MTB

daseire

Looking for a Mountain Bike
Nothing expensive. something for riding roads and the occasional downhill. (1 or 2 times a year)
looking at something like this.
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3323894.htm?CMPID=DRT01&_$ja=tsid:29247|cc:|prd:3323894PIPEcat:sports+and+leisure+%3E+men%26%23180%3Bs+and+ladies%26%23180%3B+bikes
Budget is in or around this price.

Coronal

Um, define downhill? That particular bike would fall apart at the first notion of what's referred to as downhill, which is usually reserved for full suspension bikes with 200 mm of travel.

For city riding, something like the carerra from Halfords or a similar hybrid should suit quite well, though it'll cost a bit more than that new. Have a look at some second hand stuff. If you really want to do off road, then saving up and buying a decent entry level mountainbike would be your best bet. I think the Ballyhoura trail centre rents bikes to try if you'd prefer to see if you like it first.

seamus

Unfortunately you will not get a new bike at that price that will do you for going off road.

Effectively like saying, "I want to buy a new car for driving to work and occasionally rallying in mondello. Budget is around €8k"

If you want a bike to use for off-road, then save up around €300 and buy second hand. That will get you something capable of going offroad without falling apart.

shaka

Contact trail riders , they reant bikes on the Bally houras and sell there bikes off second hand every so often

daseire

But what about it would fall apart? I dont have the money to pay for a better bike and i dont want a hybrid. Downhill as in trails and stuff.

seamus

Cheaper bikes are made from cheaper parts.

Most of the mountain biking magazines do comprehensive tests of cheap mountain bikes every now and again.

What they find is that things start breaking and falling off pretty much as soon as you hit the trails - typically wheels buckle, pedals break, cranks come loose and brakes don't work properly. They also find that the nasty cheap suspension forks don't provide any suspension and just make it more difficult to steer the bike over the bumps.

You'll pick up a 5-year-old MTB which was €800 new, for €300 or less. And it will ride better and last far longer than a new €200 bike from Argos.

ford2600

I'm guessing you know little about bikes.
€200 or less for a new bike with all the moving parts involved and a suspension is a lot to ask. For the most part this type of bike is pure rubbish.
Buy it bring it on trails it will break, very quickly.
You might get a decent entry level proper mtb for €300 second hand.
I bought a €1000 mtb. It's off road 2/week all year round, b ut it neds a lot of care when doing so. Without that care, cleaning and lubing of drivetrain in particular, it will give trouble very quickly and start costing.
The bike you linked, even with care will break. A LBS won't want to see you as their repair costs will be a substanial % of purchase price.

Cheap **** is still ****

daseire wrote: »

But what about it would fall apart? I dont have the money to pay for a better bike and i dont want a hybrid. Downhill as in trails and stuff.

Coronal

Quite possibly everything would fall apart. The brakes/brake levers are probably plastic, which don't have that much stopping power. The forks may not be up to much, so a rough root or rock could total them. In addition, they're probably not sealed, so a few wet rides could ruin the springs. The headset looks like it's the old threaded type, which means it's probably cheap and will wear out. The bottom bracket I would expect to go within a few hundred km... Replacing these with decent parts would cost more than the entire bike, and you'd still have crappy wheels and frame.

Sorry if this sounds harsh, it's really just a thing of you get what you pay for. There are reasons that entry level MTBs cost 800 euro. I bought a bike with similar parts to this one and used it on the road for commuting for a year before things started to come apart. It's really not worth it.

seamus

Here's a good offer;

http://www.adverts.ie/bikes/merdia-matts/2675837

Respected brand, decent bike, looks like it's in great nick judging by the picture. Give it into a shop for a quick service, €30 later and you have a bike that's streets ahead of that argos muck

Icyseanfitz

mudyfox + downhill = lots of laughs

i do quite a bit of mtbing and i can tell you that even a pricey mtb needs tlc or parts start to break (particularly with the irish weather), now a new mtb worth anything probably wont be got for under 700 euro so a new argos mudyfox bike for 200 euro will destroy itself if taken out on offroad trails.

as the lads said save up some money 300-400 euro and get something second hand

btw downhill is very different from normal mtbing, youtube it, tis great craic

camaghead

daseire wrote: »

Looking for a Mountain Bike
Nothing expensive. something for riding roads and the occasional downhill. (1 or 2 times a year)
looking at something like this.
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3323894.htm?CMPID=DRT01&_$ja=tsid:29247|cc:|prd:3323894PIPEcat:sports+and+leisure+%3E+men%26%23180%3Bs+and+ladies%26%23180%3B+bikes
Budget is in or around this price.

I have this one http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056893505 for sale which may suit.

C3PO

camaghead wrote: »

I have this one http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056893505 for sale which may suit.

Far better spec than any POS from Argos and if my experience of buying stuff from Camaghead is anything to go by, his bike will be in great nick! If the size works for you .... buy it!

JonDoe

Just saw this post this evening, people just love to take the pee. My MTB background has been from building my first bike to owning 4+ for different moods but no downhill as I'm not intimate with trees.
by the way, this is downhill (enjoy)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIe6hYAdw_I
start out with a disc hardtail with a 100mm fork. You need a cockpit that you can escape the saddle and put your ass over the rear axle on drops but at the same time be comfortable putting the power down on flats seated and move your weight forward, chest to bars for steep climbs without excessive discomfort.
You can buy a better bike when you're addicted.
ps. 29ers are lush