Newbie with another FS Question!

abooth2909

Evenin' all! I'm new on here and looking for some advice. I currently own a Scott Yecora HT cable disc brake bike. I bought it intending to do some light trails and general "family friendly" (read unfit lazy git friendly) rides.

I started to get a bit more interested in slightly trickier stuff when I did Coed Llandegla (red route and some of the black)on the above bike. It was a baptism of fire to say the least. I struggled fitness wise but also wasn't that inspired by the bike compared to its performance on easy stuff!

I have since done the Whinlatter Altura trails on a hired Cube Acid (Blue and South Loop Red) and really enjoyed the downhill section even though the climbs were still a bit of a killer.

I have decided if I'm going to get into trail riding more and start enjoying the rougher stuff, I am going to upgrade my bike. I have decided to go for a FS bike due to a number of factors having read a load of threads on here, the main one being a bit more comfort and confidence going downhill on the rougher stuff.

I have narrowed it down to the following two:

Cube XMS 2010

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=44317

OR

Boardman Team FS

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... one=PDPz1#

The Boardman gets good reviews but I am looking for advice on which has the better and most durable components.

Any other options welcome in the £1000 ish range.

Cheers

Andy

submityournentries

having worked in a halfords for 2 years im inclined towards the boardman as i got the oppertunity to examine it in detail. the spec is hard to beat for that kind of money, and i personally havent heard of any large number of reccuring failures

(just because i know someone will post about the frame breakages, there were a handful of cases of frames snapping, but 1: boardman sold 21000 bikes in the last year, so that number of broken frames isnt bad, and 2: as far as im aware they should have been replaced under warrenty anyway )

the one drawback with a boardman is they have to be bought from halfords, which is very much a hit and miss affair. if you do decide to try one, go in on a weekday during the day (before 5pm) as this is when the specialists are in, and therefore the people who know the most hope thats helpful.

CraziScot

A little bit of a cheeky, I know, but how about this:-

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12728195&highlight=focus

The geometry is very similar to the Cube AMS if you have tried one of them.

Second hand, yes, but all in very new condition and well under your budget, gives a PM if you want more details or want to have a chat about price etc.

MountainMonster

CraziScot wrote:

A little bit of a cheeky, I know, but how about this:-

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12728195&highlight=focus

The geometry is very similar to the Cube AMS if you have tried one of them.

Second hand, yes, but all in very new condition and well under your budget, gives a PM if you want more details or want to have a chat about price etc.

Ugh if I had the cash for that right now I would snatch it up.

Looks quite nice.

To the OP, that bike seems like a very good deal.

abooth2909

Thanks for the offer craziscot, does look to be a good spec bike for the money.

I have found a Boardman Team FS for a good price second hand which I'm swaying towards. It will leave enough money left over to buy some other goodies!

Shaggy_Dog

The Trek Fuel EX 5 is a fantastic bike for the money if you value frame quality over fancy components. Trek are very fussy about who they choose to do business with so you are almost guaranteed a more satisfactory purchasing experience and after sales service.

A bike is only as good as the mechanic that built it and the person who set the suspension up. Very important on a full suspension bike.