You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Hi All,
Looking to get back into MBR after growing up in the Lake District and riding hardtails. Now living in South Derbyshire and looking to ride all sorts of canal paths, bridleways, a few forests and some longer distance rides around Lakes and Scotland.
I'm leaning towards a Full Suspension XC 29er for comfort (or possibly Carbon Hardtail for maintenance and simplicity) with the following being narrowed down up to £2500 budget:
Wildcard choice (Decathlon) - £1699.99
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/xc-900s-full-suspension-carbon-mountain-bike-29-id_8545706.html
Orbea Oiz H10 - £2400 (high spec, current favourite but not sure about brand quality)
https://www.orbea.com/gb-en/bicycles/mountain/oiz/cat/oiz-29-h10
Specialized Epic Evo Comp - £2320
http://www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk/product/14288/2019-epic-comp-evo/
Scott Spark 940 - £2389
https://www.damianharriscycles.co.uk/prod/dua_4602_sc/scott-spark-940-2019-full-suspension-bike
Trek Procaliber 9.7 (Carbon Hardtail) - £2250
https://www.trekbikes.com/gb/en_GB/bikes/mountain-bikes/cross-country-mountain-bikes/procaliber/procaliber-9-7/p/23361/
I'm using Cyclescheme so some sale bikes have a 10% premium, but estimated 35% saving overall!
Does anyone have any thoughts or advice on after sales and maintenance with brands like Rockrider, Orbea? Clearly most LBS will promote the likes of Giant, Scott and Trek for being big brands with lifetime warranties and standard components to replace should anything go wrong.
If there are any obvious ones I've missed let me know!
Thanks,
Andy
Giant Anthem 29er
I'd second the anthem. If worried about maintenance by the proper tool kit and a bearing swap is a doddle.
Also the bike rides like a dream.
Thanks - I had wondered whether the 100mm travel would be a bit limiting in the Lakes on some of the tastier descents.
Has anyone got any experience of Orbea?
I got one of the first Occam TR 29er's for marathon XC and general trail use.Had it for nearly 4 years. Great bike. No issues at all.
I have an Oiz - M10 Trail. Great bike, no issues, so can't comment on their follow-up service.
The trail version has 120mm travel, and works fine as a XC machine for the Dales, but can handle longer rides in the Lakes without too many issues. Wouldn't take it on anything extremely steep or rocky, but that's mainly because I have an Occam for that.
If you're getting back into it, you might find the bug bites again, you're not on towpaths quite as much as you think, and 100mm or even 120mm isn't the ideal amount for the Peak or the Lakes. Modern 130mm/140mm trail bikes pedal brilliantly.