Recommend me an MTB

Berty

Hello,

Thanks in advance for those who reply with suggestions.

Following my most recent thread and my jaunt into Ballyhoura I feel that my hybrid will not be suitable for return visits.

If im going to do it I will be doing it right.

I have budgeted around €500 for a bike. I do not want/need a full suspension as the tracks I plan on taking will not need this.

Brand is relatively important. Snob, maybe. :rolleyes:

I plan on getting my bike in Siopa Rothair in Limerick as John can get anything.

Biketowork scheme is out as I drive for a living so my employer justifying me cycling a bike covering around 15 counties is near impossible.

-Chris-

With €500, would you consider s/h?

thebouldwhacker

10-07-2009, 22:49 #15 Berty
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Should point out.

Im far too poor to afford another bike. I bought this bike and could barely afford it but has grown ill of the dangerous roads in my area for cycling so without the expense of affording a new MTB I will need to make do with my current bike and make some adaptations.

????? So what was your last thread about?????

-Chris-

If you're going to give people a hard time, you should learn how to quote another post properly.

Cycling's fun & healthy. Why would you try and chase someone away from it?

Berty

thebouldwhacker wrote: »

????? So what was your last thread about?????

Check out the other thread about Ballyhoura. Look what happened. People ran off with themselves arguing over things that I did not ask about.

If I said I could pluck €500 from thin air(which I cannot btw) then my question if my hybrid was good enough would have been futility in itself.

I checked out Ballyhoura myself on my hybrid and, as mentioned above, its not suitable in my opinion or maybe Im not suitable, who knows.

Berty

-Chris- wrote: »

With €500, would you consider s/h?

Had to google S/H, sorry.

I would consider anything if money could be saved by getting better value.

-Chris-

Thought you'd know s/h from the Motors forum, sorry! :D

You'll get much better value by going s/h or last year's model (if you can find one). You don't even need someone to check it out for you really - as long as you can't see any visible damage, as long as it rides ok and shifts gears properly and as long as you've done your research on pricing you'll get great value.

-Chris-

Berty wrote: »

My second line was just for replies like you. I wanted to thank people for "suggestions". Yours clearly isnt and is not welcome so AWAY WITH YOU :mad:

The advice on the other thread was excellent, I don't know what happened this time around...

Berty

-Chris- wrote: »

You'll get much better value by going s/h or last year's model (if you can find one). You don't even need someone to check it out for you really - as long as you can't see any visible damage, as long as it rides ok and shifts gears properly and as long as you've done your research on pricing you'll get great value.

Over the years of when I was an avid MTB'er I bought everything from John in Limerick who always steered me in the right direction, gave me heads up on very good reconditioned parts going cheap. I even got a pair of uber expensive wheels and tyres from a bike that was damaged being transported from the US. The airline replaced the WHOLE BIKE and the guy left John keep the other one. The bike was ravaged for parts.

I can speak to him for suggestions BUT I wanted boardsies suggestions as well because although I trust/trusted(from years ago) him there may always been a little desire of his to shift unwanted stock.

It has been a while since I have been out on a bike enough to understand what are the new parts out. When I was on an MTB I was lucky to have deore XT. They are probably dusty old sh*te these days.

I cannot really expect a bike shop owner to hold my hand through every single part of the bike so, like the point of boards is, lets discuss.

-Chris-

Berty wrote: »

Over the years of when I was an avid MTB'er I bought everything from John in Limerick who always steered me in the right direction, gave me heads up on very good reconditioned parts going cheap. I even got a pair of uber expensive wheels and tyres from a bike that was damaged being transported from the US. The airline replaced the WHOLE BIKE and the guy left John keep the other one. The bike was ravaged for parts.

He sounds like a good guy, and good guys tend to stay good. I'd certainly let him give you a steer, or possibly source some parts for you.

Berty wrote: »

I can speak to him for suggestions BUT I wanted boardsies suggestions as well because although I trust/trusted(from years ago) him there may always been a little desire of his to shift unwanted stock.

You know yourself from sales - you start by recommending the things you have in stock. It's the nature of life. But you know this already, so you can mitigate it too.

Berty wrote: »

It has been a while since I have been out on a bike enough to understand what are the new parts out. When I was on an MTB I was lucky to have deore XT. They are probably dusty old sh*te these days.

I'm still running dusty old XT, it's doing me grand . Quality is quality until you damage it - all they're doing now is renaming the same old stuff and making it marginally lighter (except for suspension, that's come on a good bit).

Berty wrote: »

I cannot really expect a bike shop owner to hold my hand through every single part of the bike so, like the point of boards is, lets discuss.

Turn it around - find a couple of bikes for €500ish and post a link here.
Look in the north too - I've had very good experiences with Chain Reaction Cycles.

I believe Wiggle are good too.

Berty

-Chris- wrote: »

Turn it around - find a couple of bikes for €500ish and post a link here.
Look in the north too - I've had very good experiences with Chain Reaction Cycles.

I believe Wiggle are good too.

Okay then, try this

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=33981

= €346.87 including delivery

Same bike

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/GT_Avalanche_30_Disc_2009/5360039139/

= €428 (including £19.99 delivery)

What do people think of the bike as a starting point?

Morgan

Disc brakes are essential.

See what you can find within your budget here:

http://www.pedalon.co.uk

http://www.paulscycles.com

Berty

Morgan wrote: »

Disc brakes are essential.

Yes the GT 1.0 2008, all sold out on those two shops was a price of €428 with discs.

rebel.ranter

Hi Berty, would you need front suspension up there in Ballyhoura?

Berty

rebel.ranter wrote: »

Hi Berty, would you need front suspension up there in Ballyhoura?

Yes. A must.

-Chris-

http://www.mtbr.com/mfr/gt/xc-hardtail/avalanche-3-0/PRD_365014_1527crx.aspx

Avalanche 3.0 seems to get good reviews. Looks like a good frame to put better components on.

Buy something like that for €350-€400. Use the left over to replace the saddle, tyres, stem & brakepads - maybe pedals too (over time).

t0mm

Really you should only consider second had around that price. Also as we are coming to the end of the season more second hand bikes will be popping up. epicmtb.com, madmtb.com, irishdh.com and mbcc.ie would be the main ones to check out. You will want a front suspension hardtail with hydraulic disc brakes. You will get far, far more for your money going second hand. If you find any bikes you like the look of don't hesitate to post them up here for comment.

bitemybanger

You can get a giant Terrago disc on ebay delivered for around 500 quid, hydrolic disc brakes, xtc shocks, very high spec for not alot of money, couldnt go wrong in my eyes

at1withmyself

Specialized Hardrock:

http://www.worldwidecycles.com/pc-128-3-specialized-hr-comp.aspx

http://www.worldwidecycles.com/pc-141-3-specialized-hr-xc-pro-disc.aspx


Giant Terrago, 532 if you join the loylaty club or push for discount:

https://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=232&idproduct=20975

tony cochrane

-Chris- wrote: »

http://www.mtbr.com/mfr/gt/xc-hardtail/avalanche-3-0/PRD_365014_1527crx.aspx

Avalanche 3.0 seems to get good reviews. Looks like a good frame to put better components on.

Buy something like that for €350-€400. Use the left over to replace the saddle, tyres, stem & brakepads - maybe pedals too (over time).

Bought an Avanlache 2.0 last year and I really like it. Although I haven't been out on it as much as I'd like, I have no compliants about it. I can only presume the 3.0 will be equally as reliable.

Berty

I went again today at the last minutes notice. I used XCT hire and was given a Specialised Rockhopper. It was fairly good. I saw some fantastic bikes out there today.

Apologies to everybody I held up until I could get out of the way. Took some amazing pictures.

Berty

How about this?

Visually its fairly similar to the Rockhopper except for a few minor differences.

http://www.worldwidecycles.com/pc-114-3-specialized-hr-sport-disc.aspx

mossym

Berty wrote: »

How about this?

Visually its fairly similar to the Rockhopper except for a few minor differences.

http://www.worldwidecycles.com/pc-114-3-specialized-hr-sport-disc.aspx

looks like it only has cable disc brakes, you'd be far better off with hydraulic disc brakes like the rockhopper has..but not sure you'd get them for your budget. I have a rockhopper and can recommend the specialized bikes completely..take mine around ballyhoura pretty regularly since i got it

Berty

This is the bike which Siopa Rothair in Limerick are suggesting is a good bike.

Hydraulic brakes as specified on this thread.

€599

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-GB/bikes/mountain/3682/35814/

t0mm

Yup that's a good bike for the money. The giant brakes aren't fantastic, but they'll be grand for Ballyh. Likewise, the Rockshox Tora aren't the best forks in the world, but again you won't notice. A bit of haggling and you may even be able to knock a bit of that price .

Berty

t0mm wrote: »

Yup that's a good bike for the money. The giant brakes aren't fantastic, but they'll be grand for Ballyh. Likewise, the Rockshox Tora aren't the best forks in the world, but again you won't notice. A bit of haggling and you may even be able to knock a bit of that price .

There was a guy in buying the bike for €599 and you could hear John saying thats the lowest I can go because of the % I have to pay bike to work in commission for this sale.

I am also trading my Kellys bicycle (hybrid) in which he said he would gladly take. I am buying a tow bar carrier off him on Wednsday and will bring the back in during the week for appraisal.

The trade in price will be cash in hand for me and the full purchase price will hopefully go through bike to work scheme with my employer.

I have e-mailed my finance guy at work as his assistant never heard of it meaning they probably have never done it before.

If he will not do it because I actually drive for a living(morally questionable to have a bike to work scheme) then I will get my Fiancee to get it through her work and salary deductions.

I am still open to suggestions on bikes as I could still get John to order anything.

I told him I was sorry I was not in during the week to collect those 700c knobby tyres for my hyrbid to which he relied "ah sure, [insert my real name] I saw you up Ballyhoura yesterday on a Specialised to I figured you were going to go down the MTB route".

The fact he recognised me with a muddy face, helmet and knew my name even though it has been 8-9 years since I last saw or spoke to him is weird.

Drapper

lots of clearance dceals will be on the net very soon as the 2010 bikes are relaeased. I'd wait!

www.canyon.de have excellent clearance deals around then...... also, www.merlincycles.co.uk ..... the Merlin Malt is a super buy.

ps. listen to mtbrs. try allot of bikes. the geometry varies allot. find the best fit for you..... disc brakes a must.

concussion

Just to add a bit of variety, try the Bike Shop on O'Connell Avenue, Joe does a good range of Treks and you'll get a good price from him. Like Dapper said, try a few before you commit. Between Joe and John you're in very good hands! One word of caution for Ballyhoura, stock up on disc pads - once it gets properly wet up there you could go through a set in a couple of hours. I've seen more than a few people end a wet day up there with nothing but metal left on the brakes!

Berty

Im sorry. I just do not like Joe. He refused on 3 different bikes to come down on price when I was looking for a hybrid. In his defense he does carry a better range of bikes in stock than John but then again both can get you anything within 2-3 days anyway.

But Anyway he told me over the phone that he would refuse point blank to take my hybrid off me.

That lost him my business.

I will possibly give Cycling pursuits a visit considering he should really take the hybrid back and trade me up to something else. He is also very knowlegable.

concussion

That's fair enough, however the most common thing I've heard him say to many customers over the years is 'Thats normally x, the lowest I could it for you is y'.

kona

Drapper wrote: »

lots of clearance dceals will be on the net very soon as the 2010 bikes are relaeased. I'd wait!

www.canyon.de have excellent clearance deals around then...... also, www.merlincycles.co.uk ..... the Merlin Malt is a super buy.

ps. listen to mtbrs. try allot of bikes. the geometry varies allot. find the best fit for you..... disc brakes a must.

Judging by the current famine as regards to bikes, I really doubt there will be anything decent or of a regular size left for selling off. Cycle2work has killed that party.

Berty Dont hold out for hydraulic discs, Some are terrible, namely the hayes sole and those scaldy MPH brakes on Giants. Ive had tektro IO and shimano Deore(both mechanical), both running off avid levers, these brakes were light years ahead of the hayes sole and Giant brakes, as said by a mate who had a loan of my shimanos when he sold his soles.

That Giant has a good spec(suprisingly for giant) Id try my best to get the cranks and brakes upgraded.


Halfords bashing aside, they will have a sale on for the bank holiday weekend, its usually 10% off everything, you will pick up a GT agressor3 (same as avalanche3) for around e350 and youll get some nice carreras for cheap too. The banshee is a excellent starter Full susser, and has all the specs.

Will be alot cheaper than buying a Giant or spesh, and you wont be sacrificing too much quality IMO.

t0mm

Whatever you do don't get a full sus. You need a full sus for Downhill mountain biking. You don't need a full sus for Ballyh. In fact it will be a disadvantage in every way, more expensive for lower spec, harder to pedal up hill, heavier. The only advantage is it will get rid of the bumps, but as you know yourself, Coillte have been so nice as to remove these for you in Ballyh.

Berty

I made a trip yesterday into The Bike Shop on O'Connell Avenue because he has more in store to look at. He had some nnnnniiiiiiccccccceeeeeee Treks namely a "Series 6". It was so beautiful you would be afraid to take it out. White with white grips(wouldnt last long).

As typical he never got round to dealing with me with women asking inane questions about their daughters tricycle. :rolleyes:

There was another MTBer in there and he does Ballyh and Newports Keeper Hill so exactly what i wanted. There was a Trek there which was ok money but I would prefer to deal with Siopa Rothair as I know Joe would screw me on the trade in anyway.( I know this because he told me over the phone he would not be very interested in a Kelly ).

Im heading to Galway in a few minutes for work so will pop into Kearneys on the Headford Rd.

I will pick up my e-mail once I get to Galway so any suggestions between now and then would be good.

On 2009 bikes on sale. NO CHANCE from what I am being told by bike shops. The bike to work scheme has made it that the wholesalers are out of bikes. Siopa Rothair say they cannot get bikes for 2-3 weeks. I said "ah sure that wont affect the high end bikes"

Nope, apparently it is affecting €500+ bikes more because people on the 40% tax bracket are bikes for nearly half price. GITS! :mad:

EDIT If I can get this from Kearney for around €600-620 I would buy it in a heartbeat

http://www.kearneycycles.com/galway-bicycles-details.php?act=viewProd&productId=309

mossym

Berty wrote: »

EDIT If I can get this from Kearney for around €600-620 I would buy it in a heartbeat

http://www.kearneycycles.com/galway-bicycles-details.php?act=viewProd&productId=309

i just got one of those about a month ago for 660 from Ian in cloughjordan cycle co-op, just 15 minutes past nenagh...ian is a dead on guy, not sure about a trade in, but he is a mountian biker himself and won't put you wrong..


can highly recommend the bike too..if you go to ian tell him Maurice sent you...

Berty

Soooooo I just left Kearneys in Galway.

I WILL NEVER buy anything from him.

Asked about the Specialised Rockhopper.

€740 but I could let it go for €720. I told him "thats not what your website says". "Oh, I should really change that You see its all to do with Sterling prices haven gone up since the 1st of July."

Ok, fair enough I can go with that. Yet, no apology for having an €80 price difference. Invitation to treat is no excuse for downright laziness of not changing your prices.

What really got me was whilst asking him spec questions on an XTC Giant vs the Rockhopper he says "I cant spend any more time answering questions so I wont hold you up"

WTF

So I said "one final question"

"Is this the only one you have or can you order more?"

"This is the only one I have, you can have €20 off if you take it right now but I will not hold the bike or ANY bike in the store because Im sick to death of people ordering bikes and not picking them up. Im also sick of people on the bike to work scheme getting quotes, ringing up and ordering bikes and then never turning up."

Seriously, how is this my problem?( I didnt ask him this because at this stage I didnt really give a rats)

I just didnt care at this stage so said "Ok thank you" and left vowing never to return.

Maybe I will check out this Ian in Cloughjordan

mossym

Berty wrote: »

Maybe I will check out this Ian in Cloughjordan

i will say Ian probably won't have it in stock, but he will order it right away for you...

Drapper

hey Berty, you moan allot, as chopper Reid would say HTFU. btw never say never, they are the guys you'll run to when you have bike trouble, get a spare tube/lube ect a LBS is always great for help with finiky things.....and they have a place............

Pick a bike and buy it. MTB and enjoy it.

Berty

Drapper wrote: »

hey Berty, you moan allot, as chopper Reid would say HTFU.

Why can I not ensure I am getting the best value for money?

When I do not know much about Mountain biking anymore why can I not ask any questions of the guy trying to sell me the bike?

I dont know who Chopper reid is but googling him brings up a picture of a hick.

Drapper wrote: »

Pick a bike and buy it. MTB and enjoy it.

I did pick a bike as a hybrid and assumed I could change the purpose of the bike. Obviously I did not ask enough questions when I bought that and If you have €500-€600 + money lying around that you can just throw around buying bikes for the hell of it then good luck to you.

I do not and probably never will so I WILL ASK as many questions as I deem fit before I spend a LOT of money.

Anyway moaning is necessary in the world we live in. I generally confine mine to the Ranting & Raving forum but most of it is in jest.

mossym

while i disagree about moaning being neccesary:D, there is something else you could try..

xtc1 are teh bike rental place for ballyhoura. what they rent for hardtails is the specialized rockhopper disc, you could rent one to see if you liked it or not, would at least narrow the choice for you

and give you a fun spin around ballyhoura

Drapper

mossym wrote: »

while i disagree about moaning being neccesary:D, there is something else you could try..

xtc1 are teh bike rental place for ballyhoura. what they rent for hardtails is the specialized rockhopper disc, you could rent one to see if you liked it or not, would at least narrow the choice for you

and give you a fun spin around ballyhoura

wisest post so far!

kona

Drapper wrote: »

hey Berty, you moan allot, as chopper Reid would say HTFU. btw never say never, they are the guys you'll run to when you have bike trouble, get a spare tube/lube ect a LBS is always great for help with finiky things.....and they have a place............

Pick a bike and buy it. MTB and enjoy it.

Hes entitled to get the best value for his money, he can ask as many questions as he likes:rolleyes:

Berty has already established the reasons why he doesnt want to buy in some LBS, you see bikes sales are at their highest ive seen in 5 years, by bikes I exclude BSO, no recession prices for bikes thanks to C2W, so bikes shops are not handing out massive discounts.
You have to shop around, and it helps to get advice from people who have experience in buying loads of bikes, not one a decade.

Deals will appear, Some guy here got a Kona Firemountain for e320 this month new, thats e300 off the RRP.

Drapper

kona wrote: »

Hes entitled to get the best value for his money, he can ask as many questions as he likes:rolleyes:

Berty has already established the reasons why he doesnt want to buy in some LBS, you see bikes sales are at their highest ive seen in 5 years, by bikes I exclude BSO, no recession prices for bikes thanks to C2W, so bikes shops are not handing out massive discounts.
You have to shop around, and it helps to get advice from people who have experience in buying loads of bikes, not one a decade.

Deals will appear, Some guy here got a Kona Firemountain for e320 this month new, thats e300 off the RRP.

maybe he should just head to halfords ;-)

kona

Drapper wrote: »

maybe he should just head to halfords ;-)

Hed get a better deal there than hes been getting so far Id imagine.:rolleyes:

They are giveng e300 off the RRP on some Konas AFAIK. Best discount ive heard

Berty

mossym wrote: »

while i disagree about moaning being neccesary:D, there is something else you could try..

xtc1 are teh bike rental place for ballyhoura. what they rent for hardtails is the specialized rockhopper disc, you could rent one to see if you liked it or not, would at least narrow the choice for you

and give you a fun spin around ballyhoura

Been there done that. The Rockhopper is a good bike and the Rockhopper is what I was looking at this morning albeit a different colour. Advertised for €660 actually priced at €740 in the shop. I want something with a similar spec.

Drapper wrote: »

maybe he should just head to halfords ;-)

I dont like Halfords. I understand from previously they have a Bank holiday sale so I might head in there this weekend, check out their stock and go back if they are having a sale. Subject to me liking any of the stock.

I have left a voicemail with Ian in Cloughjordan.

mossym

Berty wrote: »

I have left a voicemail with Ian in Cloughjordan.

he closes early on a wednesday so he can go riding...as i said he's a real biker so will look after you, he's open tomorrow till 6 again

at1withmyself

Berty wrote: »

Been there done that. The Rockhopper is a good bike and the Rockhopper is what I was looking at this morning albeit a different colour. Advertised for €660 actually priced at €740 in the shop. I want something with a similar spec.



I dont like Halfords. I understand from previously they have a Bank holiday sale so I might head in there this weekend, check out their stock and go back if they are having a sale. Subject to me liking any of the stock.

I have left a voicemail with Ian in Cloughjordan.

What model is the Rock hopper and have you asked the guys in world wide cycles how much they'll do it for?

mossym

at1withmyself wrote: »

What model is the Rock hopper and have you asked the guys in world wide cycles how much they'll do it for?

disc...i called them when i was looking, 660 as well and they didn't have it in stock either

WhistlingDixie

Drapper wrote: »

lots of clearance dceals will be on the net very soon as the 2010 bikes are relaeased. I'd wait!

www.canyon.de have excellent clearance deals around then.

Does anyone know when the 2009 models begin to get discounted (I know there are some 2009s on the Canyon site with discounts because of cosmetic damage, but what about the perfect ones?). I'm looking for one of these: oooh, ahhh!

kona

WhistlingDixie wrote: »

Does anyone know when the 2009 models begin to get discounted (I know there are some 2009s on the Canyon site with discounts because of cosmetic damage, but what about the perfect ones?). I'm looking for one of these: oooh, ahhh!

Usually around september/ october the deals start coming.

I would hold out this year though....Not many bikes.

WhistlingDixie

kona wrote: »

I would hold out this year though....Not many bikes.

What do you mean? Don't buy one until next year? What's wrong with the ones I linked to? :eek:

kona

WhistlingDixie wrote: »

What do you mean? Don't buy one until next year? What's wrong with the ones I linked to? :eek:

With Cycle2Work there is a shortage of decent bikes, you wouldnt believe the hassle in getting some models, its rediculous. The 2009 models are almost sold out, the 2010 bikes are coming in soon. IMO bike shops wont be giving big discounts this year on 2009 models IMO.