Which Mountain Bike

[Dean Lofthouse]

I'm after a mountain bike for fitness training for me and the dogs.

 

I've been looking on ebay and want to spend about £400 but there is a vast array of bike and I dont know which is crap and which is good.

 

What I want is something someones spent a fortune on and is selling it on after upgrading or something.

 

The last bike I had stood me at about £2k and sold for about £400 when I had done, I learnt my lesson, let someone else trick the bike up and spend a fortune then buy second hand

 

What make should I put in the search engine to narrow the search down and cut out the crap

[tommer9]

I have always been a fan of TREK and Kona.I have a cindercone with XT throughout and a steel frame.

 

It all depends if you want rigid frame/ forks / hardtail etc.

 

If it is for fitness then i assume hardtail?

[Mozza]

Ive got one of these Dean

 

2009 Scott Scale 60 *brand new* size Large on eBay (end time 24-Aug-09 10:52:18 BST)

 

Its Awesome, I dont get out on it nearly as much as i should, I do really need to pull my finger out, These RRP at 900 too, i got mine for 800.

[moorcrofttreesurgery]

stick with a trek or specialized had loads over the years and i rekon there one of the best.

[Johny Walker]

try harlfords some good deals:001_smile:

[tommer9]

try harlfords some good deals:001_smile:

 

I dont know if that was meant tongue in cheek, but NEVER EVER EVER EVER BUY A BIKE FROM HALFORDS. They shouldn't be allowed anywhere near pushbikes. They dont know the first thing about what constitutes safe setting up of a bike, decent parts or aftersales service. I was i a local specia;ist bike shop last summer when a guy came in to have his Halfords Apollo mountain bike serviced, and the morons at halfords had put the forks on the wrong way round, rendering the bike very dangerous. My wifes friend bought her son a bike from them and the frame snapped when he was riding the Camel Trail (a former railway line now used for cycling/walking, dead flat and well maintained) and they wouldnt honour the warranty....after 2 weeks.

[John Hancock]

At that price – Specialized Dean. Only advice I’d give is spend as much as you can afford (and then a little more). If you are thinking of upgrading then you need to be concentrating on getting the best quality frame possible. At your price they’ll all be made in the Far-East (but they do make bloody good frames now.)

 

Why now spend a little more - £800 – Grand. At that price point you start to get some excellent value kit and some good reductions in the sales!

 

I only ever bought one mountain bike – back in ’95. And I’ve still got it!

[Johny Walker]

got 1, for the 6yr old had no probs ,but i put it together paid £70 & saved £70 was in the sale

[Mozza]

Mailorder sale and discounted bikes GT Mongoose Giant Kona Diamondback Trek, Cheapest sale offer cycles :: Pauls Cycles

 

Have a good look on there pal, they've normally got some really good bargains

[tommer9]

I think that for kids bikes they are actually ok, esp if you set it up yourself. It is a different matter when adults get on the bikes and expect to do what the huge pics in the store portray.

 

Dean, Jon is right- go for a good frame, as that will last years, and you can keep replacing the bits that are bolted on. Steel frames are very good, and can be as light as ali (almost) but are not as stiff as Ali frames, which transfer all the power without much flex down to the wheels, but be aware of the condition of the bottom bracket and where it sits in the frame on ali bikes, as they can become ovalised very easily which= knackered frame. Look for one with a replaceable derailleur hanger too. Or just go for a high quality steel frame.

 

It is probably woth finding the biggest most commercial bike shop in your area and going and sitting on a load of bikes, as the geometry of every makers frames is different- the top tube (the horizontal one between your legs when sitting on the bike ) varies in length quite considerably. This way you will have an idea of which bike you want to look for on ebay.