MTB - What bike for a comeback?
Discussion
So after about 3 years out of the saddle (various reasons) I am looking to get back into riding again.
I used to have a hardtail GT which was cheap but cheerful, and was always bought with the intention of it being a lead into a more expensive / better spec bike in the future (just didnt realise there would be a 3 year gap!)
I enjoy XC riding to an extent, but I'm not really a long hauler, I look forward to the downhill sections and dread the climbs (don't we all!). So I was thinking of some kind of full sus / freeride cross over bike to suit this style of riding.
I don't think a full downhill rig is for me, but it might be something I build up to. I simply can't see me hitting much over 4ft (drop wise) for a long time, if ever.
At a reasonably lardy 17st (6ft) i'd need something strong but not too heavy. Something that I can whip around the downhill sections, hit a few jumps, but not really a big hitter or dropper.
Budget is around £1k but flexible, and I'd be more than happy with second hand as I think it is generally very good value to do so. Budget is less of a concern than finding the right bike to get me back in the saddle.
Help, advice and guidance is appreciated!
I used to have a hardtail GT which was cheap but cheerful, and was always bought with the intention of it being a lead into a more expensive / better spec bike in the future (just didnt realise there would be a 3 year gap!)
I enjoy XC riding to an extent, but I'm not really a long hauler, I look forward to the downhill sections and dread the climbs (don't we all!). So I was thinking of some kind of full sus / freeride cross over bike to suit this style of riding.
I don't think a full downhill rig is for me, but it might be something I build up to. I simply can't see me hitting much over 4ft (drop wise) for a long time, if ever.
At a reasonably lardy 17st (6ft) i'd need something strong but not too heavy. Something that I can whip around the downhill sections, hit a few jumps, but not really a big hitter or dropper.
Budget is around £1k but flexible, and I'd be more than happy with second hand as I think it is generally very good value to do so. Budget is less of a concern than finding the right bike to get me back in the saddle.
Help, advice and guidance is appreciated!
If you get a freeride or downhill bike, you're going to enjoy the uphills even less.
Are you someone who will pay for uplift services at bike parks? If so, it's no problem to go down this route.
Don't take this the wrong way, but at 17st you're going to need an over-built bike that will make everything harder. Learn to love the uphills and you'll get fitter and ride faster... and can choose from a bigger range of bikes.
Are you someone who will pay for uplift services at bike parks? If so, it's no problem to go down this route.
Don't take this the wrong way, but at 17st you're going to need an over-built bike that will make everything harder. Learn to love the uphills and you'll get fitter and ride faster... and can choose from a bigger range of bikes.
I'd look at a 29er from Canyon, possibly Cube or Merida too, all good value and generally well spec'd but the Canyon is the best of the lot. Have a look at singletrackworld.com as they have loads of pictures from the London bike Show, there are a few 29ers which are around the £1k mark.
Whilst I'm not convinced about 29ers for the very technical trails but you should find them suitable for purpose given what you say as bigger wheels will negate the need for rear suspension in a lot of situations. I tried full sus for a few years of xc and trail centres and I didnt like it, went back to a hardtail and am having much more fun.
To be honest, you also need to add another £500 to the budget before full sus is a realistic proposition. £1k is low end stuff and reflected in the quality of fork and shocks.
Whilst I'm not convinced about 29ers for the very technical trails but you should find them suitable for purpose given what you say as bigger wheels will negate the need for rear suspension in a lot of situations. I tried full sus for a few years of xc and trail centres and I didnt like it, went back to a hardtail and am having much more fun.
To be honest, you also need to add another £500 to the budget before full sus is a realistic proposition. £1k is low end stuff and reflected in the quality of fork and shocks.
Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 21st January 11:41
Ian_sUK said:
Sounds like a 150mm travel full suspension would suit you but you won't get one for 1K, more like 2-2.5k for something half decent.
I got my bike off ebay (at 3 years old) for £720 - was 2.5K new so there are some bargins about.
Thanks thats useful, as I said, second hand is no issue to me, infact I prefer it for the exact example you have put forward.I got my bike off ebay (at 3 years old) for £720 - was 2.5K new so there are some bargins about.
The 29" craze seems to have really taken off, thanks for the suggestion, but I want to try full sus next.
No idea what second hand prices would be (£2k new) but the Specialized Camber Expert might be worth looking at. 26lbs so not a lot of weight to haul uphill (I'm 15.5st and mine hasn't broken yet!), 120mm travel so ok for xc and trail parks (not sure about big drop offs though). Or there's the Spesh Pitch, a bit heavier but I think they're 140mm travel.
I have a Camber Expert too. I weigh
the bad side of 17st and it been perfect. I clumsily ride all black routes at trail centres and the worse I have done is broken a spoke. Wheel still runs true.
120mm is plenty enough travel for most the UK has to offer.
eBay will be your friend. All I have upgraded is pedals and wider bars.
the bad side of 17st and it been perfect. I clumsily ride all black routes at trail centres and the worse I have done is broken a spoke. Wheel still runs true.
120mm is plenty enough travel for most the UK has to offer.
eBay will be your friend. All I have upgraded is pedals and wider bars.
I've been doing a lot of riding in Australia on my Specalized Epic Comp 29er - it's a little more XC focussed than the Camber with only 100mm of travel at the front but comes with trick rear suspension. I love it! It really seems the best of all worlds for me - able to do the XC stuff well, takes road riding in its stride, commutes to work and then, just for fun, race the roadies (OK, the slower roadies).
A lot of the guys I ride with use Giant Anthems - tough as nails and well spec'ed for the money. One guy rides a Camber Expert and whilst plusher on the downhills, the bouncing his does on the ups compared to mine is chronic.
Whilst I really like the 29er, I find the front flexes way more than the old 26 hardtail I used to have. I have no idea how much I weigh any more, but it's likely to be somewhere between 13.5 to 14.5 St (I haven't weighed myself in over 8months) and the wheels, whilst tough and still true after 800miles in 4months, flex something rotten. You might be best advised to look at a 26er although the 29er really flatters the inexperienced...
A lot of the guys I ride with use Giant Anthems - tough as nails and well spec'ed for the money. One guy rides a Camber Expert and whilst plusher on the downhills, the bouncing his does on the ups compared to mine is chronic.
Whilst I really like the 29er, I find the front flexes way more than the old 26 hardtail I used to have. I have no idea how much I weigh any more, but it's likely to be somewhere between 13.5 to 14.5 St (I haven't weighed myself in over 8months) and the wheels, whilst tough and still true after 800miles in 4months, flex something rotten. You might be best advised to look at a 26er although the 29er really flatters the inexperienced...
ReaperCushions said:
So after about 3 years out of the saddle (various reasons) I am looking to get back into riding again.
I used to have a hardtail GT which was cheap but cheerful, and was always bought with the intention of it being a lead into a more expensive / better spec bike in the future (just didnt realise there would be a 3 year gap!)
I enjoy XC riding to an extent, but I'm not really a long hauler, I look forward to the downhill sections and dread the climbs (don't we all!). So I was thinking of some kind of full sus / freeride cross over bike to suit this style of riding.
I don't think a full downhill rig is for me, but it might be something I build up to. I simply can't see me hitting much over 4ft (drop wise) for a long time, if ever.
At a reasonably lardy 17st (6ft) i'd need something strong but not too heavy. Something that I can whip around the downhill sections, hit a few jumps, but not really a big hitter or dropper.
Budget is around £1k but flexible, and I'd be more than happy with second hand as I think it is generally very good value to do so. Budget is less of a concern than finding the right bike to get me back in the saddle.
Help, advice and guidance is appreciated!
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b... Well sufficient for your weight!I used to have a hardtail GT which was cheap but cheerful, and was always bought with the intention of it being a lead into a more expensive / better spec bike in the future (just didnt realise there would be a 3 year gap!)
I enjoy XC riding to an extent, but I'm not really a long hauler, I look forward to the downhill sections and dread the climbs (don't we all!). So I was thinking of some kind of full sus / freeride cross over bike to suit this style of riding.
I don't think a full downhill rig is for me, but it might be something I build up to. I simply can't see me hitting much over 4ft (drop wise) for a long time, if ever.
At a reasonably lardy 17st (6ft) i'd need something strong but not too heavy. Something that I can whip around the downhill sections, hit a few jumps, but not really a big hitter or dropper.
Budget is around £1k but flexible, and I'd be more than happy with second hand as I think it is generally very good value to do so. Budget is less of a concern than finding the right bike to get me back in the saddle.
Help, advice and guidance is appreciated!
Job jobbed.
Sounds to me like you need an alpine/AM kind of bike, thinking along the lines of Nukeproof Mega or Orange Alpine. Second hand Lapierre's go fairly cheap these days, could be worth looking into one of them.
This kind of thing - http://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/1249352/
This kind of thing - http://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/1249352/
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