Road -> Mountain - where to start?

slowbike
slowbike Posts: 8,498
edited August 2014 in MTB beginners
My wife currently has 3 bikes - 2 road bikes and a hybrid - a specialised sirrus - her first "proper" bike ...
She suffers riding the roads with me, but really likes doing trails and would like to more of the MTB sportives. She's not going to be into getting air or throwing herself down ski slopes, but she has asked me to look seriously at what she should get - budget prob £3-500.

I'm kinda thinking that HT would be better than full sus - due to the budget ... Disc brakes are a must - other than that I'm lost! :(

Can anyone offer some advice or point me in the right direction to find it ?

TIA :)

Comments

  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Most HTs are better at these prices, unless you go for this:

    http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-52 ... 08678.html

    But it is a bit heavy! Fantastic spec though.

    Sticking with Decathlon, this is a great bike for the money:

    http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-52 ... 93188.html

    Also check the classifieds here, some good bargains at the minute, including my Zaskar!
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    Ta :)

    difficult to know the bargains when you don't know what you're looking at ...
    Who would think that essentially the same sport could be so different?!
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    MTBs are a pain even for seasoned campaigners like myself! Ever changing standards and specs, and to be honest, entry level bikes are getting worse. Halfords, Go Outdoors, and Decathlon are the best places, the big brands' stuff is just bloody awful.

    We have a couple of guides stickied in the buying and beginners sections, but basically the main component is the fork. If it ain't hydraulically damped don't bother as will ruin the ride. Shimano drivetrains are so good, that anything 8 speed up by them will work perfectly well. SRAM isn't as slick, stick to 9 speed up from them for the best results. Their hydro brakes are a bonus to.

    Of course fit is important - on an MTB though the roadie rules often fall out of the window as you move about so much more on the bike. However comfortable reach,a bit of top tube clearance and good contact points are important - and a quick sit on the bike can often rule a bike out straight away. Parts like stems and saddles can be changed easily (as you'll know!).
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    ta ... looks like I've got some reading to do this weekend then :)

    Hydro Fork and Hydro brakes ... and avoid the big brand stuff (unless it's secondhand and priced well I guess)
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    Ok - next question ...

    29er, 26" or 27.5"? wheels ?? talk about make it complicated!!
  • Antm81
    Antm81 Posts: 1,406
    Personal preference really, I love 27.5 but don't get on with 29ers. My advise would be try demo a couple of bikes with the different wheel sizes.
    Trance 27.5 Hoodoo Her Scott Contessa Daughter's Vulcan
  • kajjal
    kajjal Posts: 3,380
    Personal preference I have 26" and 29" , both are fine but I prefer the 29" wheels.
  • BloggingFit
    BloggingFit Posts: 919
    Slowbike wrote:
    Ok - next question ...

    29er, 26" or 27.5"? wheels ?? talk about make it complicated!!
    What sort of height is she. If she is on the shorter and petite side then the may find 29" a little large when riding off road, even if she is used to 700c on a road bike. Frame clearance and being able to move about are more important factors on mtb. They will also be a bit heavier and require a bit more effort to get going but once you do they are a bit better at maintaining momentum over the bumpy stuff.

    As far as 26" and 27.5" are concerned I would treat them as one and the same. There are differences between the two but are quite subtle so it wouldn't get too caught up in it. If you find a decent deal in one of these that works out for you then go for it. There is the whole 26" will soon be obsolete but given the huge numbers currently in circulation I don't it causing any issue any time soon.

    Ultimately get her to try out the different wheel formats and see what feels comfortable.
    Bird Aeris : Trek Remedy 9.9 29er : Trek Procaliber 9.8 SL
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    Antm81 wrote:
    Personal preference really, I love 27.5 but don't get on with 29ers. My advise would be try demo a couple of bikes with the different wheel sizes.
    Kajjal wrote:
    Personal preference I have 26" and 29" , both are fine but I prefer the 29" wheels.
    Ok - personal preference - but why ... what do you find the difference to be?
  • Antm81
    Antm81 Posts: 1,406
    I found 29ers unwieldy and it felt like I was on top of the bike not part of it. I was told they'd be perfect for me as I'm 6'4" but it really is all about what feels right.
    Trance 27.5 Hoodoo Her Scott Contessa Daughter's Vulcan
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    ok .... ta :)
  • kajjal
    kajjal Posts: 3,380
    Slowbike wrote:
    Antm81 wrote:
    Personal preference really, I love 27.5 but don't get on with 29ers. My advise would be try demo a couple of bikes with the different wheel sizes.
    Kajjal wrote:
    Personal preference I have 26" and 29" , both are fine but I prefer the 29" wheels.
    Ok - personal preference - but why ... what do you find the difference to be?

    The 26" wheels make the bike quicker to turn , more nimble to accelerate and it is easier to get the wheels up. The downside is they get knocked around more by rough ground and have less traction up hill.

    The 29" wheels roll over rough ground better, grip better up hill and give you a more stable ride so you lose less speed. Downside us they don't corner as tightly , take a little more effort to get going and you lose the feel of the trail a little.

    The difference is noticeable and the riding style is a little different to get the best out of either. I do XC riding mainly with a few trail park red runs or similar. Also being over 6ft6 I find the 29" wheels suit my height and riding style better. My wife has a 26" XC mountain bike due to her differing preferences.
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    hmm ... that's going to be a tricky one to decide on then ...
    We're not going to be setting any trails alight or doing anything that complex/tricky or aiming to do any jumps - just some rough riding at a comfortable pace - so it sounds like the 29" would be better for the more stable ride. If I want to "feel the trail" I'll just hop onto my CX which with 32mm wide tyres certainly lets you know where all the bumps & ruts are!
  • kajjal
    kajjal Posts: 3,380
    Test ride both and you will quickly get an idea of which suits you better.
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    The only 29er I've ridden seriously was a Trek Superfly Elite (so hardly basic at £4K) even that felt big an unweildy after coming off my 26er Carrera (not exactly standard, link in sig to YMB thread), I may go for a 27.5 but for me a 29er just feels not 'fun' enough, holds speed better for certain though.
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.

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