Buying advice <300 £

Hi all,
just joined the forum.
I'd like to upgrade my ride, my idea is to buy a beginner MTB to be used as an all rounder (to go to work and to do some weekend stretch along the canal or up the hills).
I'm currently looking at:
B'TWIN ROCKRIDER 520 MOUNTAIN BIKE, 27.5"
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-52 ... 50582.html
Carrera Vengeance
http://www.tweekscycles.com/bikes/hardt ... tain-bikes
Carrera Vulcan
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/m ... -bike-2015
Trek Marlin 5 2016
http://www.cyclesurgery.com/trek-marlin ... sting=true
I've been through all the available reviews on line, looked at the closely in the shops.
On paper the Carrera Vulcan is the best equipped, but I have some difficulty in understanding Carrera/Halford pricing policy :?: . I've never seen them full price and in some case the price with or without the discount is the same (the Vulcan is a really good example).
All suggestions are welcome.
Thank you all.
just joined the forum.
I'd like to upgrade my ride, my idea is to buy a beginner MTB to be used as an all rounder (to go to work and to do some weekend stretch along the canal or up the hills).
I'm currently looking at:
B'TWIN ROCKRIDER 520 MOUNTAIN BIKE, 27.5"
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-52 ... 50582.html
Carrera Vengeance
http://www.tweekscycles.com/bikes/hardt ... tain-bikes
Carrera Vulcan
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/m ... -bike-2015
Trek Marlin 5 2016
http://www.cyclesurgery.com/trek-marlin ... sting=true
I've been through all the available reviews on line, looked at the closely in the shops.
On paper the Carrera Vulcan is the best equipped, but I have some difficulty in understanding Carrera/Halford pricing policy :?: . I've never seen them full price and in some case the price with or without the discount is the same (the Vulcan is a really good example).
All suggestions are welcome.
Thank you all.
0
Posts
The Trek is dire - terrible fork and cable brakes.
The Tweeks link just links to all their bikes, and AFAIK they don't sell Carreras which are Haldfords own brand.
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Do you have to buy new? Or would you consider used? £300 is going to leave you quite limited on options For a new bike I believe.
If you can stretch to £400, then a calibre twotwo from go outdoors is often reviewed quite highly.
Best regards,
Greenback
I can stretch a bit over 300.
I've seen the Carrera Kraken, currently just above 300
http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/categ ... -12-46886/
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/m ... -bike-2015
or the B'twin rockrider 540 for the same money
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-54 ... 50583.html
or the Scott Aspect 770
https://www.evanscycles.com/scott-aspec ... e-EV253408
What do you think?
Avoid the big brands at this price, you won't get decent value from any of them at under a grand.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/vitu ... prod135378
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