What new bike?

BenjiW21

So I'm in the market for a new MTB or HT.

Got £500 to spend, maybe a little more if it's worth it and will be using it for both commuting during the week and the light bit of off roading at the weekend.

I did look at the Cube Analog Disk 29er however they didn't have any in stock and I'm not sure when the new 2013 range will be available. Also look at the Chris Boardman bikes, however, they don't do them in 20/21" frames

Found this which I really like but not sure how good it is?
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/spe ... e-ec030674

What do people think of the above or what else would people recommend? 29er would be great, but like the Specialized, may be tempted with something else

70\ʹspenguin

Have you sat on a 19" Boardman? Dont forget that sizes vary according to manufacturer. Some 19's may be the equivalent to 20/21".

Jimx26

Have you looked t the decathlon Rockrider range?

waby1234

Best buys at the point are a Rockrider or a Voodoo Hoodoo, that's the general consensus.

BenjiW21

70\'sPenguin wrote:

Have you sat on a 19" Boardman? Dont forget that sizes vary according to manufacturer. Some 19's may be the equivalent to 20/21".

Yeah chap in the shop was ever so helpful and took it off display so I could but being 6ft 2 with longer legs, it wasn't comfortable so left it.

Jimx26 - Not yet, will have a look on tinterweb today at work

Waby1234 - I did look at the Voodoo Hoodoo in halfords at the same time as the CB, but don't really know much about them or weather they're worth the money (the fact you say it's a best buy fills me with confidence though!)

Was this one I looked at; http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165499, however, he did say they do a 29er which I can see on their site but they didn't have one in store!

29er - http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165499

This also falls into the price bracket, however, I've never really heard their name before?
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/jam ... e-ec031772

70\ʹspenguin

All 3 are decent. The hoodoo 26 seems to have the overall better spec and i think the better fork. The 29er seems similar aside from a non air sprung fork. The Jamis is good too. I dont know what model the fork is and i am not sure if the Draco brakes are a lower model than the Auriga.

The Rockrider 8.1 is better overall and the best VFM (marginal). However, if you are mostly going to be commuting with occasional off-road i would suggest you look at the 29er or dare i say it - a hybrid? A larger wheel will be better for your road munching miles and also with a stiff fork on light terrain will be as comfy as a cheap suspension fork.

This may not have the best spec but perhaps look at things like this from CRC for £380
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=66792

Urban tyres that will be fine for tow paths and park singletrak but good for the road. Simple, easy to maintian and cheaper. Just a thought.

waby1234

I think you just need to consider how much off-roading you will do, and how "off-road" it will be! If you are doing anything more than riding on a smooth track then I would avoid a rigid hybrid.

Out of the bikes you've listed the Hoodoo 26-er is the best specced (the RR is a tad better). The Jamis is OK but the fork is nowhere near as good. The Hoodoo 29-er is a decent spec but again the fork is where the spec suffers.

@70\'sPenguin - not sure what you mean by a 'stiff fork' on the hybrid - it's more than stiff, it's completely rigid.

BenjiW21

It would be more than tracks just nothing serious like the likes of Cannocks chase etc

Im going back to halfords to look at the voodoo again tonight,

70\ʹspenguin

waby1234 wrote:

I think you just need to consider how much off-roading you will do, and how "off-road" it will be! If you are doing anything more than riding on a smooth track then I would avoid a rigid hybrid.

Out of the bikes you've listed the Hoodoo 26-er is the best specced (the RR is a tad better). The Jamis is OK but the fork is nowhere near as good. The Hoodoo 29-er is a decent spec but again the fork is where the spec suffers.

@70\'sPenguin - not sure what you mean by a 'stiff fork' on the hybrid - it's more than stiff, it's completely rigid.

In the context of what i wrote i think he would have understood. However, if you want correctness then "rigid" would have been a more suitable word to describe a fork with no suspension as opposed to stiff which could relate to the comparative flex of a fork be it "rigid" or suspension. Better?

The voodoo is nice and will serve you well!

BenjiW21

Yeah I understood what you meant haha

ElliesDad

What did you think to the Hoodoo and while you were there did you look at the Boardman Comp HT, great bike and handles the red route at Cannock Chase really well.

I'm 5ft 11 and the have the 19" Boardman, to be honest its a tiny bit too big as my danglies just touch the top tube, but reach is fine after I changed to a 70mm stem. For 6 ft 2 it probably would be perfect!