What bike thread...
Discussion
Hi all... I am after a new bike and have been persuing various places. With shame I regret Evans has one 
My previous and current bike are pictured below. I ride single track and I do long rides of endurance / high speed endurance riding. I regularly do a 30 minute blast to and from the gym 15 mins either way - covering around 4 miles each way on a canal towpath. But I also do longer rides, typically 1 to 2 hours and sometimes a 20 - 30 mile circuit. I ride various terrain and some is quite rough, which I have found my aluminium framed Hardrock Sport to be bumpy on, not helped by it's totally s
t and pointless front forks.
My budget is in and around the £500 with some flexibilty. I like the look of the latest Specialized Hardrock priced at £600 at Evans, red with red wheels and disc brakes, suntour forks that feel quite nice. Also like the look of the 2011 Scott Aspect in Green and today took the fancy of a 2011 Giant Talon 2 in white priced at £750 which had the best componentry of them all. Any other idea's?
Ultimatley I want something that looks the part and can be ridden fast on single track with some decent front forks. My 2009 Hardrock must have covered in excess of 1000 miles by now and although feels fine I need a change. My GT before was a trophy bike that I never took off road
My previous and current bike are pictured below. I ride single track and I do long rides of endurance / high speed endurance riding. I regularly do a 30 minute blast to and from the gym 15 mins either way - covering around 4 miles each way on a canal towpath. But I also do longer rides, typically 1 to 2 hours and sometimes a 20 - 30 mile circuit. I ride various terrain and some is quite rough, which I have found my aluminium framed Hardrock Sport to be bumpy on, not helped by it's totally s
t and pointless front forks.My budget is in and around the £500 with some flexibilty. I like the look of the latest Specialized Hardrock priced at £600 at Evans, red with red wheels and disc brakes, suntour forks that feel quite nice. Also like the look of the 2011 Scott Aspect in Green and today took the fancy of a 2011 Giant Talon 2 in white priced at £750 which had the best componentry of them all. Any other idea's?
Ultimatley I want something that looks the part and can be ridden fast on single track with some decent front forks. My 2009 Hardrock must have covered in excess of 1000 miles by now and although feels fine I need a change. My GT before was a trophy bike that I never took off road
Only issue I have is that I dont have the know how.
I have learnt over the last 2 years to fix a puncture many a time. Each time has been hard work. I can do both front and rear tyres but the rear tyre is so hard as you have to do that thing with the rear cogs / chain. Anything else i.e brake cables, gears - no chance.
Does that help? I agree though. It's all about the business for these retailers and I loathe that, but, I am fall into the category of paying money for a decent ish bike. I guess the convenience bike. The Giant Talon 2 was very very well specced though. It did seem the obvious value for money choice. The specialized hardrock for £600 had Suntour forks, and although it felt nice I can't get the idea out of my head that it was made for the average consumer.
I have learnt over the last 2 years to fix a puncture many a time. Each time has been hard work. I can do both front and rear tyres but the rear tyre is so hard as you have to do that thing with the rear cogs / chain. Anything else i.e brake cables, gears - no chance.
Does that help? I agree though. It's all about the business for these retailers and I loathe that, but, I am fall into the category of paying money for a decent ish bike. I guess the convenience bike. The Giant Talon 2 was very very well specced though. It did seem the obvious value for money choice. The specialized hardrock for £600 had Suntour forks, and although it felt nice I can't get the idea out of my head that it was made for the average consumer.
Fair point and one that has been made by a close friend who is far more a biker than me.
Yes the GT was not "special" in the grand scheme of things, but when I bought it in 2004 it was the bee's knees and I did ride it loads, just on tarmac. It was a beautiful bike and I had 3 years of bliss. It went very well but back then, I was too gay to use it properly.
The hardrock was bought to be used, and used it has been. It's done v well, and is still a solid bike. But, riding it so often, and it having been a part of my life for the 3rd year now, I want a change. I do need something more agile, lighter and able to compliment me as a rider. The frame is fab as you say, and I do know that. I just want a change. I aim to upgrade me and keep the hardrock for my other half.
My first choice of bike is Specialized, purely through taste. It seems the obvious choice for me, but I struggle with the whole high street retail thing. Just want some value for around the £500 mark. To those on this forum that may seem cheap but to your average person they would say that is expensive. I just don't want to get ripped off for a good frame but st componentry.
Yes the GT was not "special" in the grand scheme of things, but when I bought it in 2004 it was the bee's knees and I did ride it loads, just on tarmac. It was a beautiful bike and I had 3 years of bliss. It went very well but back then, I was too gay to use it properly.
The hardrock was bought to be used, and used it has been. It's done v well, and is still a solid bike. But, riding it so often, and it having been a part of my life for the 3rd year now, I want a change. I do need something more agile, lighter and able to compliment me as a rider. The frame is fab as you say, and I do know that. I just want a change. I aim to upgrade me and keep the hardrock for my other half.
My first choice of bike is Specialized, purely through taste. It seems the obvious choice for me, but I struggle with the whole high street retail thing. Just want some value for around the £500 mark. To those on this forum that may seem cheap but to your average person they would say that is expensive. I just don't want to get ripped off for a good frame but s
t componentry.
pablo said:
keep the hardrock, its not worth spending £500 on a new bike as you will only end up with something of comparable spec. spend the £500 on something else, you culd upgrade a few of the parts that are wearing out and still have half the cash left. I rode a hardrock for years and it was fine, trail centres, singletrack, it never let me down.
Which does make sense for me. Maddad your comments also appreciated, the bikes you mention have been noticed.I think I have come to realise that in this climate, its all about business. I know enough about bikes to realise that to get the best deal, you need to buy the bits and build it yourself. Thats not for me, but, it seems I lose out financially and spec wise to spend money on a bike in a shop. I sort of knew that but some of the bikes seem tempting and I do want a change, hence my interest.
okgo said:
Basically you don't need a new bike, 1000 miles is nothing, what you're saying doesnt make any sense at all? You should probably upgrade a bit, or better yet understand that the bike is probably not where the issue lies...
And you seem to think you're a a lot more of an expert than you are
your best bet is second hand or upgrade, but buying a new bike that will be the same because you want more
Bling is nonsense
And you seem to think you're a a lot more of an expert than you are
your best bet is second hand or upgrade, but buying a new bike that will be the same because you want moreBling is nonsense
Edited by okgo on Sunday 13th March 13:12
Whats hard to understand? I fancy a change of bike, nothing more nothing less. Since when have I purported to be an expert? The posting of this thread itself portrays the exact opposite... what on earth was in your Weetabix this morning...
okgo said:
You've said numerous times you see the bikes as to mainstream, and that you know enough about bikes to know it's cheaper to build them (its not) yet can't change a wheel lol!
What we are saying that you'll get something the same for your money, so why change?
I am not purporting to be an expert, but buying parts online and building the bike yourself has to be cheaper, as your cutting out the retailer and labour costs. I have not got the know how like I have said, and I can change a tyre, just not in a matter of seconds.What we are saying that you'll get something the same for your money, so why change?
The reason for change is I want to ride something different, have a little change. I don't expect to get a whole load more for my money.
Beyond Rational said:
I think it's more "want new bike" rather than "want the best bike for my money".
The Hardrock just feels tired now, I am bored of constantly having to have the wheels trued because they buckle slightly over time, and why spend over £100 an a service when that could be £100 towards a new bike...
But as said above it is more that I just want a new bike more than anything else. I plan to do an awful lot of riding this year and a new bike will be the refreshing, exciting and rewarding.
So far I like the look of this: http://www.evanscycles.com/products/trek/ticket-20...
So far I like the look of this: http://www.evanscycles.com/products/trek/ticket-20...
okgo said:
Well I can't personally get my head around that. But good luck with it. I'd imagine you'll end up doing no extra riding at all and will waste £500.
Your really really weird.I fancy a new bike and am prepared to spend money to get one. I know how I ride, how I like to ride and I know I like to change my bikes fairly frequently. Thats my choice based on my personality - get over it!
shalmaneser said:
I work at Evans and would be embarrassed to sell that bike. The Tickets are a joke, made for people who are impressed by overlarge tubing.
Buy a Genesis, or that bike from Paul's Cycles linked to above.
Genesis (slighly over budget). Only 8 speed but Shimano brakes, hubs, etc. Also has all important Rockshox fork.
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/kona/blast-201...
Kona, looks to be very good value. 9 speed with shimano bits, rockshox fork, actualy looks excellent value now that I read the spec.
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/kona/blast-201...
Like the look of that Kona I must admit. Couldnt see a link to the genesis though.Buy a Genesis, or that bike from Paul's Cycles linked to above.
Genesis (slighly over budget). Only 8 speed but Shimano brakes, hubs, etc. Also has all important Rockshox fork.
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/kona/blast-201...
Kona, looks to be very good value. 9 speed with shimano bits, rockshox fork, actualy looks excellent value now that I read the spec.
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/kona/blast-201...
Well thanks to all that replied to the thread... I ended up exceeding my budget and bought one of these, having fallen in love with it. Glad I spent the time researching though as I looked at a lot of bikes which led me to this one. I couldn't be happier with my purchase, absolutely over the moon!
http://www.cyclesurgery.com/marin-nail-trail-2010/...
http://www.cyclesurgery.com/marin-nail-trail-2010/...
Flippin' Kipper said:
Lovely, worth the upgrade over your Rockhopper at that price. Please bear in mind that higher end forks are not a fit and forget item, and will cease to work to their full potential, or could be irreparably damaged if not serviced fairly regularly - which would be a big shame as they are not a cheap component.
Really, how often will they need a service and what sort of things to look out for?
Flippin' Kipper said:
Fox's servicing guidelines are outlined here http://www.foxracingshox.com/fox_tech_center/owner..., also info on adjusting your rebound and air pressures.
Basically they recommend a full service every 100 hours use, which I would take to mean proper off road use, not pootling along a road on a sunny day. You can do this yourself, or send it to one of several servicing companies who will charge you around £70 for the service, including an oil and seal change.
To maintain their performance between services buy some fork specific lubricant and apply after rides, cycle the suspension a few times and wipe any dirt that the lube picks up off the stanchions. Do not use high pressure water jets on your forks (or your bike at all).
In which case they should last fine, I do a bit of very rugged riding but not 100 hours, most of my riding is single track all be it some of it very bumpy.Basically they recommend a full service every 100 hours use, which I would take to mean proper off road use, not pootling along a road on a sunny day. You can do this yourself, or send it to one of several servicing companies who will charge you around £70 for the service, including an oil and seal change.
To maintain their performance between services buy some fork specific lubricant and apply after rides, cycle the suspension a few times and wipe any dirt that the lube picks up off the stanchions. Do not use high pressure water jets on your forks (or your bike at all).
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