Any cyclists out there ??

[Yanto_csl]

Bikes, talk to me !

Looking at possible mountain bike purchase....

Will prob spend c. £800 (ish). Likely to use 60/40 between road / off road...

Any recommendations on brands etc ?

Cheers

[outnumbered]

Yes...
but I know feck all about mountain bikes, just road bikes, sorry.

[Bounce]

I spent the night with a couple of village bikes a few years ago.:whistle::whistle:if thats any help

[Yanto_csl]

fookin hell.....this is going well :hahaha::hahaha::hahaha:

[pinkpanther008]

Cannondale every time my friend...awesome MTB bikes, really know thier stuff. Tyre choice will mainly affect your on road/of road ride. Recommend schwalb racing ralph tyres.
Enjoy

[Bounce]

Cannondale every time my friend...awesome MTB bikes, really know thier stuff. Tyre choice will mainly affect your on road/of road ride. Recommend schwalb racing ralph tyres.
Enjoy

My rubber choice was essential.:smokin:

[Mark CSL]

My rubber choice was essential.:smokin:

:hahaha::hahaha::hahaha::hahaha: and wait till shimmy and duncan read this :whistle:

[jibm]

sounds like you need a 29'er.... all the the fun of a MTB but with bigger wheels...and you don't need to utter the word hybrid....which is for benders.

[danp]

Bikes, talk to me !

Looking at possible mountain bike purchase....

Will prob spend c. £800 (ish). Likely to use 60/40 between road / off road...

Any recommendations on brands etc ?

Cheers

I have an older version of this, which has been a great bike..cost £800 ish:

http://fisherbikes.com/bike/model/hoo-koo-e-koo/detail

Would also rate Specialized, something like this is a good all rounder, friend just bought the Comp SL and is really pleased with it:

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/rockhopper-sl-2010-mountain-bike-ec020001

This is not bad value, last years models are quite a good way to save a few quid: (not many sizes left tho')

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/kona/caldera-2009-mountain-bike-ec017220

Would say go to your local bike store and have a good look at/sit on/try a few first... getting the right size is very important, and the right geometry. The Gary Fisher has a long top tube which suits me, whereas I find a GT very cramped for example.

If going to be mainly on road would get a hard tail (just front suspension) as opposed to full suspension ... lighter/less to maintain, IMHO would only have a full suss if doing serious off road stuff.

Good luck with it!

[Dan_csl]

I have a 2005 Specialised P2 and it's taken everything I've thrown at it so far, stunning bike, it also has the Hope Hydraulic discs front and rear, amazing through rough trails, I can easily keep up with my mates Specialised Comp Big hit! :smokin:

I am looking at something like this at the moment, just to hammer out a few road miles but will also accommodate me when the urge makes me want to do the odd drop in! :thumbs:

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/hardrock-disc-2010-mountain-bike-ec019400

Looks a very well built bike, is a Specialized so it's bound to be good and it's cheap as chips really too!

[jibm]

http://fisherbikes.com/bike/model/mamba

this 29'er is the one i bought a few weeks ago it really performs very well indeed and work very well on road to with a high top end.

Also i am not sure if you are aware but if you are paying NI though your company/job then you can get the government to pay up to half the cost.

[Yanto_csl]

Thx folks - some good pointers. I had looked at cannondale, specialized and Scott.

Jibm - yep, that was the attraction. We have a cycle to work scheme at work which allows us to purchase a bike and have a monthly deduction made from salary before tax. Be rude not to take advantage !:thumbs:

[mole]

Jibm - yep, that was the attraction. We have a cycle to work scheme at work which allows us to purchase a bike and have a monthly deduction made from salary before tax. Be rude not to take advantage !:thumbs:

We have the same thing so I might take advantage sometime soon :thumbs:

[Sailorbaz]

Jonny (J13NYS) from here runs his own bike store and is one of the biggest Specialized agents in the UK. 'Cicli sport' in Moneymore.
Cicli Sport
Jonny, that's a beer you owe me, :thumbs:

Personally, I know nothing about mountain biking, but I was a keen rider when a teenager and would like to take it up again in the next couple of years. Age creeping up! :bigcry:

[shimmy]

I go out most Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights thru the summer and all the guys have a range if bikes from £400-4000

and there is me with my 1985 Raleigh All Terrain which would pass circa racing bike if it had different handle bars.

Keeps me fit trying to keep up!