Which of these MTB's

[anonymous-user]

Hey chaps,

I went with my friends on some red trails on the weekend and really enjoyed it (on a hired Diamond Back)

My wife and I are now looking at getting some MTB's (her through Cycle 2 Work) and myself with cash (although I do get 15% off at Halfords and 10% at Evans)

I have identified these bikes as contenders and wanted your expert opinions if possible, I don't really want to go secondhand although I know there are some bargains to be had

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/mountain-bik...

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/mountain-bik...

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/mountain-bik...

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/mountain-bik...

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m1b0s2p5483/CANNONDAL...

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/ha...

Any thoughts welcome or other suggestions, budget is 350ish max. I would mainly be using it for riding in the woods (not all Red trails)

Also for the wife, I noticed there are unisex and womens models, is it all much of muchness quality wise with those and just personal preference on bar placement?

[anonymous-user]

Cheers for the info, I do like the Voodoo, I have since been advised that due to my height I may get on better with a 650b wheel size and this is only a 26, can it be changed?

Also see a lot of GT bikes in my price range and Felt. Are they any good?

[anonymous-user]

Was directed here by a friend, looks pretty good to me

http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/p/17510/cube-aim-...

[anonymous-user]

I'm 6'1 Tom, 31/32" inside leg.

My friend said Cube were a good brand, have been looking at the model above that as well

http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/p/17517/cube-aim-...

Its gonna be my Xmas present from the Wife, do bike places do Jan sales?

[anonymous-user]

Cheers for the info chaps, I'll be keeping an eye out in any sales for stuff that drops into my price range.

As a cheat sheet when I am looking I guess at a minimum I want

Hydraulic Disc Brakes (180 on the front?)
Decent forks (I dont know about model numbers a lot of the bikes seem to have Suntour, I assume more travel = better?)
Coil vs Air on the forks?
As light as possible?
Gearset etc Shimano?

[anonymous-user]

Cheers chaps

Definitely going to keep an eye on the sales and HotUKDeals to try and grab a bargain

I notice Decathlon have reduced the Rockrider 8.1 to £399 but they don't have my size at the moment, the Calibre 2.2 can also be had in budget by the looks of it, both seem to get good reviews

It seems there is an awful lot of choice out there, its just finding the one thats a step above the others

[anonymous-user]

Beer Man said:

My two pence worth, for what it's worth.

Don't really like the look of any of them in the first post!

What would be your suggestions? £400 max budget (I get 10% off at Evans and 15% at Halfords)

[anonymous-user]

Beer Man said:

I was in a similar position in July. Wasn't really sure what I wanted, ended up spending a bit more on a Merida BUT I'd be inclined to look for a very good condition, USED, better bike.

I know it's probably not what you want to hear but that's what I'd do.

Wherabouts in Kent are you?

I'm Maidstone way. I do check out the used bikes on Ebay and I can see there are some good deals to be had, but knowing not a lot about components and everything else I'm just risk averse. If I get an £800 bike for £400 its great until something breaks a week in and I find out I have bought a dud.

I do appreciate all the advice but I want a new bike not secondhand. I also wonder whether my abilities are being overstated here, I rode the red runs at bedgebury and it was my first time on a bike in years, I hope to go out more once we both have bikes but it won't always be red runs and I am hardly flying down them. Surely most of the kit I am looking at would be similar to the DiamondBack I rode there?

[anonymous-user]

Just to close this off, decision made, gonna go for the Voodoo Bizango

If I can hit Halford on one of their 10% weekends, I can get a further 25% off via various work offers bringing it down to £414

Looking at the Aizan for the wife but it may be a bit weighty.

[anonymous-user]

deadtom said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

good choice, the bizango is smart. however unless you really want a 29er, then I wouldn't turn down the hoodoo just yet. You said you were after a discount bike, and if I recall that hoodoo is already discounted from £500 as it's a 2014 model?

29ers are great for canal tow paths, but if you want something thats fun to thread along narrow singletrack and maybe take off the odd jump or two then smaller wheels will be much more rewarding.

As this is PH, think of it in terms of MX5 vs range rover; which would you rather take for a rip down a twisty B road? on proper roads you just know the MX5 will be more fun, even if it's not as fashionable as the RR and probably slower in a straight line

Edited by deadtom on Friday 31st October 19:36

The Voodoo was very much in with a shout but after reading up it seems a lot of the rave reviews were about an older model which had air forks, the current model has coil and so isn't quite as good.

With regard to the Bizango I appreciate what you're saying about the 29er but I read this review.

http://www.mbr.co.uk/reviews/hardtail/voodoo-bizan...

In it they specifically mention Bike Park Wales and how well it performed. From what I know of BPW from my mates I think that's a pretty good test?

The other one that really tempts me is this but as its so new not a lot is known, spec looks great though and im thinking it could be a good one for my wife

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/mountain-bik...

[anonymous-user]

deadtom said:

I've never been to BPW but from what i've seen and heard yeah it sounds like a worthy test of a bike at that price point. Certainly if you want a 29er then the bizango is hard to beat, I'm just not sold on 29ers as a whole.

but maybe I'm just a curmudgeonly old technophobe who is too stuck in his ways.

that 13 bike looks pretty good, though the square taper crankset is a bit of a let down at that price point

I'm not sure what 'square taper crankset' means

This is the other one I'm considering for the wife

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/mountain-bik...

[anonymous-user]

yellowjack said:

Square taper is the one on the left. Basically, it's the crank axle, and comes as part of the bottom bracket. It's the bit that the pedals are secured to. Square taper is quite old tech now, but there's nothing inherently wrong with it. Much like modern bottom bracket technologies, the measure of quality is in the bearings themselves more than the axle standard. That, and proper 'facing' (preparation) of the bottom bracket shell (part of the frame itself).

Ah thank you, this would be my wife's bike, I reckon 80% coastal or gentle forest stuff and the rest blue/red runs.

Does the rest of the spec look OK on the 13? Or is the known quantity of the Carerra a safer bet and maybe better for a novice rider being a specifically woman oriented bike?

[anonymous-user]

Craikeybaby said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

My mate is in the market for a similar bike and came to the same conclusion.

Does he have any work schemes for Halfords?

By using their 10% weekend, BCA membership and a combo of voucher offers from mine and my wife's work I'll be paying in actual cash £351 for the Bizango.

[anonymous-user]

yellowjack said:

Hard to say, because I can't seem to be able to view the 'detailed specs' for either bike via the Halfords site.

Beware the "pink it and shrink it" type of women's specific bikes. They're often inferior in terms of component spec, and heavier too, when they ought to be similar spec and lighter, if anything. I'm not saying that's the case here, but sometimes a properly fitted unisex, or mens frame will fit her better. Look for specific kit at the contact points for a good women's bike. Stuff like shorter reach brake levers for smaller hands, and a decent quality female specific saddle. If you're not getting those features, you might as well buy whatever bike fits her best (within budget) and buy a new saddle for it that works for her.

If you go onto specification there should be a + button under the list, that gives you the detail

I agree with what you are saying though, we're swinging towards the 13 as I'd rather overspec and she doesn't use all the potential than under spec and find she loses confidence on any mildly rough stuff cos the bike isn't up to it.

[anonymous-user]

yellowjack said:

I've tried that, but it doesn't seem to lead anywhere just now. It doesn't even try to load anything extra, although I'm not sure why that should be.

How weird

Screenshots

13



Carerra Woman's

[anonymous-user]

yellowjack said:

Instinctively, reading the spec sheets, if I were buying for/advising my wife, then I'd be pointing her at the '13'.

There's not really much in it, side-by-side comparison, but the '13' claims an air fork, and I know where I am, using and servicing Shimano gears. The Carrera has no weight listed, and the '13' is a bit of a lump at near 14kg, but the sad truth is that you need to spend more money to lose weight on a bike. Fatter tyres on the '13' might be a drawback if she's going to spend time on the roads, but the 2.5" width might be a boon off-road, what with the greater air volume allowing lower pressures to increase comfort. That, and the fact that 2.1" tyres are specified on the Carrera suggests that it might not have the space to accommodate a wider tyre. It's certainly the case that my current bike is restricted to tyres 2.1" wide or smaller, which rules out some of the better regarded rubber which isn't made in widths smaller than 2.3" or 2.4".

Ultimately, you ought to have a look at both in store, if you can, and try to assess the relative quality of fit and finish, as well as getting them both sat on (I know Halfords don't do demo rides). Then let her choose for herself.

Cheers all very good info, thanks