Buying a new MTB...help!

gemlouise01

Hi Everyone,
I am new to the forum and wanted to ask a really important question.
I am joining up for the cycle to work scheme and want to get a mountain bike, Im not interested in getting a womens bike necessarily, in fact I'd prefer something a bit meaner looking. I have £450 to spend, no more than this, either in Halfords or Langsett cycles in Sheffield.
So here goes, what is the best bike I can get for my money? I dont want to be left with too much change if it means I could have got a better bike, I really want to get my moneys worth of bike. Its only a couple of miles ride to work, and not really many hills, but I am going to ride it at weekends as well, on tracks down to the woods etc and maybe in the peaks.
Whats the verdict? I have the choice between Scott, GT, Mongoose, Ridgeback etc. But its all a bit confusing for me.

Please help.

Gem

.blitz

gemlouise01 wrote:

I have £450 to spend, no more than this

Hi and welcome to the forum. If you haven't already got them, you will need to allocate some of your budget for a helmet & shorts, maybe a jacket, pump, tyre levers and lube. A decent helmet is worth every penny but TK Maxx/Decathlon/Tesco/Lidl have a good selection of inexpensive clothing

gemlouise01

Thanks .blitz

I did think about this and I do have a helmet, and some tools etc, I dont mind buying these separate at some point with my own money.
I have some gloves and a few tops but do need some new shorts etc. Luckily the company that I am working for are not only doing the cycle to work scheme but are also giving us a voucher worth 15% of whatever we spend on the bike. As I asked for £450 I think that entitles me to about £67. So I might use this to get a few bits and bobs.

Thanks

Gem.

starseven

Hi Gem

Are you girl? Presuming Gems short for Gemma I would recommend a Specialized Myka HT.
You can get a 2009 for £488 or a lesser spec 2010 model for £450. I'm sure either will serve you well. You may get other brands which have a slightly better spec widget or what not for the same price but nobody ever regretted buying a specialized, they are the volkswagons of the bike world. These are also women specific bikes and even if you dont like it, it'll sell on in a jiffy.

Good luck and happy riding

.blitz

Supersonic's guide has quite a few bikes in your price range. Women's specific bikes can be OK but some manufacturers (e.g. Cannondale) tend to go a bit berserk with the proportions and have ludicrously short top tubes. Try as many bikes as you can before you decide.

gemlouise01

Hi,

Yes I am a girl. I must admit I like the look of the Mika HT's, but where would I get one of these from? Can Halfords order them in do you know? Their range online is pretty limited.

Thanks for the advice, I will have a look.

Gem

starseven

Gem,

If you are buying with a bikes 2 work voucher that ties you into halfords they will order you most brands. If your using real spending money I dont think they will and you may be better going to local bike shop with a good reputation. Without wanting to start (another) halfords thread the bike preperation at halfrords can be a bit inconsistant.

If setting up a bicycle is not your thing you may want to get to know a friendly local shop or learn how to set up the brakes change a tyre etc yourself, its all pretty easy and part of the fun for some people.

Get a spech, kona or Gt evryone will know you mean business!!

Si78

Hi and Welcome gemlouise01

Yes, Halfords will order most makes of bikes in. But I think they only do them at R.R.P. (ie no offers or price matching etc)
Halfords often have deals on Carrera and GT bikes (20% off etc).

That 20% off would put something like a Carrea Fury 08 into your price range.
Best thing to do is sit on a few bikes and see if 'Male' geometry bikes fit you ok. If they do, then it gives you a much bigger choice of bikes than if you want a Women specific design.

Not sure when the next 20% off deal is on at Halfords, but they are quite regular.

andy46

my girlfriend has got a specialized myka sport and she loves it, she can be found most weekends on the trails round hamsterley forrest, plus compared to some womens bikes it doesn't look too girly! :roll:

gemlouise01

Thanks for the info guys.

I am debating now between a Specialized Myka HT Comp 2010 and a Specialized Myka HT Sport 2010. Does anyone know the difference between the 2 and which one is better?

Thanks

Gem

supersonic

Langsett cycles is a great shop. Why not visit them and see what they stock, and try a few out?

gemlouise01

Thanks, think I will do that this weekend.

Cheers

Gem

gemlouise01

Hi guys, me again.
I got very excited last night after visiting JE James for some advice and to sit on some bikes. I finally decided on either the Myka HT Comp or the Myka HT Sport 2010. Went up to Halfords and told them what I wanted and they said I have to order from head office not a store if I want something not made by halfords - fair enough, then the guy tells me that the "ladies carrera kraken mtb is a much better spec than either of those 2 specialized models" I mentioned.
Help. Now I am confused and I dont know which is the better bike, I had my heart set on one of the Mykas and now they are saying im not getting a very good bike for my money.
Any advice, which would you guys get? I dont know much about which gears and brakes etc are better.

Thanks in advance.

edhornby

just had a look at the online specs and there doesn't seem to be that much difference in spec, the Kraken is slightly better but there's very little in it

more important than the spec is the fit of the bike, have you had a demo of the halfords bike ? if not then I'd go with what you know works for you....

I'd say go with the myka

llamafarmer

If you can have a test ride on the Carrera then give it a try, but it sounds like you loved the Myka, so even if it's not quite as good value on paper you can't beat that feeling of having a new bike that just feels right.

* I haven't actually looked up the specs so I don't know what the difference is *

supersonic

I have to say the guy in Halfords is right - the Kraken is quite a bit better specced! 9 speed, hydro brakes and damped adjustable fork - the Myka has none of this.

Fit of course is important, but I'd try that Kraken out.

gemlouise01

Hi guys,

After much messing about and umming and arrrhing I got the carrera kraken 09 ladies bike. Its been 3 weeks ish now and all was well up until this morning. Had a lovely dry ride into work, even overtook someone at one point (which I was impressed with for me)lol. When I got to work I realised I had a puncture, piece of glass into the rear tyre, sliced right through. Couldn't believe it. So at lunchtime I attempted to fix it, thinking the whole time that this is half the fun of cycling, or at least cycling round the unswept streets of Sheffield.
Ok so im not the wimpiest of women, and I've never suffered this before so why the hell couldnt I get the tyre off the wheel to get at the inner tube? I ended asking obe of the guys I work with for a hand and even they said it was pretty damn tough, so for a ladies bike, surely it should be easier than this? It was like the tyre was just too tight to get over the rim of the wheel. anyone else had similar problems? and if so, what can you do to help it?

Thanks

Gem

ads4

I find most tyres nowadays are a right pain to get on and off, so it's not just you

supersonic

Good tyre levers, or strong thumbs.

I have never, ever been defeated!

nick1848

I found the tyres that came with my Carrera were a pain to get off (and back on!)

I find the following helps with stubborn tyres

1. Let all the air out and press both tyre beads into the centre of the rim, all the way round. This should mean the tyre is stretched as little as possible

2. Get a tyre lever under the bead and lift over the rim. Fix the lever to a spoke.

3. Go round the tyre again making sure the bead is as far into the centre of the rim as possible.

4. Use another tyre lever as close to the first as you can, ideally placed to clip onto the next spoke.

5. Hopefully you'll get the tyre off with 2 levers, I usually can, but if not use a 3rd lever. This should get the bead over the rim and then the tyre should come off buy running the lever round the rim.

Hope that makes sense. It's easier to do than explain!

Nick