First bike in a long time.

myrie
myrie Posts: 7
edited December 2011 in MTB beginners
Hi,

I'm new to bikeradar and I think I've kind of overloaded myself with information but its coming up to Xmas and I'm looking to get back into MTB for fitness and a new hobby. I would usually just ask my question and wait for a responce but I think its quite rude and im serious about getting back into biking so I'll introduce myself so I can feel at ease revisiting the forums.

Firstly I'll give a little info about me. Basically I'm a student Nurse (male... shocking?), go to the gym (weights no cardio) and play football on mondays. I'm of an average build but feel quite unfit. Roughly 5 years ago I used to ride my bike everywere. I had a trials bike which cost my mom quite alot of money back then (~600) and I loved the frame. It was a quite large frame but very light with big, very soft, red suspention forks which again I can't remember the name of either. The bike got given away by my mom to my uncle as I didn't ride it very much due to other commitments which later got stolen.

Now that little intro is over I'll fire away. As I said I'm looking to get back into biking but unfortunately being a student my budget is roughly £300-£500! Obviously I'd prefer to spend less but I'm far from cheap and quite neive with money. I seem to spend money on "names" rather than quality items. So my budget is £300-£500 and I'm just curious of what to actually buy? I've looked at alot of specialized hardrock bikes but some reviews on here put me off alot. I'm also going to look at a Carrera Kraken which is coming off a police officer who says he's rode it 2x to work and then got given a police bike so it has never been used since then. The price hes asking for is very low at 175 which from reviews on here I would be silly not to purchase and probably is a huge saving but I'm really not into buying used products (call me picky). The bikes I've been looking at are...

GT Avalanche 20 Hydro
Diamondback Response Sport
Trek 4300 Disc
Carrera Kraken
Mongoose Tyax
and a few others...

so basically any advice would be great. I'm quite into how the frame looks, I will hate to look a newbie on a really thin frame bike! (that probably makes no sense to alot of people) Thanks for reading and any responces in advance

Comments

  • 1mancity2
    1mancity2 Posts: 2,355
    edited November 2011
    Welcome aboard,

    The Carrera for £175 is a cracking bike, the money you save could be used to buy clothing, helmet etc.

    Have a look at decathlon bikes not a big name as such but great bikes and spec for the money,

    http://www.decathlon.co.uk/81-2011-id_8168695.html

    Or go and look at paulcycles some great bikes at sale prices,

    http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/offers.php?cat=1
    Finished, Check out my custom Giant Reign 2010
    Dirt Jumper Dmr Sidekick2
  • sexysi
    sexysi Posts: 50
    Agree with the above, carrerea looks a steal at that price.

    si
    "Oh, Edmund! Can it be true? That I hold here, in my mortal hands, a nugget of purest green!"
    Road = 1980 Raleigh Record Sprint
    MTB = 2000 Scott Vail
    Road = 2002 Peugeot c300 comp road race bike
    Road = 2012 Bianchi Impulso
    Car = Saab 93, MGTF
  • myrie
    myrie Posts: 7
    Thanks for the responce, paulscycles has so many lol, will go visit the store today before going to look at the Carrera
  • myrie
    myrie Posts: 7
    just to say, the Carrera Kraken is the 2010 model I believe in grey! still a bargain?
  • 1mancity2
    1mancity2 Posts: 2,355
    myrie wrote:
    just to say, the Carrera Kraken is the 2010 model I believe in grey! still a bargain?

    Aye :wink:
    Finished, Check out my custom Giant Reign 2010
    Dirt Jumper Dmr Sidekick2
  • myrie
    myrie Posts: 7
    Well that bike was already sold, quite disapointed since they said I would have first "dibs" but oh well!

    The specialized Hardrock sport disc 2011 is currently on offer so I actually think I'll get one of those, £370 instead of £500, quite good considering its brand new and I hear there after sales is v.good.

    now THE BIG QUESTION! white/blk or red/blk/white :D
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    The Hardrock is not a very good bike for the money, much better out there. It was £460, never £500. The Rockriders for example.
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • myrie
    myrie Posts: 7
    Is there a huge difference between all of them (<£500 bikes)? because I read the krakken is v.good but has issues with blah, gt avalanche is a great bike but let down by blah. Same as the hard rock, its let down by its forks? For 370 I don't think ill find better new.

    The paulscycles link is great but its also quite far away from where I live and don't want to make my first purchase online and also there sales bring them inline with the hardrock price! Wish I had more money as for that extra £200 you seem to get a much better bike, but then again for another £200 ontop of that you get a much better bike again, never ending cycle!
  • 1mancity2
    1mancity2 Posts: 2,355
    You will always find something just not "right"

    The lower you go the bigger the compromise on parts, i.e £500 bike, poor forks an expensive part to change.
    Finished, Check out my custom Giant Reign 2010
    Dirt Jumper Dmr Sidekick2
  • myrie
    myrie Posts: 7
    I ended up with the specalized hardrock sport disc. hopefully will do the job for a few years till I finish uni and can get better! NOW I have another problem!

    ROOF RACKS/BARS! Duno if anyone can even help here but I have access to two cars,

    a brand new fiat 500 (with spoiler)
    and a 51 plate VW lupo (also with spolier)

    any recommendations? gf is a bit iffy with her 500 being fitted with roof bars though, surely can pursade her though!
  • jakestanworth
    jakestanworth Posts: 26
    you will not find a bike better than this for the money
    http://www.decathlon.co.uk/81-2011-id_8168695.html

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