Charge Cooker 3

trevorh
trevorh Posts: 87
edited December 2016 in MTB buying advice
Looking to buy one of theses in the Wiggle sale. Just wanted to see if anyone has ridden one/owns one and their thoughts really.

Comments

  • midgehulluk
    midgehulluk Posts: 195
    A link to the bike would help
  • trevorh
    trevorh Posts: 87
    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/charge-cooker-3-2016/
  • trevorh
    trevorh Posts: 87
    Anyone???
  • midgehulluk
    midgehulluk Posts: 195
    Nice bike for the sale price, I wouldn't buy it for the rrp tho. Look at boardman bikes at halfords, they offer good value for money
  • trevorh
    trevorh Posts: 87
    I have had Boardmans in the past so like the brand but think that the Charge at the sale price is too good to pass up. What do do reckon?
  • midgehulluk
    midgehulluk Posts: 195
    It's a good bike for the £600 price. You checked out go outdoors the calibre is similar
  • arthur_scrimshaw
    arthur_scrimshaw Posts: 2,596
    This will be of no use to you as I'm not a crudder but I have two Charge road bikes (Juicer Hi & Plug) and love them, great quality of finish, nice to look at and really nice to ride, components good for the price although like you mine were both bought in a sale. British designed in Somerset whatever that really means.
  • trevorh
    trevorh Posts: 87
    Calibre Gauntlet?? The cooker appealed to me as it is £1200 worth of bike for £588 and if I buy another £600 bike I will always be comparing it and thinking "what if?"
  • midgehulluk
    midgehulluk Posts: 195
    I don't think it's worth £1200, when you can buy a very similar speced bike for half the price. For £600 I'd be looking at boardman/gauntlet
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    At £600 its OK, not great, but not bad, at £1200 it really shouldn't have sold at all.....I wonder why its in the sale.....
    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.
  • trevorh
    trevorh Posts: 87
    The only Boardman in the range that is near price wise with a 1x setup is £679.00 so £100 more. The Cooker may have been overpriced at £1200, agreed, but is it value for money. That's the question??
  • rockmonkeysc
    rockmonkeysc Posts: 14,774
    midgehulluk wrote:
    I don't think it's worth £1200, when you can buy a very similar speced bike for half the price. For £600 I'd be looking at boardman/gauntlet

    .It might have an rrp of £1200 but it's certainly not worth that.
    I wouldn't be buying anything with plus size wheels unless you never intend to ride in wet conditions. Great for dusty trails, all wrong for mud.
    Charge mainly specialise in fixies for city hipsters
    Transition Patrol - viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=13070235
  • trevorh
    trevorh Posts: 87
    Thanks for the replies guys. Agree that the plus sized wheels were holding me back. All of the reviews have said that the tyre manufacturers haven't really struck a balance between weight and durability and riding in mud is essential in the UK. So my next question now is what do I go for? The Boardman 29ers look good both the comp and the pro. Also the team 650b looks good at that price. Would I notice a real difference going to a 29er having always ridden 27.5 or 26 wheels? Any other £600 or thereabouts alternatives that you would recommend?
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    Mentally good value right now
    http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/m ... -bike-2015

    Or
    http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/m ... -bike-2015

    the issue with plus tyres in the UK is they are too narrow to float over mud like a fatty and too fat to dig through like a conventional tyre. that said if a riding friend has one, follow them as they plough a nice furrow in the mud to follow!
    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.
  • N0bodyOfTheGoat
    N0bodyOfTheGoat Posts: 6,063
    The Rookie wrote:
    Mentally good value right now
    http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/m ... -bike-2015

    £360 with currently 8% Topcashback is crazy for that 18" Incline Alpha, best low budget Black Friday bike I've seen today by a country mile! :shock:
    ================
    2020 Voodoo Marasa
    2017 Cube Attain GTC Pro Disc 2016
    2016 Voodoo Wazoo
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    I aim to please!
    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.
  • trevorh
    trevorh Posts: 87
    ok so I ignored my instinct and everones advice and went for the Cooker. I have to say I absolutely love it. The plus tyres aren't draggy at all and give awesome grip and it climbs like a goat!!! Time will tell if I still love it as much when the trails turn sloppy but at the moment I am well chuffed!!!
  • buddy_club
    buddy_club Posts: 935
    An interesting approach to the advice given - nonetheless glad you like it.
    Framebuilder
    Handbuilt Steel 29er https://goo.gl/RYSbaa
    Carbon Stumpjumper https://goo.gl/xJNFcv
    Parkwood:http://goo.gl/Gf8xkL
    Ribble Gran Fondo https://goo.gl/ZpTFXz
    Triban:http://goo.gl/v63FBB
  • arthur_scrimshaw
    arthur_scrimshaw Posts: 2,596
    Good for you, I doubt if anyone posting here has ridden one, you can't tell how it will ride from the spec sheet alone.
  • rockmonkeysc
    rockmonkeysc Posts: 14,774
    You'll regret the plus tyres when it gets muddy and you'll regret them even more when you need new tyres.
    Plus size is being killed off due to it not selling very well.
    Transition Patrol - viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=13070235

Categories