im Axle Specialists

Buying mountain bike

Currently reading:
Buying mountain bike

FatherJack

FatherJack

Patron member
Parked in the garage
Joined
Jan 10, 2013
Messages
702
Points
158
Do we have any Mountain bikers here that could help me out, I'm looking for a decent bike for around £300.

I've seen this in Halfords
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_810721_langId_-1_categoryId_165499

Ive looked on JE James, Evans cycles, Chainreaction etc, but I just don't like buying something I cant touch :(


I wont be using it to do anything extreme on it by just general use and in the winter instead of using my road bike.

Cheers ! (y)
 
i thing i will try to avoid is the rim style brake setup

I love disc', alot easier to setup - easier when it comes to wheel changes!

i had the karrera kracken, back in 2007?, it was a brilliant bike, took some stick
having lockable front shocks was great for hill climbing as you didnt waste as much energy :)

Ziggy
 
I used a mountain bike for commuting nearly two years before I was knocked off and decided a nice Fiat based metal box instead.

For £300 I'd go onto eBay and buy a £600-£900 bike second hand. ;)
 
For 300 i'd still plump for rim brakes... as they will be more reliable than any cheap end disc brake..... which means there is more money for better wheels. frame and forks.... Ideally at this price you want rigid forks...


id be looking at something like this

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/gt/aggressor-3-2014-mountain-bike-ec054144

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/hardrock-26-2014-mountain-bike-ec053416

also have a good read of this
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/best-mountain-bikes-under-500-29451/
 
last time i went looking for one it was an uphill struggle

i also wanted some camouflage trousers but even though the store had had a delivery they couldnt find them:confused:
 
Liquid Knight said:
From purchase to sale I blogged my adventures...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=174&t=1095288&nmt=Stupid+New+Years+Resolution!+

...I'd like to get back in the saddle but need a bit of money to buy or build something better suited for the task.

Having said that a dual with 29's would be pretty much perfect. I'm looking at recumbents and cyclocross bikes at the moment.
Click to expand...

Ive got my road bike but I dont fancy leaving a full carbon bike outside where I work (n)
 
There was a guy where I used to work who had a "LOOK" full race bike with a Titanium frame. Must have been £5,000 worth at the time. He rattle canned a few colours on the frame so it looked like a pile of crap. Nobody suspected a thing and one day three Halfrauds specials were lifted his was left well alone. ;)

That's one of the reasons I went for Curio tyres. To make the bike as obvious as possible so if anyone else was seen riding it they'd be stopped. It also had an immobilse UK tracking chip, Thatcham approved chain lock and disclock alarm.
 
Last edited:
First off does your work do cycle to work scheme? If so a lot cheaper and don't pay VAT I think?
Me and wife got bikes, we had a £300 budget but the deal was so good we walked out with £450 each bikes and a free bike carrier :D
 
FatherJack said:
Yeah the Kraken looks good, read about the Voodoo Bizango but £600 man !
Click to expand...
We've had 4 Carrera mountain bikes at work for about 4 years with SRAM X4 triple chain rings. I really don't like the SRAM gears as they have a longer than necessary shift movement (longer than a sweep of my thumb) so I have to twist my hand to change.

My Bianchi hybrid has Shimano Doeore XT gears with triple chaing rings and the change is so sharp and slick it takes a third or quarter of the movemen of the SRAM.

Each of the Carreras has had the rear derailleur adjusted 3 or 4 times.
The Bianchi hasn't had its altered once.

The Tektro brakes on 3 out of 4 Carreras have developed squeals when under hard braking.

The Bianchi hasn't.

With regard to the Voodoo Bizango, if it's hard to find one then maybe it's because: http://www.mbr.co.uk/reviews/hardtail/voodoo-bizango-29er-review-2013/
 
GrandeGuy said:
First off does your work do cycle to work scheme? If so a lot cheaper and don't pay VAT I think?
Me and wife got bikes, we had a £300 budget but the deal was so good we walked out with £450 each bikes and a free bike carrier :D
Click to expand...
Mrs. Beard and I both bought bikes under the cycle to work scheme and I though it was a brilliant idea. I certainly wouldn't have bought a bike of that quality if I'd had to fork out the cash.
There's plenty of info from the website and as it's a salary sacrifice scheme you don't pay the VAT and bacause the money is taken from your gross pay, it reduces both your PAYE and NI payments.

I can't remember the exact details, but you can choose from two price ranges: up to £500 and £501 - £1,000.. At the end of 12 months you will be offered the opportunity to hand it back or keep it for a small (I think it's 5% of original value) fee. Mrs. Beard had to pay £20 and I paid £40. Then after 5 years there's a final fee and it's all yours. If you choose a really good one and look after it it can be a good investment.
 
Last edited:
This post contains affiliate links which may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

AnthonyH
When buying a used car which is more important - mileage or age of the car
Replies
19
Views
375
The Panda Nut
The Panda Nut
AnthonyH
Where do you buy your parts from?
2 3
Replies
44
Views
976
Pugglt Auld Jock
Pugglt Auld Jock
L
Buying a car online
Replies
7
Views
710
DaveMcT
D
s130
What Bicycle To Buy Aged 66
Replies
16
Views
759
s130
s130
AndyRKett
Buying a New Car? Read here! (Chip Shortage)
Replies
12
Views
1K
DaveMcT
D
Back
Top