Cycle to work from cyclesolutons

jamesbullock32

Hi

My work is about to launch a cycle to work scheme with www.cyclesolutions.co.uk
this does limit my choices a bit but I think I have narrowed it down to a shortlist. I would be grateful for your thoughts on the bikes listed

GT helion comp £989.99
GT Zaskar 650b Elite £899.99
Lapierre Raid FX+ £999.99
Giant Stance 27.5 2 £899.10
Giant Talon 27.5 0 £899.10

Any opinions on the above list would be appreciated especially from owners of the bikes listed

Thanks in advance

James

cooldad

Links would help.

The Rookie

The Lapierre Raid is dire, it has a fork you would expect to find on a £300 hardtail, avoid that like the plague.
http://www.cyclesolutions.co.uk/p75368/lapierre-raid-fx-2015-mountain-bike

I couldn't find the Helion but
Zaskar
http://www.cyclesolutions.co.uk/p73735/gt-zaskar-650b-elite-2015-mountain-bike
Stance
http://www.cyclesolutions.co.uk/p73877/giant-stance-27-5-2-2015-mountain-bike
Talon
http://www.cyclesolutions.co.uk/p73849/giant-talon-29er-1-2015-mountain-bike

Very different bikes, what usage would they be for?

jamesbullock32

its the raid fx+ http://www.cyclesolutions.co.uk/p77346/lapierre-raid-fx-2015-mountain-bike
its got rockshox on it not the suntours on the cheaper raid fx

the Helion is here http://www.cyclesolutions.co.uk/p73746/gt-helion-comp-2015-mountain-bike

the bike will be used for commuting as well as visits to Cannock and Sherwood pines plus other xc routes in the east midlands.

jamesbullock32

also its this talon http://www.cyclesolutions.co.uk/p73844/giant-talon-27-5-0-2015-mountain-bike

The Rookie

Sherwood you can do on a hybrid and any of those will commute, any decent hardtail can do Cannock although at speed it can be a bit tiring which I why I have gone Full sus (just 100mm).

Of those the Raid FX looks decent but I have no real experience of it, the Stance is a decent bike but the Raid is slightly better specced, for commuting any full sus needs to have a stable pedal platform which the Giant has, not sure about the Raid though, and it depends who made the 'Lapierre; rear shock and how good the pedal platform is. I'm not a fan of GT FS, so the Helion would be out for me.

As Oxoman says the GT is a very nicely specced bike and will be just as fast at Cannock (how much experience do you have?).

jamesbullock32

I have been away from mountain biking for about 10 years now so going to be very rusty! Its the Raid fx+ spec that's drawing me to it however both GT's have big discounts. The Helion reviews well http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/category/bikes/mountain-bikes/full-suspension/product/review-gt-helion-comp-15-49121/
but the Zaskar and the Talon don't fair so well in MBR magazine tests and I cant find any uk reviews for the raid fx+
The reason for full sus is I figure it will be more forgiving of my rusty skills after a long time out of the sport!