the top dog

Felix-da-house-mouse

i have around £500 to spend on a bike, to do mostly bombing around on, some trails uo the hills & forest but something thats a good starting point. I will probably use it for cycling the 8 miles or so a day back and forth to work. which one of the below would you go for? or any other recommendations that you may have, been told hardtail is best option :-

as above

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... 0-08-24827

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... 4071?img=4

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... he-10-9265

http://www.discountcyclesdirect.co.uk/p ... ts_id=7126

artillerydave

If you can strech your budget a touch look at the Merlin Malt 1 a great bike and great spec to boot, would put your other selected bikes to shame. If not then try one of the GT's they seem to get reasonably good reviews and are a decent starting point.

Chaka Ping

And have a sniff around for disocunted bikes from '06 or '07, especially the GT.

A quick play with Google should help you save some $$$

BlackSpur

The Kona is a 24 inch wheeled dirt jump bike, and wouldn't be good for anything else other than dirt jumping really. The Avalanche 1 is a great bike for the money.

Felix-da-house-mouse

which one of the gt's though?

supersonic

Look at the Carrera Fury too, 460 at the moment. Nothing to touch it at that price.