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Hi all
I used to ride 15 years ago. A couple of months ago I fixed up a 2004 giant nrs and was having a blast but killed it and need a new bike.
I lack skill. I know what I should be doing but my brain doesn’t do it; I don’t get far enough off the saddle on the downs, I don’t pick up lines quickly enough, I can’t wheeley for more than maybe 10ft anymore. I’m sure it’ll come back with time but for now I’m basically a beginner again.
I’ve joined a WhatsApp group for cyclist in my village. They have orange crush/p7/jeffsy type bikes and Afan has been discussed a few times. However locally there’s nothing big or that scary to justify a full sus rig.
How much should I spend? I’m thinking £700 on a used 2016+ hardcore Hardtail (crush/Commencal meta ht/Whyte 905/Nukeproof scout) or 1200 on a new bike with cycle to work scheme (I’ll save 40% I think).
Are these sensible? Am I going to be left behind on a 1k hard tail? Or can a decent Hardtail keep up with most (this is not racing, just fun) for most basic trails?
Bit lost if I’m honest. A lot has changed since 2005. What’s boost? 27.5 vs 29? What’s 27+? And who are all these new manufacturers? There are loads!
I’ve got some research to do but I’m sure you lovely lot can guide me to the right topics pretty quickly.
Cheers all.
Rick
Go for a secondhand Full Sus for around a £1000-1200. You can pick up somthing good for all types or riding, otherwise known as a Trail Bike. Secondhand at about a grand you will find you can buy a 2-3 yr old bike that probaly cost £3-4 grand new.
You may even not have to spend anything on it.
A modern Full Sus bike with a good shock wont be a bouncy ride, it will smooth out the rough, be less tiring and still pedal well. Thereby future proofing you for riding any trail.
Any of the main brands make very good bikes. Get one with a dropper from somone who looks after thier bike and you wont go wrong. Stick to XC / Trail types of bikes. They will do for normal local riding and more than capable for a trip to Afan now and again.
In all honesty, get the best Calibre Bossnut version you can stretch to, preferably one with a dropper post, and just get out and ride!
Welcome back to the fold, for what it's worth here are my answers:
1. I've been riding since 1992 and still can't wheelie, don't worry about it.
2. I wouldn't bother with full sus in your price range, a hard tail will be absolutely fine for just getting out there and enjoying yourself (I've never ridden anything else and love my Stanton).
3. Go for a new bike with CTW, 26 really is dead these days.
4. Boost means the dropouts front and back are slightly wider (dubious benefit). 27.5 and 29 are wheel sizes, I've not ridden a 29 so can't advise. 27+ is a 27.5 wheel size with a bigger tyre (over 2.6 generally), some bikes are designed to accept 29 or 27.5+ wheels without upsetting the geometry/handling.
I'd recommend hunting down a few group tests on hardtails within your price range, there's loads online. In fact here's one:
https://www.mbr.co.uk/buyers_guide/best-mountain-bikes-under-1000-394580
I think the problem is that this year all bets are off on what is available
New bikes are in limited supply. Used bikes are going quickly
I'm sure you will be fine on a £1200 but start looking at what is available.
Rutland cycles don't have any 905s they have XS 901
Alpkit seem to think they can supply bikes within 3 weeks so might be worth a look. Good value and my son demoed one and liked it
I also like the look of the Planet x new scandal build. It's just gone upto £1200
The best value I have seen is these (I've been googling for my son). Maybe swap bigger tyres or buy some 29er wheels as apparently the BB is a bit low. But alot of bike for the money
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/am-100-ht-mountain-bike-275-id_8543080.html
sign up for https://learn.ryanleech.com/wheelie-challenge now for free and then learn to wheelie when you get your bike!
Thanks guys. I was thinking HT as I assume I’ll get more bike for the money and won’t need to muck about with bearings and bushes. I’ll open up my search to include full sus.
I had a crash last week and broke my face. The kids were terrified of what I looked like and the missus cried every time she looked at me so bike talk is off the table for a month. I’m pricing up what I need so I can go into the conversation with numbers in my head of what I need to “invest” before I low ball myself in what is likely to be an already difficult conversation. If it’s 700 then that’s cool, or 1k, or 1500 then whatever but if I telL her I need a grand I can’t then go asking for 1200. Much better to say “I need 1200” and find “guess what, I saved 200 and got what I needed for a grand”.
Sounds like I’m in the right ballpark though so that’s good. Can’t wait to get back out but need to finish healing first, then get on the road bike for a bit, then buy a mtb. Likely June/July so if anyone is thinking about getting a new one and wants to sell me theirs I’m in the market 6-8 weeks away.
I enjoy climbing. I know, I must be a weird Lycra clad XC (insert whatever DH riders call XC riders nowadays here). Can I still climb on something like an orange crush or Nukeproof scout? Reviews suggest so but is that saying they climb better than a full DH rig or do they really climb well? I’m keen to get good again but having broken my face already I’m intentionally going to be cautious now (I’m still a child inside and when someone says “that drop looks too big” I’m the first to say “watch this” so I’m trying to be mature). Seems no point getting a full enduro beast but similarly I don’t want an XC race bike which I can’t get gnarly on once I’m competent again. When I’m on manufacturer websites I think I’m supposed to be looking in the trail or enduro sections but don’t want to end up with multiple bikes, I want a do it all jobbie. Better to go trail or enduro for that? Or build something myself (I’m fairly handy with a spanner)?
I’ve found some new old stock of 2019 orange crush frames. Maybe I go for a new frame and wheel set then build up second hand groupset and brakes? Crush with pikes, then whatever I need to finish it and upgrade little bits over time? Seems sensible to buy the frame and wheels as new, and get decent forks from the off as trying to justify upgrading the expensive bits later is harder than up front cost. Or the Commencal meta ht seems
To take 27.5 and 29 so I could buy the entry model and upgrade it over time as it’s a solid platform?
Thanks again guys. Brand names and models are useful 😉
I love mountain biking. First post about getting back into the sport, second post about smashing your face in. Hope you heal quickly and get back out there.
The kids were terrified of what I looked like and the missus cried every time she looked at me
That's every day in my house.
Ha! Yeah, that’s me. Turns out you do forget how to ride a bike, or at least you lose your skills. Still as enthusiastic as ever though. Love it (but I did forget what proper pain was like, that’s not so good).
Healing pretty well, 4 stitches out and top lip healed, and the rest are probably a day or two away. Gum is coming back (they stitched it back together) and swelling is nearly gone. Another week and I reckon my arms and legs will have healed up too, just a few of the deep scabs left. The hole in my neck is a little worrying as it’s pretty deep but seems to be healing well so far.
I’m leaning towards using the cycle scheme to fund the bike rather than used bike. I’m guessing a new bike depreciates 40% in the first 2 years (1000 bike becomes worth 600) but if I’m getting 42% off a new bike then actually I can get a new one for the price of a 2018 so should go new. Or better value yet, get an ex demo or new old stock which is already discounted and then cycle scheme 42% off that. If I can find any new old stock that is.
Still seems a touchy subject so can’t get ahead of myself yet...