After a MTB after 20 years. Help please!!

[jsmjsm]

Hi all,

i used to ride a Marin 20 years ago but haven't ridden since I was young and now I have hit the big 40 I have decided to get a new bike and lose that weight I seem to have acquired.

Mountain biking is where its at for me and I feel more motivated in riding that in the winter in the rain and mud than a road bike.

My problem is there are just so many makes on the market now.

I want to spend under £350 and will upgrade if I love it next year and don't want a used bike although I know the advantages it brings. So new bikes only but can anyone help tell me whether these are good or bad?

Jamis
Whistle Miwok looks nice?
diamond back
saracen

They are have similar gearing at this price but I don't want to buy one that is considered the cheapie brand.

Any help would be gladly welcomed.

[jsmjsm]

Thanks Richard but I need a 16 or 17 inch frame so the Carreras wont work. I am riding a 17 now and I couldn't go to an 18.

Any other thoughts?

[jsmjsm]

Thanks for your help guys, I do appreciate it.

I haven't bought one yet but am looking at them all.

I went to a local indy today and looked at some to get an idea. I am most comfortable on a 16" with high seat as I am a bit of a short ar5e at 5'7 or a 17 at a push. I tried a few 18's and there was noticeable difference and I think I can discount them.

I was keen on a GT avalanche sport which they are doing at £399

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.GT-Avalanche-Sport-Mountai...

or I am liking this Diamond Back with Hydraulic brakes and lock out on the forks so it ticks all boxes.

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/diamondback-dbr-ridge-...

Will have a look on the used site you mention as never heard of it.

Are the two above any good??

[jsmjsm]

UPDATE

So after going to the bike shops and looking at these machines I can safely say I need to up my budget. From reading and talking to some guys in these shops I need and want to throw more at it.

I tried the Calibre two two at Go outdoors as I was recommended that under £500 nothing beats it and the 18 is too big and they dont do anything smaller which is a shame as it would have been a done deal.

Also, having just done a 22 mile ride I need a better bike than the one I am riding!

I definitely want lock out on the suspension as I am riding one without it and its annoying especially when going up hills. I also want hydraulic discs too and you need to spend £400 plus to get that so I don't mind that at all. Having looked at some of the bikes I want to go for a 650B and have seen these four which will be about £500-£600. Any preferences or anything else that beats these?

http://www.pedalscyclecentre.co.uk/m1b0s2p5224/Why...
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/mountain-bik...
http://www.pedalscyclecentre.co.uk/m1b0s2p4665/Sco...
http://www.shopgiant-bicycles.co.uk/3750/products/...

Edited by jsmjsm on Wednesday 23 July 11:30

Edited by jsmjsm on Wednesday 23 July 12:06

[jsmjsm]

I hear you yellowjack and that is an option. Any thoughts on the bikes in the links. The Boardman and the Whyte I am leaning towards.

[jsmjsm]

yellowjack said:

The Whyte? Weak points are the chainset and bottom bracket, and especially the fork. Gears are 'workaday' Shimano stuff, but nothing to give trouble. Strong points? Mainly the look of the thing.

Spec-wise, the Boardman looks the better bike. 7000 series alloy frame, air fork, the 180mm front rotor, all seem like upgrades over the Whyte's spec sheet. I suspect the SRAM groupset is a step up too, although I prefer Shimano (but that's just a personal preference). It's let down (IMHO) by the paint job and the ubiquity of the Boardman brand. I prefer a slightly less common bike (along with the Shimano preference) so from the two, I'd probably look toward the Whyte.

The Scott and the Giant, on a brief glance, look about on par with the Whyte. And again the biggest obvious weakness is that Suntour fork. Out of those two, I'd probably choose the Scott, but my eldest son has a Talon, which was abused for four years of commuting to college/university and is still in good mechanical order, if a little 'cosmetically damaged'.

Out of them all, my heart says "Whyte!" but my head would likely overrule with "Boardman!" They all have 650B/27.5" wheels too, so it's not even possible to eliminate one by wheel size preference. The Whyte is also the only one of the four with an 8-speed drive train, so that might sway me further toward the Boardman.

Thanks Yellowjack, very informative post and very helpful. The heart vs head battle is a constant one when it comes to boys toys for sure!

I am torn between the two but then I was just sent this which seems ridiculous value down from £499.
Is this an old model as I can only find it in red!

http://www.rutlandcycling.com/282258/products/sara...

Edited by jsmjsm on Wednesday 23 July 14:50

[jsmjsm]

To finish the thread after being recommended by a couple of people on another forum I have ordered the Saracen Mantra as it has everything I want and the deal rutland is offering is £150 better than anyone else.

It arrives Monday.

Thanks for your help.