MTB Beginner

Sinny

Hi all!

Currently looking into getting into mountain biking, due to me getting older and quite possibly feeling a bit shameful, I'm wanting to move on from Skateboarding at the ripe age of 23 and look at mountain biking!

I've considered it for a few years but never had the money really to get one (Car first!).

I'm looking for a good Hardtail, I currently have around £600 but can stretch more if it really is a better deal. and I am open to second hand bikes, but as I know more or less nothing at the moment I seek some help.

I've been looking for a few weeks and I seem to find these 2 offer the best bang for my buck.

GT Avalanche 2.0
http://www.gtbicycles.com/2013/bikes/mo ... lanche-2-0

Rockrider 8.1
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-81 ... 68918.html

I've had a go on a Merida Matts 300 locally, but they only had Medium frame left which, even though he said he could change some components to make it fit me, I think I'd feel more comfortable in a large as my arms were bent on the Medium.

But I'll stop before I go on too much, cheers for any help.

oh, and this will mainly be rode around Delamere forest Cheshire, as well as other places once I'm up to grips.

MTBUK

Neither.......... canyon yellowstone. Less than £500...... canyon.com

MTBUK

Neither.......... canyon yellowstone. Less than £500...... canyon.com

angry_bird

Rockrider would get my vote at that price point, great value for money, doubt anything else will beat it on that (new at least)

cooldad

The Rockrider has by far the better spec.

cooldad

MTBUK wrote:

Neither.......... canyon yellowstone. Less than £500...... canyon.com

No need to repeat yourself, and it isn't. Over £600 with delivery, and the Rockrider has a better fork, and brakes.

MTBUK

Unlike you not to recommend halfords cooldad are you slipping.... Thought you and halfords wanted to take over the world .....

MTBUK

Canyon are far more niche..... Lighter frames and wheels, so you win and loose

Sinny

MTBUK wrote:

Canyon are far more niche..... Lighter frames and wheels, so you win and loose

I have looked at the 5.0 AL, but it's £700, £50 postage as well.

Or do you mean this one

http://www.canyon.com/_en/mountainbikes ... tml?b=3001

Also, I have a GT Dealer not far from me, so I was going to go and check it out, maybe see if I can haggle it down to £550 or lower, or even if I got the GT at the same price as the RR would the RR still be worth it?

MTBUK

Yes the 4.0 ...... There a premium brand... Unlike halfords or decathlon. Have a really great following...... But if you had to choose between the RR ang GT. I'd say RR. My gf has the 8.1..... Good frame quality. Wheels and crank are suspect... And wear easily. Unless you do basic trails.

Sinny

MTBUK wrote:

Yes the 4.0 ...... There a premium brand... Unlike halfords or decathlon. Have a really great following...... But if you had to choose between the RR ang GT. I'd say RR. My gf has the 8.1..... Good frame quality. Wheels and crank are suspect... And wear easily. Unless you do basic trails.

I'll probably go for the Canyon, who knows, my tax rebate might come through and get the 5.0! but I think, for starting off, the 4 will be a better model, as I can always upgrade.

but saying that, the RR has Recons :O, CHOICE!!!

chez_m356

MTBUK wrote:

Yes the 4.0 ...... There a premium brand... Unlike halfords or decathlon. Have a really great following...... But if you had to choose between the RR ang GT. I'd say RR. My gf has the 8.1..... Good frame quality. Wheels and crank are suspect... And wear easily. Unless you do basic trails.

really ?

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... t-12-39806

If you’re after a totally proven, slick-shifting, long-lasting triple chainset for under £100, nothing beats Deore. Shimano’s lowest ‘proper’ mountain bike chainset gets solid forged arms rather than Hollowtech forged limbs but it’s still a durable unit for general trail use.

supersonic

The Rockrider 8.1 is quite a way better than the Yellowstone 4.0. Both are decent enough, but the 8.1 is nearly 2 lbs lighter, has a far better fork, Merida frame, higher end groupset (and that fantastic chainset, as found on bikes costing 5 times as much), a level up on the brakes and a good wheelset too.

Sinny

supersonic wrote:

The Rockrider 8.1 is quite a way better than the Yellowstone 4.0. Both are decent enough, but the 8.1 is nearly 2 lbs lighter, has a far better fork, Merida frame, higher end groupset (and that fantastic chainset, as found on bikes costing 5 times as much), a level up on the brakes and a good wheelset too.

Thanks, I always value more opinions. I've been told this by countless people but none have made it quite plain. It saves me a bit of money, plus I get a Recon fork instead of the cheaper on the Yellowstone. and as many people say, I can always upgrade components if I feel I like the sport.

Cheers for the help

supersonic

It is again my bike of the year. Nothing comes close to it for the money.

MTBUK

All knowing Wikipedia states that Merida doesn't manufacture frame or bikes for any other brand retailer... But what do they know?

MTBUK

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merida_Bikes

In 2001, Merida bought 49% of Specialized for a reported US$30 million, although its CEO and founder Mike Sinyard remained majority owner.[3][4]

Merida has been co-sponsor of the Multivan Merida Biking Team, with athletes such as Jose Hermida and Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå, and of bicycle racing events such as the TransUK and TransWales mountain bike races.[5] Since 2004, the MULTIVAN MERIDA BIKING TEAM has been scoring over 30 World Cup wins as well as Olympic gold and silver medals.[6]

In 2013 Merida became co-sponsors of the Pro-Tour Lampre Merida road racing team http://www.teamlampremerida.com.

Contrary to many rumours Merida does not make own label bikes for Halfords or any other UK only brands.





unless they make them just for France and Decathlon and ship them in :S

Chunkers1980

It doesn't say frames, it says bikes.

apreading

http://lakelandcycles.com/merida.html

http://www.factorydirectbikes.com/conte ... the_world/

cooldad

Because Wiki, able to be updated by the great unwashed and other random idiots, is the absolute, infallible, final word on life, the universe and everything.

MTBUK

If you're bothered to google, you will also find much of the same.... Or is google also unworthy of your attention.

MTBUK

cooldad

MTBUK wrote:

If you're bothered to google, you will also find much of the same.... Or is google also unworthy of your attention.

But if you were capable of comprehending an entire thread you would have seen this.

apreading wrote:

http://lakelandcycles.com/merida.html

http://www.factorydirectbikes.com/conte ... the_world/

Do try and keep up, or ask your nurse to read it to you.

MTBUK

Ahhh a link related to halfords. No wonder you're all puffy chested.......

cooldad

MTBUK wrote:

Ahhh a link related to halfords. No wonder you're all puffy chested.......

As I pointed out, comprehension is not your strong point.
And by strong point, I mean least weakest point.

supersonic

Even if Merida didn't make the frame, the bike is still better than the Yellowstone 4.0.

Can posters also stop attacking each other please, especially using Halfords which has NOTHING to do with anything on this thread?

chez_m356

MTBUK wrote:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merida_Bikes

In 2001, Merida bought 49% of Specialized for a reported US$30 million, although its CEO and founder Mike Sinyard remained majority owner.[3][4]

and here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specialize ... Components it states that merida bought 8% of specialized, have also seen 19% quoted, links from wiki mean nothing

supersonic wrote:

The Rockrider 8.1 is quite a way better than the Yellowstone 4.0. Both are decent enough, but the 8.1 is nearly 2 lbs lighter, has a far better fork, Merida frame, higher end groupset (and that fantastic chainset, as found on bikes costing 5 times as much), a level up on the brakes and a good wheelset too.

supersonic wrote:

It is again my bike of the year. Nothing comes close to it for the money.

as stated time and time again, just accept it and move on :roll:

supersonic

Currently is a 33% share ;-)

apreading

MTBUK wrote:

If you're bothered to google, you will also find much of the same.... Or is google also unworthy of your attention.

I did bother to google - thats where my 2 links came from, on the first page of results. didnt see anything on there to refute them...

cooldad

No, they don't.

supersonic

The wiki article is very vague. Such as:

"Merida is firmly into the high-end market with many designs such as the Ninety-Six.,[2] Scultura Evo SL, Big Nine, 0.Nine all of which are in the top few in the world for performance."

This is just subjective waffle. It needs properly looking at.