Advice Required

mikeshe

Now aged 64 and in the need of getting healthier. In good health at present but a few pounds need to be shifted around the waist area so looking to get back into cycling and be able to get out with the Grandkids. Spent 35yrs sat on my backside driving Tankers!

The bikes I am looking at are:
Cannondale Trial 6,
Calibre Two Cubed,
Rockrider ST520,
Rockrider ST530

I know there's a mixture of how many gears, mechanical discs and hydraulic discs etc but in reality has this got any real importance as I definitely won't be doing jumps or tearing around bike circuits trying to break the land speed record. All I'll be using it for is casual riding around the Forest tracks with some gradients, not a lot of road use.

The Cannondale is my max budget but would I really need this bike for the rides I'll be doing? As you can gather, I haven't got a clue what's a good or bad spec bike, hence why I'm after some help.
Thanks in anticipation.

Mike

N0bodyOfTheGoat

https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/15988434/15988434-calibre-two-cubed-hardtail-mountain-bike-yellow would be my pick, even though I hate the "reinventing the wheel" 27.5" wheel size.

It gets good reviews, has done since the 26" version from ~5 years or so ago, just be aware it's got very modern "long low slack" geometry (see geo chart in link below)...

http://calibrebicycles.com/bike/two-3/

The small Calibre has a longer reach than my 18" Voodoo (which is ~420mm), but I've been running a 110mm stem for 18+ months rather than the default 80mm, so I expect the medium Calibre would work for me too.

The only thing regarding sizing I can't fathom is how long the seat post is that is supplied, because the small only has a 406mm and the medium a 450mm seat tube (I presume that is "centre BB to saddle top"). I typically set my saddle at ~720mm BB to saddle top and you typically need 100mm+ of saddle post inserted, so on the small frame I'd need a 415mm+ post (longer than most bikes come with).

The Rookie

Links to save everyone searching
https://www.evanscycles.com/cannondale-trail-6-2020-mountain-bike-EV360865
https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/15905596/calibre-two-cubed-mountain-bike-15905596
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/st-520-mountain-bike-275-grey-id_8378535.html
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/275-mtb-st-530-black-id_8582845.html

Typically of big brands, the Cannodale is the worse bike there for the most money, you're paying £150 for the Cannondale logo, any other brand and it would be a £300 bike
The ST530 is by a distance the best bike of that bunch, although the St520 would probably do everything you want pretty much as well I think.

mikeshe

Thanks for your help gents. I was going to go for the Two Cubed in size L but that's now gone. Didn't realise that about Cannondale and paying for the logo.

I was considering a Trek Marlin 5 but since yesterday they've all gone in size / colour I'd want.

I'll have another look through at the weekend when I'm off again. If you have any other suggestions in that sort of price range I'd love to know them. My knowledge of good or bad is like I said before, non existent!