Bike recommendation

[Bilb]

Originally Posted by Inertiaman

What's the connection? The kona is a stripped fixie.

I meant in terms of what sort of riding did you want to do? Road community to work? Bit of soft-road? Downhill? Cross Country? All Mountain? etc.

Originally Posted by blurr

Careful of ChainReactionCycles, read many bad reviews about them...

Really? I know a few people that haven't had an issue. Ordered a bike on Tuesday and it arrived on Friday. etc.

Wiggle.co.uk are also good.

[Useless]

I'm down in Penzance for the week and I've taken my bike with me. Went out earlier riding to Marazion and Mousehole and the roads are sooooooo much better than at home. It's so much more pleasant riding on flat surfaces.
Definitely going to be shit when I go back to work next week, and the ride to work won't be good either

[dehp]

Bit the bullet and got a road bike! Only a cheapie and if I like it alot I'll get a better one. What are the limitations? Could I take it to a country park which has gravely & normal paths?

[eek]

what size are the tyres? I would say normal paths are fine...gravely not so much.

[dehp]

Originally Posted by eek

what size are the tyres? I would say normal paths are fine...gravely not so much.

Not sure to be honest!

This is the bike;

http://www.sportsdirect.com/viking-p...-senior-933045

[Bilb]

I'm sure the bike would be fine. Buckling the wheels however might be an issue. Granted you might get the odd pot-hole on the road. But smoother the better with road bikes.

[eek]

Yeah I would try to stay off gravel if you can

[eek]

The wheels will be fine, it's just punctures I would be worried about...but then I've had so many I might be overly cautious!

[dehp]

Originally Posted by eek

The wheels will be fine, it's just punctures I would be worried about...but then I've had so many I might be overly cautious!

Maybe. It's not like a through the woods park or anything, it's where they do the womens cancer run thing, public park with footpaths so its not like a trail or anything

[Chef_uk]

Thinking about getting a decent bike. Been using a £99 one for years and fancy getting in to trailing around sherwood forest and doubt it will be up to it. Would still like to use it on roads though so it this possible within my budget of £400-£500?

5"11 / 18.7st

[Inertiaman]

Easily. Look around the hardtails and you might even find some hydraulic (rather than cable) disc brakes within that budget. If you're planning on any medium/longish distance on the road separately from your single-track then pick up a pair of slick/semi rolling tread tyres for 30-40 notes and switch them when you need them. If it's just the odd A to B road trip then don't bother and suck up the slightly higher resistance.

[Inertiaman]

http://www.evanscycles.com/categorie...ort=popularity

There's a couple of cracking reductions on some 2010/2011 models there if you can find your size.

[Bilb]

Originally Posted by Chef_uk

Thinking about getting a decent bike. Been using a £99 one for years and fancy getting in to trailing around sherwood forest and doubt it will be up to it. Would still like to use it on roads though so it this possible within my budget of £400-£500?

5"11 / 18.7st

You're looking at the same kinda thing as me.

For that budget, you're going to be getting a decent hardtail, rather than a full suss.

Some suggestions:
Halfords VooDoo HooDoo
Cube Aim
Ghost
Commencal
Giant


Have a look also at ChainReactionCycles.co.uk
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/C...6&SortBy=Price
Wiggle,
Evans Cycles

Also don't forget your local bike store, most bike models have just changed to the 2013 range, so you'll get some cracking discounts on 2012 models.

[eek]

It looks like some of the 2013 models have downgraded their components as well, so check out both models.

[Sh0cked]

Just picked up my Focus Cayo Evo 4.0 2013 .. absolutely in love with it

[Inertiaman]

Originally Posted by Bilb

For that budget, you're going to be getting a decent hardtail, rather than a full suss.

Some suggestions:
Halfords VooDoo HooDoo

Get out.

[Bilb]

What's wrong with that one? It's in the budget bracket, and reviews well.

Granted it's not a Ragley Piglet. But even the Boardman ones are good spec for the price, just a shame you have to go to Halfords!

[Inertiaman]

Nah it's fine if a little weighty at the 500 quid mark. I'd rather have some more muscular brakes than a remote lockout fork but at least it's a decent unit.

My mates would dismantle and bury it over a square mile if I left it alone though.

[Bilb]

I'd love either the disk brakes or front suspension forks ... currently riding rigid. I say it makes me "gnarly", but her indoors says I'm "retro".

Got my eye on a Piglet at the moment, or Cube Acid ... or possibly even a GT.

[Chef_uk]

Cheers guys. Any reason not to go for this one:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...?ModelID=72861

Seems to good to be true.

[Bilb]

It's just a couple of years old, in terms of their graphics.

I think Cube bikes are lovely. You'd be advised to find a local Cube dealer just to try one for size. I'm 6ft4, and on some bikes need a 19" frame.

I'm saving to get a new bike, and have also been looking at CRC. My only concern is "If there is a problem, you have to ship it back to an internet reseller". Whereas if it's a local bike shop, it might be a bit more expensive, but you have a door to knock loudly on, and the ability to tell customers about the service you receive.

A friend has a 2011 spec Cube Analog, which also has Suntour forks, and he's had a right game with them. But that's not to say that they are the same model, or you'll have the same issues.

[Inertiaman]

Low end suntour are horrifically clunky shite on anything but the mildest terrain.

[Inertiaman]

Originally Posted by Chef_uk

Cheers guys. Any reason not to go for this one:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...?ModelID=72861

Seems to good to be true.

NO disc brakes hydraulic or otherwise is absolute killer. With your budget you shouldn't have trouble meeting that minimum requirement.

[Lungboy]

http://www.wheelies.co.uk/p51333/Kon...brid-Bike.aspx

Any good?

What about http://www.wheelies.co.uk/p35904/Sar...brid-Bike.aspx

Think 16" might be too small, but it looks pretty sweet.

[Useless]

From Decathlon the rockrider 8.1 £499
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/81-2012-id_8168918.html

My boys Christmas pressie this year

[Lungboy]

I'm seriously considering blowing my next wage on a bike. Which would people go for from the Kona i posted above, or:
http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/pr...Mens_2012_Bike
http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/pr...29er_2012_Bike

The main differences seem to be slightly better gear system on the Cube, 27 vs 24 gears, and the Cube has front shocks. I'll be using it mostly on tarmac but might like to be able to venture a little off-road, but nothing you'd need a serious MTB for.

They also have the 2011 Muirwoods, which is £13 cheaper:
http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/pr...29er_Bike_2011

I'm guessing it's worth the extra £13 for the newer bike?

[Bilb]

The 29ers are generally only recommended to taller people. They have some benefits for being better at rolling over obstacles better than a 26" wheel, but slightly less manoeuvrable.

I can't really comment on the spec of the various components as I'm a little out of date with what's good.

[Lungboy]

Wouldn't an 18" frame on 26" wheels be almost identical to a 17" frame on 29" wheels? I'm probably grossly oversimplifying things.

[andy]

My bike:



It's like riding a tank

[Inertiaman]

Rob deano has a 29er which feels very large on large on me at 6ft2in and cost alot more energy (weight and centrifugal). knowing your build rob I'd stick to 26 unless you hop on something in evans and it feels especially right.