Mountain Bike advice

[General Mannerheim]

It's an expensive hobby, my rear brake went today in the peaks, gonna cost me 200 notes!

[Randy Watson]

My 21st Birthday coming up would rather have a smart new bike over a gay party or anything else! Got a Specialized XC FSR at the mo. Wasn’t too dear for a first bike and I’ve battered it without having to fork out too much on maintenance.

I am a lot more into it now and could do with upping the spec. Don’t think I would want to defer from Specialized after owning one. Been a cracking bike!!

[Lofthouse Lower]

Don't knock gay parties til you've tried them

[Bruce Rioja]

I fancy getting a mountain bike myself but hold a similar fear of walking into Halfords (and having to ask a smug, spotty bastard for advice) to the one I hold re: walking into PC World.

[Annoyed Grunt]

Don't knock gay parties til you've tried them

Try telling Stuart Lubbock that.

[Randy Watson]

Hey I'm all for a bit of gayness just want a new bike!

[TANGODANCER]

I fancy getting a mountain bike myself but hold a similar fear of walking into Halfords (and having to ask a smug, spotty bastard for advice) to the one I hold re: walking into PC World.

Don't feel alone. Whilst fiddling about with various advice from here about Firefox etc, my daughters care child was watching me. Asked me what I was doing and I (patronisingly) explained. " Oh, I've got them all on my laptop," he said, "don't do that grandad, here, I'll show you". He then proceeded to install the relevant stuff in no time at all and made me feel a right dimbo. He's just turned eleven.

[thebish]

I fancy getting a mountain bike myself but hold a similar fear of walking into Halfords (and having to ask a smug, spotty bastard for advice) to the one I hold re: walking into PC World.

Don't feel alone. Whilst fiddling about with various advice from here about Firefox etc, my daughters care child was watching me. Asked me what I was doing and I (patronisingly) explained. " Oh, I've got them all on my laptop," he said, "don't do that grandad, here, I'll show you". He then proceeded to install the relevant stuff in no time at all and made me feel a right dimbo. He's just turned eleven.

you could still teach him a thing or two, Tango....

I heard a lad (I'm guessing 13/14yr old) in the post office - sending a card - ask: "where do I stick the stamp?" I'm sure he can handle email - but an actual letter.... there's still wisdom and knowledge that only the years give you access to...

[Lofthouse Lower]

You won't be saying that in 10 years when letters are abolished and he's King of England

[General Mannerheim]

I fancy getting a mountain bike myself but hold a similar fear of walking into Halfords (and having to ask a smug, spotty bastard for advice) to the one I hold re: walking into PC World.

heres some advice from this smug spotty bastard - never buy a bike from Halfords.

[Lofthouse Lower]

Mate has one of these bad boys - http://www.elliptigo.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

He must also have more money than sense!!!! £1,800?

Sounds like you know him well

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

I fancy getting a mountain bike myself but hold a similar fear of walking into Halfords (and having to ask a smug, spotty bastard for advice) to the one I hold re: walking into PC World.

heres some advice from this smug spotty bastard - never buy a bike from Halfords.

A tad harsh. There are one or two very knowledgeables in the company, though to be fair most are spotty kids that wouldn't know a seat post from a handlebar stem!

Best advice to Brucie is set a maximum budget and work out what sort of riding you'll do, where and how often. I used to off road in the 90s and built my own bike. Looked like a weird lump of shite but was a very serious bike built relatively cheaply. I worked in the industry back then so got a lot of the parts cheap If you're going off road as in off nice little tracks then you need to spend a bit more than a Raleigh level bike. Raleigh are too mass market and always stint on a couple of areas to make a price point.

Essentially you get what you pay for. Worth remembering that retailers are on around 20-30% margin on bikes and the real money is in accessories. They average around 60% on accessories, but that can be in the 100s of % depending on the item. So when negotiating, you'll get further with stuff thrown in rather than off the ticket.

Recommend Betws-y-Coed and Coed-y-Brenin for good cycling weekends. You can also get a good fun ride in on the sandy tracks by Niwbwrch. There are easy forest trails by the beach, but with the amount of sand that gets blown on them, let your tyres down a bit and try not to fall off!

[Gary the Enfield]

I fancy getting a mountain bike myself but hold a similar fear of walking into Halfords (and having to ask a smug, spotty bastard for advice) to the one I hold re: walking into PC World.

Try these: http://www.evanscycles.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Always keen to help and really know their stuff.

[Annoyed Grunt]

Have just seen this one: http://www.very.co.uk/raleigh-26-inch-f ... 4294957680" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... any good?

Think I've decided on this one. Nothing to serious, just to mess about on.

[General Mannerheim]

oh aye, BYC & CYB are tremendous, but you'll need a certain degree of fitness to tackle them. you would be much better trying Gisburn forest of Llandegla first. they are ok but nothing beats the natural trails imo. this vid is a section of the Cut Gate descent we did yesterday, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6L-xHV9fTA" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; thats what its all about! (not our footage btw)

Llandegla forest is good place to go before you invest, you can can hire decent bike from them and have a blast round the loop to see what you think. its even just a fun day even if your not in the market, there are 3 different grades of trails so the less experienced can swerve all the dangerous bits. tremendous cafe there too!

[Gary the Enfield]

oh aye, BYC & CYB are tremendous, but you'll need a certain degree of fitness to tackle them. you would be much better trying Gisburn forest of Llandegla first. they are ok but nothing beats the natural trails imo. this vid is a section of the Cut Gate descent we did yesterday, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6L-xHV9fTA" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; thats what its all about! (not our footage btw)

Llandegla forest is good place to go before you invest, you can can hire decent bike from them and have a blast round the loop to see what you think. its even just a fun day even if your not in the market, there are 3 different grades of trails so the less experienced can swerve all the dangerous bits. tremendous cafe there too!

Whinlatter Forest and Grizedale Forest both have good bike runs too.

[boltonboris]

Ask your works about the ride2work scheme.. We used Evans.. Perfect! £50 quid a month for 12 months and they do you shitehot offers if you go instore

Got 300quid of mine!

[Lofthouse Lower]

Good call. Our place does that and it has a massive take-up

[Randy Watson]

Got mine on the cycle to work scheme. Our place has a 1k limit on it but other firms do have an unlimited budget.

I got a cracking deal as it was in the sale anyway at £1600 then I managed to blag him down to £1300 gave him 300 sheets cash and the bag of sand through the CTWS. Belting bike at a fraction of the original price.

I got my bike from a small, privately owned bike shop in Skipton that specialise in Specialized bikes. I doubt you will be able to barter with the big hitters on the scheme but you can go online and check cycle stores that are involved. I'd recommend a smaller scale firm to get a better price likeee.

[Bruce Rioja]

Ask your works about the ride2work scheme

They already give me free cars. Asking for a bike as well might be pushing it a bit.