New starter mountain bike help

mike_se

I'm sure people hate these kind of posts but I have done my reading! I'm going to be getting a new bike and I can't really spend more than £400 (£75 of this is a voucher as well). I have been reading reviews and information and I think I have narrowed it down to either the Voodoo Hoodoo from Halfords or the Calibre Two Cubed from Go Outdoors. Both get great reviews.

The Voodoo seems to have an air fork and a 1x10 drivetrain (which I always thought was a good idea but I haven't bought a bike for about 10 years!) which seem to push it above the Calibre and I do get 10% off at Halfords where it would be from which would bring it down to the £400. This is probably where I am swaying at the moment.

Can anyone offer an opinion for me?

Also seen that the Voodoo Wazoo has been reduced so linked that too, it was another I had been interested in.

Links to bikes:

https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/ ... -22-frames

https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/calibre-tw ... ke-p433553

https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/ ... -20-frames

mike_se

Good idea, I've added links to the post now. Also added a link to the Wazoo as I've noticed the price on that has dropped as well. I get 10% off everything at Halfords as a perk through my employer, which is handy for some things!

slc123

As above, hoodoo is a better spec bike.

phil485

I got a hoodoo late last year. A lot of bike for the money.

The Rookie

The Hoodoo is streets ahead of the other 2.

mike_se

Cheers for the replies, that was the one I was leaning towards. I've looked at used bikes as well but they don't really seem to be that cheap, based on the fact I'll actually only be spending about £330 of my own money on a new Hoodoo which does seem like a good spec for what I'll be using it for.

mike_se

I'm around 5' 10"/5' 11", and seem to be in the middle of the medium and large frame size. What would anyone recommend in this case?

cooldad

Sit on one.

mike_se

Fair one, i'll do that! I suppose the bike will feel different if it's slightly smaller or a bit larger, probably trade-offs either way.

slc123

The sizing of bikes e.g. Large is a good guide, but ultimately they all have different measurements and configuration. When you put this together with the different lengths of peoples arms and legs it all becomes a bit irrelevant. So the only real way to tell is sit on it as Cooldad says. I would suspect a Large would suit you better.

billycool

You're the same height as me and I'm sort of on the cusp of M and L, depending on the bike.

My HT is M (18") and my FS is L (19").

If I were to get another HT I would get a L as mine feels a little cramped now, but as you have been advised, you need to sit on them and decide what fits you best.

Happy shopping.

JBA

I’m 6’ but with relatively short arms and legs.
My HT is a L but my FS is a M.

Sitting on a bike is a good indication of what size you need. The quoted frame size is (usually) a measure of the seat tube length. However, modern MTBs are getting longer so reach is as important as height.