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29er recommendations

trafficman30trafficman30 Posts: 8
edited September 2013 in MTB beginners
Hi all
I've never had anything better than a Tesco Value bike.
I'm being drawn to a 29er, my reasons being I ride on a lot of trail around my area. nothing mountainous but not the smoothest rides and I've been reading they preform well on this terrain.
I'm married, so I only have a budget of around £500

As I officially have no idea any recommendations would be appreciated.

Posts

  • stubsstubs Posts: 5,001
    Vitus Zircon Looks good with a decent spec for the price. Only problem its mail order but if its the wrong size when it arrives you can do a free return or swap.
    Fig rolls: proof that god loves cyclists and that she wants us to do another lap
  • stubsstubs Posts: 5,001
    Felt Nine60 Same as above not too bad for the price
    Fig rolls: proof that god loves cyclists and that she wants us to do another lap
  • 97th choice97th choice Posts: 2,222
    I bought a voodoo bizango for £599. Great reviews but very limited availability at present. Rumours of some stock availability in September but your local halfords might be able to track one down.
    Too-ra-loo-ra, too-ra-loo-rye, aye

    Giant Trance
    Radon ZR 27.5 Race
    Btwin Alur700
    Merida CX500
  • stubsstubs Posts: 5,001
    97th choice wrote:
    I bought a voodoo bizango for £599. Great reviews but very limited availability at present. Rumours of some stock availability in September but your local halfords might be able to track one down.

    I was going to wait till the Bizango came back in stock till I saw this http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/vitus-bikes-rapide-29-hardtail-bike-2013/rp-prod81008 and thought what the hell its only money I can worry about it when the credit card bill comes :lol:
    Fig rolls: proof that god loves cyclists and that she wants us to do another lap
  • trafficman30trafficman30 Posts: 8
    Thanks for the feedback.
    I've been reading about the Bizango, it gets good reviews but yes, apparently they are nowhere to be seen.
    The Vitus and Felt both look nice and in my price range even!
    I couldn't justify any more spends unfortunately but I could always bang the £1500 bike on the Visa and but some Muddy Fox stickers and fool 'er indoors
  • coulddobettercoulddobetter Posts: 812
    I wouldn't rule out 26 inch ( they have after all been the norm for many years ) with any bike fit and feel is personal , best go and try a few . As 2014 stock comes in there should be good deals on older bikes . Common now for a newer bike to cost more and not be as well specified as the previous year.
  • trafficman30trafficman30 Posts: 8
    I went to Evans today and looked at this...
    http://m.evanscycles.com/products/speci ... e-ec040961

    I liked the look and feel.

    Then I went home and saw this... http://m.evanscycles.com/products/speci ... e-ec053413

    But being a novice I couldn't really work out the difference, apart from the price!!
  • 97th choice97th choice Posts: 2,222
    I can't get those links to work :?
    Too-ra-loo-ra, too-ra-loo-rye, aye

    Giant Trance
    Radon ZR 27.5 Race
    Btwin Alur700
    Merida CX500
  • trafficman30trafficman30 Posts: 8
    Maybe cos they're mobile links.
    My apologies.
    Try these
    http://www.evanscycles.com/products/spe ... e-ec040961

    http://www.evanscycles.com/products/spe ... e-ec053413
  • stubsstubs Posts: 5,001
    The Specialized Lardrock has been quite heavily slammed on value for money. They are okay frames but really have some poor quality equipment on them you can do a lot better
    Fig rolls: proof that god loves cyclists and that she wants us to do another lap
  • 97th choice97th choice Posts: 2,222
    Very little difference, the 2014 is a 9 speed. Although both are poorly specified, rubbish forks.

    How about this?

    http://www.vitusbikes.com/mountain-bike ... cification

    Down to £439 on chain reaction website

    Eta: just noticed it has been recommended above!
    Too-ra-loo-ra, too-ra-loo-rye, aye

    Giant Trance
    Radon ZR 27.5 Race
    Btwin Alur700
    Merida CX500
  • trafficman30trafficman30 Posts: 8
    Is it all about the forks in a bike?

    I do like the Vitus
  • stubsstubs Posts: 5,001
    trafficman30 wrote:
    Is it all about the forks in a bike?

    A bad fork can ruin an otherwise good bike. The Lardrocks fork is pretty nasty.
    Fig rolls: proof that god loves cyclists and that she wants us to do another lap
  • 97th choice97th choice Posts: 2,222
    It makes a big difference to lower end bikes, they are often heavy and poorly damped (more like a pogo stick than a shock absorber).

    The vitus is also pretty light for a budget 29er, 13.3kg
    Too-ra-loo-ra, too-ra-loo-rye, aye

    Giant Trance
    Radon ZR 27.5 Race
    Btwin Alur700
    Merida CX500
  • trafficman30trafficman30 Posts: 8
    Wife said I can have this and no more!!

    http://www.jjbsports.com/bigfoot-29er-m ... e=93224103

    Time for a new wife I suspect
  • AnonymousAnonymous Posts: 79,667
    trafficman30 wrote:
    Wife said I can have this and no more!!

    http://www.jjbsports.com/bigfoot-29er-m ... e=93224103

    Time for a new wife I suspect

    sounds likes it
  • photonic69photonic69 Posts: 1,493
    If I may just add my observation to buying a 29er - Do carefully consider the clearance between the rear tyre and the front derailleur mech on the seat tube. This will considerably impact on what tyres will fit and you WILL run into problems. I have a Fuji 29er and this is an issue. In the pic of the Vitus, although it is a lovely bike the clearance is very tight and that is with the Maxxis Beaver 29x2.0 fitted. I have just bought this tyre as it is one of the smallest, low profile but with decent grip. This gives me reasonable clearance (not as much as I'd like) but I can still see it clogging up with mud/crud much more quickly than my mate on a 26" when we are out in the winter. It depends on where you ride but the idea of a MTB is that you can use it where you like.

    HTH

    Nick
  • cooldadcooldad Posts: 32,599
    trafficman30 wrote:
    Wife said I can have this and no more!!

    http://www.jjbsports.com/bigfoot-29er-m ... e=93224103

    Time for a new wife I suspect
    Too be honest, it's not bad for the price, and a decent set of forks at some point and you'd have a pretty ok bike.
    I don't do smileys.

    There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda

    London Calling on Facebook

    Parktools
  • Kowalski675Kowalski675 Posts: 4,412
    trafficman30 wrote:
    Wife said I can have this and no more!!

    http://www.jjbsports.com/bigfoot-29er-m ... e=93224103

    Time for a new wife I suspect

    Or a patio... :wink:
  • AnonymousAnonymous Posts: 79,667
    Kowalski675 wrote:
    trafficman30 wrote:
    Wife said I can have this and no more!!

    http://www.jjbsports.com/bigfoot-29er-m ... e=93224103

    Time for a new wife I suspect

    Or a patio... :wink:


    :lol::lol::lol:
  • bazza333bazza333 Posts: 86
    stubs wrote:
    97th choice wrote:
    I bought a voodoo bizango for £599. Great reviews but very limited availability at present. Rumours of some stock availability in September but your local halfords might be able to track one down.

    I was going to wait till the Bizango came back in stock till I saw this http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/vitus-bikes-rapide-29-hardtail-bike-2013/rp-prod81008 and thought what the hell its only money I can worry about it when the credit card bill comes :lol:

    If you want justification for that credit card bill then just google "Devinci Wooky Carbon SL" and look VERY closely at the pictures, read the reviews then look at the price :D
  • stubsstubs Posts: 5,001
    bazza333 wrote:
    stubs wrote:
    97th choice wrote:
    I bought a voodoo bizango for £599. Great reviews but very limited availability at present. Rumours of some stock availability in September but your local halfords might be able to track one down.

    I was going to wait till the Bizango came back in stock till I saw this http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/vitus-bikes-rapide-29-hardtail-bike-2013/rp-prod81008 and thought what the hell its only money I can worry about it when the credit card bill comes :lol:

    If you want justification for that credit card bill then just google "Devinci Wooky Carbon SL" and look VERY closely at the pictures, read the reviews then look at the price :D

    Thats the same frame as the Vitus :shock: and the spec isnt far off the same quality. Just goes to show you pay a lot for a fancy sticker.
    Fig rolls: proof that god loves cyclists and that she wants us to do another lap
  • trafficman30trafficman30 Posts: 8
    Went for the Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc in the end.
    Break it in with my 100K ride tomorrow.

    Hope it doesn't get mucky !!!

    Thanks for all the replies

    24cuomo.jpg
  • cooldadcooldad Posts: 32,599
    Presumably forgot to read your own thread.
    I don't do smileys.

    There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda

    London Calling on Facebook

    Parktools
  • stubsstubs Posts: 5,001
    cooldad wrote:
    Presumably forgot to read your own thread.

    In future my advice will be "buy any old censored as long as you like the colour"
    Fig rolls: proof that god loves cyclists and that she wants us to do another lap
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