Best, lightweight hardtail bike with hydraulics for £500?

phillai

Hi there!

Please be easy on me as I'm a total newbie...
I know nothing about bikes since my BMX days (going back 20 years!)

I've decided that I must do something to keep fit and have decided that I really want to buy a decent hardtail mountain bike through the Evans Cycles Ride2Work scheme.within the next few weeks.

My friend has advised me to get a mountain bike with hydraulic brakes.

Does anyone know if this Specialized Hardrock Pro 2007 bike is any good for the £449.99 price?

Or the GT Avalanche 1.0 Disc 2008 for £499.99

Or can you recommend me something else that is similar or even better at no more than £500?

Many thanks in advance!

Andy B

The GT is a better buy than the Hardrock.

The Hardrock is heavier than the GT and not as well specced.

If you could get your employer to go through Halfords the Carrera Fury is the best £500 bike around at the minute.

phillai

Andy_B, are you aware if Halfords do a Ride2Work bike scheme?

I've read a bit about the Carrera Fury and it's just a shame that I can't get it from Evans Cycles!

Tel39

phillai wrote:

Andy_B, are you aware if Halfords do a Ride2Work bike scheme?

I've read a bit about the Carrera Fury and it's just a shame that I can't get it from Evans Cycles!

Pretty certain they do phillai, might be worth checking through their website for details.

phillai

Nothing mentioned on their website!

simbil1

http://www.halfordsb2b.com/bikes4work-schemes.asp

I think they were the first to offer the scheme.

Wiggle also do it, you might want to look at the Focus range as they appear very good on paper.

phillai

simbil1, thanks for your help!

I think I'll go for the Carrera Fury!

cnevster

GT Avalanche 1.0 Disc is reviewed in the current issue of Moutaining Biking and it got a very good write up, so might be worth checking out the review on that aswell.

phillai

OMG, I don't know which one to get!

Carrera Fury sounds brilliant but I only get 22% off it from Halfords and Halfords seems to be the only place where I can get it on a cheap bike scheme!

GT Avalanche 1.0 Disc does sound nice but is it better than the Carrera Fury?

Any other bikes you recommend for £500?

Aesza

Not sure about the GT Avalanche 1.0 but I got a Carrera Fury today, its a great bike with awesome spec for its price, and its like £440 or less if you buy from internet...Nothing wrong with the bike at all unless you want lighter tyres cause the tyres are pretty heavy and wider than Avalanche's (I think)

P.S Fury is probably best spec bike <£500

jacktheoc

if you are not bothered about hardtail have a look at this:
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.p ... m1b1s1p101
have a look at these hardtails all good bikes:
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.p ... m1b0s2p156
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.p ... =m1b0s2p49

Andy B

jacktheoc wrote:

if you are not bothered about hardtail have a look at this:
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.p ... m1b1s1p101

Heavy in comparison to a Fury & poor spec, J3 forks are V.Poor

have a look at these hardtails all good bikes:
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.p ... m1b0s2p156

Heavy bike designed for jumping rather than trails

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b0s2p49

Poor spec level.

Fury or GT are the best choices.

Try them both on a test ride, no test ride, no sale & tell the shop that too

phillai

Which is the lighter bike between the Fury or GT?

Aesza

Erm I think Fury is only slightly heavier- tyres are Continental Gravity (good tyres) but are 2.3" thick as appose to the GTs 2.1" But the weight difference will only be severel hundred grams.. Fork on Fury are great though, better than the GT's, you get loads of adjustments too, all of them work great.. But if you really care about weight..GT is lighter.