Help me spend a a grand... with a catch

Anonymouslemming

All,

I have a grand to spend on a bike and equipment, but I have to spend it at Halfords, and I have to do it all in one go. I'm hoping they can order stuff in for me so that it is all there, but that is another challenge for another day

I'm looking for something that I can use for commuting but also for very light trails on weekends. That pretty much means a mountain bike as most of the hybrids I looked at didn't look suitable.

I like the feel of the Cannondale F5 in a medium,, but I preferred the brakes on the F4 .

I'm wondering if people can recommend alternatives to this.

I'm also then looking for advice on purchases for the remaining 300 quid of my budget (bearing in mind where I have to spend it), and I know that I need the following:

Helmet
Lights (and I want fairly decent ones for riding in London of an evening - I want to be seen )
Mudgards (front and rear)
Tyres for use on the road
Clip in pedals (as opposed to the ones that go over your shoes
Shoes (preferably with GoreTex or similar)
Bright cover for my rucksack

Any advice on makes or models for the above as well as alternatives to the F5 / F4.

I'd also really like to hear about things that I've missed from this list

jayson

If this is through the Cycle to Work scheme i believe that Halfords can order any bike in u choose even if its from another shop or company they dont stock.

Anonymouslemming

Ok, they can order the bike, but what about all the other bits? Can I specify those, or do I have to make do with what they sell ?

whelieking27

i work for halfords bikehut, i beleive you have to stick to the shop's stock, but they can order in other makes / models of accessories. just ask to look through their catalogues.
you will be suprised at what they can get hold of, and it is pretty cheap too.
as for mudguards i swear by the crud guard.

Anonymouslemming

whelieking27 wrote:

i work for halfords bikehut, i beleive you have to stick to the shop's stock, but they can order in other makes / models of accessories. just ask to look through their catalogues.
you will be suprised at what they can get hold of, and it is pretty cheap too.
as for mudguards i swear by the crud guard.

Thanks ! Any recommendations on MTBs (hardtail) in the 700 quid range that Halfords stock?

Up until now, I was quite set on the Cannondale, but I can't see that on their website at all.

whelieking27

the kona cinder cone is a great buy , it has a decent selection of parts, for it's price.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... rn_106168#

i , personally like some of the gt's like the aggressor or the avalanche.
realy it would be best for you to go in to a store and ask. they can order in a lot more bikes.
for example, they can order in scott, foes, and loads more i don't really know what scott bikes they can get hold of, maybe if you find one you like the look of on the web, or a local shop, you can go in to halfords and ask them to order it in.

Chaka Ping

I'm doing the same thing as you and I've been speaking to the staff at my local Halfords.

As long as I get hold of the right members of staff, they generally couldn't be more helpful and are happy to order items in. They're bike riders and they like selling proper bike stuff.

I'm getting a Hope LED light and some Continental tyres I think - maybe some carbon finishing kit too. I've kept quite a bit of my voucher value for spares.

Anonymouslemming

whelieking27 wrote:

the kona cinder cone is a great buy , it has a decent selection of parts, for it's price.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... rn_106168#

i , personally like some of the gt's like the aggressor or the avalanche.
realy it would be best for you to go in to a store and ask. they can order in a lot more bikes.
for example, they can order in scott, foes, and loads more i don't really know what scott bikes they can get hold of, maybe if you find one you like the look of on the web, or a local shop, you can go in to halfords and ask them to order it in.

I have a GT now, but it's probably the heaviest bike I've ever owned, so that put me off them quite a bit.

I guess I'll wait for my letter and then go in. I do really like the Cannodale F5, hence my requests for similar that Halfords stocks, but who knows, maybe they can get me one of those

Chaka Ping

Halfords have a special team who can source you pretty much any bike that has a dealer network in the UK.

Call them on 08700 660511 and they can get you the Cannondale, I'm sure. You just tell them what store you want it sent to.

Anonymouslemming

Chaka Ping wrote:

Halfords have a special team who can source you pretty much any bike that has a dealer network in the UK.

Call them on 08700 660511 and they can get you the Cannondale, I'm sure. You just tell them what store you want it sent to.

Thanks - that puts me back at the point where I need to consider more bikes than I was


The WHAT BIKE? thread here seems to jump from the 500 mark straight to 800.

Is there a resource around where I could see good options for a hardtail around 700 quid? I've looked in a couple of mags over the weekend, but they mainly seem to review bikes at silly money rates.

supersonic

How about the Boardman bikes at Halfords?

Prowlus

or a gt i-drive ?

Anonymouslemming

Isn't the iDrive a full sus though ?

I still trying to stick to the hardtail side of things for this kind of money.

Anonymouslemming

supersonic wrote:

How about the Boardman bikes at Halfords?

The components on the boardman look quite nice. Same brakes as the F4 I was looking at, same shocks as the F5... nice combo.

I shall certainly give that a test ride, thanks!

littleandy0410

A couple more options to confuse you even more!!
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=cycle&ProdID=5360032355&N=Focus%20Black%20Forest%202008
If they can get this one and you can stretch to £800, you won't get a better spec for the price. Fox forks, Juicy 5 brakes, XT hardware and less than 11kg!
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=cycle&ProdID=5360026031&N=Focus%20Raven%202007


...If you can get a Focus, I'm jealous! - I had my bike stolen and had to get a replacement from Halfords, they could order in most things, but the insurance replacement section couldn't get Focus in. I've gone for a Spesh FSR xc Expert, (arrives on tues) but wanted this:
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=cycle&ProdID=5360032349&N=Focus%20Super%20Bud%202008

Chaka Ping

You can't get a Focus via Halfords.

They can't source bikes that are specifici to rival retailers - such as Focus/Wiggle or Evans/Pinnacle.

For a £700ish hardtail, I'd be looking at the Merlin Cycles Rock Lobster bikes. They're currently doing a limited edition model for £750 which has decent components on an excellent frame (steel or alu). Very hard to beat that value.

littleandy0410

If it's the cycle to work scheme, Halfords can get Focus bikes in - or at least, they could a few months ago. A mate got a Focus Black Forest from Halfords using the cycle to work scheme.

canada16

I dont know if this helps as post a bit too late

I work for RBS and they use Halfords on Cycle to Work.

I got the max which is 1000.00, and they had no problem ordering me a Focus Super bud and I have had conf from wiggle that it will be sent to me in a couple weeks.

So I would go back to halfords, if you have any problems, I could get you a number were I phoned to order the bike, as I did not go into store, as they have no idea what you are talking about when it comes to bike over 300.00.

Anonymouslemming

canada16 wrote:

I dont know if this helps as post a bit too late

I work for RBS and they use Halfords on Cycle to Work.

I got the max which is 1000.00, and they had no problem ordering me a Focus Super bud and I have had conf from wiggle that it will be sent to me in a couple weeks.

So I would go back to halfords, if you have any problems, I could get you a number were I phoned to order the bike, as I did not go into store, as they have no idea what you are talking about when it comes to bike over 300.00.

Hmm - that is interesting. It's not too late - I'd really appreciate that number (even if you can just confirm that it's the same as the 0870 number on the previous page)!

I've not got around to doing anything about the collection letter because I've been too busy

Did you get any accessories from Halfords? I'm looking at their website, and their selection seems poor to say the least. But I really was hoping to get my accessories into my voucher price, and if I have to go elsewhere that will mean this endeavor costs a lot more than I wanted it to.

Anonymouslemming

canada16 wrote:

I dont know if this helps as post a bit too late
.

Sorry to bug you again, but I have one more question

How did you decide what size bike to order, seeing as you did it by phone and halfords don't normally stock it?

I know I'm a medium on the Cannondale F4 and F5, and my current GT (or what's left of it now) was a 16. But the 16 sits halfway between the Cannondale sizes where I believe medium is 15" and large is 17".

I probably should have added that I'm at RBS too, so this is useful info because if it works for you, it should work for me

canada16

Hey

I am 5.10 and 31 inside leg and always fitted around a 18" frame, so really you cant go too wrong when it comes to size.

Also the number is 08700 660 511 option 2, they were really good and they guy said, when i phoned im just checking the wiggle website, now.

Bad news i got today, Superbud will not be ready now until march, But wiggle have been great so far and the finance director is seeing what he can do for me and is talking to the mechanics. so hopefully they come up with something as good or better for messing me around.

But to be honest I think some of the blame is to go to focus for messing wiggle around as well. But a head of a bike trip and been waiting since nov to get the super bud im a bit pissed.

Oh yeh and as far as bits and pieces, you need to buy what they have as they cannot order those items like a bike, which is why i went to 1000.00 exact as like you said halfords have nothing of interest to fit on a 1000.00 bike. what part of rbs do you work in.

Chaka Ping

I stand corrected.

When I was speaking to them last year about my voucher they told me they couldn't get reteailer-exclusive bikes. That must have changed.

I'll have to check out the Focus range myself for this year's voucher!

Douche

I just got my girlfirend a bike from halfords on the cyclescheme, im getting mine in the next few weeks and from speaking to them, if your ordering the bike for a cycle to whork scheme halfords advise they can source ANY manufacturer, whether it be Orange or Gary Fisher or Cannondale, if your paying cash they cant and you have to go through an approved dealer, but apparently this doesnt apply to Cyclescheme, Also i was under the impression you had to purchase the current years model at full RRp, my girl picked up an 07 Banshee with over £150 knocked off it, and considering she'll make another 35-40% saving on that as well its like the bargain of the century!!!! my god it weighs a shyte load though, but for her very first bike she aint ever gonna know the difference!!!!, i did try and get her to get the Fury but she didnt want to spend a full £500 on a bike ... but yeah ... you should be able to get ANY bike you want within your price bracket

Anonymouslemming

Well, I just heard back from Wiggle that they don't have any medium focus 2007's in stock, only the 2008, so I'm back to square one.

So far I've got my choices down to:
1. Cannondale F4 - but I don't like the look of the suspension on that
2. Cannondale F5 - Could do a lot better with my money, didn't like the brakes
3. A Boardman's of some variety

Any others I should be looking for at the £700 price range ? This seems a tough range to be looking in, and if need be, I'll stretch to £800 if that will get me something markedly better than the £600 range that the F5 sits in.