Your Input on these bikes
vim147
Posts: 120
Hi am having difficulty making a choice from these Hard-Trail bikes,
Giant Talon 3
Carrera Kraken
Cube Analog Disc
Marlin Bolinas Ridge
Boardman Sport
(All current models)
Requirements:
Budget £400-£500
Disc Brakes
Front Suspension with Lock-out
Nice Looking in Dark colour
I want a bike for mainly road/tough gravel paths but also want to be able to have a choice of using off-road and not be let down. I’d like to do single-tracks from time to time. As these bikes are Hard-Trails, I was thinking of using road tyres when on road then switch to bigger tyres when off roading.
My other option was to get a more aggressive version of Hybrids such as Specialized Crosstrail or Giant Roam XR and using 47c (or bigger) knobbly tyres for off-roading but I think don’t think the frame will give me much confidence.
I would say 70-80% will be on-road and the rest off-road at steady speed (nothing crazy, just tourist pace)
I like the Geometry of the Hard-Trail Bikes with road tyres compared to Hybrids but was wondering how much of a difference will it make for someone like me who would ride at a leisurely pace. (26” vs 700c etc)
Eventually I would like to do 50 mile day trips in Spain/France Etc once I get fit.
I am in no hurry to buy a bike so can wait till 2011 bike prices drop.
Am 33yrs old male who hasn’t owned a bike since I was 15 doing a paper round. Last time a did biking was 2yrs ago whilst on holiday in northern Thailand as an excursion using downhill jungle routes and single tracks. (Think it was a Merida Matts 60 bike)
Would be grateful of your thoughts/opinions.
Giant Talon 3
Carrera Kraken
Cube Analog Disc
Marlin Bolinas Ridge
Boardman Sport
(All current models)
Requirements:
Budget £400-£500
Disc Brakes
Front Suspension with Lock-out
Nice Looking in Dark colour
I want a bike for mainly road/tough gravel paths but also want to be able to have a choice of using off-road and not be let down. I’d like to do single-tracks from time to time. As these bikes are Hard-Trails, I was thinking of using road tyres when on road then switch to bigger tyres when off roading.
My other option was to get a more aggressive version of Hybrids such as Specialized Crosstrail or Giant Roam XR and using 47c (or bigger) knobbly tyres for off-roading but I think don’t think the frame will give me much confidence.
I would say 70-80% will be on-road and the rest off-road at steady speed (nothing crazy, just tourist pace)
I like the Geometry of the Hard-Trail Bikes with road tyres compared to Hybrids but was wondering how much of a difference will it make for someone like me who would ride at a leisurely pace. (26” vs 700c etc)
Eventually I would like to do 50 mile day trips in Spain/France Etc once I get fit.
I am in no hurry to buy a bike so can wait till 2011 bike prices drop.
Am 33yrs old male who hasn’t owned a bike since I was 15 doing a paper round. Last time a did biking was 2yrs ago whilst on holiday in northern Thailand as an excursion using downhill jungle routes and single tracks. (Think it was a Merida Matts 60 bike)
Would be grateful of your thoughts/opinions.
0
Comments
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Looking at the specs and from a bit of personal experience i would say the Boardman. It has the lightest wheel set, which will make a huge difference to how the bike rides and a
Rockshox fork with rebound adjustment which gets rid of the horrible feeling clunky return you get on the undamped Suntour forks, also good customer service from Rockshox. Have you thought about this i know the colour is not to you taste but has all the benefits of the Boardman plus you get a 15mm thru axle front fork with rebound damping which is unheard of at this price
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... 65499#dtab0
