Want to buy a bike for hubby but need help please

Hello all,
Its my hubby's birthday next month and I want to get him a new mountain bike he is a complete newbie to mountain bikes and is using my 15 + year old mountain bike that was about £120 from Halfords so you can see why he might aprecieate a new bike
I have to say that since he has taken up biking he is a changed man, he has gone from being a grumpy 18st 38yo (hope he does not read this
) to a 15st very happy man again and the weight is still falling of him , the change in him has been amazing and all in a few months so I would really like to suprise him and get him a decent bike
I have spoken to a few of the guys in my local bike shops but have just left each of them even more confused then when I went in
I have a max budget of £1000 at a real push although around the £900 would be better , and think I need to get him a hardtail bike , so my question is what do I get him ? the only clue to what bike is a bike he has showed me ages ago in a magazine he read ......
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=cycle&ProdID=5360032357&N=Focus%20Killer%20Bee%20Disc%202008
so is there anybody here who could have a look at the spec of the Focus bike and tell me what they think ? or maybe suggest a better bike for the money ?
Kerry
ps I showed the spec of the Focus bike to a friend at work who does a little bit of biking and he said that the 07 model of the bike has a better spec ??? that does not seem right to me that they would downgrade the spec of the new 08 model
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=cycle&ProdID=5360026030
Its my hubby's birthday next month and I want to get him a new mountain bike he is a complete newbie to mountain bikes and is using my 15 + year old mountain bike that was about £120 from Halfords so you can see why he might aprecieate a new bike

I have to say that since he has taken up biking he is a changed man, he has gone from being a grumpy 18st 38yo (hope he does not read this

I have spoken to a few of the guys in my local bike shops but have just left each of them even more confused then when I went in

I have a max budget of £1000 at a real push although around the £900 would be better , and think I need to get him a hardtail bike , so my question is what do I get him ? the only clue to what bike is a bike he has showed me ages ago in a magazine he read ......
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=cycle&ProdID=5360032357&N=Focus%20Killer%20Bee%20Disc%202008
so is there anybody here who could have a look at the spec of the Focus bike and tell me what they think ? or maybe suggest a better bike for the money ?
Kerry
ps I showed the spec of the Focus bike to a friend at work who does a little bit of biking and he said that the 07 model of the bike has a better spec ??? that does not seem right to me that they would downgrade the spec of the new 08 model
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=cycle&ProdID=5360026030
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Posts
still the 2008 is a good spec and there is not much out there to beat it at the price.
Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
The brakes on the '07 are different too, but they're of similar quality, personally I prefer the '07, it looks nicer (I don't like the lime green!)
But saying that I've just noticed that the '07 one is no longer available on the wiggle website!
Merlin also do some great bikes too, the Malt 4 is well within budget : http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=produ ... egoryId=39
Have to say I did not notice that the 07 bike was no longer available :oops:
The only problem I have with the Focus bike is that you can only get it online
Just to throw a spanner in the spokes are there any full sus bikes in that price range that are any good ? I have only ruled out the full sus bikes as I have been told I need to spend more money then my budget allows to get a decent full sus bike and that by getting a hardtail my money would buy a much better spec of bike then a full sus bike
Kerry
Hardtail would (in my opinion) be the better buy.
Re Focus as a brand, in the shop i help out in they are the biggest seller (I am Not UK based) and the quality and build and preparation are very good. I believe that wiggle do further set ups as well. So i am 100% happy recommending the Brand, But the service from wiggle i can not comment on. generally they are great but... Also they have a 1 week if you are not happy return it etc... so check when you want it delivered just incase it needs to go back.
Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
also it makes me feel all nice and warm inside you're getting him a decent bike. sounds like biking has really helped him which is fantastic. good stuff
So I see a few of you have recommended the Marin bikes so is the Marin rocky ridge a better bike then the focus would you think ?
http://www.marin.co.uk/2008/bikedetail.php?ModNo=3873
and can you get Marin bikes from shops ?
Kerry
What sort of riding does your husband do? Out and out Cross-Country riding, or a little bit more, what some call "trail" riding? Or is there a possibility he will get into the more aggressive riding at a later date?
One final question - what brands of bikes are available from you local shops?
dont worry any bike you buy at this price range will be a sweet bike. but it all decides what kind of riding he dose
OnOne 456
So you should have no concerns about using Wiggle to buy the bike (in my opinion and experiences anyway).
Also, the 0% finance offer they provide was fantastic too.
I am local to this shop .... http://www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk/fort-dunlop/d4w.asp
and was told by one of the sales guys there that the rockhopper 08 disc bike would suit him fine http://www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk/generic/rockhopper.asp and that would aslo save me some money
Kerry[/list]
ok I will try not to waste anymore of your time but have just had a look at the RH comp and the RH pro bikes like you said and wondered how they compared to the focus killer bee bike
http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=86113
http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=86114
and just to add one more to the mix how does this rate ... http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=86108
Kerry
every body sould buy from shops to try keep them running, oh by the way you can haggel with them, i got a £80 worth of stuff free, a helmet and some other stuff. cant say enough good things about them really!
OnOne 456
And I'd go to the concept store over Evans, better product knowledge and potentially servicing, although that is of course an unsubstantiated generalisation!
You won't do much better for the money
Giving it Large
VOODOO CANZO
Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
Merlin Malt 4 + 08 XT groupset £900
http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=produ ... egoryId=39
Merlin Rock Lobsters £900
http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=categ ... egoryId=38
Focus Superbud £1100 (seems to have gone up £100 hmm)
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... Bud%202008
out of the 3 you just posted i'd have the Specialized Rockhopper Pro Disc 2008, looks a good hardtail to me
http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected] ... 025278584/
Yeah supersonic I did think of that suppose I should do really I suppose its like buying a pair of shoes (sorry but I am a girl )
Kerry
I am going to take him to the concept store and get him one of the rockhopper bikes comp spec I think
he is going to think he is just taking me on another one of my shopping trips to the fort retail park
Thanks again for all your help guys
Kerry
Then go to Dwell and treat yourself
Giving it Large
OnOne 456
ooh that's a thought think I will get him some socks instead you cannot go wrong with socks
http://www.cyclesurgery.com/ProductsLis ... 3cac431289
They have just opened a branch in snow and rock in B'ham !!