MTB newbie bike choice advice

[Mosman]

Normally I'm a runner but this year I'd like to get out on two wheels also.

I'd like start getting out there on a MTB, nothing extreme just general trail riding really.

I would be taking advantage of my company's CTW scheme which pretty much limits the choice to Evans Cycles. I've given myself a budget of about £600. Looking at the website I've flagged up the following bikes, I'd appreciate some advice. I guess I'm not sure what is the best approach (I'm not really sure if I'm looking at the right models - I would want to avoid buying something that is the entry level model with inferior equipment where another brand would be the top end with better kit - if you understand what I mean).

I'm looking for a 29er hardtail...

Scott Aspect 930
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/scott/aspect-9...

Trek X-Caliber 7
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/trek/x-caliber...

Pinnacle Ramin Two
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/ramin...

Remember, like it or not, it has to be from Evans.

Edited by Mosman on Thursday 9th April 11:45

[HenryBee]

VooDoo Bizango. Halfords only but Evans might be able to get it in? I recently bought the last one from my local halfords, so there are still some out there. The reviews are very good. I was considering a cycle to work scheme but when I realised I could get a better bike and easily get 20% off (British cycling and work vouchers) it seemed like a no brainer.

It's versatile! It's good going up, down or on the flat!

Here's mine

[vwsurfbum]

In my opinion i would go with the trek, only because of the very marginal better fork.(still not good)

The scottt looks better and would probably hold a beter value but the fork is worse than not having one.

The Pinnacle would lose too much value and has terrible equipment.

[richardxjr]

As you can see, forks on entry level bikes are mostly useless paperweights.

£450 on the Pinnacle Ramin One. A rigid cro mo fork and tyres at 30psi will give enough. I use those very Shimano hydro brakes myself, they are good. Decent enough proper bike for your intended use.

If you get the bug and buy a bigger spec bike in the future, this will make an ideal singlespeed winter steed too.

[Usget]

Much of a muchness at Evans at that price bracket. I'd forgo C2W, wait until Halfords are having one of their periodic sales, and do the well-documented discount stacking trick. I'd use it to buy this:

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

Leaving aside some money to replace the terrible brakes, that's a bargain IMO. The frame seems to be getting good reviews.

[vwsurfbum]

Usget said:

Much of a muchness at Evans at that price bracket. I'd forgo C2W, wait until Halfords are having one of their periodic sales, and do the well-documented discount stacking trick. I'd use it to buy this:

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

Leaving aside some money to replace the terrible brakes, that's a bargain IMO. The frame seems to be getting good reviews.

Original poster said:

my company's CTW scheme which pretty much limits the choice to Evans Cycles.

[Mosman]

vwsurfbum said:

Usget said:

Much of a muchness at Evans at that price bracket. I'd forgo C2W, wait until Halfords are having one of their periodic sales, and do the well-documented discount stacking trick. I'd use it to buy this:

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

Leaving aside some money to replace the terrible brakes, that's a bargain IMO. The frame seems to be getting good reviews.

Original poster said:

my company's CTW scheme which pretty much limits the choice to Evans Cycles.

I thought that I'd highlighted that but the first reply had me heading off to Halfords

Whilst I appreciate that this is the forum for cyclists I just wanted to get a reality check. I'm sure that the specifications of the bikes I highlighted (pretty much just because they fitted my CTW scheme budget) may not be world class however; are the components actually crap for will they be perfectly suitable or me as a beginner buying a £600 bike? I'm not worried about resale values etc?

[richardxjr]

You want an air fork for sure (or save the weight and go rigid) and hydro brakes for sure. Lower range running gear is fine tbh.

You can easily spend £500 + vat = £600 on a reasonable fork + brakes tbh, let alone a whole bike.

Edited by richardxjr on Thursday 9th April 14:03

[Usget]

vwsurfbum said:

Usget said:

Much of a muchness at Evans at that price bracket. I'd forgo C2W, wait until Halfords are having one of their periodic sales, and do the well-documented discount stacking trick. I'd use it to buy this:

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

Leaving aside some money to replace the terrible brakes, that's a bargain IMO. The frame seems to be getting good reviews.

Original poster said:

my company's CTW scheme which pretty much limits the choice to Evans Cycles.

[Usget]

Mosman said:

however; are the components actually crap for will they be perfectly suitable or me as a beginner buying a £600 bike? I'm not worried about resale values etc?

They'll be totally fine and you'll have a lot of fun on pretty much whatever you buy - however, my point was that C2W may be a false economy since it is forcing you to spend your (tax free) £600 on lower-spec bikes than you would otherwise have available.

[Mosman]

richardxjr said:

You can easily spend £500 + vat = £600 on a reasonable fork + brakes tbh, let alone a whole bike.

Edited by richardxjr on Thursday 9th April 14:03

Yes, I appreciate that you buy the equipment based what is appropriate (for example I have running shoes with custom insoles that cost > £200).

What I'm asking for is what is reasonable for what I want to spend? Let me put it another way, if someone asked me if they should spend £200 on running shoes to go for a jog around the block the answer would of course be no. However, if you are running a marathon then you would need the appropriate shoes.

So the question I am looking for the answer to is not what should I buy for the MTB equivalent of running around the block but what for someone you would use it regularly but isn't going to start taking part in 100 mile off road endurance events.

Just something decent for about £600 and from Evan's so that I can get it with CTW.

[The_Jackal]

I thought with C2W you don't own the bike just loan it.
As another poster said you may be better off buying a bike with stacked discounts, then if you get the bug in a years time sell the bike towards your next upgrade.
Or just buy secondhand now, get more bike for your money and see if you take to it.

[Mosman]

The_Jackal said:

I thought with C2W you don't own the bike just loan it.
As another poster said you may be better off buying a bike with stacked discounts, then if you get the bug in a years time sell the bike towards your next upgrade.
Or just buy secondhand now, get more bike for your money and see if you take to it.

You pay a small percentage of the cost to transfer ownership after 12 months.

Usget said:

They'll be totally fine and you'll have a lot of fun on pretty much whatever you buy - however, my point was that C2W may be a false economy since it is forcing you to spend your (tax free) £600 on lower-spec bikes than you would otherwise have available.

But, if I don't use CTW then my budget becomes £350? Show me a £350 bike that is better spec than the ones I highlighted and I'll buy it - probably using CTW too

The main thing is that I want to use the benefits of the interest free loan that CTW gives - I don't want to spend £600 (or £350) cash for a bike.

[ecsrobin]

Mosman said:

So the question I am looking for the answer to is not what should I buy for the MTB equivalent of running around the block but what for someone you would use it regularly but isn't going to start taking part in 100 mile off road endurance events.

Just something decent for about £600 and from Evan's so that I can get it with CTW.

Answers:

For running round the block - £500+
Regular use - £1000
100 mile endureance £2500+

Canal tow path with the kids anything under £500

However I appreciate you have a budget you just need to know where the compromise should be that doesn't make your bike ownership experience something that makes you not want to partake in cycling any further. You will be getting heavy wheels and awful suspension at that price point and Evans really limits your options.

I would go for the fully rigid option as mentioned earlier.

[The_Jackal]

Here's two bikes for £350 on Gumtree both with Hydro brakes
http://www.gumtree.com/p/bicycles/voodoo-bizango-2...
http://www.gumtree.com/p/bicycles/cube-aim-sl-29-m...
Obviously just a taster but more than enough for what you need. If you don't need it straight away, keep your eye on the ads and some real good buys can be had.

[anonymous-user]

I've got an XC30 fork, the same as the Trek on one of my bikes, it's covered 1000's of miles without issue and when I started riding I was 28.5 stone (way over what it was designed for). It's a simple design and for a newbie and riding to work it'll easily do the job.

IMO, go for the Trek out of the three you've listed.

[richardxjr]

Mosman said:

So the question I am looking for the answer to is not what should I buy for the MTB equivalent of running around the block but what for someone you would use it regularly but isn't going to start taking part in 100 mile off road endurance events.

Just something decent for about £600 and from Evan's so that I can get it with CTW.

What I suggested earlier for £450. Pinnacle Ramin One.

[snowdude2910]

The_Jackal said:

http://www.gumtree.com/p/bicycles/cube-aim-sl-29-m...

The cube is probably way better than anything you'll buy new for £600 from evans but being gumtree it's probably nicked I'd want an original bill of sale or the name of the shop it was bought from so you can call them with serial number and confirm who it was sold to. In my experience with bikes it is very much a buy cheap buy twice afair 2 of my mates have almost identical cannondale hardtails but £200 apart in spec one has been back to the shop dozens of times for warranty stuff had probably more than the original £200 difference in upgrades now and still has inferior forks which is an expensive part to upgrade. Personally I would up the budget to £1k for a decent hardtail just to future proof it incase you get more into it I'm assuming when you say tails your talking woodland trails with roots bumps etc as opposed to groomed paths through the countryside if it's the latter anything will do you just clean and oil the chain regularly whatever you get makes a massive difference and is something overlooked by people new to bikes.
Wheelbase.co.uk do 0% finance might be another option for you

[Mosman]

Thanks for all the replies but in true Pistonheads style I have discovered the following about my question:

Q: What bike is best to get for £600 from Evans using the C2W scheme.
A: Pay £1000 cash for a second hand bike.

OK, that is being a little harsh but there did seem to be a little of the usual Pistonheads thread drift.

Looking at the documentation for our C2W scheme online last night I see that from April it has been updated and although it still uses Evans they do have the option for Halfords too now.

Not fantastic but they do sell the VooDoo Binzango that was referred to a couple of times earlier. I know this has won lots of awards, any more comment on it? I'm just not sure - it looks a bit too "funky" for my taste

[ecsrobin]

At your price range you should not worry about what it looks like. The voodoo's are a brilliant bike for the money even if they have funky colour schemes.

Go for it. Then remember N+1