New Bike

New Boy2 · August 2016

Just under a year ago I sort some advice on 650b+ options and in the end decided to hold off buying.

I have come back for very similar advice, but this time it is perhaps more simple.

I am not going to creating massive air or going downhill at breakneck speeds or have a need to cover vast miles XC. However, I will be enjoying a wide variety of terrains and styles of riding. I will be going on bridleways through to trail centres and from cycle paths to round the edges of farmers’ fields (overland). Sometimes it will be with the kids and the wife and sometimes it will be a bit more “lairy” when in my own company or potentially with my 11 year old who is showing some interest in doing more interesting stuff.

So, I need something that can cover all bases relatively well with perhaps a tyre change for different conditions or know location. I am probably over thinking this and pretty much anything will suit, but (and without being too crass) I can afford a semi decent bike. It also needs to flatter my lack of skill and be something I can continue to improve on too!
I am back down to deciding between a 29er or a 650b as I felt that perhaps the 650b+ would be great for summer/spring usage, but in the wet stuff might not be as good.

So, if you were me, but obviously had a good deal of knowledge on bikes and therefore what would suit best, and had about 1k to blow where would you be putting your money? If you can link anything better at a strict £1.1k limit then feel free. I could push to £1200 for a Whyte 905RS currently in sale, but in all honesty I would prefer to stick within budget.

I have been on both the Whyte 901 and 729 and quite liked both. I'd prefer to spend the budget on fork and frame a skimp a little on shifters etc.

29er
Genesis High Latitude £1090 http://www.tweekscycles.com/bikes/hardt ... -inch-2016

650b
Whyte 901 £960 http://www.cyclesurgery.com/pws/UniqueP ... CWHY0306EE
Pinnacle Iroko £1000 https://www.evanscycles.com/pinnacle-ir ... e-EV244134
Ragley Marley £900 http://www.mtbmonster.com/ragley-marley ... bike-2016/

Cheers!!!

lostboysaint · August 2016

What on earth has convinced you that weather/the seasons has got anything to do with what wheel size to get?

Any wheel size is rideable in mud, just put decent mud tyres on (available in all sizes!).

New Boy2 · August 2016

lostboysaint wrote:

What on earth has convinced you that weather/the seasons has got anything to do with what wheel size to get?

Any wheel size is rideable in mud, just put decent mud tyres on (available in all sizes!).

I have a set up for winter and one for summer on my 26" Trek.

The LBS said that 650b plus was poor in wet/mud. Hence, I was thinking of doing the same on either a 29er or 650b as you cannot really do this on semi fat...unless, and i cannot, you can afford a 29" wheelset as well.

It was more about which wheelset (& bike) out of 29 or 27.5 suits my circumstances better.

Apologies if this is not clear.

cooldad · August 2016

Links help, but wheelsize is personal. You need to try some out.

The frame or type of bike will make the most difference.

supersonic · August 2016

How about a Alpkit Sonder Transmitter?

https://www.alpkit.com/sonder/bikes/son ... r-nx1-yari

Is slightly more on the eavy duty side of your scope, but a great fork.

JBA · August 2016

Are you set on a hard tail?
If not, and you can push the budget a bit, then how about a Giant Anthem?
2016 Anthem 3 for £1200.

New Boy2 · August 2016

JBA wrote:

Are you set on a hard tail?
If not, and you can push the budget a bit, then how about a Giant Anthem?
2016 Anthem 3 for £1200.

Yeah, I think for what I am using it for it makes sense....not that I am an expert...

If it helps and all these bikes are suitable - the bike that is the most forgiving (least harsh ride) and the best fork of the choices would be my preference.

Orange P7 S - http://www.c6bikes.co.uk/2016-Orange-P7 ... tail/3-256 @ £1160

kevinharley · August 2016

supersonic wrote:

How about a Alpkit Sonder Transmitter?

https://www.alpkit.com/sonder/bikes/son ... r-nx1-yari

Is slightly more on the eavy duty side of your scope, but a great fork.

I've just borrowed one of these from a mate this weekend, and really liked it. The 'plus' tyres will make it more capable if you take it off the beaten track (ie, away from singletrack, trails, bridleways etc onto moorland / edges of fields), but I suspect it won't do very well in mud as the tyres tend to float over mud rather than dig through to anything firmer.

I didn't find the 2.8/3 in tyres much more draggy than the 2.4's I have on my normal bike, particularly off-road (on tarmac, rolling resistance is noticeably greater), but there's a whole lot more comfort in the big tyres than I'm used to, which for me, would make all-day or multi-day epics more tolerable than my current HT, and (for me) would negate the need for FS.

Also, mahoosive grip in the corners of singletrack / trails, and lots of confidence hooning down steep, rooty, rocky terrain ... and traction up tricky, loose, rocky, steep terrain is also noticeably better than an 'ordinary' HT.

Tyres seem to be very pressure-sensitive - too high, and it pings off stuff too much, too low and you risk damaging your rims. Tubeless is the way to go I think.

supersonic · August 2016

It has had a lot of good reviews, would love to have a go on one!

Newboy 2, the Orange P7S is pretty average value for the spec it has. Steel doesn't always give a more forgiving ride quality - fatter tyres at lower pressures offer more comfort I find than even the springiest of steel frames (they don't flex much vertically). Testing is always the best way. You might also want to conasdier the OnOne 45650b - for the same money you get a 1x11 equipped bike with a reverb seatpost.

turpinr · September 2016

New Boy2 wrote:

Just under a year ago I sort some advice on 650b+ options and in the end decided to hold off buying.

I have come back for very similar advice, but this time it is perhaps more simple.

I am not going to creating massive air or going downhill at breakneck speeds or have a need to cover vast miles XC. However, I will be enjoying a wide variety of terrains and styles of riding. I will be going on bridleways through to trail centres and from cycle paths to round the edges of farmers’ fields (overland). Sometimes it will be with the kids and the wife and sometimes it will be a bit more “lairy” when in my own company or potentially with my 11 year old who is showing some interest in doing more interesting stuff.

So, I need something that can cover all bases relatively well with perhaps a tyre change for different conditions or know location. I am probably over thinking this and pretty much anything will suit, but (and without being too crass) I can afford a semi decent bike. It also needs to flatter my lack of skill and be something I can continue to improve on too!
I am back down to deciding between a 29er or a 650b as I felt that perhaps the 650b+ would be great for summer/spring usage, but in the wet stuff might not be as good.

So, if you were me, but obviously had a good deal of knowledge on bikes and therefore what would suit best, and had about 1k to blow where would you be putting your money? If you can link anything better at a strict £1.1k limit then feel free. I could push to £1200 for a Whyte 905RS currently in sale, but in all honesty I would prefer to stick within budget.

I have been on both the Whyte 901 and 729 and quite liked both. I'd prefer to spend the budget on fork and frame a skimp a little on shifters etc.

29er
Genesis High Latitude £1090 http://www.tweekscycles.com/bikes/hardt ... -inch-2016

650b
Whyte 901 £960 http://www.cyclesurgery.com/pws/UniqueP ... CWHY0306EE
Pinnacle Iroko £1000 https://www.evanscycles.com/pinnacle-ir ... e-EV244134
Ragley Marley £900 http://www.mtbmonster.com/ragley-marley ... bike-2016/

Cheers!!!

Personally I'd go for the Whyte.I'm still riding 26" and have never fancied a 29er which may have something to do with my age.
The 905 would be better still.

kevinharley · September 2016

supersonic wrote:

It has had a lot of good reviews, would love to have a go on one!

It was great fun actually ... but if you do go down this route, try and order it with different tyres than the WTB trailblazer 2.8's - they have very fragile sidewalls ... my mate split the front a few weeks ago, and I helpfully completed the set for him by splitting the rear last night before having to hand back the bike this morning ... :oops: !! The Nobby Nic he replaced it with on the front is a great tyre however, and seems much more robust ...

supersonic wrote:

Newboy 2 ... You might also want to consider the OnOne 45650b - for the same money you get a 1x11 equipped bike with a reverb seatpost.

Would second the 45650B - I've had one for 2.5 years now. Its not quite as long or low as the most recent generation of hardcore hardtails, but it is slack, bomb-proof, great value and confidence inspiring. With 2.4 tyres fitted, it is grippy and comfortable enough, and it would also be more straightforward to change over to narrower (mud) rubber as and when you need to.

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