£500ish budget, help me choose !

Ricey77

Hi there, relatively new to the MTB scene, although have always enjoyed cycling. I currently ride a budget Scott Sandoa i think it is, a few years old now, but has covered many miles and has never let me down !! I live in North Devon and my rides are mainly hilly B roads and the odd track and coastal path.
The thing is the company i work for allows employees to use the cycle scheme to purchase a new bike, and spread the payments over 12 months with tax relief, a goverment scheme i think. So i thought hmmm half price bike ? I want one !!
I have been to the two local shops work deals with, one was ok, and the other really helpful and gave me loads of advice and information. Here are the bikes they suggested.

GT Avalanche 1.0 2008 Model £500 from 'the really helpful shop'
Scott Aspect 20 £549 again from 'the really helpful shop'
Giant XtC 4.5 £500 from the 'ok' shop


So what are your guys thoughts? Would like to deal with the 'helpful' shop if i can, but if the Giant is a better bike i will go with that.

Sorry for the long first post, but i dont want to get the wrong bike !!
Cheers,
Nick.

Andy

Carrera Fury - Halfords,

Ricey77

can't deal with Halfrauds !!

beccalily

Ricey77 wrote:

can't deal with Halfrauds !!

Theres nothing wrong with us. Thanks. :evil:

Andy

I think he literally means he cant get bikes from halfords on the scheme.

James_F

They're all good, and you'll be happy with whatever you choose. The Avalanche 1.0 always gets good reviews. If you do a fair bit of riding on the roads you might want to look for a suspension fork with lockout. I don't think the Avalanche has this, not sure about the others.

Ricey77

andrew156 wrote:

I think he literally means he cant get bikes from halfords on the scheme.

Correct !!

The Spiderman

All good bikes you have selected.The Avalanche always gets good reviews,and is normally one of the reccomended £500 bike,in the bike mags.Likewise the XTC.I have an XTC myself,and looked at the Avalanche too.
Having ridden both,the XTC and Avalanche the main differences are in the riding position.The Avalanche is more upright,the XTC more stretched out and xc racer,so it will depend on your preference.
I think the Avalanche has slightly the better spec,of the 2 though.
I would prefer the Shimano Octalink bottom bracket of the Avalanche,for reasons of durability,and the Tektro Auriga brakes are probably easier to maintain and live with,than the MPH brakes on the Giant.The Avalanche comes with SPD pedals too.
Both seem to have lock out.
Don`t know anything about the Scott, from personal experience not having ridden one but they are normally good bikes,with very nice frames.Spec is good and reliable,very similar to the Avalanche,but the brakes on the Scott are a bit better,which goes some way to justifying the £50 premium,

If there is little in it,choose the one that feels right to you ,then go with the shop that is going to provide the best service.

The General

Out of those three, definately the avalanche.

Gazzareth

I have just got the Avalanche 1.0 - I am quite impressed with it, although I have not taken it out to the trails yet - just messing around on the local cycle track, since I want to get used to using SPD's before I attempt to kill myself on the singletrack....

Brakes work well (much better than my old "V"'s on my last bike) and the fork has a lockout, mine came with rubbish flats rather than SPD's although I know the GT site says it comes with PDM520's - which is what I put on it anyway (had already got them from Merlin!!) !!!!!

G

Ricey77

Thanks for the info guys !!
I have sat on both the Giant and GT and prefferd the 'feel' of the GT, now here is a question for you !

Is the Avalanche Expert worth the extra £200 over the 1.0?

I'm thinking f#ck it, might aswell take advantage of this scheme !!

easyg

It is.

But - have you considered looking at the 07 deals which are in virtually every bike supplier at the moment?? Okay its 07, but the savings at some places would mean you could get a hell of a hardtail for 500 notes.

Would the scheme allow you to do that??

Ricey77

Well the new bike is all ordered !!!
I went for the Avalanche Expert in the end, after the test drive i couldnt say no !!!
So much for the £500 budget !!
Thanks for the advice.
Nick.