Mountain bike for beginner - £750ish

[Gin and Ultrasonic]

Hi, hoping I can get some advice for a roadie who is looking to do some mountain biking for a bit of variety.

I've had a couple of shots at MTB on a hire bike at Glentress, and really enjoyed it, and I live near some local trails (Beecraigs, Carron Valley), so looking to give it a go. I'd mainly be looking to do reasonably short off-road trail rides of an hour or 2 - I'd be sticking to the road bike for big days out.

I've had a look at bikes around the £750 mark, but I'm a bit lost with what kind of bike I want. I can see downhill, trail, sport, XC, enduro and other descriptions, and lots at this price point that are apparently 'great for beginners'.

Requirements -
I think I want a 1x drivetrain - not too fussed if 9/10/11/12 speed
Ideally some internal cabling (I have on my road bikes and love this for the lower maintenance)
Shimano hydraulic discs
I think I'd be better suited to a 29er
Would prefer not to go to Halfords if possible
Ideally something that looks good :-)
I'm about 6ft 4 and 90 kgs if that makes any difference.

Some bikes I've looked at -
https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Trek/Marlin-7-Mou...

And a good example of 2 bikes that seem similar but are clearly different models -
https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Orbea/MX-20-Mount...
https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Orbea/Alma-H50-29...

Any advice welcome, thanks.

[cml24]

Any reason not to go to Halfords?

Voodoo bizango is back in stock sometimes now and well regarded bike looking at the reviews. I've not ridden one myself I'll add though.

From a brief look the components on the Voodoo are a step up from your initial selections

[Gin and Ultrasonic]

cml24 said:

Any reason not to go to Halfords?

Voodoo bizango is back in stock sometimes now and well regarded bike looking at the reviews. I've not ridden one myself I'll add though.

From a brief look the components on the Voodoo are a step up from your initial selections

Yes, the last time I went to Halfords to get a replacement wheel for my Boardman road bike, they refitted the tube and tyre without fitting any rim tape, and I had to walk home 3 miles with an unfixable puncture as a result - so a mixture of general bitterness and lack of confidence in them to put a bike together, especially with components I'm not familiar with (I'd be fine with checking over a road bike, but I'm not sure about MTB components).

The voodoo bikes do look good (components wise) for the money though.

[sjg]

Voodoo Bizango consistently wins the tests around that price.

Halfords is just variable - someone I ride with runs the bike department at one and is sound, but there are others run by muppets.

These days I'd avoid stores, just get it delivered to home. Between the component manufacturers, park tool website and youtube there is all the guidance you'd ever need to set up or repair a mountain bike.

[BRR]

The Voodoo Bizango would probably be your best bet

The Vitus Nucleus and Sentier are good too but almost impossible to get hold of. You may also be able to get a used Bossnut for that price too

[Ian-27xza]

I was looking at hardtails for my wife in that price bracket a month ago.

I make no apologies in being an Orbea fanboy and have bought 2 in the past 8 months. The Alma looks like a good bike, it's got an air fork as opposed to a coil fork. This will make the fork a lot more adjustable to your weight / riding style. The Alma has a XC orientated frame geometry - this means it'll be a great pedal on the flat and uphill - fast. It does mean you'll need to work a bit harder (more body weight over the rear) going downhill.

It's also got Shimano drive train / brakes.

If you're looking at Orbeas I've found that some of the sizing seems counter intuitive. However, if you use their online size calculator with your correct measurements it'll be pretty accurate. For example, when I was looking at one of their road bikes I was thinking I needed a 55 or 57, as my current Bianchi was a 57. Turns out I needed a 53 and it fits like a glove!

[Gin and Ultrasonic]

Thanks for the replies, I agree that Halfords can be variable, although I'd just prefer not to use them if possible.

The Voodoo bikes do look to have a high spec for the money, as do the Vitus suggested. I can't find any of them in stock at my size (XL) in Halfords or Wiggle at the moment though.

Looking at bikes in stock at retailers at the moment, the ones I mentioned in the OP are there, plus this Cannondale which seems reasonably specced except for the Microshift shifters, and a couple of reasonable bikes.
https://www.wheelbase.co.uk/product/mountain-bikes...

(lower spec Voodoo) https://www.halfords.com/bikes/mountain-bikes/vood...

(budget creep!) https://www.halfords.com/bikes/mountain-bikes/boar...

Does anyone have experience of the Voodoo bikes ?

[emicen]

I have a Bizango 29er and although I haven’t taken it to Beecraigs yet, from walking the dog round there I think it will be an excellent fit for those trails.

Regarding the bike itself, I bought used but only because one popped up right as I was looking, was happily going to buy one new. For the price, it’s a very well spec’d bike that gets very good reviews.

[shurm]

I did a lot research before buying my bike wanted to spend £700ish the Bizango is just such great value for money and gets excellent reviews everywhere so I bought one last month.

[gashart]

Anything from Vitus is superb value for money, available from Chain Reaction

[LordHaveMurci]

cml24 said:

Any reason not to go to Halfords?

Voodoo bizango is back in stock sometimes now and well regarded bike looking at the reviews. I've not ridden one myself I'll add though.

From a brief look the components on the Voodoo are a step up from your initial selections

Bought both my kids new Bizangos last year, I personally. don’t get on with the enormous 29’’
wheels but I’m used to a 20yr old Cannondale 26er
Highly rated bikes & both kids riding has improved on them, 10% discount if you join British Cycling too

[ucb]

Bought an Orbea MX30 lastweek second-hand, £300. Current model in Bondi Blue. Deore groupset. Really enjoying the difference to my road bike espescially in current condtions

[missing the VR6]

As a self confessed bike snob, the Vitus and Voodoo were both contenders when I needed a hardtail quickly after my full sus was stolen, lack of stock put paid to that and went a different route. I got a Ragley and have been impressed, they come a little more expensive but certainly a good bike.

[jonindorset]

I understand from Halfords that the Voodoo Bizango is now out of production ahead of the launch of a new model, with just a few 20" frame models remaining in a few stores. I had no joy trying to get a nearly new 18" one either, experiencing a very flaky seller.

Personally, I decided to up the budget and go fro a bike with fewer compromises in my eyes. I managed to get a Vitus Sentier 27 VR from Wiggle. Yes, they show as always out of stock but I got lucky managing to put the last example in stock in my basket at 8.40am one morning a few days after I started checking each morning. Now to fit the handlebars and pedals!

[LordHaveMurci]

jonindorset said:

Personally, I decided to up the budget and go fro a bike with fewer compromises in my eyes. I managed to get a Vitus Sentier 27 VR from Wiggle. Yes, they show as always out of stock but I got lucky managing to put the last example in stock in my basket at 8.40am one morning a few days after I started checking each morning. Now to fit the handlebars and pedals!

Good for you!
That’s a bike that could tempt me off of my 26er ‘dale after 20yrs+!!

[heisthegaffer]

After reading this I'm keen on getting a new bike. I use a mongoose Tyax from 2004 I think. Just so heavy and needs a service.

Anyone know how the bike 2 work schemes work in terms if getting a Vitus if they are hard to get hold of?

[Gin and Ultrasonic]

Thanks to all who took the time to reply, looks like I can rule out the Voodoo Bizango as I'd need the XL frame, and looking at the sizing I am right at the top end (6 foot 4 for the XL and I am 6 foot 4.5). A shame as it sounds like it would have been a great option, although it's freed me from dealing with Halfords.

I checked with Wiggle and it looks like the Vitus Sentier and Nucleus will be in stock in the next couple of weeks there, and I have a platinum discount, so would get 10% off them. Just need to choose between that and the Orbea Alma (in stock at Sigma sports) now.
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/vitus-sentier-29-mountain...

Think I'm edging towards the Orbea as it looks great, which will make me want to go out on it, and seems to have all I need to get started except for pedals.
https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Orbea/Alma-H50-29...

Decisions decisions!

And apologies to heisthegaffer for tempting you to get a new bike

[witko999]

For £750 I wouldn't bother with anything new personally. You'll be able to get something nice and lightly used on Pinkbike, of a much higher spec.

[Gin and Ultrasonic]

witko999 said:

For £750 I wouldn't bother with anything new personally. You'll be able to get something nice and lightly used on Pinkbike, of a much higher spec.

Thanks for this. I had a look on Pinkbike and there were only a couple of bikes around that price, and all were local collection only a long way from where I am (West Lothian). They don't seem to be cheap enough to outweigh the risk of buying privately and unseen. I sold a road bike recently in one day through facebook, guessing the MTB market is just as crazy.

[DailyHack]

I picked up a pretty decent "albeit" used Calibre hardtail, again a very good enthusiasts brand and very very good value for money, and I have ridden and owned far more expensive rigs, yet his one feels so accomplished for a hardtail.

Great running gear Shimano SLX 11 speed, single crank ring etc, avid juicy hydraulic brakes all decent stuff, 27.5 wheels.

So +1 for Calibres, if you can stretch to £1000 the Calibre Bossnut (if you fancy full suspension) is a gem, and gets excellent reviews!