Please help me decide - £1k spend

Intherain
Intherain Posts: 86
edited May 2015 in MTB buying advice
Hi,

I am a roadie looking to buy my first MTB for 20 yrs. I have the chance to buy through the cycle to work scheme so my max budget is £1k.

I ride a lot of the local trails on my CX bike, and so am looking for a hard tail. I will probably use it for a few MTB cross country races too and as a back up for my CX bike.

I have no real idea of the MTB technology at the moment and what is good or bad, so am looking for any advice you might have. So far, my list is narrowed down to:

Boardman Pro - http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/m ... dtail-29er

Trek Superfly 5 - http://www.evanscycles.com/products/tre ... e-ec068689

Cube Ltd Race - http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/p/1792 ... -bike-2015

I have a carbon road Cube bike which has been great and their road stuff is generally very good value as the spec on the their bikes takes some beating. But is it the same for their MTBs?

Any opinions gratefully received.

Cheers
Yes, I like riding in the rain...

Comments

  • Intherain
    Intherain Posts: 86
    I should add that one particular area I am unsure of is the front sus fork quality and the difference between them.
    Yes, I like riding in the rain...
  • lostboysaint
    lostboysaint Posts: 4,250
    On that list, the Boardman.
    Trail fun - Transition Bandit
    Road - Wilier Izoard Centaur/Cube Agree C62 Disc
    Allround - Cotic Solaris
  • Intherain
    Intherain Posts: 86
    lostboysaint wrote:
    On that list, the Boardman.

    Thanks. Any particular reason why? Spec of componentry or the forks?

    I'm open to suggestions of other bikes to consider too!
    Yes, I like riding in the rain...
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    What scheme, depending on the scheme, not all options will be available to you.
    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.
  • Intherain
    Intherain Posts: 86
    The Rookie wrote:
    What scheme, depending on the scheme, not all options will be available to you.

    Hi Rookie, no scheme in place at the moment so free rein to choose whatever. I guess the bike I want can dictate the scheme.
    Yes, I like riding in the rain...
  • lostboysaint
    lostboysaint Posts: 4,250
    Intherain wrote:
    lostboysaint wrote:
    On that list, the Boardman.

    Thanks. Any particular reason why? Spec of componentry or the forks?

    I'm open to suggestions of other bikes to consider too!

    Yes.

    The Boardman has the best overall spec, fork and tyres particularly. The Trek is a very mixed bag, and that's without mentioning the "G2 Geometry" which means that changing the fork out isn't quite as straightforward IF you like that geometry (G2 has a different fork offset, any other "standard" fork will change the bikes geo), it has Alivio brakes and the spec list shows a SRAM front mech with a Shimano changer which may be interesting. The Cube has an excellent groupset but the fork is very budget (comparably with the RS TK on the Trek) and not a patch on the Reba RLT on the Boardman. It's a budget set of tyres from a big brand as well so you need to price for them to be changed - unless you like slippery compound tyres. The Nobby Nics on the Boardman will be a slightly different compound to the aftermarket (I suspect) but are a very well recognised tread pattern and a good allrounder.
    Trail fun - Transition Bandit
    Road - Wilier Izoard Centaur/Cube Agree C62 Disc
    Allround - Cotic Solaris
  • bikes`n`guns
    bikes`n`guns Posts: 959
    Caliber Don from Go outdoors

    Very impressive spec for a grand.
    Trek,,,, too cool for school ,, apparently
  • rockmonkeysc
    rockmonkeysc Posts: 14,774
    Boardman is the best of those for the price. The fork would decide it for me.
    There's nothing wrong with SRAM front mech mixed with Shimano shifter. They are perfectly compatible. You can't mix sram and Shimano on the rear though (although a 9 speed SRAM shifter with 10 speed Shimano rear mech works well)
    Transition Patrol - viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=13070235
  • Intherain
    Intherain Posts: 86
    Thanks for the replies.

    I've now been able to up the budget to £1,300 so its back to the drawing board! :(:D:D
    Yes, I like riding in the rain...
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    In that case you may like this http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBOOLURCHX ... ntain-bike not an out and our race bike, more trail, but more than capable.

    For a bit of glossy loveliness a little over budget
    http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBTIFLX9/t ... untainbike

    For more race orientated this is probably about the best you'll get I think
    http://www.evanscycles.com/products/tre ... e-ec072377
    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.
  • Intherain
    Intherain Posts: 86
    The Rookie wrote:
    In that case you may like this http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBOOLURCHX ... ntain-bike not an out and our race bike, more trail, but more than capable.

    For a bit of glossy loveliness a little over budget
    http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBTIFLX9/t ... untainbike

    For more race orientated this is probably about the best you'll get I think
    http://www.evanscycles.com/products/tre ... e-ec072377

    Cheers Rookie, in fact I sat on that Trek Superfly 6 on Saturday - really smart looking frame. Really, really like the look of the Superfly 7 but cannot seem to find anywhere stocking them at the moment. Not sure how much difference there is between them as same frame and fork I think.

    Nice planet-X links, will get killed if I stretch budget anymore!
    Yes, I like riding in the rain...

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