Best 29er hardtail for £750 cycle2work voucher?

Rikshaw
Rikshaw Posts: 2
edited April 2013 in MTB buying advice
Hi
I haven't ridden in a long time but my kids are off and running on bikes now and I'm keen to join them!

I want a decent bike that will cover all the bases but in reality, I'll mostly be on trails, light off-road and the occasional trip to centre parcs! That said I won't buy another bike for a long time so I want the best I can get for the £750 voucher I just received through cycle2work. Hopefully, I will even get the bug and get out a bit more?!

Think the 29er hard tail gives me the best compromise but will listen to advice?

Though its supposed to be Halfords, I have heard I can us an LBS or at least order any bike through Halfords?

The Boardman's get good reviews but I quite like the Cube bikes. I've read a number if reviews and forum posts but many are quite old and the bikes seem to change each year so keen to get up to date views - any advice much appreciated! Also, how important is an air fork for my proposed riding, especially given it will be a budget one at that price?

Thanks

Comments

  • heez29
    heez29 Posts: 612
    Voodoo 29ers? Haven't had any through the door but the 26ers come highly rated. Obviously competent on how your local Halfords are.
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Really does depend on the exact retailer you can use, as bargains vary.

    But hard to go wrong with the Boardman range.
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • kammybear
    kammybear Posts: 500
    Cube Acid is around 769 so just out of range. Unless you can find a place that will take the vouchers and also allow you to leave a "deposit",

    Otherwise Boardman...but do they do a 29er yet?
  • cameronb
    cameronb Posts: 102
    If your works scheme is through halfords then it's leisure lakes that supply alternative bikes, I used the shop in Nottingham for the same thing last year you just phone halfords and tell them what bike you're getting off them if you decide to do it.
  • unquestioned
    unquestioned Posts: 172
    I just got a Trek Mamba, haven't tried it properly yet but felt good & looks the business.

    http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/p/1058 ... -bike-2013
  • Macdory
    Macdory Posts: 113
    I have just bought a Cannondale Trail SL2 29'er in Black ... £750 at Paulscycles (just got it last Thursday)

    Linky to review - http://mbaction.com/Main/News/26er-Vers ... -4713.aspx

    Great looking bike (IMO), and i'm very pleased with the move to 29'er - it just makes the boring road bits to get to the trails a bit easier, although i'm not really buying the bit about it smoothing out the bumps too well ... it can still be bone jarring at times!

    Well worth a look for a 10-speed at a good price.

    Although I would recommend trying a 29'er for size before ordering - I have previously gone for a large/19" MTB's in the past, but a Medium in the Cannondale is spot on for me at 5'11"

Categories