Numptie help please - is a Giant XTC 3 any good?

[flyingjase]

The last time I owned a bike it was a Team Murray BMX in the early '80's so I have no clue when it comes to bikes.

I have 2 young kids and thought it would be good to get out as a family for a cycle ride at the weekends - not far, 6-9 miles along the road and a local cycle trail. They will be in a Hamax Siesta Rear Mounted Child Seat.

I went into the local cycle shop and gave him a £1k budget, he recommended a 2012 Giant XTC 3 (22 inc, I'm 6ft 1) which is £849 plus the helmet / jacket / pump etc comes in at just under a £1k.

I can't find any reviews on Google so thought I would turn to PH to see if anyone know's whether they are any good before I part with money? Or whether I should be looking at another model.

Thanks

[deckster]

Nothing wrong with it - Giant are a reputable brand - but it's way, way over the top for what you need. I have no specific models to recommend but for a steed for 10 mile family jaunts along cycle trails there is no need to spend more than £3-400, max.

If you explained your requirements as above, and local bike shop has recommended you spend a grand on a bike, then you need to shop elsewhere, frankly.

[JWH]

Great idea - some of my happiest childhood memories are of my Dad and I out on our bikes exploring the countryside! I'm a little out of touch with the latest/greatest bikes on the market at the moment but I'd strongly advise against spending that amount of money. I ride a Klein that I've built up myself over the years; it has a new value of probably just over £2000; it's a fabulous thing to ride and flatters my meagre ability and fitness, however if you really just want a bike to go out with the kids on I'd suggest spending £1k is simply overkill.
You'll find that there's a huge difference in weight/quality/longevity between a £199 bike and a £500 bike but beyond that point, in my opinion the law of diminishing returns starts to kick in and for your usage you'd simply be wasting money. I'm sure others will be along with more detailed advice but I'd budget a max of £400 and perhaps start looking at bikes that are 'last years' model and hence being sold reduced by the retailers.

[deckster]

Additionally...I'm not a huge fan of Evans but they're decent enough and there's a good chance there will be one close to you. I would have thought this would be perfect for you:

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cannondale/qui...

[flyingjase]

Thanks for the steer guys, sounds like I may need to detune my choice a little. In fairness to the guy in the shop, I gave him a budget and it sounds as if he just specced up according to that rather than downselling me to a lower spec bike.

Thanks for the link to Evans, the guy did mention a Hybrid but I said I wanted a Mountain Bike as we may use it in the woods on muddy tracks and the description of a Hybrid sounded like it may struggle in that environment.

[deckster]

flyingjase said:

Thanks for the steer guys, sounds like I may need to detune my choice a little. In fairness to the guy in the shop, I gave him a budget and it sounds as if he just specced up according to that rather than downselling me to a lower spec bike.

Thanks for the link to Evans, the guy did mention a Hybrid but I said I wanted a Mountain Bike as we may use it in the woods on muddy tracks and the description of a Hybrid sounded like it may struggle in that environment.

Fair enough, can't really blame him for that then.

There are muddy tracks and muddy tracks - and in any case your tyre choice will have much more impact than suspension in mud. You only need to start looking at suspension bikes when the going gets rough and bumpy, and if your kids are going to be tagging along then I can't imagine that you'll be tackling anything that gnarly!

You can of course spend a similar £3-400 on a basic front-suspension mountain bike ('hard-tail') but as with everything, if you spend money one one part of the bike then you have to save it elsewhere. For my money, at that price point I'd get the better frame and components rather than paying (both in money and weight) for suspension that you don't need.

Of course, the danger is that you get the bug and then have to upgrade to a better bike in few months time, but hey - you can never have too many bikes

[henrycrun]

You can dial up stuff on the Giant website http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bike-finder/

[Camoradi]

You may wish to check out Pauls Cycles website. They usually have some bargains on Giant bikes

here you go.... http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b...

[bga]

flyingjase said:

he recommended a 2012 Giant XTC 3 (22 inc, I'm 6ft 1).

If it helps, I had an XTC3.5 and the 22 was too big for me. I am 6'1" ish with 33" inside leg. The 20" was a much better size. We are all different shapes & sizes but if you can try to sit on both to get a feel. On the 22" you won't have much stand over height (distance from nads to crossbar).

[flyingjase]

bga said:

If it helps, I had an XTC3.5 and the 22 was too big for me. I am 6'1" ish with 33" inside leg. The 20" was a much better size. We are all different shapes & sizes but if you can try to sit on both to get a feel. On the 22" you won't have much stand over height (distance from nads to crossbar).

Thanks for this advice bga - I took it and ordered the smaller bike and glad I did, I picked it up today and it's just about right for me, although I reckon I could have even gone an inch or so smaller.

The only challenge now is getting fit enough to ride it - 2 miles up a very mild hill on the way home and I was well out of puff! Will go out and practice this weekend.