You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
I have owned a Carrera Kraken for the last 3 years. I am looking to buy myself a better bike. I can spend up to £1,000 at the very most.
My problem is that I don't even know what sort of bike I should be looking at! I ride on Exmoor, the Quantocks and in trail centres. I feel like my bike lets me down on more difficult descents, and my arms end up shaken and itchy.
I'm looking for something durable, fun on the downhills but that can climb well enough to get me to the top.
A few bikes I have been considering (I know they're all really different!):
On one 45650b complete bike:
http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOO45650BDEO/on-one-45650b-shimano-deore-mountain-bike
Boardman Team FS
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_991934_langId_-1_categoryId_165499
Boardman Team HT
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_992048_langId_-1_categoryId_165499
Scott Scale 960
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/scott/scale-960-2014-mountain-bike-ec056379
What would you get? Is this a terrible question with no real answer?
spend the money on new wheels and a better fork
there doesn't appear to be much else wrong with the frame
[url= http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/category/bikes/mountain-bikes/hardtail/product/review-carrera-kraken-12-46886/ ]review[/url]
Evans also have the 2013 Trek Stache 7 in larger sizes. It's a great bike if you're looking for a 29er
spend the money on new wheels and a better forkthere doesn't appear to be much else wrong with the frame
Thanks - that is an option too I suppose. The fork it came with has 120mm travel. Would it be foolish to stick a 140mm travel fork on the front of it?
Don't know, but you can save £100 off the boardmans at halfords for the next 2 hours 11 minutes!
Arg! The Boardman Team HT is down from £850 to £710, I'm thinking that looks like good value for money - I like the fact it has a 120mm fork. How do you know the deal is ending in an hour or so? I can't see reference to that on the site...
I really like the look of the Boardman FS, seems great value, & reasonable amount of travel, without getting silly - though I don't know the area you live, so can't say if it's 'over the top' for your trails. The What-mtb bike of the year gave the next model up a honourable mention for "value winner", and even mentioned that one as being almost as good for a lot less cash.
If you click on the "cycling" home page it'll give you the count-down less than 30 minutes now.
...and you can get another 10% off @ Halfords if you [url= https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/membership ]join British Cycling[/url] (annual membership is £32 and also includes £10m liability insurance and legal support).The Boardman Team HT is down from £850 to £710
ow do you know the deal is ending in an hour or so?
Got an email - ends at 2:00
Something to do with St George's day
http://f.mail.halfords.com/ats/msg.aspx?sg1=e7be2550a1730756fd404da0c1cb412f
Lots of stuff on Pauls Cycles.
I was going to just say the 45650B without any doubt. But just seen the value for money on the Boardman FS. Both look great value, I would decide based on how much benefit you think you'll get from going FS. I recently went FS myself and can't say anything bad about it, except that sometimes I want to have a bit more fun that my old Ragley Piglet afforded and the new bike doesn't. A steel hardtail like the On One is a whole bag of fun. But if you want to be more comfortable and spend longer days in the saddle I'd consider the Boardman FS. The other HT's are fine bikes but a bit too similar to what you already have in the kraken. And to throw one more cat amongst the pigeons..... Genesis High Latitude?
http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/mountain/ht-29/high-latitude
I saw these in Evans today and apart from the Suntour fork you get a lot of bang for your buck.
Trek 4700 HT - http://www.evanscycles.com/products/trek/4700-d-2013-mountain-bike-ec042073
SLX and Deore drivetrain with Shimano hydraulic brakes for 500. And you get 50 quid off if you trade in an old bike at the same time (can be a knackered old frame they told me).
Sell your Carerra and buy a Recon Gold fork ( http://www.merlincycles.com/rockshox-recon-gold-tk-forks-26-2014-66021.html) with the proceeds and you've got one hell of a hardtail for half your budget.
Ahem
[url= http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_907523_langId_-1 ]Aren't we forgetting something...[/url]