Need help choosing mountain bike.

heyjay14

Right so first off im 5.9 and was recommended a 20" frame so just wanted to ask would I not be better off on a 18"?

Secondly iv been looking at the Carrera Vulcan and its a very nice bike but wanted to get opinions.

http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_810649_langId_-1_categoryId_212589

Seems to be a nice entry level mountain bike at an ok price.

sham2

heyjay14 wrote: »

Right so first off im 5.9 and was recommended a 20" frame so just wanted to ask would I not be better off on a 18"?

Secondly iv been looking at the Carrera Vulcan and its a very nice bike but wanted to get opinions.

http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_810649_langId_-1_categoryId_212589

Seems to be a nice entry level mountain bike at an ok price.

20" seems a bit big for you. I'm 6ft 1 and ride a 20" Cube. I've also ridden a 19" with no problem. Depends on your inseam and torso size etc. Whats your inseam? Google how to do this properly first. Only real way to know is to try a few out before you buy.

heyjay14

Inseam is 30 inches

Icyseanfitz

im 6 foot and i wouldnt go bigger than a 19 inch tbh, with mountain biking its better to have something thats a bit too small for you than something thats a bit too big, at least with what ive tried anyway, and if was buying a bike in halfords id try to stick with boardman, this is a bit more expensive but weighs a nice bit less and has a better spec.

Id also look at buying second hand as you will get a real nice bike for the 500-800 range off someone

heyjay14

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

im 6 foot and i wouldnt go bigger than a 19 inch tbh, with mountain biking its better to have something thats a bit too small for you than something thats a bit too big, at least with what ive tried anyway, and if was buying a bike in halfords id try to stick with boardman, this is a bit more expensive but weighs a nice bit less and has a better spec.

Id also look at buying second hand as you will get a real nice bike for the 500-800 range off someone

Cheers man. Well to be honest im pushing it by spending 500, so no way could I stretch to get the boardman

Icyseanfitz

this would be nicer tbh but as i said look on adverts.ie, epicmtb.com, and madmtb.com (forums) for a second hand or put up a wanted ad, you will get a much better second hand bike

heyjay14

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

this would be nicer tbh but as i said look on adverts.ie, epicmtb.com, and madmtb.com (forums) for a second hand or put up a wanted ad, you will get a much better second hand bike

Cheers will have a look

xyz123

i'm 6ft and a 20 in Carrera is too big for me...at 18 in or 19in would have been better. i would definetely go smaller than you are used to.

studiorat

6'1" I ride a Carrera Krakken 18" like the one Icey linked to, with the saddle up and with it's wide handlebars it feels much bigger than my road bike even though it isn't! I think 20" is too big.

The Vulcan's Clarkes brakes get good reviews, but I wouldn't be into the Sram X4 kit, X5 is passable IMO. The Krakken is a great bike, I've ridden it on trails all over the country for the last 6 months. Apart from breaks and gears they are the same bike, the Fury and Vengeance a slightly different frame and better forks, I think.

My only issue is the forks are a little too flexible when you start to ride a little harder. The suspension is good, the lock out is handy, you just get the odd zing from the discs on the calipers if you hit something fast as the wheel moves left to right. Currently considering a new fork with a bigger axel.

ravendude

At 5'9 you'd be better off with something 17 or 18 inch.
Err on the side of the smaller one if you can't make your mind up.

You'd be better off going second hand if you could manage to find something thats not abused at that price range, - a lot of those bikes are only really built for going to shops on, - all depends on what kind of riding you'll be doing though.

heyjay14

Went for an 18" carrera vulcan in the end. Delighted with the bike, just have 1 last quick question. The disk brakes arnt stopping the wheel on contact and I was just wondering do they need to be warn in or tightened or anything like that?

Cheers
Jason

ravendude

Its normal enough that you'd have to bed in the brake pads.
http://www.ehow.com/video_2260448_bed-new-brake-pads.html
The bike should always stop though really, even when they're not properly bedded in,

heyjay14

ravendude wrote: »

Its normal enough that you'd have to bed in the brake pads.
http://www.ehow.com/video_2260448_bed-new-brake-pads.html
The bike should always stop though really, even when they're not properly bedded in,

Cheers man