[Closed] Swobo Mutineer?

Give Charlie the Bikemonger a call

http://www.charliethebikemonger.com/contact-us-2-w.asp

He sells them and I think he took one to a SS championship

They look pretty slack, and from memory they are relatively heavy for a rigid SS.

[url= http://www.charliethebikemonger.com/swobo-mutineer-single-speed-bike-4873-p.asp ]Charlie the Bikemonger sells them. [/url]By the looks of the blurb on that page, more designed as a play bike.

Damn, too slow.

[url= http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/mountain/29/high-latitude-10 ]Genesis Latitude [/url]is more designed for the long haul.

Highlands Aviemore Longish Beginner
These are the keywords I noticed in the OP.

None of those go with 'Single Speed' in my book.

I'd be looking at something completely and utterly different from this bike.

Thanks. I read a few comments online, and they indicated it was a good all-round MTB, but my gut feel hinted that it might be more of a play bike.

Alex, what sort of bike would you suggest?

I'm a beginner mountain biker, but do ride road bikes and recumbents, and have ridden fixed wheel. Singlespeed appealed, but I don't have MTB SS experience, so I'm not sure how it would work out for me. I just thought it might be worth a punt.

Is £600 your max budget?

With £600 for the job you describe I would buy

a) Absolutely not that, and
b) A Voodoo Bizango from Halfords. Seriously, they're fantastic.

It looks like a great laugh though

Not really, although MTBs seem really expensive, and I don't think I could bring myself to spend too much - I'd be thinking that the money could be spent on something like a velomobile instead!

I also don't know how much mountain biking I'd end up doing.

I suppose £1200-ish would be a realistic budget.

MTBs seem really expensive

They can be but they can also offer incredible value for money if you're not driven by the marketing to buy the latest fashionable item or something in carbon.

If all you want is a serviceable mountainbike £600-1000 will buy you something great. you'd do even better 2nd hand but that would take some experience to tell the good from the bad.

Good luck

Gaz

Yes, second-hand would be great. I just don't really know what sort of bike to go for. I tend to prefer old-school, but I'm aware that for off-roading I'll need something which handles well and gives me some confidence.

Really hard to know what to recommend given your 'old school' leanings.
Everyone's a bit different and if speed isn't a requirement you can use all sorts of bikes to have fun in the mountains.

For example, I know a lot of people who have moved towards fat bikes, cyclocross and 'plus' bikes to keep things simple - they love them.

I'm trying to think of some nice simple straightforward bikes that are about quality rather than anything flash. Something where if you do get sus forks, the aren't just pogo sticks.

Tricky - most of the beginners/non-techy I know love 29ers and suspension forks.

[url= http://www.wiggle.co.uk/kona-taro-29-2015/?lang=en&curr=GBP&dest=1&sku=5360675268&ci_src=18615224&ci_sku=5360675268uk&utm_source=google&utm_term&utm_campaign=Bikes&utm_medium=base&utm_content=sXeRfaOXx_dc|pcrid||pkw||pmt||prd|5360675268uk ]Kona Taro[/url]

[url= http://www.evanscycles.com/products/genesis/latitude-20-2015-mountain-bike-ec073934?country=GB&currency=GBP&esvt=886-GOUKE242970&esvadt=999999-0-32870-1&esvcrea=61233487136&esvd=c&esvo=EV223074-19-YLW&esvaid=50080&gclid=CjwKEAjw5J6sBRDp3ty_17KZyWsSJABgp-Oapv96YAhl38eqjCiFaImnHyZkB2WGRjf4ig0Bg_1VeRoCuk7w_wcB ]Genesis Latitude[/url]

Not very old school appearance:
[url= http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOOPWX9/on-one-parkwood-sram-x9-mountain-bike ]On One Parkwood[/url]

[url= http://shop.birdmtb.com/zero/zero-7.html ]Bird Zero[/url] (only temporarily out of stock - just waiting for forks)

Thanks very much, Alex. I'll have a look at those.

My short list is getting pretty long, but the bikes which have popped up on my radar include:

Cannondale Trail 29 SS
Kona Unit
(different takes on single-speed, along with the Swobo Mutineer)

Isla Bikes Beinn 29 (Quite old school, including V-brakes… - lovely!)

I did go to Halfords two or three times to look at a Voodoo, but couldn't find anyone to help, plus I don't like the colour or the voodoo theme.

Moving up in price, and requiring a build which could get costly:

Singular Swift (may be able to pick up a used one)
Stooge

I suspect my dream bike in this category would be a Jones of some sort.

At the back of my mind is the niggling question of suspension… perhaps there is a reason why so many bikes have it, although I have spoken to riders (mainly fans of Jeff Jones) who are quick to point out its disadvantages.

One FS bike which might be okay for the sort of riding I'd like to do is the Salsa Spearfish, but it's too expensive.

I can definitely see the appeal of the Stooge/Jones bikes.
Tricky to find a complete bike of that style at a price that suits, but you should definitely try and ride something of this style against something more technology-lead, just to see which you find more fun.

The Genesis Longitude might also be worth a look at £999

If you do go down this route, I can thoroughly recommend Sideways Cycles as an expert in this arena.

At risk of being shot down by many, have a look at the Charge Cooker 1 from the 2016 range @ £799. The Pinnacle range at Evans has some good value well thought bikes too. Good luck with your search. Cheers 1 shed.

Pinnacle Ramin 1, problem solved

Or buy my Karate Monkey off the classifieds?
😉

That looks very nice, and might be ideal, but I'm not really ready for buying.

I've just built a Stooge for £820. Bought the frame SH on here and then a 2013 Cube ltd Race on eBay. Swapped the parts over. Running it as a rigid and still have the Rebas sitting on the shelf if it takes my fancy. With a new frame from Charlie the bike monger you could do similar for £950. That includes a new headset and front dérailleur as the Cube was direct mount...nice