Mountain bike recommendations

fguihen

I got a roadbike in late october and have only gotten out on it a handfull of times since. Im a long time MTB user, and find the roadbike feels delicate, especially in heavy wind and general bad weather.

Im thinking of getting a decent MTB for bad weather days. Cycle Superstore recommends an XC, hardtail as a starter, good quality MTB.

Dont have a huge budget, but liking the look of this:

http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd_nohf.asp?idproduct=31714

its 629 on the site( cant buy under the cycle scheme as i bought the racer on that scheeme.)

All shimano shifters, chain and crankset. I know there are better bikes, but for cycling in bad weather and the occasional off road experience, does this look like a decent bike, or would a few extra quid get me a much better bike, or is it a law of diminishing returns?

CheGuedara

The site's giving me E566 on that but as an alternative at the E629 point this is very much worth considering if you take an 18in frame

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=43059 - better on all component parts and has hydraulic rim brakes, a nice touch and better than cable disc brakes as specced on the CSS bike

Ciaran500

CheGuedara wrote: »

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=43059 - better on all component parts and has hydraulic rim brakes, a nice touch and better than cable disc brakes as specced on the CSS bike

The Dart is a very cheap fork to be on a €600 bike and I wouldn't buy a bike with rim brakes any more. Nothing wrong with good cable disc brakes btw.

CheGuedara

Ciaran500 wrote: »

The Dart is a very cheap fork to be on a €600 bike and I wouldn't buy a bike with rim brakes any more. Nothing wrong with good cable disc brakes btw.

I'll still put a lot more stock in Rockshox products than anything with a suntour decal - I've owned rides with cable discs and magura rim hydros - no contest, good hydros win over poor/mediocre discs every day of the week.

In addition to being better specc'd both the frame and fork have caliper mounts so a future upgrade if necessary are easily done

papac

I have been considering one of these-Seems like good value to me.
http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_518245_langId_-1_categoryId_212589

Morgan

If you're considering buying online then check out Canyon. The Yellowstone 4.0 looks like a great deal:

http://www.canyon.com/_en/mountainbikes/bike.html?b=1763

papac - the only bike I'd consider buying from Halfords would be a Boardman and even then I'd be wary.

papac

papac - the only bike I'd consider buying from Halfords would be a Boardman and even then I'd be wary

What specifically do you see wrong with that bike for the money.Seems well specced to me and those Carrera frames are as good as any at that price point imo. I am open to correction.

DirkVoodoo

I have one of these:

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/custom-mountain-bikes/discount-mountain-bikes/merlin-malt-1-2010-ltd-edition.html

Solid bike, not an amazing frame and certainly not a looker, but it's got a full deore groupset, deore disc brakes, tora fork. Not ideal as a commuter, but at least you can take it off road.

Having said that, if you only want it as a city runabout, I would second the carrera.

CheGuedara

That merlin comes in at E627 shipped to Ireland - great value considering the spec

@ the OP - FWIW given the bikes listed on the thread at this point my preference would be:

1. The Merlin MTB
2. The CRC Bike
3. The Canyon
4. The CSS bike
5. The Halfrauds bike

As Dirk says - as they're MTBs they'll do a good but not necessarily zippy job as commuter rig though you can make a big difference by changing the stock tyres to slicks.

They'll all do a good job off-roading but if you've a dedicated MTB for offroad stuff already (you mention being a long time MTB user?) or if the bike is in all likley hood never going to see off road trails you may also be as well considering an alternative bike type like the flat bar racer/hybrid. These would generally have a more upright position than a road bike similar to a MTB, frames not as heavily built as a MTB but more robust than a road bike, but have 700c wheels and narrower tyres like a road bike making an easier job of covering road miles.

Carrera do an inexpensive range called the Subway which IIRC has been favourably reviewed. Giant do a ranges called the Rapid and Seeker and Cube also do bikes more tuned to the commute LINK & LINK.

Repolho

IIRC, What mountain bike magazines (January issue) best budget hardtails mtbs were:

1. Carrera Fury (from Halfords)
2. Merlin Malt 1 (as linked above by DirkVoodoo
3. Revolution Triad 2.0 from Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op