Newbie here, please help (thanks)

srdenny

Hello everyone,

First post to this great site. Be nice to me lol!

I know there's been so many what bike posts, and I'm about to add another. Though once I have got one I can then join in on the other stuff

Firstly, the bike. I want to spend no more than £350 really. This is my first bike since I have been driving (some 10 years). Will be using it for fairly light stuff to begin with - roads, gravel paths and the odd trail. Will be riding it over Cannock Chase on the gentle stuff, but would also like to be able to do FTD with it as well. Have already a few in mind, and with 08's making way for 09's there are a few bargains about.

So... Trek 4500, Gary Fisher Wahoo, Giant Yukon or Hardrock Sport??
Any others you think I should look at I would appreciate.

Have read that no real point to having cable discs over V's unless in really muddy stuff which I won't be. Both the Trek and GF come with disc hubs so could I go straight to hydros from them?

Also sizes... I'm 6ft and given what I would be using for what would you say is the better size. One shop said 18", the other 19". The Trek comes in 18" or 19.5" so would the latter be too big?

ALL advice greatly appreciated!!
TIA
Scott

joe1890

hey mate try the gt avalanche range - if you can manage it the 2.0 is a nice solid bike that comes with hyrdos (tektro aurigas) that really aren't too bad. the white fram e looks pretty fly n you'd be a large as GT frames come up pretty big. have a look, it retails for £399 but could probs find it cheaper somewhere. the frames decent too, so maybe could go down the upgrade route too if you find you want to. they're not the lightest but are really strong and ride superb. sit on one before buying though, the geometry can be a bit odd with a fairly long top tube.
hope that helps!

Daz555

GT Avalanche 3.0 £339 http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/GT_Av ... 360039139/

You can probably still find the 08 model for £299 which would leave you a few quid to buy a helmet etc.

xtreem

I think it's not worth buying 2009 bikes yet. With the same amount of cash you can buy a 2008 bike with better spec.
srdenny your name is Scott wright?
So why don't you go for Scott Aspect 45, for £300 (or from some lbs for £350), simmilar to the Avalanche 2.0.

srdenny

Yes that's right. I had seen the Scott Aspect 45 but can only find it for £400 which is too much really. Unless you know of someone who has got it for less?

Read the review of the GT Ava 3 on here and it doesn't score too highly, well nto as much as the Gary Fisher or Trek 4300 anyway. The review of the Trek 4300 made me think about getting one of those, but then when I saw the 4500 had better forks and gearset for roughly the same price it seemed a better deal.

Does anyone have one of these Treks? Are they any good?

Thanks for the replies, keep them coming!