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General => General discussion => Topic started by: Martz on 25 September 2011, 10:53

Title: Mountain Bikers!
Post by: Martz on 25 September 2011, 10:53
Getting back into cycling and looking for a decent secondhand mountain bike to replace my 22 year old MuddyFox courier. Looking at Trek, Cannondale ones that are about 5 years old. Not sure what I am after as there are so many different types, all confusing when you don't know what your after.

Anyway, I want one that is decent off road and also good for a bit of road cycling. Any suggestions? The 2 I have looked at are Cannondale M900 and Trek 3100 (I think).

Any suggestions or advice would be great!

Cheers

Martz :cool:
Title: Re: Mountain Bikers!
Post by: jmsheahan on 25 September 2011, 19:20
On my phone so can't give an extensive reply but have you considered building a frame to your own spec? Going second hand will get you a much better collection of components than those on a ready built bike.
Title: Re: Mountain Bikers!
Post by: mcgee9t2 on 25 September 2011, 19:25
sunn do some good hardtails. i had a sun drac was a good bike. light enough to fling around on the trac, but easy enough to ride on the road too.


sunn forest jump is good too.  reasonable price aswell.


have a look on southerndownhill.com forum if your looking at second hand, have a big classfieds section, and theres lots of info on there to give you ideas of what you want.
Title: Re: Mountain Bikers!
Post by: JC on 25 September 2011, 19:29
give you a week til its gathering dust in ya garage  :laugh:

oh and PM incoming
Title: Re: Mountain Bikers!
Post by: *tell* on 25 September 2011, 20:23
theres alot of bikes on ebay at the moment.
 I bought a on-one frame from there (steel hardtail)
and built it up.
alot off shops have deals on.
and you can make sure its the correct size.
Title: Re: Mountain Bikers!
Post by: OakeyDoak16v on 25 September 2011, 20:23
Specialized always the best.  :smiley:
Title: Re: Mountain Bikers!
Post by: Steve_PD on 25 September 2011, 20:31
pinkbike.com for some good bargains
Title: Re: Mountain Bikers!
Post by: rob.043 on 26 September 2011, 11:12
pinkbike.com for some good bargains

that, bike radar.com, singletrack.co.uk, ebay, all good for 2nd hand stuff.

As for what to buy, get some mags, read some reviews online etc, get an idea of what sort of bike you want and what will suit your riding. Until you get into it you'll probably not be able to tell the difference between decent kit and less good stuff. Get something at the right price you like the look of, take care of it and sell it on if needed... or start building a shed for lots of bikes!
Title: Re: Mountain Bikers!
Post by: R32UK on 26 September 2011, 12:47
Specialized always the best.  :smiley:
+1
Title: Re: Mountain Bikers!
Post by: mcgee9t2 on 26 September 2011, 12:53
pinkbike.com for some good bargains

that, bike radar.com, singletrack.co.uk, ebay, all good for 2nd hand stuff.

As for what to buy, get some mags, read some reviews online etc, get an idea of what sort of bike you want and what will suit your riding. Until you get into it you'll probably not be able to tell the difference between decent kit and less good stuff. Get something at the right price you like the look of, take care of it and sell it on if needed... or start building a shed for lots of bikes!

personally ive always found southern down hill better as there is quite alot of rubbish on all those websites.
Title: Re: Mountain Bikers!
Post by: Horney on 26 September 2011, 13:32
£20 used Apollo halfords special FTW!

Nick
Title: Re: Mountain Bikers!
Post by: lewis1641 on 26 September 2011, 14:28
have you got a pic of the courier? want to sell it?
Title: Re: Mountain Bikers!
Post by: thai-wronghorse on 26 September 2011, 15:16
If you looking for something to use road cycling then I would avoid a mtb tbh.

Although he does mention that he wants to be able to use it for both types of riding. You'll be best off looking at hybrid or XC builds and maybe changing the tyres to suit your needs.
Title: Re: Mountain Bikers!
Post by: Martz on 26 September 2011, 22:41
have you got a pic of the courier? want to sell it?

It is a classic and in not bad condition, if your serious I can take pictures. How much are you offering? lol


I am now the proud owner of a TREK 3900 and love it.  It is not A1 condition but for £70 what do you expect! Everything works as it should and is very light (well to what I am used to). I will be heading of to find a few trails, I used to go to Burnham Beeches (nr Slough) as a kid and that was great fun.
Title: Re: Mountain Bikers!
Post by: lewis1641 on 27 September 2011, 13:03
dont really have much to offer but interested in pics and price. i am a member of www.retrobike.co.uk so may be able to move it on for you
Title: Re: Mountain Bikers!
Post by: Martz on 27 September 2011, 14:36
dont really have much to offer but interested in pics and price. i am a member of www.retrobike.co.uk so may be able to move it on for you


cool, will get some pics for you then.
Title: Re: Mountain Bikers!
Post by: richard s on 27 September 2011, 21:22
i am getting into this mountain biking malarky and bought a cheap bike off one of the lads i go out riding with as it was his pride and joy until he built his full susser and i thought it was a good bike. so far i have put a pair of tyres on it i have also spent £30 having the gears set up i have had to tighten the headset/ forks up as they had a lot of play in them i have replaced the crank bearings along with the front derailler also i have had to shorten the chain. i have also found out that the front gear set is bent as the chain sometimes slips and gets wedged between cogs (not good when its pitch black and miles from the car on a little trail) and the bloody thing still doesnt drop into the granny wheel when needed.
pride and joy hmmmmm
i have spent about £100 on this bike so far and for a bike that was just to get me started before i bought a better bike its getting expensive
my advice would be spend a bit more than you want to and get a better bike to start off with
Title: Re: Mountain Bikers!
Post by: rob.043 on 27 September 2011, 21:24
and learn how to fix it
Title: Re: Mountain Bikers!
Post by: Phil1980 on 27 September 2011, 21:32
The only thing I would pay someone to fix/service on my bike is the suspension.  Everything else I do myself. :smiley:
Title: Re: Mountain Bikers!
Post by: Dan n Nic on 27 September 2011, 21:35
I've got a Trek 6300, cost me £850 but got it on the cycle scheme through work so less the tax and I never even noticed the payments coming out. It's a great bike. Had it a year now and had no issues at all!
Title: Re: Mountain Bikers!
Post by: Dan n Nic on 27 September 2011, 21:37
The only thing I would pay someone to fix/service on my bike is the suspension.  Everything else I do myself. :smiley:

Read somewhere the other day that you should get the front fork suspension serviced every 20 hours  :undecided: especially in harsh conditions!
Title: Re: Mountain Bikers!
Post by: Martz on 28 September 2011, 18:22
The only thing I would pay someone to fix/service on my bike is the suspension.  Everything else I do myself. :smiley:

Read somewhere the other day that you should get the front fork suspension serviced every 20 hours  :undecided: especially in harsh conditions!

Bloody he'll! That's mental, I doubt I would be going to extreme though. Need a cycle helmet now, resisted for so long but being sensible now. Any ideas?
Title: Re: Mountain Bikers!
Post by: Dan n Nic on 28 September 2011, 21:55
I've got one of these (not this colour though)

(http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n613/Neil_Dunkley/Moonglu%20Website%202/XarOrange.jpg)

Giro Xar.
Title: Re: Mountain Bikers!
Post by: dTEA on 29 September 2011, 20:48
In terms of spec check the Revolution hardtail Triad Zero. The frames are the weak link but setup is very good and the running gear is worth the sum alone to transfer onto a frame of your choosing. Mate has one and loves it

Cheaper option is older spec specialised rockhopper but much better out there these days.
Title: Re: Mountain Bikers!
Post by: Martz on 29 September 2011, 21:38
In terms of spec check the Revolution hardtail Triad Zero. The frames are the weak link but setup is very good and the running gear is worth the sum alone to transfer onto a frame of your choosing. Mate has one and loves it

Cheaper option is older spec specialised rockhopper but much better out there these days.

That is more or less what the chap in the shop said. He just said see how you get on and we can sort other stuff out later. I think further down the line I will go for disc brake setup (hydralic) but as its all new to me I will take it as it comes.

Also found this site for routes to go on - http://www.cycle-route.com/routes/London-Routes-89.html  Have some free time tomorrow so will have ride somewhere!
Title: Re: Mountain Bikers!
Post by: Diamond Hell on 29 September 2011, 21:43
Specialized always the best.  :smiley:

I looked at them when I got my Cannondale, which I commute on.

From what I could make out Specialized have become the BMW of the bike world.  Mostly overpriced and dull, with a few exceptions.  Plus bought by snobs.
Title: Re: Mountain Bikers!
Post by: dTEA on 29 September 2011, 21:49
Nah other bikes are more boring and Overpriced Ghost for starters.

Get across to Llandegla for a nice run and good bacon butty for when you have done the first run. Disc brakes and pretty much a must for any real trails tho.  :wink:
Title: Re: Mountain Bikers!
Post by: Martz on 29 September 2011, 21:50
Specialized always the best.  :smiley:

I looked at them when I got my Cannondale, which I commute on.

From what I could make out Specialized have become the BMW of the bike world.  Mostly overpriced and dull, with a few exceptions.  Plus bought by snobs.

I thought the same to be honest not because I know about them but the type of riders I see on them.

Was looking at Cannondale but none came up cheap enough for me. Which Cannondale have you got DH?

Only reason I got a Trek was that my brother in law has them (he is seriously into cycling and his ones of them, 2 are around £3.5k). He has the pleasure of going in the Californian Mountains, which is nice.
Title: Re: Mountain Bikers!
Post by: Martz on 30 September 2011, 15:29
Had a wicked ride around Cobham Common. Not too hard but just right. Great fun!
Title: Re: Mountain Bikers!
Post by: Diamond Hell on 30 September 2011, 15:59
I have a 2008 F4 (BORING!) which I commute on and a 1994 Super V2000 with heaps of 'period mods' stashed away.

I used to ride in the forests around Camberley a lot - there are some epic trails in there.
Title: Re: Mountain Bikers!
Post by: Martz on 02 October 2011, 19:12
Me and wifey done a 30 mile ride (checked by my £30 Cateye speedo!) today and stopped at several pubs on route, was great! Bedfont, Staines, Walton, Hampton, Sunbury, Ashford (not Kent) and back to Bedfont.

Cycling is good, can't believe I like it so much!
Title: Re: Mountain Bikers!
Post by: Dan n Nic on 02 October 2011, 19:38
I only did about 15 miles today, but not bad considering I had the wife, mother in law and father in law in tow! & of course, we had the obligatory pub stop included too!  :grin:
Title: Re: Mountain Bikers!
Post by: Martz on 02 October 2011, 19:51
I only did about 15 miles today, but not bad considering I had the wife, mother in law and father in law in tow! & of course, we had the obligatory pub stop included too!  :grin:

When I pop down to see my mum and dad in Barton I'll give you a shout. A good ride and beer is good!
Title: Re: Mountain Bikers!
Post by: Steve_PD on 02 October 2011, 19:58
Just got back now from a 1 hour 1/2 ride. need to get myself an odeometer no idea how far I rode but am shagged now :smiley:

I've got one of these (not this colour though)

(http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n613/Neil_Dunkley/Moonglu%20Website%202/XarOrange.jpg)

Giro Xar.


Snap got one in black
Title: Re: Mountain Bikers!
Post by: dTEA on 02 October 2011, 21:30
Well gotta say proper trail in Llandegla was superb today...best bacon butty and hot chocolate bar none at OPA. Plus epic views and some nice miles put in too. If you managed beer whilst riding you ain't riding hard enough :evil:
Title: Re: Mountain Bikers!
Post by: Dan n Nic on 02 October 2011, 21:40
Well gotta say proper trail in Llandegla was superb today...best bacon butty and hot chocolate bar none at OPA. Plus epic views and some nice miles put in too. If you managed beer whilst riding you ain't riding hard enough :evil:

My beer usually does come at the end of the ride to be fair! I rode right through the winter last year and absolutely loved it. The feeling of the trees closing in on you in the pitch black other than good lights is Awesome! I'm sssooooo looking forward to it this year!
Title: Re: Mountain Bikers!
Post by: wood3154 on 02 October 2011, 21:48
Specialized always the best.  :smiley:

I looked at them when I got my Cannondale, which I commute on.

From what I could make out Specialized have become the BMW of the bike world.  Mostly overpriced and dull, with a few exceptions.  Plus bought by snobs.

Completely agree with this, in the mountain bike world anyway. Their bikes always seem a bit flimsy to me, the Camber especially. Anything harder than a bumpy XC track and it seems like the frame's going to fold in on itself. Luckily it hasn't spilled into their triathlon market, with specialized supplying by far the best kit in their respective price brackets.

Took my Giant Trance out for its first spin today over at Cannock - recommended doesn't even come close....