Advice for starter

Umiq88

Looking for some advice. I’ve been mountain biking a fewtimes in Ballyhoura and really enjoyed it and would like to take it up. Due tomy circumstances I’ll be able to buy 2 bikes on the cycle to work scheme up tothe value of €1200.

My thoughts were to get one mountain bike for Ballyhoura andanother bike for the road. The road bike will also be used by my wife who is asimilar height to myself so it should do both of us. Neither of us would bevery fit and don’t plan on doing this competitively so I’m not sure a roadracer is something we’re looking for more a decent road bike for a Sundayafternoon etc.

Could someone advise on a good starter bike for mountain bikingthat will do me for a few years and also a good road bike suitable for a casualrider not doing long distances each to the value above.

Also could someone please advise on a good bike shop oralternatively a good online retailer. I’m handy enough mechanically so I wouldbe open to purchasing a frame and kitting out the bike myself if it meant amuch better bike but as I’ll be spending over 1k a warranty would be nice. Notopposed to going up north either.

Beasty

OK, just to avoid any misunderstanding an employee can only get a single bike under the BTW scheme at any one time, and it must be their intention to use the bike "mainly" for cycling to work.

I would request that this is not turned into a BTW discussion, as we have a separate megathread on that, but this thread be treated as a request for advice on "2 bikes for €1,200"

Plutonium Kun

Since you've been to Ballyhoura, I'd suggest talking to the rental guys (trailriders.ie) there, try out a few and see what suits you, then ask for a deal on an ex-rental, they can be very good value (I'm sure they could work it so you could get it on the work scheme). The Cube bikes they use there are widely available, so if you want a new one you could get them off many retailers. For a road bike, its hard to go wrong with the base models from Giant or Trek, such as the Giant Defy.

Umiq88

Thanks Beasty I probably should have rephrased that but yes you are correct you can only purchase a single bike and my wife will also be purchasing a bike.

I've been on the rental bikes in trailriders and find them quote good however I would rather purchase a more expensive new bike.

Any advice on bike shops I'm based just outside limierick but travel to dublin/cork isnt an issue.

Plutonium Kun

I haven't personally dealt with them, but a few mtbers I know speak highly of velo.ie in birr, they have a wide range, but generally quite expensive bikes.

In Dublin, cyclebike (buildabike.ie) just off Capel Street and thinkbike.ie in Rathmines are good in my experience, as is Cycleways on Parnell Street,, although much depends on the assistant you talk to, there is a wide variation even in one shop. Cycling superstore out in Tallaght have a very large stock - they sell Lapierre bikes which are highly regarded in mtb circles. The German brands Cube and Focus are generally very good for the money.

Umiq88

Any more opinions welcome

shaka

Hey Peter is it 1200 on the mountain bike or 1200 for both bikes combined ? You would be doing well to get a bike as good as some of the second hand ones trail riders sell for for 600 euro if your total budget is 1200! I bought second hand Trek for 700 quid from LBS for ballyhouras, plenty bike for me .
If its 1200 on mountain bike then you will get serious kit for that, try Kilmallock cycles if your in area. I bought trek but think the giants are generally good value for the kit that comes with them