looking for advise on a new bike

lowcall

Hello.
I am new to this mountain bike lark, have been on the roads for a year or so to do some excersise but have been persuaded to give off road a go.
I am enrolling in the company cycle to work scheme through evans cycles so have 800 pounds to spend.
Looking for a hard tail as I think I will get a better bike for the money, also as i am a big bloke 6' 2'' and a few to many pounds.
looking to do mainly trail riding, nothing to extreme.
After some consideration these were the options I have come up with if anyone would like to comment.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pin ... 7#features

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/spe ... rockhopper - available for £700

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/tre ... e-ec030270

Or could it be worth waiting for
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/gho ... e-ec032370

I will be making a trip to the store to peruse the goods this weekend but am any expert opinion would be gretaly apreciated.

1mancity2

I'd go with the rockhopper, its a cracking bike and a very good frame if you decide to upgrade parts as they wearout, also a 30.9mm seatpost if you want to add a dropper post later.

The Trek is also good as with the Ghost but I think the Rockhopper edges it for me.

supersonic

I'd lean towards the pinancle - got the best fork and spec, and the lightest.

spongtastic

Trek's already 10 speed so no problem with upgrading with newer kit.

Pudseyp

Yep either the Pinnicle or Spesh...like SS saya the Pinnicle is the better spec....best advice is get to your local evans and see what feels the most comfortable under you.

lowcall

Thanks for the advise - i visited the shop and I think the specialized might be the way to go.
They did not have the size I wanted so it will involve another trip.

I did notice that it was a sprung suspension as oposed to air.
Is it better to compromise a bit on other areas and get air, or even pay a few pounds more.
I an not intending doing anything to hard core is spring suspension OK

I did notice this bike but can not find much information on the net.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fuji/tahoe-20-2011-mountain-bike-ec024664

Thanks for any advise that is offered

Pudseyp

The difference sometimes is negligable between air and coil, you can get some coil forks that are as good as air such as the Fox vanila...coil forks are a lot easier and a lot cheaper to maintain. A coil for can also be just as responsive and can again be easier to set up.

Fuji I think are a brand exclusive to Evans.

The Rookie

Too add, an air can is more expensive than a coil, so for the same price the rest of a coil fork should be better than the rest of an air......at this price point it certainly shouldn't be considered a deal breaker although the very light or heavy can struggle with a coil as it has a fixed spring rate (you adjust the preload) while adjusting the air pressure in an air fork adjusts the spring rate.

Simon

lowcall

Thanks for all the advise, after all that I picked up a trek 6500 2011 model for 850 on a price match.
The spec looked good and I do like trek, have a road bike from them and have never had any problems.

It is available for 800 from wheelbase but Evans don't price match against them