First proper MTB day yesterday,bike buying advice now needed
Discussion
I went to Eastridge Woods on a MTB trail yesterday, loved it, today I went MTB shopping just wanted something half decent, shop owner mega helpful and said that as a first bike a Merida Matts 40 would do the job, done it for £375.
On the way home I brought an Outdoor Fitness mag and see an event called the 24hour Strathpuffer on 6/7 Jan 12, 24 hour mountain bike race, up my alley but is the bike good enough (is the bike good enough even if I wasn't thinking of doing this?), thoughts opinions much appreciated.
On the way home I brought an Outdoor Fitness mag and see an event called the 24hour Strathpuffer on 6/7 Jan 12, 24 hour mountain bike race, up my alley but is the bike good enough (is the bike good enough even if I wasn't thinking of doing this?), thoughts opinions much appreciated.
I'm currently selling a 5 yr old Orange Evo4 light weight mtb bang on your budget. Well specced, low use and fast.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3215064.htm
Checkout classifieds (bit slow at the minute) coz for your current budget a new bike at £300 - £400 will be ok for the first few outings, then s
t.
HTH
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3215064.htm
Checkout classifieds (bit slow at the minute) coz for your current budget a new bike at £300 - £400 will be ok for the first few outings, then s
t.HTH
Edited by Stugots on Saturday 12th November 10:10
Take a look at ex-rentals, you may well find a good basic bike for half price it may have scratches etc but will have been serviced and maintained. I've got a GT Aggressor and it's fine,basic etc but fine, buy a good frame and keep upgrading, a cheapish bike is much more likely to be chucked round than a £1K bike that you are st scared of scratching.
t scared of scratching.Strathpuffer is one of the hardest events in the World. Seriously, do not underestimate it!
If you do enter, then I would suggest buying ice tyres and taking loads of spare brake pads and factor in the cost of a new drivetrain afterwards.
I did a write up about it in MBUK a few months back. Worth a read if you can get a copy and don't know much about the race.
If you do enter, then I would suggest buying ice tyres and taking loads of spare brake pads and factor in the cost of a new drivetrain afterwards.
I did a write up about it in MBUK a few months back. Worth a read if you can get a copy and don't know much about the race.
matt-ITR said:
Strathpuffer is one of the hardest events in the World. Seriously, do not underestimate it!
If you do enter, then I would suggest buying ice tyres and taking loads of spare brake pads and factor in the cost of a new drivetrain afterwards.
I did a write up about it in MBUK a few months back. Worth a read if you can get a copy and don't know much about the race.
Thanks for this info, would love to get hold of a copy of that MTB.If you do enter, then I would suggest buying ice tyres and taking loads of spare brake pads and factor in the cost of a new drivetrain afterwards.
I did a write up about it in MBUK a few months back. Worth a read if you can get a copy and don't know much about the race.
Stugots said:
I'm currently selling a 5 yr old Orange Evo4 light weight mtb bang on your budget. Well specced, low use and fast.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3215064.htm
Checkout classifieds (bit slow at the minute) coz for your current budget a new bike at £300 - £400 will be ok for the first few outings, then st.
HTH
Excellent buy that!http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3215064.htm
Checkout classifieds (bit slow at the minute) coz for your current budget a new bike at £300 - £400 will be ok for the first few outings, then s
t.HTH
Omg seriously. You have massive balls I'll give you that fella! Please please please do a blog or a photo journal because you are either the next John Tomac yet to be discovered or clinically mad lol. And a BSO is what us snobs call bikes not fit for purpose. Your Merida might be ace on local trails but in a race situation may be found lacking.
SkinnyBoy said:
Omg seriously. You have massive balls I'll give you that fella! Please please please do a blog or a photo journal because you are either the next John Tomac yet to be discovered or clinically mad lol. And a BSO is what us snobs call bikes not fit for purpose. Your Merida might be ace on local trails but in a race situation may be found lacking.
I will take some photos' looking forward to it, worst thing is i'm in hospital at the moment had an op yesterday so cant train for a couple of weeks.I ve been reading up on the Specialized Rockhopper, reckon that ll do the job?
996 sps said:
matt-ITR said:
Strathpuffer is one of the hardest events in the World. Seriously, do not underestimate it!
If you do enter, then I would suggest buying ice tyres and taking loads of spare brake pads and factor in the cost of a new drivetrain afterwards.
I did a write up about it in MBUK a few months back. Worth a read if you can get a copy and don't know much about the race.
Thanks for this info, would love to get hold of a copy of that MTB.If you do enter, then I would suggest buying ice tyres and taking loads of spare brake pads and factor in the cost of a new drivetrain afterwards.
I did a write up about it in MBUK a few months back. Worth a read if you can get a copy and don't know much about the race.
MBUK MAY 2011 PDF takes about 15mins to download!! Page 156 to 158 Strathpuff
You got BALLS my friend taking on that beast.
And from a hospital bed too....
Edited by Stugots on Saturday 12th November 17:21
A bike like that is in no way a BSO and would be OK for most things. Not the lightest, cheap machine-built wheels may go out of true, gearshifts may be a bit clunky but it'll do the job. Way nicer than what I spent a good chunk of my early teens riding off-road.
As for the Strathpuffer - it's a race in deepest Scotland, at a time of the year when you get about 6 hours of daylight, snow on the ground is very likely and you'll be lucky if temperatures go much above freezing in the middle of the day. Most people spend more on lights than their whole bike (many quite a bit more) and do it in teams of four - even then it's a very hard race. I've not done it but know a few people who have and even in a 4-man team, with a support crew to help fix bikes, make tea and with a (relatively) warm awning to stay in it's one of the hardest events you can do. The soloists must have some sort of mental illness.
http://vimeo.com/19167269
If you must - get some good lights, get riding in the dark at least three times a week and start shopping for spares and good cold-weather kit. It's going to be expensive.
As for the Strathpuffer - it's a race in deepest Scotland, at a time of the year when you get about 6 hours of daylight, snow on the ground is very likely and you'll be lucky if temperatures go much above freezing in the middle of the day. Most people spend more on lights than their whole bike (many quite a bit more) and do it in teams of four - even then it's a very hard race. I've not done it but know a few people who have and even in a 4-man team, with a support crew to help fix bikes, make tea and with a (relatively) warm awning to stay in it's one of the hardest events you can do. The soloists must have some sort of mental illness.
http://vimeo.com/19167269
If you must - get some good lights, get riding in the dark at least three times a week and start shopping for spares and good cold-weather kit. It's going to be expensive.
Pair is still very tough. Stop/start when it is cold and/or wet means you will go through lots of kit and have to have seriously mental strength to get back out for your stint.
I would have 2 helpers there with you if you can. 1 for each rider. Get yourself some ice tyres incase it is like it was this year. The whole course was sheet ice, without ice tyres you couldn't really go anywhere.
I would have 2 helpers there with you if you can. 1 for each rider. Get yourself some ice tyres incase it is like it was this year. The whole course was sheet ice, without ice tyres you couldn't really go anywhere.
matt-ITR said:
Pair is still very tough. Stop/start when it is cold and/or wet means you will go through lots of kit and have to have seriously mental strength to get back out for your stint.
I would have 2 helpers there with you if you can. 1 for each rider. Get yourself some ice tyres incase it is like it was this year. The whole course was sheet ice, without ice tyres you couldn't really go anywhere.
Cheers for advice, just been looking at bikes online i'm 6ft 2inches in height, do I need a 20 inch bike or 21inch?I would have 2 helpers there with you if you can. 1 for each rider. Get yourself some ice tyres incase it is like it was this year. The whole course was sheet ice, without ice tyres you couldn't really go anywhere.
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