Newbie...

On 13/01/2007 11:44, Jon B said,

Quoted message said:

For now I want to try and keep the budget this side of £200

If you can stretch the budget a bit you will get a much better choice.
That may not be an option of course! The Specialized Hardrock Sport is
around £250, and is a good bike for the money - it scores well in reviews.

Quoted message said:

1) Any recommended brands, and which to avoid?

Avoid anything from Argos, Lidl, Asda etc...

Quoted message said:

2) I'm assuming I'm better off investing in a hardtail with front
suspension at my price point?

TBH, you might want to consider a rigid fork rather than front
suspension at the £200 mark. A suspension fork at this price will be
useless (I speak from experience), and just add weight to the bike. Yes
- stick with a hardtail as well. The fork on the Hardrock probably
comes under that category, TBH, but I'm sure there's a rigid version.
That might even come in on budget.

Quoted message said:

3) Ally frame obviously ? (it is going to spend a lot of time outside)

Yes, but not because of the time spent outside. A steel frame at this
price will be made of drainpipes and weigh several tons! Ally frames at
this price aren't at all bad.

Quoted message said:

6) Anything obvious I've missed?

I don't know about obvious, but again at that price avoid disc brakes.
Again they'll just add weight and won't give you any better stopping
than V-brakes. You might want to consider a frame/fork with disc brake
mounts though in case you decide to upgrade later.

Hope this helps!

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

"Paul Boyd" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On 13/01/2007 11:44, Jon B said,

Quoted message said:

For now I want to try and keep the budget this side of £200

If you can stretch the budget a bit you will get a much better choice.
That may not be an option of course! The Specialized Hardrock Sport is
around £250, and is a good bike for the money - it scores well in reviews.

What do people think about the Edinburgh Cuillin/Cadence Sport?

http://www.edinburgh-bicycle.co.uk/catalogue/detail.cfm?ID=22631
http://www.edinburgh-bicycle.co.uk/catalogue/detail.cfm?ID=22626

170 quid...

cheers,
clive

Paul Boyd said:

On 13/01/2007 11:44, Jon B said,

Quoted message said:

For now I want to try and keep the budget this side of £200

If you can stretch the budget a bit you will get a much better choice.
That may not be an option of course! The Specialized Hardrock Sport is
around £250, and is a good bike for the money - it scores well in reviews.

Well I've emailed the (9-5 work) boss about the tax free bikes scheme
which could up my budget nicely.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

1) Any recommended brands, and which to avoid?

Avoid anything from Argos, Lidl, Asda etc...

lol funnily I'd originally had a 1a) all those bikes from Argos, eBay
etc, they are just '[censored]' aren't they?

GT, Trek, Specialized, Giant had all come under the radar. I'd spotted
the 'Giant Rock' both 06/07 specs somewhere which looked tempting.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

2) I'm assuming I'm better off investing in a hardtail with front
suspension at my price point?

TBH, you might want to consider a rigid fork rather than front
suspension at the £200 mark. A suspension fork at this price will be
useless (I speak from experience), and just add weight to the bike. Yes
- stick with a hardtail as well. The fork on the Hardrock probably
comes under that category, TBH, but I'm sure there's a rigid version.
That might even come in on budget.

I'll have a glance, there seems to be more front/full suspension
available under £200 than Rigids. My local store (JE James chesterfield)
has some 'ProBike' ?? and a Trek 3500 listed under £200

I guess at least if I start with a [censored] front suspension, it will
encourage me to upgrade it, and give me some comfort, whereas while I
have a working fixed fork, there is no compelling reason to upgrade...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

3) Ally frame obviously ? (it is going to spend a lot of time outside)

Yes, but not because of the time spent outside. A steel frame at this
price will be made of drainpipes and weigh several tons! Ally frames at
this price aren't at all bad.

Well at least I could work on my upper body strength lifting it over
gates.

Is there a decent steel frame at 'any' price then? Just out of interest,
it seems to go cheap - steel, mid range - ally, top dog - carbon.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

6) Anything obvious I've missed?

I don't know about obvious, but again at that price avoid disc brakes.
Again they'll just add weight and won't give you any better stopping
than V-brakes. You might want to consider a frame/fork with disc brake
mounts though in case you decide to upgrade later.

Yes I'd seen that, forgot that, seem they are a PITA to set up too, but
I'll keep eyes open for something with the upgrade option, in case I
ever feel I've hit that level.

thanks for the info so far
--
Jon B
Above email address IS valid.
<http://www.bramley-computers.co.uk/> Apple Laptop Repairs.

On 13/01/2007 14:57, Clive George said,

Quoted message said:

What do people think about the Edinburgh Cuillin/Cadence Sport?

http://www.edinburgh-bicycle.co.uk/catalogue/detail.cfm?ID=22631
http://www.edinburgh-bicycle.co.uk/catalogue/detail.cfm?ID=22626

You could do a lot worse for the price, I think. Well worth a closer
look. I would still stand by my earlier comment about cheap suspension
forks though.

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

On 13/01/2007 15:52, Jon B said,

Quoted message said:

I'll have a glance, there seems to be more front/full suspension
available under £200 than Rigids.

DON'T get a full suspension bike for £200! You'll spend all your energy
in making the back end bounce up and down instead of going forwards.
When you're out and about, watch kids riding these bikes, and you'll see
what I mean. At this price, the rear suspension is uncontrolled and
just bounces about - every time you push down on the pedals the
suspension compresses - you really do need damping control and
preferably lockout as well. Decent full-sus bikes start at around £800,
ans is partly why I haven't got one!

Quoted message said:

I guess at least if I start with a [censored] front suspension, it will
encourage me to upgrade it

There is that, and it's what I did. The RST fork on my Hardrock lasted
about a fortnight before I decided it wasn't actually doing anything useful!

Quoted message said:

Is there a decent steel frame at 'any' price then? Just out of interest,
it seems to go cheap - steel, mid range - ally, top dog - carbon.

Yes - there are certainly a number of quality steel frames around. I'm
waiting for my lottery numbers to come so I can buy an Orange P7 frame
at £370. There are loads of others about. The catch is that it might
be a long wait, because I don't do the lottery...

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

Paul Boyd said:

On 13/01/2007 15:52, Jon B said,

Quoted message said:

I'll have a glance, there seems to be more front/full suspension
available under £200 than Rigids.

DON'T get a full suspension bike for £200! You'll spend all your energy
in making the back end bounce up and down instead of going forwards.

Understood, it was more a comment on what is available on the market,
that non of the cheapos even attempt to offer a half decent rigid, at a
basement price. Well not at any of the shops I've looked at. At the
moment the key contenders are that Trek 3500, the Giant Rock, and that
Edinburgh special.

Quoted message said:

When you're out and about, watch kids riding these bikes, and you'll see
what I mean. At this price, the rear suspension is uncontrolled and
just bounces about - every time you push down on the pedals the
suspension compresses - you really do need damping control and
preferably lockout as well. Decent full-sus bikes start at around £800,
ans is partly why I haven't got one!

Don't think I will at that price for a long time.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I guess at least if I start with a [censored] front suspension, it will
encourage me to upgrade it

There is that, and it's what I did. The RST fork on my Hardrock lasted
about a fortnight before I decided it wasn't actually doing anything useful!

Well I'd hope a wee bit longer than a fortnight lol

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Is there a decent steel frame at 'any' price then? Just out of interest,
it seems to go cheap - steel, mid range - ally, top dog - carbon.

Yes - there are certainly a number of quality steel frames around. I'm
waiting for my lottery numbers to come so I can buy an Orange P7 frame
at £370. There are loads of others about. The catch is that it might
be a long wait, because I don't do the lottery...

Could be a small issue that one.
--
Jon B
Above email address IS valid.
<http://www.bramley-computers.co.uk/> Apple Laptop Repairs.

"That Edinburgh Cuillin/Cadence Sport looks like the one to me. Their bikes
always get good reviews.

"Jon B" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm looking into getting my first mountain bike in years (whats this new
fangled suspension stuff? lol), nothing hardcore, I just want to try and
get a bit of fitness back. Ultimately the aim is to use it on nice days
for work (4mile with a nice big hill for the way home) and to drop on
the back of the car, go off into the derbyshire peaks (or somewhere) and
try a get a bit further afield with the camera.

For now I want to try and keep the budget this side of £200

1) Any recommended brands, and which to avoid?
2) I'm assuming I'm better off investing in a hardtail with front
suspension at my price point?
3) Ally frame obviously ? (it is going to spend a lot of time outside)
4) Sees other posts, I'll make my own decision on a helmet 😉
5) Any brands of car carriers to watch out for/avoid? Just intending on
strapping to the boot lid of a saloon.
6) Anything obvious I've missed?

What about ebay (gulp!)

I got a bargain a few years ago, a Marin full-susser for £640, nearly new
and list price £2000. I was lucky though as the seller was local so I could
inspect the bike first. Still got it & it's marvellous.

The suspension does add weight though, but it's probably needed for my
off road exploits in Mid Wales (Rhayader- fantastic MTB place).

Niv.

in message <[email hidden]>, Jon B

(') said:

I'm looking into getting my first mountain bike in years (whats this new
fangled suspension stuff? lol), nothing hardcore, I just want to try and
get a bit of fitness back. Ultimately the aim is to use it on nice days
for work (4mile with a nice big hill for the way home) and to drop on
the back of the car, go off into the derbyshire peaks (or somewhere) and
try a get a bit further afield with the camera.

For now I want to try and keep the budget this side of £200

At that price, go second hand.

Quoted message said:

1) Any recommended brands, and which to avoid?

UK brands: Orange (some actually still made here), Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op,
Claud Butler, Dawes. Of those only Orange are really good, but the others
are OK.

Taiwanese: Giant - although the Giant range is huge, and there are some
pretty [censored] bikes in it, on the whole they're good value.

US: Kona, Trek, Specialized, Santa Cruz, Cannondale.

Avoid anything which is not a well known brand. Avoid Raleigh. Avoid Apollo
(Halfords cheap own brand - the Carrera bikes from Halfords are not so
bad). There are a lot of other smaller good brands but it isn't
necessarily easy to tell the difference

Quoted message said:

2) I'm assuming I'm better off investing in a hardtail with front
suspension at my price point?

You won't get a new bike for £200 with any suspension worth having; if
that's what you can afford go second hand or get a rigid bike. The
starting price for a bike worth having with front suspension is
realistically about £350, and with full suspension about £900.

Quoted message said:

3) Ally frame obviously ? (it is going to spend a lot of time outside)

For a mountain bike yes, although there's nothing wrong with a good steel
frame - Kona still make them, and so do one or two of the smaller
specialist builders. Carbon is also exceedingly good but not in your price
range, and I don't think I'd buy a second hand carbon mountain bike.

Seriously - go second hand; or expect to spend more.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

<p>Schroedinger's cat is <blink><strong>NOT</strong></blink> dead.</p>

in message <[email hidden]>, Jon B

(') said:

Is there a decent steel frame at 'any' price then? Just out of interest,
it seems to go cheap - steel, mid range - ally, top dog - carbon.

Oh yes, there are still a few good steel frames being made. Kona make a
few, and so, I think, do On-one. It's a niche market, though. The
overwhelming majority of new steel frames are dreadful.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; MS Windows: A thirty-two bit extension ... to a sixteen bit
;; patch to an eight bit operating system originally coded for a
;; four bit microprocessor and sold by a two-bit company that
;; can't stand one bit of competition -- anonymous

in message <[email hidden]>, Clive

George (') said:

"Paul Boyd" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On 13/01/2007 11:44, Jon B said,

Quoted message said:

For now I want to try and keep the budget this side of £200

If you can stretch the budget a bit you will get a much better choice.
That may not be an option of course! The Specialized Hardrock Sport is
around £250, and is a good bike for the money - it scores well in
reviews.

What do people think about the Edinburgh Cuillin/Cadence Sport?

http://www.edinburgh-bicycle.co.uk/catalogue/detail.cfm?ID=22631
http://www.edinburgh-bicycle.co.uk/catalogue/detail.cfm?ID=22626

Frames and general kit OK for the money - Edinburgh's bikes have always
been good value. But that fork is a really horrible elastomer jobbie.
Heavy, and very poor performance; won't work in cold weather.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum sonatur.

Niv said:

"Jon B" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm looking into getting my first mountain bike in years (whats this new
fangled suspension stuff? lol), nothing hardcore, I just want to try and
get a bit of fitness back. Ultimately the aim is to use it on nice days
for work (4mile with a nice big hill for the way home) and to drop on
the back of the car, go off into the derbyshire peaks (or somewhere) and
try a get a bit further afield with the camera.

For now I want to try and keep the budget this side of £200

1) Any recommended brands, and which to avoid?
2) I'm assuming I'm better off investing in a hardtail with front
suspension at my price point?
3) Ally frame obviously ? (it is going to spend a lot of time outside)
4) Sees other posts, I'll make my own decision on a helmet 😉
5) Any brands of car carriers to watch out for/avoid? Just intending on
strapping to the boot lid of a saloon.
6) Anything obvious I've missed?

What about ebay (gulp!)

I got a bargain a few years ago, a Marin full-susser for £640, nearly new
and list price £2000. I was lucky though as the seller was local so I could
inspect the bike first. Still got it & it's marvellous.

The suspension does add weight though, but it's probably needed for my
off road exploits in Mid Wales (Rhayader- fantastic MTB place).

I'm watching eBay, but it is a mindfield of cheap bikes, of varying
reputations (Barracuda, Muddy Fox, Appolo, Raleigh), cheap [censored], etc,
and I'm just trying to gather which ones are worth buying, and which to
stay a mile away from, hence asking here 😉 gradually getting some info
so I can buy a bit more clued up.
--
Jon B
Above email address IS valid.
<http://www.bramley-computers.co.uk/> Apple Laptop Repairs.

in message <[email hidden]>, Jon B

(') said:

I'm watching eBay, but it is a mindfield of cheap bikes, of varying
reputations (Barracuda, Muddy Fox, Appolo, Raleigh), cheap [censored], etc,
and I'm just trying to gather which ones are worth buying,

Of those listed, only the Muddy Foxes are worth looking at.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

'Victories are not solutions.'
;; John Hume, Northern Irish politician, on Radio Scotland 1/2/95
;; Nobel Peace Prize laureate 1998; few have deserved it so much

Simon Brooke said:

in message <[email hidden]>, Jon B

(') said:

I'm watching eBay, but it is a mindfield of cheap bikes, of varying
reputations (Barracuda, Muddy Fox, Appolo, Raleigh), cheap [censored], etc,
and I'm just trying to gather which ones are worth buying,

Of those listed, only the Muddy Foxes are worth looking at.

Cheers, reassuring I seem to be following the right track...
--
Jon B
Above email address IS valid.
<http://www.bramley-computers.co.uk/> Apple Laptop Repairs.

Simon Brooke said:

in message <[email hidden]>, Jon B

(') said:

Is there a decent steel frame at 'any' price then? Just out of
interest, it seems to go cheap - steel, mid range - ally, top dog -
carbon.

Oh yes, there are still a few good steel frames being made. Kona make
a few, and so, I think, do On-one. It's a niche market, though. The
overwhelming majority of new steel frames are dreadful.

And of course, not a few bikes which deserve better are being sold with
dreadful aluminium frames.

I've got a nice steel frame on my shopping list for my middle of the road
Scott bike which came with a dreadfully oversized aluminium frame.

A