New bike (which one)

alexjordon111
alexjordon111 Posts: 6
edited October 2013 in MTB buying advice
Hi all im new to the sight, ive just recieved my cycle to wror voucher from work, I have £1000 to spend in halfords, Im looking for a mountain bike but cannot decide between theses

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165499

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165499

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165499

I havent used a pedal bike in a few years but am currently 29 and want to get fit..... I will use the bike to ride to work occasionally which is 7 miles away and will be using the bike to ride on the local bike track,

will the fs boardman make riding to work hard work?? its just that ive read if using a fs bike on the road you lose alot if your energy via the rear shock.

Any advice would be helpful

thanks ALEX

Comments

  • coulddobetter
    coulddobetter Posts: 812
    Full susepnsion is certainly not ideal on road . Of those listed the hardtail pro is probably the best bet . Road sized wheels you could put road tyres on and go pretty fast . Should you desire it will tackle pretty much anything you want to do off road . ( I own a 26 inch boardman 2012 bike and am more than happy with it )
  • ej2320
    ej2320 Posts: 1,543
    coulddobetter wrote:
    Full susepnsion is certainly not ideal on road . Of those listed the hardtail pro is probably the best bet . Road sized wheels you could put road tyres on and go pretty fast . Should you desire it will tackle pretty much anything you want to do off road . ( I own a 26 inch boardman 2012 bike and am more than happy with it )

    +1

    For road one of the hardtails with slim tyres would work
  • ej2320
    ej2320 Posts: 1,543
    On only use my FS on roads when I'm cycling to the trails
    Mainly due to the tyres than the shock, it's hard going and it wears the mud tyres down fast
  • rockmonkeysc
    rockmonkeysc Posts: 14,774
    If you dont intend to ride off road either the Boardman hybrid or cx will be much better. If your riding will be all on road then the Boardman road is excellent, I commute 32 miles a day on mine in comfort and a lot faster than I could on my mountain bike.
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  • winter_zombie
    winter_zombie Posts: 291
    well i have the boardman pro hard tail and its amazing, mine is the 2013 model. this new 2014 model has a less spec than the 2013 model but its still a amazing bike.

    get the boardman pro hard tail you will love it :):):):):)
  • alexjordon111
    alexjordon111 Posts: 6
    still cant decide lol, but thanks for ur comments people
  • kajjal
    kajjal Posts: 3,380
    Road bikes are faster on road than mountain bikes unless the road is very rough. This is due to being lighter, having a racier riding position and thinner slick tyres. If all you want yo do is ride on road these would be your best bet.

    Mountain bikes, especially good quality ones are slower but more flexible, comfortable and easier to ride. They will handle rough roads easily and you can also take them off road. If you took a road bike off road you would quickly wreck it. Putting thinner slick tyres on a mountain bike will make it faster on road. Hardtail mountain bikes are fast enough, a full suspension mountain bike would not suit road riding.
  • blinddrew
    blinddrew Posts: 317
    From what you've said, I'd go with the 29er then save a bit of cash for some slick tyres as well.
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  • 97th choice
    97th choice Posts: 2,222
    I commute around 25-30 miles a day on my 29er voodoo with either maxxis ardent tyres or 700 x 32 road tyres fitted depending upon whether I can be bothered to swap them around.

    Yes a road bike is ultimately faster, but it's certainly not a chore and the occaisional roadie you hunt down makes up for it.
    Too-ra-loo-ra, too-ra-loo-rye, aye

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  • kajjal
    kajjal Posts: 3,380
    97th choice wrote:
    I commute around 25-30 miles a day on my 29er voodoo with either maxxis ardent tyres or 700 x 32 road tyres fitted depending upon whether I can be bothered to swap them around.

    Yes a road bike is ultimately faster, but it's certainly not a chore and the occaisional roadie you hunt down makes up for it.

    I used to do that on my mountain bike hunting roadies down. Now I have a road bike as well and so far no one on a mountain bike has over taken me :P

    A 29er mountain bike with road tyres would be a good choice or even a road bike like a cx bike with bigger than normal road tyres.
  • alexjordon111
    alexjordon111 Posts: 6
    ok thanks for the reply people, im goin to get a hard tail now.

    why a 29er? are they quicker on road or something?
  • alexjordon111
    alexjordon111 Posts: 6
    heres the bikes im trying to choose between

    http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165499

    http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165499

    http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165499

    after reading for a few hours online ive heard that the £850 model is the best
  • alexjordon111
    alexjordon111 Posts: 6
    even considering these 2, but i have a £1000 voucher so would have to make the rest up in accessories

    http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165499

    http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165499
  • kajjal
    kajjal Posts: 3,380
    alexjordon111 wrote:
    ok thanks for the reply people, im goin to get a hard tail now.

    why a 29er? are they quicker on road or something?

    Generally people find 29er's better for cross country mountain biking as the larger wheel size means they roll more smoothly over things on the trail than a 26er which gets more bumped around. The same is true on road. But it is down to personal preference as well so a test ride is to be advised. My wife recently bought a 26er as she didn't want a bike with big wheels and loves her new bike.
  • smithers
    smithers Posts: 319
    I'm in the same boat as you aj111 but I don't think you'll be limited to Halfords in-store bikes. They can order another brand of bike in if you phone the helpline or will give you a list of local shops that will accept the vouchers - stocking other brands. I like the latter option as I don't like the idea of sitting on/testing a bike in a shop then going and ordering it elsewhere.

    I think the Boardman 2014 Pro HT 29er is at the top of my list but am interested to know if there are any other 2014 HTs for £1000 that offer better value/equipment.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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  • Leport
    Leport Posts: 4
    You can use your vouchers in cycle Uk stores. Cube do a great LTD PRO 29er. I still can't decide between this or the Boardman pro 29er. Cube has Manitou marvel shocks. Can't find any reviews on them.
  • Kowalski675
    Kowalski675 Posts: 4,412
    smithers wrote:
    I think the Boardman 2014 Pro HT 29er is at the top of my list

    I looked at one of those yesterday - looks good, and well specced.
  • coulddobetter
    coulddobetter Posts: 812
    Or wait a bit until the ht pro carbon 650 b comes out . It's on Boardman website and is well specced with a change from sram to shimano . Sid fork , shadow plus xt rear mech .

    If that is as good as my ht pro carbon 2012 it will be a nice bike.
  • passout
    passout Posts: 4,425
    Hybrid or hardtail will be fine. I'd use slick tyres on road if you go for the hardtail. I'd only buy the hardtail if you think you might go off road at some point. Avoid full suspension though.

    29ers will roll quicker but I like a nice responsive (fun) 26er myself - not a massive issue in truth & some bikes are 27.5 now anyway.
    'Happiness serves hardly any other purpose than to make unhappiness possible' Marcel Proust.

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