So close to buying a bike! The shortlist...

willspilsbury

Okay, I've been out to several shops (Halfords, Brian Rourke's in Burslem and Roy Swinnerton's in Fenton).

I've found out that a frame size of 18"/19" is absolutely great (but 17" is better for more trail stuff as it's more flexible - I can simply higher the saddle for non-trail stuff).

I LOVE 29ers, such great big wheels. But not sure whether to go for a 29er or just stick to a 26er.

I definitely want hydraulic disc brakes - so much stopping power!

I definitely want front forks u can lock-off, so I can easily switch from 'road mode' to 'off-road mode'.

The shortlist...

Whyte 529 (£799.99 - would have to be bought next month - over budget but very nice) (Brian Rourkes)

Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc 2013 (£500) (Brian Rourkes)

Marin 29er Mountain HT (£499.99)

Marin 26er (£499.99)

Voodoo Hoodo (£449.99) (Halfords)

Carerra Vulcan (£379.99) (Halfords)

Carrera Kraken (£449.99) (Halfords)

--

The Llandegla Forest Trail (North Wales) is as intense a surface as I will be riding on. It'll also have to cope with tow-paths and country lanes. lol

So what do you people with all your knowledge and experience and expertise think I should go for?

(I didn't see any Decathlons) (But the budget is now £500 - or £800 if I wait another month)

Thank you in advance!

willspilsbury

PS: Have bought 'Mountain Biking UK' and 'What Mountain Bike' also...

mulley

White would be a good choice. Fork on spec hardrock isn't great I brought my daughter one but it's a good bike, I think you'd benefit waiting a month and getting the why're. I have the 629 and love it. I expect the 529 is also a good bike and it looks good.

mulley

Ignore the spelling it's the dreaded predicted text.

Levi_501

With that sort of money, I would look for S/H (possibly on here) 26" HT on here.

You could possibly pick up something with a RS Reba and decent brakes. The S/H market is flooeded with 18" size bikes, well whenever I seem to look!

supersonic

If you have £800, spend it ;-). Saying that, the spec on the Whyte is catatstrophically bad for a £800 bike. Unless you have tried it and it rides wll for you, I would avoid it.

A quick look at Paul's cycles brings this up:

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.p ... 1b1s2p2476

70\ʹspenguin

supersonic wrote:

If you have £800, spend it ;-). Saying that, the spec on the Whyte is catatstrophically bad for a £800 bike. Unless you have tried it and it rides wll for you, I would avoid it.

A quick look at Paul's cycles brings this up:

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.p ... 1b1s2p2476

Surprising you chose a Zaskar SS.

If you can fit a small frame the cube ltd race is a bargain from pauls.

If you can spend £800 then do it but go for older models as you will get more vfm ( the zaskar is nice btw but i prefer the duster hi).

appy

Id get a boardman, either a comp hardtail or a team fs full suss. You can get the comp hardtail new for £750 and 2nd hand for £450. The fs normally sells for a about £750 2nd hand....

Edit found this, would this fit you?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CHRIS-BOARDMA ... 2a28a35eff

mcnultycop

Supersonic's suggestion looks ace to me.

supersonic

70\'sPenguin wrote:

supersonic wrote:

If you have £800, spend it ;-). Saying that, the spec on the Whyte is catatstrophically bad for a £800 bike. Unless you have tried it and it rides wll for you, I would avoid it.

A quick look at Paul's cycles brings this up:

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.p ... 1b1s2p2476

Surprising you chose a Zaskar SS.

If you can fit a small frame the cube ltd race is a bargain from pauls.

If you can spend £800 then do it but go for older models as you will get more vfm ( the zaskar is nice btw but i prefer the duster hi).

It is, I rarely recommend them. But at this price is a bargain.

winter_zombie

i have the boardman HT Pro, i would say get a boardman HT team or pro OR go for the voodoo from halfords.

LJ.

You won't go far wrong if you do end up spending your money at Halfords in the end they are all pretty good value, they have that online spend and save on at the minute

cooldad

They are assembled in Asia. Halfords don't make bikes. Large volume, low margins.
Simple innit?

riche0

Have you looked at On One just to confuse you more, their complete bikes Inbred 26 and 29er are both £799.

70\ʹspenguin

cooldad wrote:

They are assembled in Asia. Halfords don't make bikes. Large volume, low margins.
Simple innit?

I read this as they are assembled in Asda. This would explain a lot if it were true.

zx6man

70\'sPenguin wrote:

I read this as they are assembled in Asda. This would explain a lot if it were true.

Love my vulcan, and cost 290 quid.

Think its down the pet food aisle ...

lostboysaint

On One Inbred 29er for £799.

Regardless of you liking the aesthetics of the wheel size, from your description of the riding you will be doing they should be excellent.

stuartbothwell

Whyte 529 is a great bike for the money but I started on a hard rock sport, I still run the frame but everything else is has been upgraded over time,this is a good way of keeping cost low. Start with a decent quality frame gives you options then. Whyte do make nice bikes though.

The Rookie

But the Carrera and Voodoo frames are just as good (made in the same factory as well) and come on a better specced and cheaper bike, avoid the Lardrock like the plague.