Lambchop

iTrader: (1)

As title, i want to buy myself a mountain bike. I live very close to the beach/dunes and plenty offroading on my doorstep. This would mainly be for exercise i guess.

Now where the hell do i start when looking? I went to a specialised bike shop today and found bikes costing £3-4k...now fuck me you get one with an engine that does 0-100 in 6 secs for that price!

i'd maybe spend up to £400 but even then thats pushing the budget!

Maybe i'd consider 2nd hand if anyone has anything?

cheers

chop

-J-

Take a look on here - http://www.evanscycles.com

Good Bike for the Money -

http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=60738

Rolls

iTrader: (2)

^^^ only a small though...

have a look on wiggle and chain reaction cycles mate - they always have special delas on...
How tall are you- will determine the frame size you're after...
For that amount of money, IMO, for for a hardtail (suspension front, none at the rear)-, and you'll probably be best with V brakes...

and as for 4k bikes..... - they ROCK

1feathers

best off going to a decent shop (they should have second hand ones too) to get some advice, and they will let you have a bit of a test ride too, i was amazed at how different two similar bikes were when i had a ride on them.
as above prob a hardtail would be best, should be some good bargains to be had with sales at the min.

Lambchop

iTrader: (1)

Im 6ft 4 so guess i need quite a big frame

is there any difference with disc brakes?

-J-

If there is one of the Evans shop from the link i posted they let you test ride all the bikes... thats where i got my Stump jumper from.

Rolls

iTrader: (2)

yeah - they are awesome in the wet BUT you NEED hydruylic jobbies - not cale ones, as they're crap

RStim

The latest MBR mag as just done some testing on some bikes upto £500.Specialized fan myself and the Hardrock is a good bike.Ring around and ask if they have got any deals on '07 bikes as '08 bikes are available now.

Lambchop

iTrader: (1)

nearest is glasgow i think which is 150 miles away


RSTim
what does a bike like the hardrock cost then?

Lambchop

iTrader: (1)

Ok heres a specialized hardrock 07 model
http://www.evanscycles.com/product.j...c7?style=70143

hows that?

RStim

Hardrock are from £300-£600 depending on spec.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Specialized-Ha...QQcmdZViewItem

Lambchop

iTrader: (1)

hmmm is 2nd hand from ebay wise? how tough are the frames?

I guess i need 21"+ frame for my height?

1feathers

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Orange-Subzero...QQcmdZViewItem
Orange man myself, awesome bikes. build quality is second to none definately worth a look http://www.orangebikes.co.uk/main/index.php

Lambchop

iTrader: (1)

wouldnt mind one in proper dayglow lambo orange

1feathers

like this http://www.orangebikes.co.uk/2007bikes/p7-pro.php same as mine, apart from mines black. great bike

Lambchop

iTrader: (1)

nice

so what is that worth new then?

1feathers

P7 Pro £1200
P7 S like mine £800

If you scroll down to the bottom of the page it gives you all the info plus prices. just under the pic is the different models in that range, which you can click on too. Orange also have ex demo bikes at times too.

Lambchop

iTrader: (1)

WAAAAAAAAY too expensive

1feathers

brand new yes, but what about second hand?

trig_112

I used to work in a bike shop, one of the best selling bikes, and in my opinion, one of the very best bikes for under £500 was the Claud Butler Cape Wrath, great spec, decent frame, comfy, light and good handling. It quite often came top of the class in magazine tests

GUZZLER

iTrader: (3)

i'm 6'2" & i have a large frame (19") its great for on & off road, mine is a specialised rockhopper with hydralic disks, i didnt want to spend more than £500 but i'm glad i paid a bit more & got what i wanted

daveb_lives

www.dalescycles.com

got my specialized there last xmas, 20% off all rrp was the deal they ran so i got the specialized hardrock pro and have had no complaints for the bike whatsoever, should have been 550 but got for 440.

http://www.dalescycles.com/ProductDe...e=SPECHRPROD08

dave

Lambchop

iTrader: (1)

feathers
i'll look second hand then...

trig
that sounds good, i shall google it. i was offered a claud butler milano yest but wrong type of bike! i'd never even heard of them now thats twice in 2 days

guzzler
mate has a rock hopper and upgraded to discs earlier in the yr. still too much new tho

dave
now that looks smart at decent money!!

dumped

Chop speak to neil S you gimp, the boy has contacts, you know his usual budget.... Boxxer on here also might be able to do a special deal on specialized too. Neil will tell you all and was also a trained bike monkey in a past life

As rolls says nothing wrong with a 3-4k bike apart from watching bouncing down the hill in front of you when you bin it on a downhill course, or the road which i have also managed

Rolls

iTrader: (2)

Yip - exactly what I did in Verbier in July....

boXXer

alreet chaps. i work/run a bike shop.

We have the brand new 08' specialized in stock now, and a lot of the '08 Treks are trickling through now. I could do you a deal on one if you find a bike you like? and get it posted to you.

The 08' Hardrock Pro disc (£400) has Avid BB cable disc brakes, WHICH DO WORK! they are the only cable discs that actually do anything in the wet and dry. Stay away from nasty Shimano ones, as they dont work in the wet. Its a brilliant bike for the money, and also has a lock-out system on the fork (although its basic).

the hardrock comp disc (£350), is basically the same as a normal Hardrock, just with uprgraded rims, and discs.

if your 6ft 4", you would probably need a 21" as this is the biggest size they do, and will suit you for a bit of on road, and off road.

Oh, and 2nd hand bikes? i REALLY wouldnt bother. I have to fix so many shitters, which people think are great bikes (proper enthusiasts!), and a lot of the time they are home-pro lash ups! You have to be extremely careful and what you buy.

if you need any advice, give me a shout.
Mike

boXXer

08' pro disc....

http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkM...sid=08Hardrock

08' comp disc....

http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=32573

Rolls

iTrader: (2)

Boxxer - any idea when the '08 XTR stuff is goign to start comming through? - I want a new rear mech for my Yeti as i've got a rapid rise on there are the mo, which i don't like (it's an '06 XTR that i got new, and uber cheap, so wasn't too fussed at the time...)

boXXer

Rapid rise is oficially cack, isnt it? just does not work! the teeth are cut wrong on the cassettes for it to work that way around.

i know '08 XT and XT shadow is out, as im looking at them now, lol.

let me have a look on madisons trade website, and ill come back to you...

boXXer

right, The XTR shadow isnt available till November

Normal XTR is available, as it hasnt changed from last years, and we have short cage and long cage in stock.

RichardPON

What's the score with rear suspension then? I presume as a lot of the cheaper Halfords specials have it, in those setups, it's more for show?

I've just started riding a lot, and have an old Specialized Hardrock, and a Trek, but they are properly old......

RS SHORTIE

Have a look through here mate,alot of bargains to be had

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/index.php

My mate just got this -

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/product...id=m1b4s2p1266

Very good spec for the money

Lambchop

iTrader: (1)

hadn't got round to speaking to you about this but almost dragged you bike shopping yesterday
I'll speak with smelly pants and see what he says

Now i couldnt rem who the bike guru was but Boxxer you are that man!!

So mike what is the real benefit of the £50 extra for the pro model? Other than the better colour schemes? The comp colours are wank
pro in orange or charcoal is nice
How much to post to aberdeen? (handy eh? )
Would there be a better deal to be had on an 07 model if you have any left?
How heavy is this sort of bike out of interest and how does that compare to the stoopid expensive ones i mentioned above?

i really fancy a bike now. Im doing a lot of running at the gym on my lunch hour from work but it'd be great to get out on the bike when im home considering whats on my doorstep!!!

dumped

Ponster, halfords cack is halfords cack but good brand rear suspension is class imo. I love it but it depends what you are after. Some people like having their arse pounded for hours on end so suspension might not float your boat.

Its a balance of ease and cheap cost over maintainance and servicing if you want to keep it spot on. From a riding perspective some people love hardtails to liven up dull trails, others love suspension as it is less tiring (imo) over long rides and gives you the traction for some naughty speed and jumps.
Bushes can take a pounding though and expensive rear shocks can fail if not serviced so you pay your money

Rolls

iTrader: (2)

Fair enough - I want shadow (just for the bling factor... - unless me mate can get the normal stuff cheap lol!

Luca

iTrader: (2)

If you want a good spec bicycle at an affordable price you cant beat KONA if at a later you want to upgrade the parts to suit your needs you will have a good decent bike to start with.

Lambchop

iTrader: (1)

deffo no rear suspension for Rich then!

boXXer

We are totally out of '07 Specialized now as they are so popular. For £50 extra, you get lockout forks, meaning you can change from a rigid front end, back to a susoension front end, just by flicking a switch on top of the fork leg. it well worth it. it also has upgraded chainset, using a more rigid bottom bracket, and a upgraded rear mech.

i would say, compare a specialized to ANY other brand (kona, schwinn, trek, etc) and you will not find a better component package.

Rolls

iTrader: (2)

Yip completely agree - Even bought the missus one

Charlie Chalk

iTrader: (1)

Mike, I need to drop my frames of to you at some point