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Halfords mountain bikes

  • 15-06-2011 7:50pm
    #1
    get on your bike
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 268 ✭✭


    Hi

    Not really into MTB but they Hav a half price offer from €600 to €300 in halfords at the minute. Think it's a carrera one.

    Anybody have one or any thoughts on it


Comments

  • #2
    kona
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,525 ✭✭✭kona


    get on your bike wrote: »
    Hi

    Not really into MTB but they Hav a half price offer from €600 to €300 in halfords at the minute. Think it's a carrera one.

    Anybody have one or any thoughts on it

    Oh that one yea its deadly.


  • #3
    studiorat
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,408 ✭✭✭studiorat


    I have two carreras, a vulcan and a banshee. I've used the vulcan on most of the trails around the country and can't fault it. Except for the tires, they were crap, I swapped them out for a pair of Michelins I had lying around. Also changed the wheels 'cause I had some with a name on the hubs! Dunno if there would be a difference, but the tires made a big difference. It's not an amazing bike with all the whistles and bells but I'm very happy with it, cost 470 europes, and it's specced like a 700 quid bike.

    The banshee is a different animal completely, it's the ugly step-child of the fleet, it's as heavy as a planet so riding it up hills is a labour of love. But coming back down again makes it totally worth it. Also great fun for going down the shops on and generally acting the maggot on. Secondhand it cost less then some pairs of cycling shorts so again, I'm totally happy with it. Had I paid full price for it I wouldn't be so happy.


  • #4
    Ricky91t
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,281 ✭✭✭Ricky91t


    studiorat wrote: »
    I have two carreras, a vulcan and a banshee. I've used the vulcan on most of the trails around the country and can't fault it. Except for the tires, they were crap, I swapped them out for a pair of Michelins I had lying around. Also changed the wheels 'cause I had some with a name on the hubs! Dunno if there would be a difference, but the tires made a big difference. It's not an amazing bike with all the whistles and bells but I'm very happy with it, cost 470 europes, and it's specced like a 700 quid bike.

    The banshee is a different animal completely, it's the ugly step-child of the fleet, it's as heavy as a planet so riding it up hills is a labour of love. But coming back down again makes it totally worth it. Also great fun for going down the shops on and generally acting the maggot on. Secondhand it cost less then some pairs of cycling shorts so again, I'm totally happy with it. Had I paid full price for it I wouldn't be so happy.

    Saw a thread on mtbr about someone stripping a banshee and putting on new better components, The frame is meant to be pretty good.


  • #5
    studiorat
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,408 ✭✭✭studiorat


    Ricky91t wrote: »
    Saw a thread on mtbr about someone stripping a banshee and putting on new better components, The frame is meant to be pretty good.

    I don't know really. It's a similar shape to some of the Kona bikes, but I think they are made of their own Kona tubing, the carrera is regular old 7005 alu. The cockpit is comfortable, but it's kind of hard to tell if the frame is any good when there's a big friggin' spring in the middle of it!!

    The rear shock is a bit crap and the Marchozzi forks make it heavy. I guess you could swap the rear out and I guess decent wheels would help and maybe a hollow bottom bracket outfit.

    But the gears are fine, the brakes stop the wheels from turning around and around (on any terrain), so for the sake of a couple of grams I really wouldn't bother. Maybe you could shed a bit of weight with the stem and handle bars for something a bit bling, but it's a carrera, fancy finishing kit would just look daft on it. Maybe a Campagnolo derailleur just for the hell of it!!


  • #6
    Ricky91t
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,281 ✭✭✭Ricky91t


    studiorat wrote: »
    I don't know really. It's a similar shape to some of the Kona bikes, but I think they are made of their own Kona tubing, the carrera is regular old 7005 alu. The cockpit is comfortable, but it's kind of hard to tell if the frame is any good when there's a big friggin' spring in the middle of it!!

    The rear shock is a bit crap and the Marchozzi forks make it heavy. I guess you could swap the rear out and I guess decent wheels would help and maybe a hollow bottom bracket outfit.

    But the gears are fine, the brakes stop the wheels from turning around and around (on any terrain), so for the sake of a couple of grams I really wouldn't bother. Maybe you could shed a bit of weight with the stem and handle bars for something a bit bling, but it's a carrera, fancy finishing kit would just look daft on it. Maybe a Campagnolo derailleur just for the hell of it!!


    Actually maybe it wasn't a carrera I was thinking about :pac:

    http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/6093476/


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  • #7
    studiorat
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,408 ✭✭✭studiorat


    Ricky91t wrote: »
    Actually maybe it wasn't a carrera I was thinking about :pac:

    http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/6093476/

    It happens. I certainly wouldn't try hucking it off the garden shed, but for scooting down a trail and stuff like that it's great fun. Mind you I'm like Muhammad Ali on a bike, float like a butterfly... :cool:


  • #8
    Ricky91t
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,281 ✭✭✭Ricky91t


    studiorat wrote: »
    It happens. I certainly wouldn't try hucking it off the garden shed, but for scooting down a trail and stuff like that it's great fun. Mind you I'm like Muhammad Ali on a bike, float like a butterfly... :cool:

    I've an apollo phaze( the cheaper version of carreras! ) and again it's a heavy bike but on DH bits in trails it rolls brilliantly. But that's all I'd use it for :pac:


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