Entry level mountain bike

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daisycow

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Hi
I'm looking to get myself a mountain bike, primarily for commuting (14 miles twice a week), but next year will probably be doing some long rides (coast to coast).
My budget isn't very much, £150-£160 max, and I realise this will severely limit quality options, but I'm looking for a basic bike I can add to/upgrade later if necessary.

I've found the following but I'm clueless with these things - so I could do with some help with what a good features and whats just sales drivel.

Full suspension:
http://www.bikesandprams.co.uk/product.php?xProd=1271 , or
http://www.littlewoodsdirect.com/rf...productPos=13&catno=KU2871J&groupId=406414958

Hard Tail
http://www.bikesandprams.co.uk/product.php?xProd=768&xSec=262 , or
http://www.mailordercycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b0s2p5630

Many of the term are completely bewildering to me, so any help or alternative suggestions would be greatly appreciated

Daisycow
 
I do a wee bit of cycling but am not a great expert. Sounds as though you won't be doing much off-roading though so, IMHO, you don't necessarily need a mountain bike. If it's mostly roads you're on you should consider a hybrid (used to be called town & country bikes when I was a lad). Just a thought.
 
HappyH said:
I do a wee bit of cycling but am not a great expert. Sounds as though you won't be doing much off-roading though so, IMHO, you don't necessarily need a mountain bike. If it's mostly roads you're on you should consider a hybrid (used to be called town & country bikes when I was a lad). Just a thought.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that, but I do intend to do more off roading at a later date - need to learn how to ride one of these things again first (its been a while), before I get too adventurous!
Would a hybrid be upto that?
 
for that sort of money I would not even entertain a full sus. Minumum spend for a full sus is 600 notes.

The hard tails will be suitiable for commuting on light rough and road.

If you are planning to do coast to coast, you will need to spend atleast 350 to 400.

Those bikes WILL break at the 1st boulder.
 
hey i do quite abit of bikein looking at the bikes u have posted i would say the SHOGUN JACKAL 06 looks the best buy gd brands on it and if ull be goin coast to coast then its a good bike for wot you will be useing it for :) with a full suspension bike u lose some of the power though the rear suspension but with the hard tail u dont so id go with the SHOGUN JACKAL 06

hope this helps u


http://www.bikesandprams.co.uk/produ...d=768&xSec=262
 
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at that price your better off going second hand youll get a much better bike for your money heres one on ebay that would be a good buy (assuming its the right size for you) specialized are one of the top mountain bike makers in the world theres no suspension on it but for commuting thats better and if and when you decide to start heading for the hills invest in a pair of decent forks and you would have a bike that would leave the ones youve been looking at for dead.
 
Thanks guys
I knew my budget would be a problem, but theres no more available (well maybe upto £200, but thats it)
What about this one? Its stating its at half price. (But whether thats true or not...)
http://www.bikesandprams.co.uk/product.php?xProd=1284&xSec=725

Gritz - I couldn't see the link - any chance of you reposting it

All your advice and opinions are appreciated. Please keep them coming
 
As I mentioned above, dont look at those bikes

Here is a couple of good entry level bikes from good known Manufacturers

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=15470

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=19759

http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=60708

http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=70584

These may get you coast to coast also, but something may break. i.e bottom Bracket Bearing.....

The brakes are V and not Disk....so in the wet braking in impaired.

Just as of interest mine is a Specialized hardatail, Cost me 500 I have HAD to upgrade the brakes to 8" rotors, Bottom Bracket as is failed after a week new crank set, new rear mech, new chain, new stem, new handlebars.....so it now stands me at about 900 notes......I dont do downhill but its hard cross country in the pennines
 
Thanks Mairyhinge
I now have a little more idea what I'm looking for (and where!)
Those all look good to me, I also spotted this one
http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=60706

I expect your gonna tell me to go for the most expensive I can buy - you get what you pay for, but...
Is there much difference in the various components like the gears and shifters offered on each one, to be worth swaying the decision on a particular bike? If so which are better?
And with a view to ugrade parts later, am I reight in assuming the GT frames are superior?
 
Yes thats exactly it, the most important bit to begin with is the frame.

The frames on the GT's are slightly better, if you have a good frame you dont have to upgrade that part in the future.

At the entry level gears chain sets and forks are all basic!

But with the good frame you can always in the future upgrade and keep the frame, that way reducing the cost in the long run.

So basically always go for the best frame possible. If the other bit break you can replace them with better parts in the future.

IMO Sram are the best gears.....Rock Shox make the best forks....

You can get good entry level Hydraulic disc brakes for 70 quid or less:)
 
Sorry to drag this out, but, I'm almost decided,

Probably the GT Timberline LTD 2006

but just want to run a few more past you from different firms -
3 from Claud Butler
http://www.cyclexpress.co.uk/./products/Trail_Ridge.aspx
or
http://www.cyclexpress.co.uk/./products/Mercury.aspx
or
http://www.bikesandprams.co.uk/product.php?xProd=382&xSec=292 (this ones got disc brakes)

two from Giant
http://www.cyclexpress.co.uk/./products/Rock_.aspx
or
http://www.cyclexpress.co.uk/./products/Boulder_.aspx

and finally Ridgeback
http://www.cyclexpress.co.uk/./Products/MX2.aspx

They all seem to have similar comparable features, and I realise brands are often down to individuals preference. But can anyone spot any problems with these, or offer a reasoned preference?
 
cable discs are better that v brakes....but I would still do for the GT.

As you or the features are comparable, but the GT has a decent frame.

CB is a reasonable make.

Giant are also half decent:)

The GT has a more bomb proof frame
 
Ive just bought a bike to get fit went for the ridgeback day 01 its a hybrid bike, I aint got a clue about bikes so cant be much help im afraid,

but just wanted to add the ridgebacks guarantee there frames for life so you will have that peice of mind.

Since your on a budget why not buy a second hand bike with better spec than buying new with not so good spec,

I found this site usefull for secand hand stuff...

http://www.gumtree.com/cgi-bin/list...t=86&search_terms=bikes&min_price=&max_price=

Bigga.
 
Had a quick look round that Gumtree, and little worth while in my area, plus I'd be very wary of picking up a stolen bike

I think I'll go for the GT Timberline LTD 2006

I'm gonna wait until monday and ask at work if they'll go for that tax free work bike scheme - then perhaps I can either save a packet or go for a better bike

Thanks for everyones help
 
I bought a bike through the governments 'cycle to work' scheme in April as my company were running it then. Bikes had to be bought from Halfords though so you could only choose from ones they stocked. Just to let you know.....
 
Is it actually worthwhile - the website states after the lease period you then have to buy the bike off your employer!

Chain reaction cycles advertise the scheme on their site, so I'm hoping I can use them. It might depend on each employer and who they have deals with.
 
I got a voucher for £500 to spend in Halfords. The money is paid back over a year & comes directly off your 'top-line'. This has two benefits, firstly it's interest free over the year & secondly you save on tax/NI contributions. I'll actually pay ('bottom-line') roughly £285 over the year as lease payments + £25 in a one-off payment to buy it. I obviously thought it was a decent deal but had to pick from Halfords stock.
 
Daisy Cow.

I have been a cyclist for a while, I have two bikes, one for on road and one for off road.

At the price point you have a budget for avoid full suspension, cheap bikes have cheap suspension thats poorly made and will sap power (thats coming from your legs)

Earlier in this thread was a suggestion of a hybrid. A Good Hybrid is stronger than a cheapo mountain bike with money wasted on cheap suspension. Don't dismiss a hybrid, they are pretty tough.

On road a mountain bike is ponderous and slow (London couriers that ride them change the tyres for road tyres because they offer much less rolling resistance than true off road tyres)

Hybrid tyres won't go mud plugging but gentle off road work which is what most people do anyway is fine, Mountain bikes really are meant to go rock hopping and mud plugging, if you are going to ride on "off road tracks" then a hybrid will do that OK. Thats what they are for.

If you really do want a serious off roader then you will pay with on road performance. This is why I own two bikes so I don't compromise.

My Off roader is worth around £800 and my On Roader maybe £600?

For £160 you are going to have to compromise.

For cheaper bikes I think Halfords are worth a look

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...rumb_33980-33957-31319_parentcategoryrn_60956

A Bit more than your budget but spec seems OK

ps get it sized properly too

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/resource/size_charts.htm

Convert
 
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Ok,it seems my work will do this scheme - but suppliers are limited - one is halfords (and I'm sure I get discount from work anyway, 7 or 10% I think)
So after reading up on their stocks and using HappyH's costs above as a guide I should be able to afford a £500 bike (with monthly payments I can go a bit higher than previous)

The Carrera Fury has had a few good write ups and I like the look of it. It seems to have a few decent spec parts, and its nice and light. I'm gonna go and look at one this week

Thanks for everyones help
 
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