First MTB purchase (considering Carrera)?

[burridge1984]

I am looking at getting a hardtail MTB, and am after some advice from people in the know.

It will be my first bike for 10 years+ or so (been borrowing fathers basic bike for few months as decided to start cycling again).
Looking at something basic as not going for mad hardcore off road stuff, and will be doing a mix of road, basic trails, and easy - medium level stuff off road.
I dont need anything expensive, was looking at anywhere between £300-£500, wide range I know.

Dont fancy second hand as dont know what Im looking for and wont risk a damaged or cracked frame.

Just a basic, reliable and strong bike will do, prefer reliability over light weight, quite happy to put more effort in to make up any added weight penalty.

Can anyone recomend decent review sites (have been using Bikeradar so far).

Carrera bikes at Halfords seem good VFM, and one review of a Carrera Vulcan (in their sale at £225), suggested it could compete with £500 bikes.
Carrera Vulcan, Vengeance or Kraken all seem excellent for the money, especially as I may have missed the boat for a good deal on a 2010 stock bike earlier in the year.

Thanks for reading, and thanks in advance for your advice.

Edited by burridge1984 on Sunday 17th April 21:33

[burridge1984]

Also considering GT Aggressor or basic Specialized Hardrock.

[911p]

Go Specialized. I recently purchased a Fuji Tahoe retailing at £650, and my mate recently lent me his Specialized Hardrock Disc for the weekend. After a lengthy test ride, I actually realized I preferred his bike. Being less than half the price of mine, (as you can imagine) I was very disappointed. The geometry of the bike just felt better all round; it was more confidence inspiring in the corners, jumping the bike was easy as pie and very comfortable (despite having much lesser forks), and the bike also felt much more solid and better built.

Believe me, there's a reason the Specialized bikes are so popular.

[Flippin' Kipper]

911p said:

Go Specialized. I recently purchased a Fuji Tahoe retailing at £650, and my mate recently lent me his Specialized Hardrock Disc for the weekend. After a lengthy test ride, I actually realized I preferred his bike. Being less than half the price of mine, (as you can imagine) I was very disappointed. The geometry of the bike just felt better all round; it was more confidence inspiring in the corners, jumping the bike was easy as pie and very comfortable (despite having much lesser forks), and the bike also felt much more solid and better built.

Believe me, there's a reason the Specialized bikes are so popular.

I think the morale of that story is to go out and test ride as many as you can. My friend also has a Specalized Hardrock of some kind, and I found it a nice bike, but too sit up and beg for my liking. Different strokes and all that...

[CanadianScot]

PinkBike is a great website if you join up. You can post on the forums asking whatever and almost always get decent responses.

Bigger brands often offer more for less because of the price they can put together bikes. Not always the case, but I'd be looking at Specialized, Trek, Giant, Kona etc.

[kazste]

At this price range it pays to buy smart, look at companies which sell different versions of the same frame with ever increasing prices due to better components.
Example of this is the Scott ladies contessa which has six models ranging from just under £250 to around :£1500 with only the cheapest version being a different frame.

I would find it far easier to upgrade components when needed than a frame.

[wades]

Test rides Mr.B! As per the advice on here, you need to get your backside on a few sadles and possibly be a bit less concerned about pretty paint jobs...