Which Mountain Bike?

steve1980

If you can, go for a road or hybrid bike, you don't need an all singing, all dancing mountain bike for canal paths.

Derivative

steve1980 wrote: »

If you can, go for a road or hybrid bike, you don't need an all singing, all dancing mountain bike for canal paths.

Will be faster with thinner tyres too.

Greensprout

Strider590 wrote: »

But yeah, the basic rule of thumb.... If the disc brakes aren't hydraulic, they're no good.

Would this one be a good choice with the hydraulic brakes?

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_786835_langId_-1_categoryId_165499#dtab

thelawnet

Greensprout wrote: »

Would this one be a good choice with the hydraulic brakes?

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_786835_langId_-1_categoryId_165499#dtab

It's fine for the money, but really you don't want a mountainbike, you are looking for a hybrid. You certainly don't need disc brakes either.

Something like this:

http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/product/specializedglobevienna2roadbike2010-sale.aspx?&id=11657

is much more suitable

Strider590

Halfrauds = Avoid

The forks alone on that bike RRP at £90, which leaves me wondering what exactly you get for the extra £185..... Can't get many reasonable quality bikes for £185.

Go to a proper bike shop where they know which way round the front forks go and how to setup brakes/gears properly.

thelawnet

Strider590 wrote: »

Halfrauds = Avoid

The forks alone on that bike RRP at £90, which leaves me wondering what exactly you get for the extra £185..... Can't get many reasonable quality bikes for £185.

Bike components are marked up typically 100%, sometimes more. By eliminating middle men and increasing volume they are able to cut costs. There is no reason at all why they can't sell a decent bike for the best part of £300.

Go to a proper bike shop where they know which way round the front forks go and how to setup brakes/gears properly.

Your local Halfords might or might not have staff competent to assemble your bike properly. But the same applies to your 'proper bike shop'. Unless you have a bit of experience it's quite hard to judge.

Strider590

thelawnet wrote: »

Bike components are marked up typically 100%, sometimes more. By eliminating middle men and increasing volume they are able to cut costs. There is no reason at all why they can't sell a decent bike for the best part of £300.

But that applies to the rest of the bike too, thereby making the point about mark up on the forks somewhat mute.

thelawnet wrote: »

Your local Halfords might or might not have staff competent to assemble your bike properly. But the same applies to your 'proper bike shop'. Unless you have a bit of experience it's quite hard to judge.

Staff in "proper" bike shops are often enthusiasts themselves.
Staff in Halfrauds probably own that Renault Clio with the spinners, the shelby stripes and whale tail, that you passed on the way in.

thelawnet

Strider590 wrote: »

But that applies to the rest of the bike too, thereby making the point about mark up on the forks somewhat mute.

Well no, you made the point about the forks costing £90. Clearly they don't cost that to manufacture, and we have no idea what they might cost to buy in bulk for a manufacturer like Halfords. Retail overheads are very high, especially high for specialists like bike shops, it's no surprise Halfords can sell the same stuff for less.

Staff in "proper" bike shops are often enthusiasts themselves.
Staff in Halfrauds probably own that Renault Clio with the spinners, the shelby stripes and whale tail, that you passed on the way in.

Well maybe. Though IME bike shop staff vary quite a bit in competence levels. Clearly some are hopeless, and equally not every Halfords staffer is clueless.

Derivative

Basically, mountain bikes just aren't built for road riding.

Suspension and big knobbly tyres take away a lot of the energy you put into each pedal stroke.

If you're only on roads, you want a road bike. Less likely to suffer punctures due to higher PSI, thinner tyres.

Canal paths a hybrid will do you good.

Not trying to say mountain bikes are tosh, they're good at what they do - that is, proper off road riding, over tree roots, rocks and the rest.

And I second Halfords being a load of crap. Local bike shop is expensive on parts because not many people go there and most of the time the staff generally know what they're doing. Halfords are expensive because muppets know no better.

photome

Strider590 wrote: »

Halfrauds = Avoid

The forks alone on that bike RRP at £90, which leaves me wondering what exactly you get for the extra £185..... Can't get many reasonable quality bikes for £185.

Go to a proper bike shop where they know which way round the front forks go and how to setup brakes/gears properly.

Sorry but that is not great advice, there is nothing wrong with the Carrera brand and at the prices in the links they are fantastic value for money. Just need to make sure the bike is set up properly

OP have a look on this mountain bike forum, the advice will be good

http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/forums/index.php