What cheap bike?

[astroarcadia]

A friend of mine had his bike (Trek 4500) stolen last week and is looking for a new one. He is a bit tight for money at the moment and just wants to spend around £400 on a new mountain bike.

It seems at that price there is not much out there and he needs to spend more like £500 to get anything decent. Ideally he want last seasons bargain instead of a current model.

Any suggestions on bikes or shops around the Gloucestershire area?

TIA.

[Master Mischief]

Best bike shop around Gloucester is Noah's Ark.

They don't really bang out stuff mega cheap but will generally negotiate a bit.

My colleague bought a Specialized Hard Rock Disc from there for similar money to above with a bit of a haggle.

They are a nice bunch too (no I don't work there).

[astroarcadia]

Noah's is just down the road from me. We had a look but it's more high end stuff in there. Think my friend is looking for a bargain that does not exist?

[Roman]

Leisure Lakes in Cheltenham usually have some pretty good deals.

[astroarcadia]

Thoughts on this anyone:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Focus_Whistler_2...

[anonymous-user]

havent heard any bad things about Focus, wiggle are a sound company to deal with.

the whistler looks ok, a quality frame to upgrade if you feel like it but if its possible to raise the extra cash, the fat boy is a markedly better bike than the whistler notably on account of the hydraulic discs and the rock shox dart fork which are worth more than the extra £120 or so difference betweeen the two bikes.

[P-Jay]

astroarcadia said:

Thoughts on this anyone:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Focus_Whistler_2...

Basic as they come, but it'll get your friend back on the trails.

GT usually own this sort of price range, should get better brakes and a 100mm fork for £400.

[Mr_C]

Giant Terrago Disc

[anonymous-user]

Mr_C said:

Giant Terrago Disc

looks alright spec wise, deore bits will attract the "oooh shiny" buyers but suntour forks would put me off. never have i ridden a bike with less confidence inspiring forks than those offered by suntour never mind cheap suntour forks, vague, bouncy, unpredicatable....you could do worse for a cheap hack-around-the-woods-bike for £350 though.