Mountain Bike

empirix

Hello,

Going to get into mountain biking (off road trails etc) after the Xmas, anyway i am looking for recommendations on a decent bike, now i know these bikes can get mega expensive however my budget will be about 1300 for the bike. I hear i will need a full suspension bike, i also hear Specialized and BMC bikes are good, anybody recommend one and a shop/site to buy one.

I have owned bikes before but not in this price range so i am sure i want one and quite loking forward to it, i am doing this mainly to keep fit and get outdoors etc. I hear Ballinaloe is a good trail but difficult, however i have no intention of going downhill at crazy speeds so the bike doesnt have to exceptional in this are - just as long it can go downhill:)

Also recommendation for a helmet /padding, shorts etc would be good.

Any info appreciated - i don't know anybody else interested in MTB.

cheers:)

blorg

I don't think you necessarily need a full suspension bike, you generally get better components for a given amount money with a hard tail, especially at entry level. People also say it teaches you better bike handling skills if you begin on one.

When you say you don't want to go downhill at crazy speeds but want to "go downhill" - I am taking it you don't mean you want to do "Downhill" in the sense of the MTB discipline? The likes of Ballinastoe is certainly not "Downhill" and is more than doable on a hardtail, even by me and I am a total beginner.

"Downhill":



I will leave the rest to MTB people who know what they are talking about

zuroph

I'd say its a hardtail you want also. Full sus is a different game altogether. get started on a hardtail and do some trails. its XC you're interested in from what I can read.

empirix

blorg wrote: »

I don't think you necessarily need a full suspension bike, you generally get better components for a given amount money with a hard tail, especially at entry level. People also say it teaches you better bike handling skills if you begin on one.

When you say you don't want to go downhill at crazy speeds but want to "go downhill" - I am taking it you don't mean you want to do "Downhill" in the sense of the MTB discipline? The likes of Ballinastoe is certainly not "Downhill" and is more than doable on a hardtail, even by me and I am a total beginner.

"Downhill":



I will leave the rest to MTB people who know what they are talking about

well i certainly aint interested in what that crazed individual is doing - fitness first danger miles behind!!!

you guys recommend an online shop?

i heard full suspension was easier on the ass!!!

zuroph

you wont be on ur ass for long, if its for fitness, full sus is heavier and a bit more of a pain to lug. You definitely want hardtail. as for online shops, I dont know much. I get regular mails from chainreaction up north and they were recommended to me by mates, but I've had nothing to do with it in the last year or so.

madred006

Well for what its worth lol ,I used to some road biking years ago just for fitness ,and a cou[le of months ago decided to get back to it ,but was confused by the large selection of bike out there so i said id wait untill xmass treat myself to something nice :Dand purchase a new road bike .But in the mean time as i posted on earlier thread ,I started on a raleigh mtx old mountain bike got it serviced and have been putting up roughly 35-40 km daily just do back roads and few laps of local forest great fun really enjoy it and have cut back on hamlets to 2 a day lol.So it doesnt really have to cost the earth but thats just my opinion hope you enjoy it .

http://www.adverts.ie/showproduct.php?product=149091&cpage=1&perpage=15#poststart maybe this might intrest you lol

blorg

Yes, you want to do XC and you want a hardtail. As for getting out I would recommend looking at joining one of the Dublin clubs (presuming you are Dublin?) - MAD or EPIC. Both very friendly. Which is better though, that is the question.

Ciaran500

blorg wrote: »

MAD or EPIC. Both very friendly. Which is better though, that is the question.

Depends on your discipline. MAD for new guys leaning towards XC. EPIC for head cases leaning towards the more extreme stuff and don't mind being shouted at.:cool:

Gavin

My standard recommendation, merlincycles.co.uk - Malt bikes.
You could get a Malt 4 (http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/custom-mountain-bikes/merlin-mountain-bikes/merlin-malt-41.html) with your 1300 and have money left over to upgrade to a SLX groupset and a Reba Race fork.

This would be an excellent bike, far superior to any full suspension bike for 1300.

empirix

Yeah Hardtail it is so - looking at

http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=232&idproduct=31650

http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=232&idproduct=30109

http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=232&idproduct=30806

Can anybody guide me whats best out of the 3 - are they similar, if i was to be honest i would be leaning towards the Giant,just because i have heard its a good name and it also looks stunning too which helps. Opinions?

Wouldn't be into the Merlin and upgrading and stuff, just want a bike that i don't have to mod etc, if i really get into it i'll buy a better bike and sell this one!

blorg

Of those three the Cube has the best spec and is the one I would go for. Popular brand with riders as far as I can make out too.

Lumen

Ciaran500 wrote: »

Depends on your discipline. MAD for new guys leaning towards XC. EPIC for head cases leaning towards the more extreme stuff and don't mind being shouted at.:cool:

They should definitely swap names.

Lumen

empirix wrote: »

Can anybody guide me whats best out of the 3 - are they similar, if i was to be honest i would be leaning towards the Giant,just because i have heard its a good name and it also looks stunning too which helps.

Check out the other colours.

Here's the Cube I bought (a slightly cheaper version of the one you're looking at).

Gavin

If you look at the Merlin link there is a little box with the options for upgrades. They do all the work for you

spyderski

Even better, buy my 6 month old Specialized Stumpjumper for sale here: http://www.adverts.ie/showproduct.php?product=159513&cat=500

empirix

spyderski wrote: »

Even better, buy my 6 month old Specialized Stumpjumper for sale here: http://www.adverts.ie/showproduct.php?product=159513&cat=500

wanna swap for a Korg Radias rack synth?:)

empirix

Lumen wrote: »

Check out the other colours.

Here's the Cube I bought (a slightly cheaper version of the one you're looking at).

yeah nice man, whte is appealing to me though, dunno why! probably be a nightmare to clean!

How do you find this bike? Is it comfortable to ride and on the ass? Did you do Ballinaloe on it?

spyderski

The fact that I don't know what this is would give an indication of my interest in a swap!!! ;-)

empirix wrote: »

wanna swap for a Korg Radias rack synth?:)

petethedrummer

empirix wrote: »

How do you find this bike? Is it comfortable to ride and on the ass? Did you do Ballinaloe on it?

I have the same bike.and did Ballinastoe on it last week. It was about as comfortable as riding over rocks and tree stumps can be. Got round it alright and only fell off once when I dabbed the front brakes on a wet wooden platform. My mate has a Boardman and he only fell of once too.

DutchGuy

Not that I know anything about mountain bikes myself (I'm only just starting out myself - and on a much cheaper bike...) but don't forget to check if your company participates in the bike to work scheme - I think you can get a bike up to around a €1000 using it (though why you would need a €1000 bike to commute to work beats me) and you can save a large amount on tax (up to 41% if you're a top rate taxpayer).

empirix

DutchGuy wrote: »

Not that I know anything about mountain bikes myself (I'm only just starting out myself - and on a much cheaper bike...) but don't forget to check if your company participates in the bike to work scheme - I think you can get a bike up to around a €1000 using it (though why you would need a €1000 bike to commute to work beats me) and you can save a large amount on tax (up to 41% if you're a top rate taxpayer).

actually was looking at that, could i buy a bike for 1300 and then they could deduct tax up to 1000?

blorg

empirix wrote: »

yeah nice man, whte is appealing to me though, dunno why! probably be a nightmare to clean!

White is a nightmare to clean, I would avoid it if you have the chance.

My own mountain bike has a white undercarriage and picks up flecks and you really have to go at it with the degreaser to get remnants of oil out. On all my other bikes it is just a quick brush over and they are looking shiny and new. You can sort of see in this photo how the white bits look filthy while the rest of the bike looks fine. Honestly, don't do it!

spyderski

Great photo Blorg. You should have been snowboarding not Mountain biking!

empirix

Hey Lads, Thanks for the feedback, i am going with these Giants or this Specialized

I have yet to make my mind up - do i want to stretch the extra 300 and go for one of the more higher end bikes below, a guy i was talking to me says he lays his life on Specialized and wouldn't consider anything else. So am i right in thinking here the specialized wins in both categories below? thanks

http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=232&idproduct=30109

http://www.cycleways.com/store/product/46454/2010-Specialized-Rockhopper-SL-Comp-23%22/
______________________________________________
More Higher Endagain

http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=232&idproduct=30114

http://www.cycleways.com/store/product/46449/2010-Specialized-Rockhopper-SL-Pro-19%22/

spyderski

I'd agree about the Specialized's but those Rockhoppers seem very dear for what they are. No way would i give €1400 for a rockhopper. Giants are fine, and are very popular, but they just don't seem as well finished as Specialized, but thats just my opinion.

empirix

what do you recommend then? i live in glasnevin so want something a bit nifty too as i will probably be going up the phoenix park and surrounds too, admittedly i am drawn to the giants as i think those two models look savage:D and i spotted a site where i can get about 200/300 worth of gear for free with them depending on the model - but obviously ill go with whats best value, bearing in mind in days gone by i was cycling from Blancharstown to Enniskerry knocksink woods on an old raleigh mtb i am thinking these bikes will be like driving a ferrari for me although i have just broke the 30 mark so probably not as agile anymore


This? http://www.pedalon.co.uk/acatalog/trek_6500_black.html

Morgan

empirix wrote: »

although i have just broke the 30 mark so probably not as agile anymore

Jaysus :rolleyes:.
Are you sure it's even safe to be taking up mtb at your advanced age. Maybe you should get a medical checkup beforehand .

guym

don't want to confuse you any more but these seem good value around your price bracket:
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b0s2p2290
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b0s2p2291
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=32965


Second hand so you would not be able to avail of the bike to work scheme, but if your partial to a bit of carbon fibre it's a lovely sounding bike:
http://www.madmtb.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3281

empirix

Morgan wrote: »

Jaysus :rolleyes:.
Are you sure it's even safe to be taking up mtb at your advanced age. Maybe you should get a medical checkup beforehand .

i was thnking that myself and i have noticed the frizbie forum here so..... ive decided to go the extra hog and buy this - pending funds

http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=232&idproduct=31482

Ciaran500

empirix wrote: »

ive decided to go the extra hog and buy this

And an addiction is born, welcome to the club

empirix

Ciaran500 wrote: »

And an addiction is born, welcome to the club

hopefully it will last for a while - thats the plan

fenris

The problem will not be whether the bike lasts, rampant shiney bit-itis with ocasional cravings for a new bike are more probable problems!

fenris

BTW I think you need a full sus bike like this Giant Trance!

http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=233&idproduct=23668

It is not really that far from your budget and it would just be cheaper to just buy it now rather than in a few months time - muhahahaha :P

empirix

Actually changed again, im going for a 29r - pending test drive, im 6ft 2 and also want to use this bike for work so it looks perfect. Anybody have experience of them? Judging by the net people either lover em or hate em!

http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=232&idproduct=30133