Specialized or Cannondale for first hardtail?

disorganisedmum

Hi,I'm new to mountain biking and road cycling and at the moment I mainly do road cycling but am looking to get a hardtail so I can go out with hubby and do some trails and eventually aim to go on a biking weekend to Wales.I have a spesh road bike which I love and will prob upgrade to a Cannondale Caad10 next year but in terms of mountain bikes,who makes better frames?Specialized or Cannondale or are there other makes I should consider.Budget is upto about £1500,may be able to go higher.Was looking at the spesh jett expert 29 but unsure what 'dale to look at or any other make for that matter.
Would welcome any advice.

supersonic

You simply don't get bad frames at this price, the components will make more of a difference (unless you prefer a type of suspension system).

I'd try and test some bikes out to get a feel for them. If that is not possible, have a look at the Boardman range, are multiple award winners.

grl

Supersonic is right, get on them and have a go, see which one feels the best. Personally speaking, I am a fan of Specialised bikes, but I am biased......

trevron73

Try before you buy ,Spesh are great ive had both brands over 25 years and now only have a stable of Dales ,the newer dales are are great but so are spesh ,there are more am racers on specialised so that tells you something ,me i am a dale junky so i went for them as in my heart of hearts i would be riding the spesh whilst dreaming of the dale ,components and forks then brakes should be the decider at your price point as all frames at this point will be great .

rockmonkeysc

Don't ignore smaller manufacturers, Specialized & Canondale don't make the best value bikes.
Also forget about 29ers unless you have a beard.

matt@theforce

I've had a Specialized Hardrock and Cannondale F6 (budget models) over the last 3 years and I prefered the feel/ride of the Cannondale but everyone is different.

Choose which style/colour schemes of frame you like then go and try them out and pick which feels best to you.

As SS says frames etc at that price range shouldn't be much difference in terms of quality but may have differing designs making them feel different to ride.

ElliesDad

As Supersonic said, look at the Boardmans. The Boardman Pro is £999 and is by all accounts a brilliantly specced bike and will probably more than match or exceed most of the mainstream branded bikes up to £1500.

geobuchan

What do you mean by -

RockmonkeySC wrote:

Also forget about 29ers unless you have a beard.

Ive only read great things about 29ers

cooldad

geobuchan wrote:

What do you mean by -

RockmonkeySC wrote:

Also forget about 29ers unless you have a beard.

Ive only read great things about 29ers

Everyone who said those things had a beard.