Think Im going to get a mountain bike next week. A mate of mines just started trail riding and wants me to go with him and I could use the exercise. Going up to a used bike store in Telford next week to see what they have - hopefully find something that will take my more than ample frame!!
Anything I should look out for or be aware of?
Quote from: RivkidAnything I should look out for or be aware of?
Yeah man, when out on your bike and fancy something to eat, you know a quick nibble to give yourself a much needed energy boost
make sure to take your feet off the peddles and hold on tight when you eat an apple, as it makes you go 3 times faster.
Quote from: matt5cottQuote from: RivkidAnything I should look out for or be aware of?
Yeah man, when out on your bike and fancy something to eat, you know a quick nibble to give yourself a much needed energy boost make sure to take your feet off the peddles and hold on tight when you eat an apple, as it makes you go 3 times faster.
That may be post of the year Matt!! :rofl:
And it had to be in the least popular forum where nobody will see it :lol: or by the time they do, itll mean nothing -)
We came, we saw, we bowed down buddy, fear not :bowdown:
The first new "classic" tek moment in a while I feel 8-)
Quote from: matt5cottQuote from: RivkidAnything I should look out for or be aware of?
Yeah man, when out on your bike and fancy something to eat, you know a quick nibble to give yourself a much needed energy boost make sure to take your feet off the peddles and hold on tight when you eat an apple, as it makes you go 3 times faster.
You missed advising to watch out for the worm.... :gag: :disappointed:
-)
Depending on what you want to spend, if you want good gear on a cheaper frame ive seen some good deals on Dawes XC and do not forget the Halfords bikes i.e. Carrera which seem to always be on sale but come highly recommended by many on Bike Radar because of their Gear to Cost VFM factor.
You have two choices either Shimano or SRAM now for trail riding, Shimano Deore is sort of midrange, but you wont find it much on cheaper bikes due to the recession, you might end up with Altus or Alivio if you spend a few hundred quid, alternatively you could aim for SRAM 5.0 which can be found on well priced bikes.
You should also look for forks with a decent amount of travel, the low end stuff is under 100mm, try to get some with 100-120mm of travel and look for the feature "Lockout" which basically means you can Lock them from bouncing up and down when your on the road, otherwise without that feature your just wasting energy for the sake of it.
As for disc brakes, on the cheaper (decent branded bikes) you will get either mechanical brakes (if its a cheaper brand) or maybe even V-Brakes on a premium brand because your paying for the name not the specification of the equipment setup, for a little more on the cheaper (decent branded bikes) you will get hydraulic disc brakes, much better in the long run.
Ill link a couple ive had my eye on recently:
Carrera Vulcan £329.99 (http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_518205_langId_-1_categoryId_165499)
Carrera Vengeance Ltd. £329.99 (http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_759111_langId_-1_categoryId_165499)
Carrera Kraken £429.99 (http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_518229_langId_-1_categoryId_165499)
The Kraken is what i would go for personally:
Alloy Frame
120mm Lockout forks
Hydraulic Disc brakes
SRAM X5.0 27 Speed
Ofc you really should be looking around for the best deals, dont forget 2011 bikes are coming in soon meaning old 2010 stock will start to be majorly discounted so its the right time to pick up a bargain. You can use the Kraken spec to compare to other brands and find something similar for less money.
PS. Do not forget to go try some bikes out, the sizes vary brand to brand 20" in one might not feel like 20" in another.
Quote from: Bacon*Snip*
Some good advice there, the Decathlon range of bikes are quite good too, but as soon as you creep over £400, youre into real bike territory. Id avoid Carerra at that point.
Youve not mentioned a budget yet, but the best thing to do is not spend a pittance on a bike. If you get a cheap one, it will feel dead and lifeless. Itll look like a bike, but its not a bike and youll not enjoy it.
Youll also find it harder to move on if you really dont like it.
Spend a bit more, and get something by one of the main manufacturers, such as Trek, GT, Specialised. There are bargains to be had with the others, like the Decathlon bikes, but you have to know what to look for.
To put it bluntly, the frame on my old bike would have cost £550 on its own, Man I miss my Santa Cruz.
It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.
Trek, GT, Specialized you simply wont get a lot for your money unless you find a heavily discounted old stock bike, as the 2010 ranges have been toned down due to the recession. (They have to save money somewhere).
Gary Fisher Advance 2010 - £249.99 (http://www.evanscycles.com/products/gary-fisher/advance-2010-mountain-bike-ec017161)
All sizes, entry to mid gearing, 100mm lockout forks, but it has V-Brakes, a quick call to them will confirm if you can add Hydraulics later, then look out for a discounted set if/when you want to upgrade.
I used to sell bikes for a living.
Youll get a great frame, but lower spec componentry. Just change things for the better when they break, as opposed to everything being mediocre on a shop brand.
Gary fishers are an acquired taste, due to the genesis geometry.
Right - better update. Ive had to literally scrap the idea of getting anything half decent due to various other bills etc.. so I decided just to get a piece of crap to get me going (I know the arguments against doing this but I need to get started for the exercise). Anyway went to a local place called the Bicycle Hub on a recommendation and picked up an Ammaco Screwdriver SE for £59 fully serviced. Here she is:
(http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs299.snc4/41284_449600536013_536996013_6811271_7205204_n.jpg)
Gave it a clean, WD40d everything just in case. Most importantly - added water bottle lol!
I know compared to a good bike theres no comparison but Im enjoying riding it for now and its properly giving me the bug for going on trips with it. Seems to handle my bulky frame perfectly well too thank god! Hopefully Ill be able to save up soon and pick up something like you guys have been suggesting above :)
Now to get used to riding a bike again - its been YEARS!!
Quote from: RivkidRight - better update. Ive had to literally scrap the idea of getting anything half decent due to various other bills etc.. so I decided just to get a piece of crap to get me going (I know the arguments against doing this but I need to get started for the exercise). Anyway went to a local place called the Bicycle Hub on a recommendation and picked up an Ammaco Screwdriver SE for £59 fully serviced. Here she is:
(Image removed from quote.)
Gave it a clean, WD40d everything just in case. Most importantly - added water bottle lol!
I know compared to a good bike theres no comparison but Im enjoying riding it for now and its properly giving me the bug for going on trips with it. Seems to handle my bulky frame perfectly well too thank god! Hopefully Ill be able to save up soon and pick up something like you guys have been suggesting above :)
Now to get used to riding a bike again - its been YEARS!!
Doesnt really matter what bike your riding at the end of the day, its the having fun part that counts. :P
Went trail riding in the hammering rain on Saturday morning - absolutely awesome fun! Got home wet cold and knackered but very very satisifed :)
Quote from: RivkidWent trail riding in the hammering rain on Saturday morning - absolutely awesome fun! Got home wet cold and knackered but very very satisifed :)
Seriously tempted to give it another go, i bought one end of last year but it was a bit premature cus all my mates didnt opt for it at the time, now everyone i know is cycling for leisure or to work, pretty shocking lol, looks like ill be buying one soon.
Quote from: BaconSeriously tempted to give it another go, i bought one end of last year but it was a bit premature cus all my mates didnt opt for it at the time, now everyone i know is cycling for leisure or to work, pretty shocking lol, looks like ill be buying one soon.
Do it - Im really enjoying it and only on a cheap bike. Were off to do the longer trail tonight :)
It was definitely something Im glad I had someone to start going with - but Id happily go on my own now if I fancied going one day but no one else was up for it.
2011 bikes are horrifically overpriced.
There has been no real specification change, just different colours and a price hike.
Ah Pete shame I'm not back in the shire, would jump on the peice of crap I have in the parents shed and join you! :P
I need some motivation to get back out on mine. It's been gathering dust.
Quote from: soopahfly on January 20, 2011, 18:11:54 PM
I need some motivation to get back out on mine. It's been gathering dust.
Get on it then you fat bastard.
Motivation enough?
It's not just that. To get it out I've got to put it back together.
Then once I've done, take it apart again.
Sod that.
Quote from: soopahfly on February 24, 2011, 18:22:03 PM
It's not just that. To get it out I've got to put it back together.
Then once I've done, take it apart again.
Sod that.
Cant you just get one of those hooks where you can just hang it from the ceiling?
Or get a foldup bike, that would really suit you and do wonders for your street cred, i mean the same cred ruined by driving round in a Toyota :heehaw:
Quote from: Bacon on March 18, 2011, 13:12:01 PM
Quote from: soopahfly on February 24, 2011, 18:22:03 PM
Sod that.
Or get a foldup bike, that would really suit you and do wonders for your street cred, i mean the same cred ruined by driving round in a Toyota :heehaw:
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f5/1997_Castrol_Tom%27s_Supra_01.jpg)
Yeah I'd hate to see my street cred after driving a toyota... :dunno: :rock:
Quote from: Bacon on March 18, 2011, 13:12:01 PM
Quote from: soopahfly on February 24, 2011, 18:22:03 PM
It's not just that. To get it out I've got to put it back together.
Then once I've done, take it apart again.
Sod that.
Cant you just get one of those hooks where you can just hang it from the ceiling?
Or get a foldup bike, that would really suit you and do wonders for your street cred, i mean the same cred ruined by driving round in a Toyota :heehaw:
Says Mr Astra Twinport.
The wiper motor alone has more BHP than yours :D
So are you back out riding Soopah? I'm thinking of getting a bike, I had a raleigh activator from 199x which I would have used, as I don't care frankly but my brother flatted both the tyres, and my dad put it in a skip, pair of twats :thumbdown:
Yeah. I've dusted it off, straightened the handlebars and put the pedals back on.
Unfortunately, in storage it's bent it's rear mech. So time to upgrade!
This year I have to get out on the bike. I live in the perfect place for it really, I've got a BMX track in the park next door, I'm 10 minutes ride away from urban riding and 10 minutes drive away from the peak district.
If you're looking at buying a bike now, you've missed most of the good sales. It's the start of the season and most bike shops are now in full swing selling 2011 bikes.
Something like on of these : http://www.evanscycles.com/products/kona/lanai-deluxe-2011-mountain-bike-ec026529
Or this : http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/hardrock-2011-mountain-bike-ec024187
Would be a good budget starter mountain bike. The components are pretty poor, but the frame is good. The good base to upgrade as things break or wear out.
Realistically, anything that's cheaper than that will look like a bike, but won't ride like one.
I thought that might be the case, gonna have to write this summer off methinks, not got that kind of lolly lying about :gag: