will leave you gliding over the rough with ease. Beleive me, Ive had both, and currently have a Specialized Stumpjumper Full suspension which just eats trails up.

For what andiritchi wants, a Hardtail is a good start.

This is quite correct.

My twopenneth as a regular and experienced MTB'er would be buy cheap, buy twice. There is nothing worse than a heavy unreliable bike. Cheap means nasty when it comes to a Mountain Bike.

A Specialized Rockhopper would be a good starting choice, as would one of the entry level Boardman bikes (from Halfords ironically). If you cannot afford a new one then buy second hand. You will find a good Rockhopper for £200 ish that is a couple of years old and should be fine. They are available as they are popular and are often an entry level bike that people sell as they upgrade.

By coincidence, I too have the latest Stumpjumper Elite. If money is not an issue then go for one as they are brilliant. Overkill for what you need though.

Lastly, I would always say go for a half decent full-suss bike over a hardtail as they are better in so many ways. That said, this is purely my opinion and a highly emotive one in MTB circles.

And finally, I can't say it too many times....with MTB's, buy cheap always means buy twice.

 

[andiritchie]

A little update

I have had a go on a couple of bike's one was the Spec hardrock the other a rockhopper and i thought the hardrock felt more like a child's bike and the rockhopper was very good although seeing the paint job's in real life they are a little OTT for me to be honest although i could live with that.

I was running at Delamere at the weekend a saw a couple of Cube bike's.They look really good and some reviews say that they are decent and the paint aint as loud.

Does anyone know much about the Cube bikes there seems to be a few regular rider's on here i would sooner have your advice than simply reviews

Thanks

 

[Snelly]

They have a good reputation.

I suggest you buy a magazine called "What Mountain Bike" as this will be invaluable in helping you choose.

That said, I still think you should buy something second hand.

 

[grumpyjock]

you could always look here
http://www.mbr.co.uk/
it has some good advice.