Recommend me an (entry level) mountain bike

[Mobile Chicane]

Doesn't need to be anything flash - just durable (since I'm a fat knacker) - and reasonably lightweight.

Bike will be mostly used on well-worn paths and the occasional road.

TVMIA

[Gizmoish]

This is a recent round-up at the £500 level: Halfords do surprisingly well due to buying power, but avoid Apollo/Trax!
http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/article/best-mou...

For around £300 the Specialized Myka seems popular.

[Gren]

Gizmoish said:

For around £300 the Specialized Myka seems popular.

Especially if you're a girl as that's who they are made for.

Rockrider 8.1 from Decathlon seems to be the default £500 bike. http://www.decathlon.co.uk/81-2011-id_8168695.html

Below that you're going to be making big compromises. Maybe worth a look at second hand or end of season sales if you are.

[billzeebub]

Voodoo Hoodoo at £500 gets excellent reviews. Available at Halfords

[Gizmoish]

Gren said:

Especially if you're a girl as that's who they are made for.

I have it on good authority that MC is in fact a REAL lady type.

[smack]

Light = expensive
Durable = expensive

You can use the usual formula of Cheap/x/x, pick two formula for mountain bikes. First, if you are in the situation you haven't been on a bike since a teenager, but it looks fun, I would suggest your borrow a bike from a mate for a few weeks, and see if it floats your boat. If you find it scratches your itch, then go shopping.

I used to recommend that you don't spend less than £300 for a hardtail bike as you are wasting your money. You might have to spend a bit more now! 2nd hand bikes can bikes can be picked up for bargains, but you have to make sure you know know what you are buying, and it fits for you.
Go to a store and try a few bikes, hardtail (only front suspension), and a full suspension (also known as a soft tail), to see what you like. You would want a large woman's frame bike (trust me), but you might find a men's frame works for you, which would be a medium. The difference is different frame dimensions for each sex, but the biggest is a slopping top tube for women.

Places like fleabay are great for 2nd hand bikes, but you need to know what you are bidding on (just like cars), but women's bikes are thin on the ground, so interest can be high on them.

I have taken a few newbies out for their first time off road, nothing too technical, with a few nice safe fast downhills, and in 2 hours got them hooked.

[Pferdestarke]

£200 buys you my Marin Eldridge Grade. 18" frame, Manitou forks, LX groupset. MY2004 I think. PM if you want details.

[CoolC]

Islabikes Beinn 29er for £400

http://www.islabikes.co.uk/bike_pages/beinn29.html

Very well built bikes, simple but very effective.

[Gizmoish]

CoolC said:

Islabikes Beinn 29er for £400

http://www.islabikes.co.uk/bike_pages/beinn29.html

Very well built bikes, simple but very effective.

Very light, and considering it's a 1x8 (MC: one cog at the front, eight at the back), a very good range of gears.

[NIIKME]

How tall are you? I have one of these in my garage doing nothing following recent upgrade.
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/st...
Its a medium taking a rider up to 5'11. I would describe it as worn in but with far superior componentry to an entry level bike.
ETA: price negotiable around the £300 mark... before it goes on the fleabay.. cost £1150

Edited by NIIKME on Tuesday 24th July 09:47

[d8mok]

NIIKME said:

How tall are you? I have one of these in my garage doing nothing following recent upgrade.
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/st...
Its a medium taking a rider up to 5'11. I would describe it as worn in but with far superior componentry to an entry level bike.
ETA: price negotiable around the £300 mark... before it goes on the fleabay.. cost £1150

Edited by NIIKME on Tuesday 24th July 09:47

I could be interested in this, Can u supply a bit more info regarding condition ? where abouts are you located?

Edited by d8mok on Friday 26th June 17:28

[hellsbuddha]

specialized do a 29er mtb at the moment for £500 ish

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

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


hth

[Mobile Chicane]

hellsbuddha said:

specialized do a 29er mtb at the moment for £500 ish

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

hth

Thanks - I'm seriously tempted by that.

[Panclan]

Decathlon B'Twin bikes seem to be well regarded.
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/C-359112-mtb-_-mountain...

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/C-376962-hybrid-and-tou...

[RichyBoy]

I looked through loads of forums and the rockrider seems to be the one, only problem is the website won't let you order it online.

[Brew]

I'm about to advertise my 2011 Specialized Rockhopper (19 inch) barely used. Was looking for £450,

[Dan Friel]

Currently in year two of my Carrera Fury (from Halfords). Has been faultless and has suffered my inability / abuse well. I'm not sure if the current version is specced as well, but still got to be a decent option.

[ED209]

Brew said:

I'm about to advertise my 2011 Specialized Rockhopper (19 inch) barely used. Was looking for £450,

This if you can afford it, I sold my 2009 one recently for £280 and other than a new casette due to normal wear it was faultless despite being abused on red/black trails all over the country many times.

[scubadude]

ED209 said:

This if you can afford it, I sold my 2009 one recently for £280 and other than a new casette due to normal wear it was faultless despite being abused on red/black trails all over the country many times.

Ditto, I took mine for a ride with the local MTB club on Tuesday, as expected they where all sporting the latest 29er and/or full sus XC bikes at least 5x the price of my old Rockhopper, to their credit no one raised an eyebrow at my rim brakes and unmodded bike and I managed to keep up just fine.

FWIW my LBS always has a couple of serviced 2nd hand bikes out back, might be worth asking yours if they have anything, expect to pay much less than the new price for bikes almost as good as new- the shine wears off quickly so why pay extra for it?

[curlie467]

d8mok said:

NIIKME said:

How tall are you? I have one of these in my garage doing nothing following recent upgrade.
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/st...
Its a medium taking a rider up to 5'11. I would describe it as worn in but with far superior componentry to an entry level bike.
ETA: price negotiable around the £300 mark... before it goes on the fleabay.. cost £1150

Edited by NIIKME on Tuesday 24th July 09:47

I could be interested in this, Can u supply a bit more info regarding condition ? where abouts are you located? my email is [e-mail]

Me too! have sent you an email, have been looking for a stumpjumper HT for a while now.