Need a new bike mountain/commuting

ianianian

Hello,

Hope everyone’s well.

Short time reader, first time poster.

Basically, I’ve been mountain biking a couple of times and I’ve loved it and I’ve always wanted to bike to work and I’m finally going to take the plunge. The reason I’ve taken so long to come to buy a bike is that I have absolutely no idea about them!

Can someone recommend something for me? As I say, I want it for a bit of mountain biking and a bit of riding to work.

I'm prepared to pay 500-600, although if there one much better for a few extra pound or one that’s the same for less that’s great! While, I’m a nubie now, I don’t intend to stay that way for long, so I’d like something that can grow with me, but I need a new one, as with little knowledge I could easily get ripped of by a second hand seller.

I went into a bike shop yesterday and the guy just started throwing words at me, I think I heard hardtail in there and he recommended the orange G2. I'm really into the gym, and i know that in gym shops they prey on selling rubbish to kids with no money, so while i don't mean to be rude towards someone in a shop that offered me advice, i'm a little wary.

Any help is really appreciated!!!

Thanks

ian

explosifpete

fist bit of advice would be to look at this link;

http://www.evanscycles.com/ride2work.js ... E89E96.tc7
As its a good way to get 40% off the price of your bike.
Now as for which bike you should get its not thats straight foward as there are now so many types of bike avalible but if you could answer some questions it would really help.

How far is your commute?
Where will you be offroading?
Do you want to jumps or hardcore style riding?
Whats more important, speed or comfort?

I would recomend a hardtail (front but no rear suspention) as full suspention at this price is heavy and is let down by parts.
The orange g2 you spoke of is not a bad bike but you could do better for the same money.

these are a few examples of good bikes for the money, the scott being my choise as its a faster racer type bike.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... 720%202008

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... one%202008

http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=86486

Hope this help

hoathy

Here are some options:

Specialized Rockhopper Disc 2008 - This is a properly decent MTB hardtail that will also handle your commute, it has a M4 Aluminum frame which is light and well worht keeping/upgrading. It also has Rock Shox Toras with a Lock out which means when on the road you can save your self a little energy. I have had 2 rockhoppers over the years and was generally impressed with both. Its £599.

GT Avalanche 1.0 Disc 2008 - This cheaper than the Specialzed, and it pretty much as well equiped, except for the fork which is not nearly as good and the frame which isn't as good either, but as I mentioned: it is cheaper. Its £499. You might want to consider the next one up which is the Avalanche Expert 2008, it has Toras as well but unlike the rockhopper they have travel adjust (U-Turn), this means they have 135mm of travel, but also weigh more (not so good for the commute)

Trek 6500 Disc 2008 - Evans Cycles have these on sale at £599, which is a good price, but they are pretty similar in spec to the rockhopper, they have the same fork, and in general in my opinion the frame is not as good. But: they are a bit longer in the top tube, which means you might find it better for the road!

Orange G2 2008 - At £550, This is OK, a nice frame, and a good brand, its going to be well made, but the fork and the gearing spec is not as good as the others. If you like the look and ride of it, I would say its worth spending a little more and having the G3 which buys you the same basic spec as the Avalanche expert and teh rockhopper for £650.

The guy in the shop will of course suggest what they sell, and often what they have in stock. He's not steering you far wrong with the G2 though, don't write him off just yet. There are countless more bikes at thsi price range with decent ones in the Giant and Marin ranges too. Try some out! See what you like!

hoathy

Both the Kona and the Felt suggested by ExplosifPete have Dart forks, my advice is: whatever you get don't get dart forks! the Scott he cheifly suggests looks pretty damn good though, and offers a more racing option than any of my suggestions![/quote]

Keith Oates

If you go to a good Giant stockist I'd be suprised of you didn't find something that covers your needs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

explosifpete

Hoathy is right about the darts, I didn't notice them

ianianian

Thanks guys,

i think ive heard something about that bike2work thing in our place, i'll enquire into it!

To answer your questions,

My commute is about 5 km each way.
I wont be off roading up everest, more foresty type environment
No intention of jumping anywhere
While i like the idea of speed, im not going to be racing, so its not essential to have the fastest bike.

I really appreciate your help though, to use my gym shop analogy, its often the case that when someone without a clue goes in, they get told to buy the most expensive protein, which is no better than one half the price that no-one with a clue would go near. Thats why i thought id run it past you guys who have nothing to gain from what type of bike i buy,

Alana

HI everyone, I was about to post exactually the same question!!!! I am getting into cycling mainly due to high cost of cycling, so thanks everyone!

Underscore

If you're going to doing mainly fireroad and the like in the forests, you might like to consider a cyclocross bike. Having said that, 5km each way shouldn't be too bad on a MTB - especially if you bung some semi-slicks on it.

_

cupofteacp

for an unbiased suggestion

Go for the Orange their the best bikes in the world.

Well-built and good a geometry

simon_e

Do you really need front suspension? It makes mountain biking more comfortable on really rough surfaces but is not essential. I rigid a rigid Kona and, while it's more bumpy at times, I keep my arms bent where necessary and get around the places my mate does on his Specialized with fancy forks. Zero maintenance too.

A colleague now has a matt black Marin Novato (rigid fork) for a mix of commuting & offroad rides and loves it. She bought it through the Ride 2 Work scheme (see www.cyclescheme.co.uk). You may have to bone up on the info etc before twisting your boss/company's arm to do it, even though it's dead simple and everyone's a winner.

Visit a few different shops, they stock different brands. Get a test ride or try-out and find the bike that feels best for you, not the shop owner. A good shop won't patronise, but will look after you so you come back for spares, bits, clothing etc and recommend them to your friends.

If you're commuting most of the time with the occasional easy offroad excursion then ask about in-between tyres (for lack of a better term). These aren't slicks but also not out-and-out knobblies, say 1.5" or 32mm ones with some tread. Something like a Specialized Crossroads Armadillo, which has good puncture protection too.

hoathy

yeah, you could get a rigid bike, like the novato, but its not an mtb, and will be well out of its depth if you try anything more that a fireroad, mountain bikes make better all rounders. expecially if you get something with a lock-out.

simon_e

Hoathy wrote:

yeah, you could get a rigid bike, like the novato, but its not an mtb, and will be well out of its depth if you try anything more that a fireroad.

I'm not sure I agree, people rode (and still ride) rough stuff happily with rigid forks.

Admittedly the Novato is a city bike so gearing would be a tough high for real tight, steep stuff but I reckon could handle most things readily enough.

hoathy

ok, i see what you mean, i think the ideal would be a rigid bike, but a proper MTB rather than a hybrid like the marin. like a geared inbred with carbon forks.... there aren't that many rigid new mtbs about these days...

simon_e

Hoathy wrote:

ok, i see what you mean, i think the ideal would be a rigid bike, but a proper MTB rather than a hybrid like the marin. like a geared inbred with carbon forks.... there aren't that many rigid new mtbs about these days...

A bit of a shame, though I understand why that's the case.

I thought of an On-One build too