Quick and easy. Choose an MTB for me.

littledove44

I am sure all you chaps in scruffy clothes are really bored with roadies asking your advice, but it's only because we are jealous of your outfits.

So, please indulge me.

56 year old roadie wants an MTB to keep his menopausal mates company whilst they mud-plug around at weekends.
I ride Specialized on the road so would like to go with that if possible so I can pretend to my local Specialized store that I am a special customer.

What should I buy?

Hard to persuade myself to spend more on the part time toy than the main beast that cost about £2k.

But I could be persuaded.

rockmonkeysc

Do you actually want a mountain bike or will you be one of those annoying roadies who just comes along for the ride and has to push through the fun sections because you don't want to learn to ride?
If so then stick to your skinny tyres, riding that requires no technical ability and cross dressing, team sky replica kit.
If not then take a look at the Specialized Camber if you want to stick with Specialized, good frame.

littledove44

RockmonkeySC wrote:

Do you actually want a mountain bike or will you be one of those annoying roadies who just comes along for the ride and has to push through the fun sections because you don't want to learn to ride?
If so then stick to your skinny tyres, riding that requires no technical ability and cross dressing, team sky replica kit.
If not then take a look at the Specialized Camber if you want to stick with Specialized, good frame.

Fair answer.

I fully realize that there are a whole load of different skills involved in MTB riding. Looking at all the gopro footage scares the willies out of me.

I may not be ready for any serious stuff, but having acquired a little fitness for my age I am happy to take advice from anyone in the know.

In a former life I had some success at competitive aerobatic flying. I remember being annoyed by weekend Top Gun pilots who talked a good game, but couldn't fly an outside loop without pooping their pants. So, respect to those who can, but please help those who want to learn.

I shall check out the Camber.

Cqc

Camber isn't great value... Specialized bikes become great (I have one) immediately above £2000 for full suspension- if you want value go for canyon

rockmonkeysc

Road and off road fittness are quite different. Don't expect to be leaving mtb regulars for dead on every climb, it won't happen.
The biggest difference between road and mountain biking is that mountain biking isn't mind numbingly dull.

styxd

RockmonkeySC wrote:

Road and off road fittness are quite different. Don't expect to be leaving mtb regulars for dead on every climb, it won't happen.
The biggest difference between road and mountain biking is that mountain biking isn't mind numbingly dull.

Unless your MTB mates train on the road aswell,then I'd say yes, you probably will leave them for dead on most climbs (providing they arent to technically challenging!)

I'd say get a 29er (unless you're a short arse), a hardtail will probably be fine for you, better bang for your buck.

kajjal

Lots of encouraging posts

First thing to work out is what budget you are looking at and what terrain you will be riding on.

If it is just fire roads, general forest trails and the like pretty much any proper mountain bike will be fine. Hard tails only have front suspension and you can also get full suspension bikes. If you have any injuries or general pains a full suspension bike would be easier but unless it is quite rough terrain a hard tail would be fine.

If it is only a part time bike you could look for a good condition second hand bike, that way it is easier to resell and get your money back plus if you are careful you get a lot more for your money. Do some test rides to see what you think.

I am over 40 and ride a specialized carve hard tail as well as a road bike which gives a good bit of variety.

kajjal

RockmonkeySC wrote:

Road and off road fittness are quite different. Don't expect to be leaving mtb regulars for dead on every climb, it won't happen.
The biggest difference between road and mountain biking is that mountain biking isn't mind numbingly dull.

The biggest difference is road biking really pushes you physically in terms of mental and physical endurance if you go for it. Mountain biking while keeping you very fit as well is a lot more about picking lines and fast bike handling skills. I have quite a stressful job and do both to wind down.

cooldad

littledove44 wrote:

56 year old roadie wants an MTB

What's the Marin in your sig?

rockmonkeysc

Kajjal wrote:

RockmonkeySC wrote:

Road and off road fittness are quite different. Don't expect to be leaving mtb regulars for dead on every climb, it won't happen.
The biggest difference between road and mountain biking is that mountain biking isn't mind numbingly dull.

The biggest difference is road biking really pushes you physically in terms of mental and physical endurance if you go for it. Mountain biking while keeping you very fit as well is a lot more about picking lines and fast bike handling skills. I have quite a stressful job and do both to wind down.

Mountain biking pushes you just as much physically if you want it to.
I do both and the main difference is definitely the boredom and danger on roads.

littledove44

cooldad wrote:

littledove44 wrote:

56 year old roadie wants an MTB

What's the Marin in your sig?

It's very old, no suspension front or back. Bought it second hand in 1997. Too small for me really, but I stripped and reassembled it over winter for fun. Runs perfectly well, but not ideal.

njee20

Mountain biking pushes you just as much physically if you want it to.
I do both and the main difference is definitely the boredom and danger on roads.

Yes, you're offering such an impartial view, good job you're here :roll:

The average MTBer is of laughable fitness compared to your average road rider, but that wasn't the question.

OP - what kind of riding do your friends do? Stumpjumper hardtail, Epic, Stumpjumper FSR, Camber. All decent bikes, no point having a heavy trail bike if all your friends are on lightweight carbon hardtails.

The Rookie

Indeed, type of riding and critically budget, as has been noted the cheaper Specialized are horrid value and you'd be much better off elsewhere.

I have to agree with njee, most roadies leave us for dead in the fitness stakes, although offroad work (other than pure XC) requires bursts of much higher effort which is sort of trained out of most roadies as they optimise for a full days ride (hence why Wiggins lost s track of weight to go from track to road).

littledove44

Chances are it's going to be forest trails, close clipped grassland (I live next to the sea and the National Trust have some nice places to ride), muddy cycle tracks and of course the roads in between all of that.

Not yet thinking of big downhill stuff. Happy to buy another bike for that later on if it happens.

I am thinking lighter is better, and for arguments sake lets say < £1500.

The Rookie

For that use something like the Rockrider 8.1 from Decathlon would fit the bill, and just £550, weight isn't much of an issue from your description.

You may want to consider a 29er though.....

passout

Buy a Whyte 905 (old model) from Winstanleys bikes - 1k - British company - rides brilliantly - 24lbs. All the bike you'll need. See: http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/produ ... _2012_Bike

cashbmx01

I'd buy my 1 yr...

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chrisw333

passout wrote:

Buy a Whyte 905 (old model) from Winstanleys bikes - 1k - British company - rides brilliantly - 24lbs. All the bike you'll need. See: http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/produ ... _2012_Bike

Good shout. Light, so good for XC, but with geometry and fork capable of much rougher stuff too.

That or a Boardman for value.

BigJimmyB

Yes I'd agree on Boardman, very well specced for the £'s.

bob6397

I got a 2012 Boardman HT Team off ebay - £475 (rrp. £850 when new - this was 20 miles old and not bedded in) and I am very impressed... It does everything i need it to without complaint. It does require some better tyres though if you are going to go through any kind of mud (as i have done in the last few days - very slidy up the hills as the tyres were so clogged up.)

Ulysses

Might be worth getting something cheaper to start with, you may well hate MTB after a few rides getting caked in mud... There's loads of good second hand bikes for £500 mark on fleabay. Or pop to Halfords and get a VooDoo, if you're starting out in MTB they are pretty good and your not over investing in a bike you could well end up selling at a loss.

sgtpepper1969

Definitely have a look on EBay,I got a brand new in the box 2012 voodoo bokor for £375 Rep £675 so there bargains out there if you keep looking & if you decide you don't like MTB then you can sell the bike & get most of your money back

buddy_club

Voodoo Bizango, 29er and a decent spec for the £'s