Discussion
Recently decided I want to start getting into mountain biking. I've done a bit in the past, but nothing too extreme. I live near to Sherwood Pines and I've ridden there quite a lot, mainly doing the red kitchener trail and the short DH section. Also had a few trips to Coed-Y-Brenin and rented a bike there. Because of my location, I'm probably going to have to travel a fair distance to get to any decent trail centers. I believe Cannock is the closest, but I also have the option of venturing into the Peak District. On top of this, when I move house in March, I'm going to be about 13 miles from work, so I've also been thinking about commuting by bike a couple of times a week to improve my fitness!
So I'm trying to work out what my best option is going to be in terms of bike purchasing with a budget of £1000.
My work does to the Cycle to Work scheme, so that seems hard to ignore. But there's also the question of 1 bike or 2? Would a 13 miles commute be doable on a mountainbike?
For the mtb, I think I'd prefer a hardtail, just because the riding I'm going to be doing to start with isn't going to be too crazy and a £1000 budget seems small for a full sus. I also have it in my head that I dislike 29ers, but don't really have any actual reason for this. I think a lot of them look a bit daft (wheels too big for frame) and having ridden one it wasn't as fun as a 26.
The bike that really takes my fancy at the moment is the Bird Zero, but it's bang on the budget - so if I did want to commute I'd have to use the bird. Also, I'm fairly sure you can't get it on the bike to work scheme. However, after drooling over it for so long, anything sub £1000 seems so bland and unattractive. From what I understand, they seem to be good value?
The other option of course is spend £500 on a hardtail, and another £500 on a road bike. But I haven't done my research at this price bracket so any suggestions would be great?
I wouldn't be against buying second hand, but being 6"3 I'd need XL and there doesn't seem to be too much choice on sites such as Pinkbike in the XL sizes...
Thanks for reading, any advice appreciated!
So I'm trying to work out what my best option is going to be in terms of bike purchasing with a budget of £1000.
My work does to the Cycle to Work scheme, so that seems hard to ignore. But there's also the question of 1 bike or 2? Would a 13 miles commute be doable on a mountainbike?
For the mtb, I think I'd prefer a hardtail, just because the riding I'm going to be doing to start with isn't going to be too crazy and a £1000 budget seems small for a full sus. I also have it in my head that I dislike 29ers, but don't really have any actual reason for this. I think a lot of them look a bit daft (wheels too big for frame) and having ridden one it wasn't as fun as a 26.
The bike that really takes my fancy at the moment is the Bird Zero, but it's bang on the budget - so if I did want to commute I'd have to use the bird. Also, I'm fairly sure you can't get it on the bike to work scheme. However, after drooling over it for so long, anything sub £1000 seems so bland and unattractive. From what I understand, they seem to be good value?
The other option of course is spend £500 on a hardtail, and another £500 on a road bike. But I haven't done my research at this price bracket so any suggestions would be great?
I wouldn't be against buying second hand, but being 6"3 I'd need XL and there doesn't seem to be too much choice on sites such as Pinkbike in the XL sizes...
Thanks for reading, any advice appreciated!
pablo said:
I'd revisit the 29ers, for the roads a hardtail with some appropriate tyres would be fine and it might be the best of both requirements, Canyon would be my first call, the Grand Canyon at £1100 as ROckshox Rebas which you wont find on many hardtails at that price.
Ok, I'll have a look at Canyon. I guess a 29er would be the perfect middle ground between road and off road.. Looking at the website, the £1100 seems to have a fox fork?Try some bikes before deciding you deffo need an "XL" frame. Also, forget about standover height, top tube length matters more than anything with a MTB these days.
I'm 6ft 2 and my trail bike is a 18" and my DH bike is a 19".
Bird bikes are excellent, I know one of the guys that runs the company is regularly riding round Cwmcarn and is usually more than happy to let people have a go on his bike.
http://www.birdmtb.com/demo-a-bird/
The Zero is very similar to my 456 Summer Season, which if the angles are similar, won't be very fun on a commute. They are very relaxed bikes and geared towards having fun on the trails.
I'm 6ft 2 and my trail bike is a 18" and my DH bike is a 19".
Bird bikes are excellent, I know one of the guys that runs the company is regularly riding round Cwmcarn and is usually more than happy to let people have a go on his bike.
http://www.birdmtb.com/demo-a-bird/
The Zero is very similar to my 456 Summer Season, which if the angles are similar, won't be very fun on a commute. They are very relaxed bikes and geared towards having fun on the trails.
Not sure if you've seen OnOne btw..
http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOOPWX9/on-one-parkwo...
http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOO456CEVOX5/on-one-4...
http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOOPWX9/on-one-parkwo...
http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOO456CEVOX5/on-one-4...
Interesting! Thanks Northern Monkey. So it sounds like trying to get a bike that does EVERYTHING is going to be hard. Fun or commuting ability is obviously going to have to be sacrificed. 29er seems like the best of both worlds, I just need to get over my irrational hatred of them 
Not looked at on-one before, thanks for the link!
So if I did forget about commuting for now, and bought a relaxed mtb like a bird or a 456, would it be comfortable enough to cope with 14 miles of main roads and fire roads to get to some trails and back again?
Not looked at on-one before, thanks for the link!
So if I did forget about commuting for now, and bought a relaxed mtb like a bird or a 456, would it be comfortable enough to cope with 14 miles of main roads and fire roads to get to some trails and back again?
HenryBee said:
Ok, I'll have a look at Canyon. I guess a 29er would be the perfect middle ground between road and off road.. Looking at the website, the £1100 seems to have a fox fork?
I was looking at the Grand Canyon AL 6.9 which is £899 not £1100, the AL SLX is £1100 and as you say, has the Fox Float CTD and a slightly better wheelset, for the money though, I'd say the £899 bike is brilliant and you wouldnt miss the upgraded components. I commute 15 miles on a 29er with nobblies on as the last 5 miles are in the mud. I could ride 16 miles all on tarmac but I like the challenge and a few off camber sections to keep me sharp. In the summer I can use smoother/faster tyres and I can get to work on the 15 mile road/trail route quicker than 16.5 miles on my road bike.
I still cant believe PCs have Giant Anthem X2s for under a grand. I bought one in 2010 and commuted over 10,000 miles on it as well as many times around Cannock and Edale.
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m1b0s1p4945/GIANT-ANT...
I still cant believe PCs have Giant Anthem X2s for under a grand. I bought one in 2010 and commuted over 10,000 miles on it as well as many times around Cannock and Edale.
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m1b0s1p4945/GIANT-ANT...
I did 32km on my 456 last weekend.. a combination of cycle path, off road and touch of road. Coped ok, but obviously was more a fun on the trails.
There is a route to work for me on cycle path / road and I'm in a similar predicament to you.. I think I'll get some semi slick tyres when its a bit dryer and will give the commute a go.
Just make sure you decide what type of bike you want before going out and getting the 1st thing you try.
Personally, I dont enjoy riding mtbs (ht or fs) with 120mm or less travel as they aren't as fun, but then I prefer to keep the brakes off.
However, shorter travel mtbs do tend to be easier to ride longer distances and are more comfortable for prolonged rides. A shorter travel mtb would be fi e to convert to a commuter with some slicks too.
Similarly with 29ers, I find them too cumbersome and slow compared to a 650b or 26", but a set of slicks and you've got a commuter.
There is a route to work for me on cycle path / road and I'm in a similar predicament to you.. I think I'll get some semi slick tyres when its a bit dryer and will give the commute a go.
Just make sure you decide what type of bike you want before going out and getting the 1st thing you try.
Personally, I dont enjoy riding mtbs (ht or fs) with 120mm or less travel as they aren't as fun, but then I prefer to keep the brakes off.
However, shorter travel mtbs do tend to be easier to ride longer distances and are more comfortable for prolonged rides. A shorter travel mtb would be fi e to convert to a commuter with some slicks too.
Similarly with 29ers, I find them too cumbersome and slow compared to a 650b or 26", but a set of slicks and you've got a commuter.
I blew the £1k limit of my CTW scheme on a 29er at the end of 2013 on the basis I'd use it for the commute too. Used it a couple of times then I got roped into a 100 mile help for heroes ride and bought a cheap road bike... 6 months later after riding 11 miles a day the 29er was still noticeably harder work on the road. Granted my choice of MTB wasn't the lightest but the gearing is wrong for trying to make decent progress. I guess it depends on how quickly you want to get anywhere - I was always trying to get to the train station and then the office on time!
I love the the MTB though. Just off road.
You don't need to spend £500 on a road bike:
http://www.rutlandcycling.com/294813/products/mekk...
I love the the MTB though. Just off road.
You don't need to spend £500 on a road bike:
http://www.rutlandcycling.com/294813/products/mekk...
Quick update to this thread! Thanks for all the suggestions.
I've decided to lower my budget somewhat, and on Saturday I put a deposit down on a VooDoo Bizango from everyone's favourite bike shop, Halfords.
I'll be able to get 20% off list price, so it seemed the more sensible option and much easier than doing cycle scheme. Should be collecting it early April, I'm very excited! Just need to get a new helmet, and I plan on replacing the pedals for some Nukeproof Electrons.
I've decided to lower my budget somewhat, and on Saturday I put a deposit down on a VooDoo Bizango from everyone's favourite bike shop, Halfords.
I'll be able to get 20% off list price, so it seemed the more sensible option and much easier than doing cycle scheme. Should be collecting it early April, I'm very excited! Just need to get a new helmet, and I plan on replacing the pedals for some Nukeproof Electrons.
VooDoo Bizango eh?
If it rides half as well as it reviews, you're sure to enjoy it. I'd probably struggle with one, on account of the limited choice of sizes and the 29" wheels with my short legs. But I might just take a look in my local Halfords, before I rule one out. That said, the Bird Zero is still top of my wish list for a new MTB, funds permitting.
If it rides half as well as it reviews, you're sure to enjoy it. I'd probably struggle with one, on account of the limited choice of sizes and the 29" wheels with my short legs. But I might just take a look in my local Halfords, before I rule one out. That said, the Bird Zero is still top of my wish list for a new MTB, funds permitting.
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