Mountain Bike advice

boltonboris · Post by **boltonboris** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 8:03 am

Going to get a new bike this weekend.. Got about £800 to spend although ideally I'd like to spend about £600 - £700 as I need some new gear.

Anybody any advce? Been looking at Konas and Specialized so far, but nothing is tickling my fancy.

Must have front Suspension forks, but not arsed about the back

Cheers in advice

ebby · Post by **ebby** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 9:09 am

i got my bike from evans last year on deansgate in manchester, the selection they've got in there is really good and the staff are very helpful so i'd recommend popping and having a look, you'll probably see something you like then...

I got a Scott from there but they cover most well known makes e.g. Kona, Specialized, Cannondale etc.

Gravedigger · Post by **Gravedigger** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 11:37 am

Is your employer not affiliated to the Bike to Work scheme? Get a big chunk off if they are. Evans top quality, Halfords couldn't put a bike together.

boltonboris · Post by **boltonboris** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 11:39 am

Gravedigger wrote:Is your employer not affiliated to the Bike to Work scheme? Get a big chunk off if they are. Evans top quality, Halfords couldn't put a bike together.

They are, which is why I'm looking at £800 and not £500

Do you know much about this scheme? From what I can gather... You never actually own the bike, unless your company just give you the bike!

Gravedigger · Post by **Gravedigger** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 11:45 am

http://www.bike2workscheme.co.uk/?utm_s ... k%2BScheme

Have a gander here. I paid my employer £20 at the end of the payment term. You're right, your employer does not have to "Sell" you the bike but he'd be a miserable bugger not to. Ask him first.

Gravedigger · Post by **Gravedigger** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 11:56 am

boltonboris wrote:
Gravedigger wrote:Is your employer not affiliated to the Bike to Work scheme? Get a big chunk off if they are. Evans top quality, Halfords couldn't put a bike together.
They are, which is why I'm looking at £800 and not £500

Do you know much about this scheme? From what I can gather... You never actually own the bike, unless your company just give you the bike!

Just found this which makes interesting reading. Looks like you might have to pay up to 22% at the end of the term. Best ask the boss.

...................................................................

andyfb78 - Member

Ours was cancelled for the same reasons, inland revenue shut it down.

it has just been restarted with new IR guidance, so you might be in luck if yo uget them to try again now, IR only gave us the plan two weeks ago..

The problem is with the 'nominal fee' you pay at the end of the period. most companies are actually breaking the rules as you are supposed to get three written independent quotes of value of the bike and take the arithmetic average and this is what you pay your company for the bike...

that was then..

now the rules are that you pay the tax on the nominal fee which is set as 15-22% of the original value (ie voucher value).
so for a 1000 you pay the tax on £220 as a benefit in kind, well you may find your company decides the bike is worht 15-22% ( the IR value) and charges you that.

companies charging £10 as the end of contract fee are actaully breakign IR rules.....

seanworth · Post by **seanworth** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 1:29 pm

I bought a cheap Specialized about 7 months ago and love it. Front shock but no rear and also standard brakes. I believe the standard brakes are easier to remove tires for changing etc. I find the brakes more than sufficient for my needs. Until recently I ride around 120-150 kms a week. It will start again monday as the WC is over.

Enjoy whatever your decsion is.

ebby · Post by **ebby** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 3:23 pm

mine has disc brakes and i've fixed a couple of rear flats by removing the wheel no problem, probably a bit more tricky but nothing significant

also make sure you are getting the right kind of bike for your needs, the staff in the shop should advise you on this...basically there's road bikes (thin wheels), hybrids (medium wheels) and mountain bikes (fatter wheels)...if its just roads you're going to be riding on to and from work then no point getting a hard trail mountain bike

boltonboris · Post by **boltonboris** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 3:29 pm

ebby wrote:mine has disc brakes and i've fixed a couple of rear flats by removing the wheel no problem, probably a bit more tricky but nothing significant

also make sure you are getting the right kind of bike for your needs, the staff in the shop should advise you on this...basically there's road bikes (thin wheels), hybrids (medium wheels) and mountain bikes (fatter wheels)...if its just roads you're going to be riding on to and from work then no point getting a hard trail mountain bike

I'm going to be using it to cycle to work occasionally. But it's also going to be taken out on weekends. I used to be into it massively less than a decade ago, but my trusty old GT (taken a batering) has finally let me down

TANGODANCER · Post by **TANGODANCER** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 5:18 pm

Handle any terrain, this beauty. Lap top and your gear all accomodated.

CAPSLOCK · Post by **CAPSLOCK** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 8:25 pm

It depends what you're going to do on it, but I recently got one from Leisurelakes

I had about 5/600 ty to play with and ended up spending just 250

Bought a 2009 Trek 3900

Think they're out of them, but I'd recommend Trek as a brand

For what I want to do its plenty good enough

edit Mannerheim rides a push iron

boltonboris · Post by **boltonboris** » Sun Jul 11, 2010 1:14 pm

CAPSLOCK wrote:It depends what you're going to do on it, but I recently got one from Leisurelakes

I had about 5/600 ty to play with and ended up spending just 250

Bought a 2009 Trek 3900

Think they're out of them, but I'd recommend Trek as a brand

For what I want to do its plenty good enough

edit Mannerheim rides a push iron

My brother has a trek and he likes it, but I find that at the market that I'm in. I'd be looking more at Hybrids than a mountain bike. I want something that I can absolutely fecking batter for a whole weekend every couple of weeks

seanworth · Post by **seanworth** » Sun Jul 11, 2010 1:20 pm

boltonboris wrote:
CAPSLOCK wrote:It depends what you're going to do on it, but I recently got one from Leisurelakes

I had about 5/600 ty to play with and ended up spending just 250

Bought a 2009 Trek 3900

Think they're out of them, but I'd recommend Trek as a brand

For what I want to do its plenty good enough

edit Mannerheim rides a push iron
My brother has a trek and he likes it, but I find that at the market that I'm in. I'd be looking more at Hybrids than a mountain bike. I want something that I can absolutely fecking batter for a whole weekend every couple of weeks

Whatever you decide have fun. I'm going for a ride up the khlongs (canals) on tuesday

thebish · Post by **thebish** » Sun Jul 11, 2010 2:59 pm

seanworth wrote:
boltonboris wrote:
CAPSLOCK wrote:It depends what you're going to do on it, but I recently got one from Leisurelakes

I had about 5/600 ty to play with and ended up spending just 250

Bought a 2009 Trek 3900

Think they're out of them, but I'd recommend Trek as a brand

For what I want to do its plenty good enough

edit Mannerheim rides a push iron
My brother has a trek and he likes it, but I find that at the market that I'm in. I'd be looking more at Hybrids than a mountain bike. I want something that I can absolutely fecking batter for a whole weekend every couple of weeks
Whatever you decide have fun. I'm going for a ride up the khlongs (canals) on tuesday

excuse my ignorance - but aren't canals basically flat?

seanworth · Post by **seanworth** » Sun Jul 11, 2010 3:07 pm

thebish wrote:
seanworth wrote:
boltonboris wrote:
CAPSLOCK wrote:It depends what you're going to do on it, but I recently got one from Leisurelakes

I had about 5/600 ty to play with and ended up spending just 250

Bought a 2009 Trek 3900

Think they're out of them, but I'd recommend Trek as a brand

For what I want to do its plenty good enough

edit Mannerheim rides a push iron
My brother has a trek and he likes it, but I find that at the market that I'm in. I'd be looking more at Hybrids than a mountain bike. I want something that I can absolutely fecking batter for a whole weekend every couple of weeks
Whatever you decide have fun. I'm going for a ride up the khlongs (canals) on tuesday
excuse my ignorance - but aren't canals basically flat?

Aye but at least its off road and you get into open areas in addition to dodging rabid dogs, a few snakes and monitor lizards. A bit rich an Englishman getting snobby about availability of mountains in the vicinity.

thebish · Post by **thebish** » Sun Jul 11, 2010 3:18 pm

seanworth wrote:
Aye but at least its off road and you get into open areas in addition to dodging rabid dogs, a few snakes and monitor lizards. A bit rich an Englishman getting snobby about availability of mountains in the vicinity.

I was just wondering how "mountain" bike and "canal tow path" fitted together

I hate living here in flat-Essex - I yearn for the hills....

(though - cycling is way easier!)

General Mannerheim · Post by **General Mannerheim** » Sun Jul 11, 2010 7:11 pm

yeah i do, and caps is right with Trek, for less than a grand you definitely wanna stick to a good estbalished make like Trek or Specialised. Specialised bikes are brilliant value spec wise, always come with decent forks, and are mega reliable. also parts and spares are readily and easily available. but treks are better looking imo. also Marins are good, GT's, Cannondale, although you dont really get a lot for your money with Cannondale, but they are cool.

Evans is a great shop and they have good aftercare etc, but its very expensive. i haven't used leisure lakes but one or two heard bad things about them, then again they have been brilliant with my mate recently - but once you decide exactly which bike you want, they will match the best price you can find! so you cant fault that. they will also order in any bike you want and provide finance, and they do the cycle to work scheme, they even let you chuck a few extra quid at it for cash if you want a more expensive bike, then cost it at less than a grand for the paperwork (1000 is the max limit for cycle to work scheme bikes)

one thing you should definitely do though is make sure the bike you buy comes with a decent brand of fork, you want Marzocchi, RockShox or Fox, but you can get a pretty decent hardtail with them for that kind of money though, no problem! also its gotta be disc brakes all day long.

get this one, http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/images ... 00BLUe.jpg

Gary the Enfield · Post by **Gary the Enfield** » Sun Jul 11, 2010 10:57 pm

'scuse the pun but I have a Giant (make) Boulder (model) Mountain bike.

It cost £250 quid and is a fantastic entry level mountain bike.

[img]http.//www.giant-bicycles.com/_upload_au/bikes ... _blue1.jpg[/img]

Hoboh · Post by **Hoboh** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 11:36 am

£800 for a push Iron!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The worlds gone bonkers!! Asda are knocking out bikes cheap, they got wheels and will get you from A - B without being every hoodies wet dream and target.
More Moats about than Castles me thinks!

boltonboris · Post by **boltonboris** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 11:43 am

Mate of mine who lives in the Big Smoke shares a flat with a lad who works for the UK arm of 'Dirt' (a Mountain Bike Mag). So spoke to him yesterday and asked him for some advice... He's pointed me in the way of Decathlon and told me go for the Rockrider 8.1 for £500.

It has Rock Shox Tora forks (Rock shox were a must) and has the frame and spec of a bike that would normally set you back £800 - £900. Went down to Stockport and little go on it outside.. Like it. A lot. Think I've made up my mind..

Now any routes??

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