New bike advice..

JohnN

JohnN

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Hi,

My daughter has just lost the stabilisers and wants me to go biking with her.
I have a mountain bike (its a naff £80 job from Halfords that is a little bit rusty (because of a now fixed leaky roof) with flat tyres!) but would like advice on a cheap serviceable mountain bike - the cheaper the better really as long as its not dangerous.

I did consider asking on a propper mountain bike forum, but generally it looks like they do the same things we do - a newbie asks and before you know it they're asked to look at a £3000 body plus £2000 lens :D

Cheers for any help - I know its off the beaten path for here but I imagine some of you good people will now something.

John
 
clean up the one you've got ( and pump up the tyres )
 
I did consider that - in fact I've not long put the wire wool away, but I was a little worried as some of the rust was on the cables (brakes and gears), plus the left hand gear grip doesn't seem to do anything and the right hand only does five of the six gears, so it may be of use for bits (spare tyres and so on) but I'm not too sure about the rest of it.
 
Good time to buy with the new 2013 bikes in and dealers looking to shift last year's models

Any of the reputable makes basic model will be fine, so Trek, Specialized, Giant and a host of others

Also look at the bike hire places such as Rutland Water, they sell off their ex-hire bikes serviced with a bit of warranty now the summer is over

Halfords and Tesco bikes are ok, but not very durable and like most things you get what you pay for

Something like this would be my choice http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?hl=en&cp=14&gs_id=1d&xhr=t&q=specialized+hardrock&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&biw=1280&bih=666&wrapid=tljp1347208179467020&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=2007368280538465503&sa=X&ei=78NMUKHSFOOj0QXv8YGwCQ&sqi=2&ved=0CEUQ8wIwAA

Just built my old Specialized Stumpjumper up again, 14 years old and the frame is still fine. Riding a decent bike is so much more pleasant and you will soon realise why they cost a fair bit more

Mountain bike would not be my description of the very cheap bikes sold as such, especially the full suspension jobs that weigh half a ton and are like riding a rocking horse
 
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My advice and it worked for me was to go to a proper bike shop, not one thats part of something else, and see what they have, I did this quite a few years ago and got a great bike that fitted me and was in budget for what I wanted to spend.
You will be supprised what you can get for just a few quid (well you know what I mean)
 
Cheers guys I'll have to do that - I'm only looking to spend something like £150 max sadly so even last years bargains are a bit steep for me as I used it twice in two years :(

Mountain bike would not be my description of the very cheap bikes sold as such, especially the full suspension jobs that weigh half a ton and are like riding a rocking horse
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Thats the one in my shed :)

Well actually one just like this one.. link
 
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depends how seriously you want to take it. i just picked up a 2010 trek full suspension for £550 second hand.

boardman bikes are getting very good reviews at the moment.

but yes as spike said, get to the local independent bike shop if youre buying new.
 
On that budget then a trip to halfords or even toys r us for that matter and keep away from full suspension, its heavy its naff and you get a lot more for your buck with out it
spike
 
neil_g said:
depends how seriously you want to take it. i just picked up a 2010 trek full suspension for £550 second hand.

boardman bikes are getting very good reviews at the moment.

but yes as spike said, get to the local independent bike shop if youre buying new.
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I've got a Boardman. No complaints at all. I've even got used to the ugly Shimano hoods. My Giant TCR had a campy drivetrain, much nicer!
 
Cheers for the advice guys - I know its not a lot to play with, but I really won;t use it apart from being out with the little one.

Edit - thanks Rich, I'll take a look there.
 
I didn't find much in Retobikes, so looked again to Halfords.

Hows this one - cheapest in the range so could go higher, but rigid suspension by Trax so appears to tick a couple of boxes.
 
JohnN said:
I did consider that - in fact I've not long put the wire wool away, but I was a little worried as some of the rust was on the cables (brakes and gears), plus the left hand gear grip doesn't seem to do anything and the right hand only does five of the six gears, so it may be of use for bits (spare tyres and so on) but I'm not too sure about the rest of it.
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I've just replaced my cables with these from Halfords, not expensive at all really. You will need something decent to cut the wire as its stranded so poor cutters tend to crush the wire than cut it. My Visegrips cut it without any issues.

If the gear change isn't working, it is likely cable tension. You can also adjust the tension with more finesse by the barrel adjusters after securing it at the cable clamp. If the chain is overshooting the cogs or not reaching its likely the adjustment screws.

Brake
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_186711_langId_-1_categoryId_165608

Gear
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_185630_langId_-1_categoryId_210153


[YOUTUBE]1tQxJqGVznM[/YOUTUBE]

[YOUTUBE]SjJfKO_tAo0[/YOUTUBE]
 
As with most things, fewer features for the money is the way to go at the bottom end. The difference a lighter bike with better quality brakes and gears will make over a heavy thing with unreliable suspension will be huge. I'd probably be tempted to look for a 2nd hand bike at that price if you can find one in decent condition. Bike radar is the most popular forum for sales and stuff.
 
Like you say for what you are going to be using it for and you are not exctly going to be blatting up in down forest tracks trying to beet the guy in front of you this looks like it would do the job.

spike
 
neil_g said:
kinda thought thats what you meant :)

i find it funny the amount of fanboyism behind full sus vs front sus, its almost on a mac vs pc scale :D
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It certainly is. Every hobby seems to have that A vs B competition. It does make me laugh reading the same arguments over different things on forums all over the internet!
 
Thanks again guys - I've had a quick trawl through Bike Radar and if theres anything in my range I didn't spot it - that said it seems MTB's are just as bad if not worse than cameras for needing to know what to look for!

Funny too about the suspension vs rigid debate, who knew I could manage to find an argung point even in an alien topic :D
 
Andy - thanks very much for the vids! I'm useless with that stuff but if nothing else leaps out I may have a go :)

An alternative would be this bike on eBay - I've read its a decent starter bike but this is a very old model - here

Theres also a few here - http://www.decathlon.co.uk/C-359112-mtb-_-mountain-bikes - any of the £150 down ones worth a look?
 
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Cheers - I'll check my distance from the cotswolds :)
 
I was just about to post about Decathlon, they tend to get decent reviews but haven't any personal experience of them so don't want to be the voice that says "yes" lol. I think the rockrider 5.2 seems to be a better buy for £50 more.

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40028&t=12810561
http://thebikeaffair.blogspot.co.uk/2009/10/btwin-rockrider-bikes.html

If you opted for the parts only, Halfords have the Haynes Bike Book (cheaper on Amazon for the latest edition) for about £15 so might be worth having if your wee lass is going to be coming to dad when her bike needs fixed (and should tell you how to fix yours :lol: ) :thumbs:
 
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Oddly enough Zinn is the one I have :lol:

I was just taking some of the reviews I read about folk not liking the hand drawn diagrams (Zinn) compared to photos (Haynes) but if Zinn is recommended then go for that as its the only bike book I have.
 
Best bet is to look for a 2nd hand GT or kona, good bikes but tend to be cheaper. Don't get a full sus as for £150 even 4th hand it would be pap. Avoid things like Apollo which you will get new for £150 as again it will be like riding an old lady's shopping trolley which was full of lead. You also could spend out £60 and take urs to a local dealer for a proper service, but you have to weigh up whether it would be worth throwing £60 at it?
 
If you really won't be using it much then just get your current bike serviced with new cables.

The biggest differences between your bike and a top of the range big name turbo thruster are about three kilogrammes and three thousand pounds.
 
At your budget, JJB seem to have a few in. I dont know what Reebok bikes are like but some are half price there at the moment. Delivery is free too!
 
keep away from full sus unless your going down hill across rough terain rather fast rear sus is pointles. All your doing is every time you put your foot hard down on the pedel to push you up hil 45% of your energy goes through the rear sus and straight into the ground.

Stick with a hard tail and make it as light as possible. sports direct are having a sale have a look at there bikes. i think you can buy them online too might be worth a look.
 
pepi1967 said:
keep away from full sus unless your going down hill across rough terain rather fast rear sus is pointles. All your doing is every time you put your foot hard down on the pedel to push you up hil 45% of your energy goes through the rear sus and straight into the ground.

Stick with a hard tail and make it as light as possible. sports direct are having a sale have a look at there bikes. i think you can buy them online too might be worth a look.
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there are some very effective anti-bob systems and lockout shocks available these days..
 
neil_g said:
there are some very effective anti-bob systems and lockout shocks available these days..
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..the budget I gather is about £150, you might not even get a decent front fork for that.

A hardtail is the answer, afterall the criteria is to cycle with his wee lass just off stabilisers so presumably no singletrack or downhill :D
 
AndyB1976 said:
..the budget I gather is about £150, you might not even get a decent front fork for that.

A hardtail is the answer, afterall the criteria is to cycle with his wee lass just off stabilisers so presumably no singletrack or downhill :D
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no i know but the post i was commenting on wasnt clear if he meant budget or all..

(i'll get back in my box :D)
 
Thanks guys, just back from work but my wife ordered the trek rigid from halfords, not the best I know but by far and away the least hassle (she's seen me try to fix things before and knows how ling it takes for me to get round to sorting out repairs!)
 
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