Mtb

[chi]

Can Beng or other bikers recommend me a £500 hard tail MTB.

I'm currently thinking of this http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/avalanche-disc-10-08-24827

but would welcome other ideas

[PikeKing]

i'd be interested too, i'd like to get back into mountain biking but my downhill bike is a bitch to ride cross country!

[Tone C]

This has benn covered before guys by Beng and I....Give us a sec and I'll have a look see-and Andy,never knew you were into bikes.....

[Tone C]

Yep,theres a start.....in the £300 ish range...

http://www.iron-city.net/showthread.php?t=2058&highlight=mountain+bike

[Beaker]

Andy have you ever used any of the tracks out the back of wilton ? some nice fast runs there, good berms too, was carved up mainly by guys on MX bikes.
I've not ridden my bike for ages, bottom bracket needs replacing along with the rims/bars/cables... lol Built it up myself about 7 years ago put some Z1's on the front they are still good now despite only having 4 inches of travel.
What downhill bike do you have ?

[PikeKing]

This has benn covered before guys by Beng and I....Give us a sec and I'll have a look see-and Andy,never knew you were into bikes.....

use to be my thing, did loads while at college and uni, bikes just sat in the shed for the last 3 years

[PikeKing]

Andy have you ever used any of the tracks out the back of wilton ? some nice fast runs there, good berms too, was carved up mainly by guys on MX bikes.
I've not ridden my bike for ages, bottom bracket needs replacing along with the rims/bars/cables... lol Built it up myself about 7 years ago put some Z1's on the front they are still good now despite only having 4 inches of travel.
What downhill bike do you have ?

I bought a Marin B17 with my 1st student loan, then with the next one I bought disc brakes, cranks etc, expensive sport as things do have a have a habit of breaking.

Z1s are great forks, well they were back when i was doing it so I assume they still are, the forks are about the only original thing on the frame on my bike. People use to slag off the RST High 5s, though I found them to be good.

[Tone C]

Hmmm.....I can feel a (off)road trip coming on Andy?I'll put 999 on speed dial though...

[Beaker]

I bought a Marin B17 with my 1st student loan, then with the next one I bought disc brakes, cranks etc, expensive sport as things do have a have a habit of breaking.

Z1s are great forks, well they were back when i was doing it so I assume they still are, the forks are about the only original thing on the frame on my bike. People use to slag off the RST High 5s, though I found them to be good.

Ha ha thats kind of funny, I got offered a credit card by Barclays on the first day of college on my way to a lesson, so I accepted it then 2 weeks later maxed it out buying bike parts.
Aye the Z1 is such a smooth fork considering its what 5/6 years old now ? I had mine serviced and they have not been used since... Really must get it sorted, I will probably keep the forks and slap them on a new frame with similar travel.
Do you remember Momentum bike shop that used to be in town, I took the guys sintesi bazooka out for a test up the chalk pits, now that is a heavy bike .

[PikeKing]

yup i had that bike of them while they were waiting for a part for mine, i quite liked that bike.

hmmm i should really get my arse in gear and get new inner tubes etc and get my bike out again, hmmmm i feel a trip to lycra world coming on

[Beaker]

Yep the sun is shining. I'm gonna pull the ol' steed out the shed and strip her down. Will do my skinny legs the world of good to get into biking again..

[BengDogg]

Well you could have a look at these....

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Categories.aspx?CategoryID=163&CurrentPageIndex=0&SortExpression=PRICE_ASC
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=17829
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=14922

Caught my eye at a quick glance and you will find there prices amongst the best in the uk

[ATZ]

Chris, what bike did you buy in the end? I've got access to a cyclescheme in work - basically enabling me to buy a decent bike for very cheap monthly installments minus tax etc and was looking at about the £500 mark too. Be a good way to get back into MTB after a long break and give me some extra fitness options.

I've narrowed it down to these two:

GT Avalanche 1.0 2008 (http://www.gtbicycles.com/gbr/eng/default.aspx?fuseaction=product.displaySubcategory&&id=17#2639)

or

Specialized Rockhopper Disc 2008 (http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=34005)

The second choice is slightly more exepensive but I'm wondering it its worth the extra cost over the GT. Bengg or anyone else with bike experince feel free to chip in.

[ATZ]

The Carrera Fury (http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_27 3227_langId_-1_categoryId_106166) has also come into the mix.

[van_halen]

Chris, what bike did you buy in the end? I've got access to a cyclescheme in work - basically enabling me to buy a decent bike for very cheap monthly installments minus tax etc and was looking at about the £500 mark too. Be a good way to get back into MTB after a long break and give me some extra fitness options.

I've narrowed it down to these two:

GT Avalanche 1.0 2008 (http://www.gtbicycles.com/gbr/eng/default.aspx?fuseaction=product.displaySubcategory&&id=17#2639)

or

Specialized Rockhopper Disc 2008 (http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=34005)

The second choice is slightly more exepensive but I'm wondering it its worth the extra cost over the GT. Bengg or anyone else with bike experince feel free to chip in.

You can't really go wrong with either of those. I had a rockhopper back when they were made of steel. Ahhhh, the good old days :)

I now have a GT Ruckus to carry my swole arse around. Of course I had to replace both wheels with something a little more robust <buff>

[Beaker]

That Manatee pic is awesome, you should put it on a t-shirt.

[chi]

Aled, I never got a mtb. When i consistantly commute by bike (road) it ends up eating to my time after a couple of weeks, commuting off road would take even longer.

[ATZ]

My intention was to get an MTB like above which both have sus lock-out (stiffening up the ride) and getting a spare set of rims with road tyres on. That way I have a bike that can commute to work plus go play on the numerous decent MTB tracks we have - I live about 20mins from the Llandegla Centre where Bengg sometimes goes to play.

I think I'm gonna go for the GT, will let you knwo in due course after a few test drives.

[BengDogg]

09 bkes shoud be out very soon look out for bargain 08 models on wiggle.co.uk evans cycles. swinnerton cycles and chainreactioncycles.com some bikes will be 50% off no doubt