Specialized Pitch Comp vs Carrera Vulcan

msandford

Looking at spending around £400 on a relatively decent 650b hardtail for light XC riding. I've narrowed it down to two:

Specialized Pitch Comp (or Sport)
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/spe ... e-ec070610
£440
May get the Sport as the only difference I can see is that it has slightly fewer gears, different colour options and is £40 cheaper!
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/spe ... e-ec070611

or

Carrera Vulcan
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/m ... -bike-2015
£359.99

I'm leaning towards the Specialized because of the brand and the 20% off Specialized atm, but I've been told the Carrera specs are actually better? Plus there's a very favourable review of it here on bikeradar.

If the Carrera was at Evans I think I'd find it easier to choose as I don't have much confidence in Halfords!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I'm also looking at a similar decision for my other half: Specialized Jynx Comp (http://www.evanscycles.com/products/spe ... e-ec070627) vs Carrera Vulcan (http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/m ... -bike-2015).

Cheers!

Antm81

The Carrera is the better bike in my opinion.

The most important component at this price is the fork, the pitch sport has a terrible fork and the comp model has the same fork as the Vulcan.

Even with the 20% off the big brands tend to be overpriced at this level, a case of paying for the name.

I wouldn't worry about buying from halfords, they aren't really any different to Evans, both big chains so staff tend to vary in quality, some are excellent and love cycling, others couldn't care.

Have a look at the voodoo hoodoo at halfords too, good bike and if bought at the right time is often for sale at £400, plus it's better specced than those you're looking at.

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/m ... in-bike-18

rockmonkeysc

The Careers is the better bike and from my experience I would rather buy from Halfords than Evans.

msandford

Good to know that even with the 20% discount you don't get as much for your money with Specialized.

I've just found a 10% discount code for Halfords. Plus I can get 10% off gift cards through work. Vulcan comes out at £290!

Am I going to notice a difference between 26" and 650b? The last time I purchased a bike I don't remember 650b and 29" being a thing?? The Voodoo you mentioned is currently £399.99 (£324 with the discounts!)

Antm81

You probably won't, I ride a 650b bike and also have the hoodoo and although I use them for slightly different types of riding there isn't a huge difference overall. The better components are more likely to make a more noticeable difference.

msandford

And you'd rate the Hoodoo over the Vulcan?

Antm81

Yeah the raidon for is essentially 2 models high than the XCM on the vulcan.

msandford

Thanks so much for your help. Think I'll get the Hoodoo for myself and the Vulcan for the Mrs. A 26" and 650b but like you said, shouldn't make any difference for what we'll be using them for.

The Rookie

Consider also the Calibre two.two from Go-Outdoors, probably the best bike in the £300-400 bracket.