which bike for xc racing for under £1000

hayhay26

Hello all
ive retired from playing football at 33 due to injury and got back into xc racing but will another child on the way, changing house and the misses moaning im not allowed to spend alot on a new bike,
I am racing a old trek 6000 hardtail at the mo, because of my knee i have more of a sit down riding style, the people i have been racing against look so much more comftable on full sussers apart from the really fast guys who are standing up powering past me,
really need a new bike for under £1000 for xc racing , but what?
giant looked best speced for the money,
been looking at
Giant xtc 2 2010, was £995 now £689 at pauls cycles
Giant talon 0 29er 2012 for £750 but i get another 12% off that at wiggle, better spec fork from 2011 model
also a Giant anthem x5 2011, was £1400 now £899 from pauls too
Giant just seem to do more bike for your money,
What bike? 26, 29er or full susser? any other bike to consider?
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

supersonic

There is no doubt that for 1k 26er hardtails are the lightest and best specced. I would be looking at the Boardman Pro and Cube LTD series.

The XTC is great for the money, but not as light or well specced as the boardman. The Anthem is without doubt the best full suspesnion bike for this money for XC. Maybe try them out?

hayhay26

Thanks
I thought giants would be light, they just looked so well specced to other bikes at same price,
i like the boardmans but i don't really like the styling of cubes but i see they get good write ups.

Long_Time_Lurker

The anodised black cubes are a bit more understated if you aren't wanting to look too flash

warren30

hi hayhay26 I had to stop playing football due to arthritis few years ago,last year I got back in to mountain biking done alot of research tried bikes.I ended up with the boardman team hardtail 2010 very well specced for money love it I tried a few bikes that's the one I liked best,try a few out.I would get a boardman again or cube.only problem I got now is I'm watching the guys do big jumps on the downhills tempted to get another bike don't think the team would handle that. lots more money I haven't got.i would like bike that could do both

passout

Boardman for hardtail, Anthem for FS. Unless you see a bargain of course!
Personally I'd go hardtail.

booyaka

also consider some kind of on-one whippet build

Frames - £249 current

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/FROOCWHND/o ... aled_frame

Mccraque

I had the same dilemma with the £1k racing bike...Went for the Boardman Pro HT...the thing is amazing for the money and have been really pleased with it.