Bike advice... - Saxperience

grantlowery · 11th January 2009, 20:14

Since I scrapped my car, I havent got much in the form of transport so I've had to get lifts to work and back daily. Im not going to get a car for around 4 or 5 months I think so I can save up a decent amount of cash.

So....

I thought to myself why not get a bike so I dont have to get a lifts everyday, its only a 6 mile round trip, it also solves my solution of getting back into shape.
I used to bike alot but Im out of the loop now, Ive got a £500 budget and it must be hardtail just want some advice on whats out there, what to look for etc?

VTEC-Saxo · 11th January 2009, 20:29

im your man haha, you can buy my frame if you want £450

but anyway i dont think thers any need to spend as much as £500 on a bike tbh but you can get some real nice things for around that now days if you have a look round, i will aslwell put some links up and ill let you no if its worth it ;P

grantlowery · 11th January 2009, 20:33

I have expensive tastes lol, I will be using the bike at Dalby like I used to so I want something half decent.

http://www.freetownsports.co.uk/prod...p?prod=fts0882

http://www.freetownsports.co.uk/prod...p?prod=fts0910

RichT17 · 11th January 2009, 20:40

Have you looked at DMR and Kona? They do some good bikes for that sort of money, Kona Shreds are really nice.

Try http://www.evanscycles.com

VTEC-Saxo · 11th January 2009, 20:58

http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk

those two links look well over priced tbh nice tho
Try
Kona
Norco
some saracens are alright higher models tho lol
If i was looking for a bike, duno about the colour but i like it and it seems a bit of a steel tbh at £399

VTEC-Saxo · 11th January 2009, 21:08

Iron horse sem to be a really good build atm
http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/pr...or_3_Bike_2008
http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/pr...tuff_Bike_2008

muhuha · 11th January 2009, 21:12

iron horse, dmr are jump/downhill bikes.

What you want a racing bike or what?

All rounder id say specialized hardrock, light and very strong.

VTEC-Saxo · 11th January 2009, 21:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by muhuha

iron horse, dmr are jump/downhill bikes.

What you want a racing bike or what?

All rounder id say specialized hardrock, light and very strong.

Ironhorse also make hardtail mountainbikes. as in the link above.....

muhuha · 11th January 2009, 21:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by VTEC-Saxo

Ironhorse also make hardtail mountainbikes. as in the link above.....

didnt look at that but a hardrock is a very good mountain bike

Just if hes on the road 24/7 he wont want heavy duty stuff. He needs to say

VTEC-Saxo · 11th January 2009, 21:16

yeah recomend specialized for build quility had a hardrock sport a few years back and now got a demo 8

bombproof, try some of Oranges hardtail mountain bike range aswell

grantlowery · 11th January 2009, 21:18

Id say its going to be on road 50 % of the time trail the other 50 % I want a hard tail not jump/downhill.

craig180^p · 11th January 2009, 21:22

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/...-bike-ec016563

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/...-bike-ec017395

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/...-bike-ec017215

Loads of bikes on that website but I would look at some around the £400 mark as it's a far more competitive market at that price range.

Whatever you do get make sure you can spec it with semi road tyres or you will be doing twice as much work

chrissawyer21 · 11th January 2009, 22:18

i got a 2007 Speciallized Hardrock Sport with hydraulic disk brakes

i would recommened Specialized all day long

and hydraulic brakes are a must as they are so comfortable to use and my bike only cost me £400 wid front suspension and 24 speed.

little drag is provided from the wide tyres when on road, handles on and off road superbly and is simply a joy to ride

people dont realise the difference between this quality build and halfords jobs until they try it.

Get a Specialized and i garentee you will not be dissapointed.

VTEC-Saxo · 11th January 2009, 22:19

yeah deffo if your spedning 500 got come with hydros and decent forks tbh rip off if not sayin that my hydros wer 360 quid

well worth having hydros

CHIP · 12th January 2009, 00:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrissawyer21

Get a Specialized and i garentee you will not be dissapointed.

Specialized aren't bad bikes at all. But my dad was dissapointed when he swapped his Giant for one, as i said he would be. They are good, but not the best.

Mochachino · 12th January 2009, 01:05

id say build your own bike tbh, alot cheaper using ebay stuff

I built a XC race bike for like £300: full XT, magura forks which i got for like £80 worth £360, and a few other bits n bobs from easton, race face etc.

Times have changed alot since i was into it all, it all seems so much cheaper. So my advice isnt that good, and i dont know the shops to shop at anymore

Mochachino · 12th January 2009, 01:08

Also dont bother with cable dics, theyre a big waste of time, a decent V-brake is much better than cables unless your planning on riding in mud regulary lol.

So if you spot a bike that has discs thats quite cheap, more than likley theyre cables and pointless.

Dont know if forks have changed much, but rock shocks used to be shit for your sort of price range, the way forward was marzocchi for that sort of budget

Dont be too fussed about the wheels, its cheap enough to have yaself some wheels built up and they will last long enough without giving it the hardcore treatment.

Saxo_theedge · 12th January 2009, 10:33

I agree with db_sax ^^^

If you can be bothered build one yourself, then you can choose the parts. You want it as light as possible if your using it to commute everyday. You can get quite abit for your money these days but cheaper mtb's are often heavy. I just got a GT avalance to use for bobing about on. As somone else said, semi slicks or slicks will make all the diffrance commuting on the road, go for 1.5s. If your going to be offroading aswell, maybe buy a cheap set of wheels to use on the road then you dont have to keep changing the tyres.

This is the bike i got, its ok but as said quite heavy.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/...mpaign=froogle

grantlowery · 12th January 2009, 10:36

I havent really got that much time on my hands so bulding my own bike is out of the question.

So Im looking for something fairly light, with semi slicks.

Billy-Boy-Racer · 12th January 2009, 11:08

a kona stuff ! well good bikes got 1 myself

lovely front forks, and a hardtail

get them off ebay for for anything before 2007 because they are better bikes compared to the new 1 + bigger frames

but the new ones are still good.