is my bike up for the job :)

connoraslett96
connoraslett96 Posts: 32
edited May 2012 in MTB beginners
hey guys i got this bike, its a apollo phaze but with some tektro mechanical brakes at the front and sutour xcr front forks, everything else is stock, and if it is okay can you help me out to if hydraulics can be installed, what else needs improving, i want to take it on some rough stuff, like downhill but at my own pace or just any rough stuff but not XC riding :) but i hate the feel of full suspension and budget is a big problem, so do you think the frame will hold, if i can i want to keep this bike because even though its cheap it feels so unique and like it has a personality (sorry going all soppy) or if its not up for the job can you advice me on a hard tail thats between £400- £500 with some decent forks with travel, thanks for your help :)
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165499

Comments

  • Majski
    Majski Posts: 443
    I would ride it as it is, and not spend too much upgrading then buy something else when you find it's not coping with what you throw at it. You won't get anything specifically for downhill at that price range but a number of hard hitting hardtails are more than up to the job. You may be able to find a second hand cove stiffee or something similar for around that price range. If you want to ride downhill on it i'd recommend a slightly smaller (in height, not reach) frame than you'd use for cross country, longer travel (120-140mm) forks and a short stem with some wideish riser bars.

    No idea specifically what is about for that as i'm not really into hardtail riding apart, but something like an older cove stiffee or orange ms isle may do the trick
  • Majski
    Majski Posts: 443
    I built this a few years back for riding all mountain and a bit of downhill. This particular build would be way out of price range but it gives you an idea on the shape / geometry of a hardtail that's good for aggressive riding

    Photo0708.jpg
  • Twelly
    Twelly Posts: 1,437
    edited May 2012
    It depends what your definition of 'rough stuff' is I guess. I would just take it to the nearest trail centre or good riding spot and ride it. You will soon discover where the bike is lacking.

    Just don't expect too much from it, it hasn't really been built with 'rough stuff' in mind, more for commuting with some slightly gravelly paths on the way to work. If you ride it hard, things will break (as they would on any bike but maybe more often with this).

    Take it easy until you have gauged the capabilities of the brakes and the bikes handling. You don't want to start barrelling down a root covered slope and suddenly find out your budget mechanical brakes can't stop you before your face is introduced to a tree.
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  • connoraslett96
    connoraslett96 Posts: 32
    thanks all for your help its greatly appreciated, well is there any bikes you would advice me to go as my budget would be £400- £500, also this bike taken it in for a service and i have done a few hundred miles on it, but now the chainrings, chain have all become worn, its not even a year old but not to sure, but i taken this bike down stairs and the lot and the worst i came out with is a buckled front wheel which was easy to put right, thank you so much though its greatly appreciated :)
  • Twelly
    Twelly Posts: 1,437
    http://www.decathlon.co.uk/81-2011-id_8168695.html

    You won't find anything much better than that for £500. Go to a store and try one first though.

    If your chainrings and chain are worn you may have issues with gears slipping which isn't a huge issue on descents but if you are out of the saddle hacking up a hill and your chain pings off, you had better have some iron balls or a well padded top tube...

    If you have had the buckled wheel trued it will be fine but again bear in mind that these wheels are probably not designed to take too much of a beating so you may find them being slightly buckled very easily.

    If you have got the £500 to spend then buy the Rockrider and you will have more fun, have more control and won't be wasting money maintaining a budget bike.
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  • Majski
    Majski Posts: 443
    Riding down stairs shouldn't really buckle a front wheel, you'll be knocking it about a lot more on a trail.
  • Majski
    Majski Posts: 443
    TwellySmat wrote:
    http://www.decathlon.co.uk/81-2011-id_8168695.html

    You won't find anything much better than that for £500. Go to a store and try one first though.

    If your chainrings and chain are worn you may have issues with gears slipping which isn't a huge issue on descents but if you are out of the saddle hacking up a hill and your chain pings off, you had better have some iron balls or a well padded top tube...

    If you have had the buckled wheel trued it will be fine but again bear in mind that these wheels are probably not designed to take too much of a beating so you may find them being slightly buckled very easily.

    If you have got the £500 to spend then buy the Rockrider and you will have more fun, have more control and won't be wasting money maintaining a budget bike.


    That's well specced for the money but would be horrible on downhill. It's a pretty XC only type bike.
  • connoraslett96
    connoraslett96 Posts: 32
    okay thanks again your all great well, i had a look at a specialised bike and scott and they look great but alot have only 80mm travel, i know its because its for xc just want something thats good at descents, take a beating, but got the specs to match, i know alot of people dont like halfords but there the only place i can find these bikes, because now days i seen that bikes are generally for that categorised only, for example XC and nothing that got a little in everything, would you all say halfords bikes are okay, im just curious as i had no problem with my phaze i bought with them except they gave it faulty front forks, because the wheel wouldnt sit snug always leaned to the left or right, but they seemed good, they replaced the wheel, bearings, axel and eventually the forks and they were quick, but for more upper end bikes are they any good at all, sorry bout the questions :)
  • Majski
    Majski Posts: 443
    Halfords should be ok, but like with anything, you get what you pay for. The type of bike that 'does everything' tend to be very expensive. They have to be specced well enough for downhill with long travel, good brakes etc, yet be light enough to climb on. A lot of do it all bikes tend to be full suspension too, so you're up into the thousands then.

    I'd look at a hardtail with a min 120mm fork if you want to ride any sort of downhill on it, ideall 140mm.
  • connoraslett96
    connoraslett96 Posts: 32
    okay thats great thanks again your all a great help :)
  • Twelly
    Twelly Posts: 1,437
    Majski wrote:
    TwellySmat wrote:
    http://www.decathlon.co.uk/81-2011-id_8168695.html

    You won't find anything much better than that for £500. Go to a store and try one first though.

    If your chainrings and chain are worn you may have issues with gears slipping which isn't a huge issue on descents but if you are out of the saddle hacking up a hill and your chain pings off, you had better have some iron balls or a well padded top tube...

    If you have had the buckled wheel trued it will be fine but again bear in mind that these wheels are probably not designed to take too much of a beating so you may find them being slightly buckled very easily.

    If you have got the £500 to spend then buy the Rockrider and you will have more fun, have more control and won't be wasting money maintaining a budget bike.


    That's well specced for the money but would be horrible on downhill. It's a pretty XC only type bike.

    Sorry yeah, you are right. I forgot the OP was looking at DH..

    I would look at ebay and classifieds. You may be able to pick up a full suss DH bike which is a couple of years old and has few scars for that. This seems reasonable to me but I am in no way an expert on DH bikes and I have no idea what condition that is in.
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  • Majski
    Majski Posts: 443
    "8.5Inch bomber forks"
    "red/black wheels and rims"
    "potential to do anything"

    ha, sounds like the guy selling it isn't an expert either! But yeah if you want to ride ONLY downhill then something like that is ok for a starting point. But bear in mind that you can only ride downhill on it and not xc as it won't get you up any hills. It'll also require a lot more fettling than a new hardtail

    You need to decide exactly what you want to do I suppose. You want something you can ride anywhere on? Long travel hardtail. You ONLY want to ride downhill, 2nd hand downhill bike may be your best bet. Also depends on your riding experience. If you're a new rider you will pick up lots of bad habits by only riding a downhill bike - they can make you a little lazy!
  • Majski
    Majski Posts: 443
    also don't worry about hating the feeling of full suss. Once you ride a properly set up bike on the appropriate terrain you'll soon get over that worry
  • Twelly
    Twelly Posts: 1,437
    Majski wrote:
    "8.5Inch bomber forks"
    "red/black wheels and rims"
    "potential to do anything"

    ha, sounds like the guy selling it isn't an expert either!

    Ha also just read through properly and they paid £200 for a brake/bleed service! I'd like to know where a new set of pads and a bleed kit costs £200..
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  • Majski
    Majski Posts: 443
    Formulas! definately!
  • Chunkers1980
    Chunkers1980 Posts: 8,035
    Althought it's all a load of rubbish what the guy is saying - the bleed and brake service £200 factored in a hope headset. What a tool.
  • connoraslett96
    connoraslett96 Posts: 32
    haha thanks guys well a hard tail is the one for me because its going to be doing a bit of everything, so ill have a look around for a while but feels like the bike aint got much left in it now, everytime the pedals go round i get a *clank* so ill try getting its last 100 miles out of it and replace once the bikes done its time ;D
  • Beardface
    Beardface Posts: 5,495
    Always worth keeping an eye out for things similar to This DMR ExAlt or Kona HT's as well. :)
    Bird Aeris
  • Majski
    Majski Posts: 443
    Yes, good call on the kona hardtails. A stuff would run 130s fine!
  • rockmonkeysc
    rockmonkeysc Posts: 14,774
    If you want something for downhill riding look for a used bike. You could possibly get a early Specialized Big Hit or Kona Stinky, neither are great but they will both do the job & are solid. Or look for a used jump bike like a Giant STP or Specialized P1/P2 or DMR Trailstar.
    Transition Patrol - viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=13070235
  • Matt78
    Matt78 Posts: 9
    When you say you don't like the feel of full sus, what experience of it do you have of a full suspension bike? Cheaper full sus bikes bounce about all over he place and don't compare to a properly set up bike with rebound and compression damping. I would certain search eBay and look for a 2nd hand full sus bike which would be more suitable for your riding style.
    Specialised Stumpjumper FSR Pro
    Giant TCR 1 Compact Road
  • connoraslett96
    connoraslett96 Posts: 32
    okay ill look into it and see what i find thanks again :)
  • Beardface
    Beardface Posts: 5,495
    Could be worth considering :)
    Bird Aeris
  • connoraslett96
    connoraslett96 Posts: 32
    yeah might be just i aint looking just yet because its the whole money issue :)

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