paul87 Posted July 26, 2012 Report Share Posted July 26, 2012 Hi, I'm looking for opinions on which mountain bike would be best for me. Ideally I'd like to spend around £500 and the bike must be new as it will be bought through the cycle to work scheme. I intend to use it mostly on roads and toe paths but I'd like a bike capable of tackling the odd trail. I would prefer if the bike had hydraulic disc brakes and lock-out front suspension. I previously had a GT Avalanche which I really liked, and can get the new GT Avalanche 2.0 online for £500 but do you guys think there are better specced bikes out there for the money? The other bikes I have looked at are the Forme Sternedale 1.0 and the Voodoo Hoodoo from Halfords which seems to get rave reviews. It all gets a bit confusing looking from one to another and trying to see which has the better components. Oh and the bike can be purchased anywhere online included. Look forward to hearing your opinions thanks Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
libs Posted July 26, 2012 Report Share Posted July 26, 2012 Specialised Hard Rock! I had one for a year before it was stolen and can't complain. Great bit of kit that felt made to last. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackbird Posted July 26, 2012 Report Share Posted July 26, 2012 Take a look at Cube cycles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laird Lugton Posted July 26, 2012 Report Share Posted July 26, 2012 (edited) You mean you're not actually going to cycle to work on the bike? I am looking at Whyte Hardtail bikes through the cycle to work scheme. We use Evans Cycles for the scheme Edited July 26, 2012 by Laird Lugton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guinty1 Posted July 26, 2012 Report Share Posted July 26, 2012 How about one of these. http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/review-carrera-fury-12-45764 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul87 Posted July 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 26, 2012 How about one of these. http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/review-carrera-fury-12-45764 Gave it plenty of consideration but the voodoo hoodoo gets a better review. Bit sceptical of the bikeradar reviews as all the halfords bikes seem to get the best ratings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul87 Posted July 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 26, 2012 You mean you're not actually going to cycle to work on the bike? I am looking at Whyte Hardtail bikes through the cycle to work scheme. We use Evans Cycles for the scheme Eventually, once I can cycle 10 miles without breaking a sweat lol, might even go the long way home over trails . The whyte bikes look the part but out of my price range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazza Posted July 26, 2012 Report Share Posted July 26, 2012 Just bought myself a Giant Talon 29'er and must say I'm impressed so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveb Posted July 26, 2012 Report Share Posted July 26, 2012 Genesis core 10 is a good bike. or for a bit more i just got a cannondale SL3 which is real nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landyboy Posted July 26, 2012 Report Share Posted July 26, 2012 (edited) PACE ! excellent build quality and great service Edited July 26, 2012 by landyboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul87 Posted July 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 26, 2012 PACE ! excellent build quality and great service For £500 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul87 Posted July 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 26, 2012 Just bought myself a Giant Talon 29'er and must say I'm impressed so far. Was thinking about a 29er but to be honest the price of wheels and tyres put me off. A well known shop in belfast also told me that although they will always be around they reckoned they were going out of fashion. Maybe that's because they had none in stock? But apparently 27.5" will be the next big thing. Where did you buy from Dazza? Would like to keep the money in the local economy but price and lack of selection push me elsewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul87 Posted July 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 26, 2012 What do you guys make of this bike? http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=59243 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted July 26, 2012 Report Share Posted July 26, 2012 Take a look at Cube cycles I did this, in fact I have done it twice now, one road bike one mtb. With £500 to spend I would set up some saved searches on eBay and see what comes up, but people are all over Cubes so be prepared to get into a bidding battle. I paid £590 for mine, it was a year old, barely used and came with the original receipt for just shy of £1,000 Bit sceptical of the bikeradar reviews as all the halfords bikes seem to get the best ratings. Probably to counter the anti Halfords movement, it you cut through that and take a subjective view they do some decent spec'd bikes at pretty good prices. The "but they didn't help me set it up properly" comments make me LOL, it's a push bike not a bloody space rocket set up yourself you mongs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazza Posted July 26, 2012 Report Share Posted July 26, 2012 (edited) Was thinking about a 29er but to be honest the price of wheels and tyres put me off. A well known shop in belfast also told me that although they will always be around they reckoned they were going out of fashion. Maybe that's because they had none in stock? But apparently 27.5" will be the next big thing. Where did you buy from Dazza? Would like to keep the money in the local economy but price and lack of selection push me elsewhere. http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/ Excellent service and fast delivery. http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/product/125914.html Edited July 26, 2012 by dazza Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul87 Posted July 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 26, 2012 Thanks for the link Dazza, looks like you got yourself a nice well specced bike. Health to enjoy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
washerboy Posted July 26, 2012 Report Share Posted July 26, 2012 http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/review-carrera-vulcan-12-45673 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raja Clavata Posted July 26, 2012 Report Share Posted July 26, 2012 29er hardtails: they have never been in fashion in the UK. I love mine and that's part of the reason why. If you want to set it up for road use then you can use 700c rims and tyres so not expensive at all and that's also the same as hybrids so I don't really know where the expensive wheels and tyres comments for 29er's comes from... As already said Cube or Specialized at that price irrespective of what type of bike you end up going for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul87 Posted July 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 26, 2012 Maybe not overly expensive but certainly the ones i have seen are more expensive than the 26" wheels and tyres. The more options people give me the harder it is to make a decision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the enigma Posted July 26, 2012 Report Share Posted July 26, 2012 A mate of mine dealt with these guys,said they were pretty helpful...............cycleology, co.armagh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guinty1 Posted July 26, 2012 Report Share Posted July 26, 2012 This site has some offers worth considering. http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul87 Posted July 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2012 I'm down to the following selection, can you please offer any advice on what i have picked please? BeOne http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=75459 Ghost http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=55694 GT http://www.tritoncycles.co.uk/m1b1s2p9155/GT_Avalanche_2_2012 Giant Talon 2 http://www.wiggle.co.uk/giant-talon-2-2012/ Giant talon 29er 1 http://www.wiggle.co.uk/giant-talon-29er-1-2012/ Voodoo http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...ountain Bike 2011/2012 - 18""&source=shopping Cube analog may also be an option if you think it is worth the extra over what i have picked. Thanks for your help so far. Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raja Clavata Posted July 27, 2012 Report Share Posted July 27, 2012 Cube would be my top choice followed by Giant, personally I would swerve the voodoo. I still advocate a 29er as they are so much more versatile and on all but the tighest of circuits (are you really going to ride on BMX type circuits) they win out over 26" in my opinion. But assuming you are going to plump for a 26" bike then they are all pretty much the same functionally so a lot of it comes down to which design you like the look of. Thing is that the 2012 bikes are only going to get cheaper in the coming weeks / few months. Try to be patient and a proper billy bargain will come along. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul87 Posted July 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2012 Thing is that the 2012 bikes are only going to get cheaper in the coming weeks / few months. Try to be patient and a proper billy bargain will come along. Good advice Raja only thing is I have to decide before the end of August. Work are giving us a 2 month window for the scheme not to mention we are running out of bright nights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet boy Posted July 27, 2012 Report Share Posted July 27, 2012 Well my favourite Bikes are from Orange but they are out of your price range.Specialized and Cube do good Hardtail Bikes at reasonable prices. ATB in your search. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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