It's down to two

FatBurt

After having a bike stolen last year and getting a meagre payment out on it due to my own balls up on insurance I now have a delightful £1000 through the cycle to work scheme that is burning a hole in my pocket.

After lots of online study and testing I have drilled the bikes I like down to two options.

Option 1 http://www.evanscycles.com/products/norco/nitro-62-2012-mountain-bike-ec032032 the Norco Nitro 6.2 from Evans at £850

Option 2 http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/p/9359/cube-ltd-hardtail-cross-country-bike-2013 the Cube Ltd from Leisure lakes at £860

I have tried both bikes and they both ride great and I'm now really struggling to choose which one to have.

I have had a look at what was option 3 http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/p/9438/cube-ltd-29er-hardtail-cross-country-bike-2013 which is the 29er version of the Cube ltd and whilst it was also a good ride I'm a little old school and can't envisage a 29er providing me any real advantage or disadvantage over a 26 wheel and as such can't see why I should spend the extra £30 to be in with the latest trend

I'm not wanting to breach the £900 mark though as I want the remaining £100 to get me a decent lock, some better pedals and any other gumph that I can squeeze out of them for my custom.

Can any of you more educated cycling types help me make my mind up, I would be happy to ride either and would normally just go on looks as a final decider if I ccan't make my mind up but in this case I like the look of both of them so that doesn't help me either.

From a cycling perspective the bike is to be used up in Grizedale, Delamere and around Llandegla as a simple Cross country and trail bike so it's not going to be used for anything too extreme.

The Rookie

What C2W scheme? What retailers? I presume you can buy from Evans?

dmorton

Have you ridden the 29er? You might discover it's more than the latest trend, then again they're not for everyone. Worth having a ride if you can though

thelonegroover

Imposible to say which is better, they are both good. Personally, I like Genesis bikes which Evans sell.

FatBurt

I've ridden all of them, granted it was round a car park but they've still been ridden.

I really couldn't see what benefit a 29er has over 26 wheels when I rode it though.

The Rookie

The Beginner wrote:

What C2W scheme? What retailers? I presume you can buy from Evans?

And?

FatBurt

It's the cycle scheme and yes I can use Evans along with a few other local shops.

Decathlon and halfords are not on the list so no rockrider or Boardman as a result.

thelonegroover

FatBurt wrote:

I've ridden all of them, granted it was round a car park but they've still been ridden.

I really couldn't see what benefit a 29er has over 26 wheels when I rode it though.

I've recently moved from 26 to 29, I think the 29er is easier to ride, it just feels more stable. As it should because you're relatively lower down between the wheels. Having said that, I also found the Genesis Core 26 easier to ride than the Cube LTD 26. It just seemed to fit better.

The Rookie

FatBurt wrote:

I really couldn't see what benefit a 29er has over 26 wheels when I rode it though.

The biggest benefit for an MTB is that the bigger wheel creates a smaller approach angle when hitting lumps and bumps in the trail, this makes it smoother over that bump and also as you get less tyre deflection it takes away less energy so loose less speed, something you wouldn't notice in a smooth car park. This effect was noticeable even on the relatively unchallanging demo route at the cycle show at the NEC, however they are more cumbersome feeling in tighter turns, and while technique goes some way to offsetting this it's something you can't escape completely. Latest 29ers with G2 geometry (effectivley less trail) and slightly steeper head angles help reduce this feeling. All that said I'm sticking with my 26er.

chrisw333

Did you look at the Pinnacle range at Evans? A mate has just picked up an Irko and it looks a cracking bike with excellent spec.

markmark.123

I have a norco sight 3 and carnt fault it

The Rookie

Not white then?

Levi_501

The Beginner wrote:

The biggest benefit for an MTB is that the bigger wheel creates a smaller approach angle when hitting lumps and bumps in the trail, this makes it smoother over that bump and also as you get less tyre deflection it takes away less energy so loose less speed, something you wouldn't notice in a smooth car park. This effect was noticeable even on the relatively unchallanging demo route at the cycle show at the NEC, however they are more cumbersome feeling in tighter turns, and while technique goes some way to offsetting this it's something you can't escape completely. Latest 29ers with G2 geometry (effectivley less trail) and slightly steeper head angles help reduce this feeling. All that said I'm sticking with my 26er.

Could hardly put it better myself.

26" wheels are the way fo the future.