Advice on mountain bike

CyaL8r

Hi all. I'm looking for help on buying a mountain bike. I'm looking for something up to about €600. I don't mind new or second hand.
I can avail of the btw scheme if needs be.
Hoping to get out into the woods with it and may even race at some point so looking for the best I can get for money.

Tenzor07

CyaL8r wrote: »

Hi all. I'm looking for help on buying a mountain bike. I'm looking for something up to about €600. I don't mind new or second hand. I can avail of the btw scheme if needs be.
Hoping to get out into the woods with it and may even race at some point so looking for the best I can get for money.

2nd hand would be your best bet, anything new for €600 is not meant for racing...Unless you take the €600 you have and the €1000 from the B2w and buy a new bike

CyaL8r

Tenzor07 wrote: »

2nd hand would be your best bet, anything new for €600 is not meant for racing...Unless you take the €600 you have and the €1000 from the B2w and buy a new bike

Thanks Tenzor. Would any of these on wiggle be worth looking at?
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/cycle/mtb/mountain-bikes/#menu

From a competing point of view I'd mainly be using that as motivation for heading out on cold days. I'd expect to be back of the pack but I'd like a bike that would handle that type of strain well

Tenzor07

this is a good deal, Cube LTD for under €900: Pauls Cycles

Good spec, will certainly see you through the winter and any races you take part in..

ford2600

If your in Munster area, try the lads who run bike hire shop in Ballyhoura. Bought a similar spec cube off them 2nd hand for 450 last December.

Have used it about twice a week since, all off road, mix of forest track, single track and some occasional very rough terrain. Great bike. Trued wheels once or twice but fine otherwise.

Great value IMHO.

Just give, frame, wheels, drive train a good look over. Maybe look for a new chain.


QUOTE=CyaL8r;81580657]Thanks Tenzor. Would any of these on wiggle be worth looking at?
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/cycle/mtb/mountain-bikes/#menu

From a competing point of view I'd mainly be using that as motivation for heading out on cold days. I'd expect to be back of the pack but I'd like a bike that would handle that type of strain well[/QUOTE]

CyaL8r

Cheers for that. Ballyhoura wouldn't be too far a drive at all.
Can I have your opinions on this how this compares with the Cube:
http://www.adverts.ie/bikes/kona-king-kikapu-mountain-bike/1659089

Tenzor07

Well the Kona is a full suss... extra weight and maintenance for a start...and its well used, the frame size is Small so if you are 5ft7 and under...

CyaL8r

I am 5'8 with an inseam of 29in. Would this be too small for me or would I just be in range for it?

Tenzor07

CyaL8r wrote: »

I am 5'8 with an inseam of 29in. Would this be too small for me or would I just be in range for it?

..you should go for a 17.5" - 18" frame

If i were you i'd find the nearest good bike shop and try out a MTB for size, I would not buy over the internet unless i was sure of the frame size which would suit you more...

Take a drive down to Ballyhoura and rent a bike, see which suits you best..

Junior

ford2600 wrote: »

If your in Munster area, try the lads who run bike hire shop in Ballyhoura. Bought a similar spec cube off them 2nd hand for 450 last December.

Have used it about twice a week since, all off road, mix of forest track, single track and some occasional very rough terrain. Great bike. Trued wheels once or twice but fine otherwise.

Great value IMHO.

Just give, frame, wheels, drive train a good look over. Maybe look for a new chain.

Any contact details for this place?

shaka

Try looking in kilmallock cycles , Paul is the guy there he usually has a few decent second hand bikes. Bought last two bikes off him including a second hand mountain bike

lgk

CyaL8r wrote: »

I am 5'8 with an inseam of 29in. Would this be too small for me or would I just be in range for it?

Put all your measurements into this calculator and it'll tell you the range of frame sizes that suit you.

My first MTB, I went with the standard inseam calculator and got an 18" frame. Top tube length is more important for mountain biking, you need to be able to get your weight back over the back wheel for balance on descents. Based on the output from the above calculator, my not-so-new-any-more bike is a 16.5" frame, and it's made a huge difference when it gets technical. Stuff I struggled to retain balance over before is now easy.