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I know this comes up a lot, but what's the most up to date recommendation for a first mtb now? Still the bizango!?
My nephew is thinking about starting out. I've suggested doing a hire day at cannock as a taster before splashing out on a bike. He lives in daventry so we're thinking riding from the door might be limited, but cannock is driveable to start with.
There's a leisure lakes in Daventry, so there's a bit of choice there, but around the £500-£700 mark, a lot of the options seem pretty much the same (white, cube, Cannondale, specialized all around that price.)
The staff in leisure lakes Dav are really good and helpful..I'd talk to them. If there is something in there in budget then they're nice people.
The Voodoos from Halfords get fairly good reviews I think but you might also try Calibre bikes from Go Outdoors. Great for the money.
The other obvious route is used bikes. You can get a lot for your money with bikes of a few years old, but you need to have an understanding of what's good and what's not. I'm sure if you see something and posted it up here, folks would offer an opinion.
I'd be looking on Pinkbike, you can get a hell of a lot of bike for £500-£700. If you buy new at that price range and your nephew takes a real interest and progresses, he will find himself under biked very quickly
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/st-900-mountain-bike-grey-orange-275-id_8500763.html
If he’s in Dav then his local stuff will be bridal ways and country roads unless Harlstone Firs and Badby Woods are still options so there an argument he’s a prime candidate for a gravel bike. Ignoring that, a good hardtail like the above should work.
If he’s in Dav then his local stuff will be bridal ways and country roads unless Harlstone Firs and Badby Woods are still options so there an argument he’s a prime candidate for a gravel bike.
I did think that, but he's not averse to driving (just passed his test) so Cannock is reachable. Google maps shows the Cotswolds and Chilterns are within a reasonable drive, but I have no clue what the riding is like there.
If he does get into it, then I can take him to the Lakes and Gisburn pretty easily when he comes to visit.
I figure a half decent hardtail to begin with, then once he starts to know a bit more he'll upgrade and realise he'll never have enough bikes like the rest of us!!
Vitus Nucleus / Sentier’s always win the best value awards and tests in magazines. That’s where I’d be putting my money.
vitus here too. Might be worth looking at discounted bikes on Pauls cycles. I think the Marins have pretty much sold out now though.
I’d be going second hand hardtail. He’ll be able to get a lot of bike for the money and it should last him a fair few years too. If he gets bored he won’t lose much moving it on either
Used hardtail bike from ebay/gumtree/facebook, plus a skills course would be my recommendation. I bought a bike for a mate, budget of £600. Paid £550 for a mint 2017 carbon Bianchi that had never seen mud, popped some carbon finishing kit on it from the spares box and went to 1x10 with racing snake tyres (mate is a roadie).
If he's in dav and fine to drive then I'd suggest woburn as a decent place for him to start out.
Depending on what takes his fancy, there's loads of stuff to ride on anything from a hardtail to free ride bike if he's feeling brave.
At that money I'd be looking at 2nd hand but it all depends if he's hot any knowledge of what he's looking at (or a mate who does)