New Bike Vitus Rapide 2 or something else?

astonred
astonred Posts: 3
edited October 2012 in MTB buying advice
Hi,

As I haven't done any bike riding for 10 years so I would like some buying advice.

I have spotted Vitus Bikes Rapide 2 Hardtail Bike 2012 for just over £1000 and the Boradman Hybrid Team and Pro and was considering buying one of these. My max budget is £1000 my main consideration is weight as I will be getting it in and out of the car and over the occasional style/barbed wire fence. I used to do a bit of mountain biking (nothing to serious) and would quite like to start doing it again. My current cycle route will be mainly along the road (pavement/cycle path) and a bit off road, however this will hopefully change to one that is completely off road (bridlepaths/footpaths) once I move house.

I am not too bothered about suspension, the only thing I would like is hydraulic brakes as I thought these to be a vast improvement over the older style one.

Any advice is more than welcome.
Thanks
Rich

Comments

  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    Some links would help.
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  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    For your described usage you certainly don't have to spend £1K!

    Perhaps a Carrera Vulcan, £350 ish?

    If you think you will get more serious, then by all means spend more, right now it sounds a waste to be honest.
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • For your described usage you certainly don't have to spend £1K!

    Perhaps a Carrera Vulcan, £350 ish?

    If you think you will get more serious, then by all means spend more, right now it sounds a waste to be honest.

    A couple of years ago I bought one out of Halfords for about £300 (Giant I think) and it was horrible to use you had to keep tightening everything constantly, especially the handlebars and it weighted a ton it just wasn't very fun to ride. So I just thought if I chuck a bit more money at it I would get something a bit nicer, and hopefully if I use it to its full potential it would be money well spent. If not I could always sell it.
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    The Whippet is easily the best xc bike available at the moment for a grand.
  • passout
    passout Posts: 4,425
    You could get a Boardman but not that one - isn't it a hybrid for canal paths? Get a proper mountain bike - you can always get slicks if need be. On One is a good choice too - the Whippet is a lot of bike for 1k. I actually like the Vitus but unless you know that you are really going to get into MTBing I might for an alu Vitus rather than a carbon. Also look at Wiggle - they had some half price GT's and Charge's.
    'Happiness serves hardly any other purpose than to make unhappiness possible' Marcel Proust.