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Let me explain. Mrs G and myself had a chat the other night about our lives in general. She was feeling guilty about everything and how much i have to do, and also being thankful for all i have done and am doing for her and the family. She said she wished she could do something for me but we can't afford anything major.
In the conversation i mentioned interest free credit as well as what i have managed to save already and she told me that's fine, as long as we can afford the repayments. Worked it out together and i am good to go, with a seal of approval from Mrs G.
So, i am looking for a FS bike (frame and parts or complete bike) up to £2.5k ish, less if possible. I currently ride a 17" Cove Stiffee and it will be ridden mainly in Brechfa and Cwm Rhaeadr etc properly from next easter when little one starts school, but should be able to get out some from September when he starts nursery.
So, in my excitement, what suggestions have you got?
Preferred wheel size (diameter & width) & travel would help. But failing that, i'd go shortish travel, long, low & slackish, so: Bird, Whyte etc.
Complete Cotic Flaremax? The silver build is right at the top end of your budget (okay, £99 over but I'm here with the upsell 😉) but I think you'd feel like you'd got more of a custom build from a company with a great rep. They do 0% direct and have a good demo tour, too.
Go onto one of the big shop sites and look at everything up to your budget, obviously if you can get something a little cheaper it will save a couple of quid every month.
don’t be put off at all by deore components, they work just fine.
there are loads of bikes out there, pick one and get going.
2.5k ain’t exactly cheap, places like evans will let you ride one for a small fee, this is worth doing ime.
my first fs bike, a cube ams, bought in 2012, cost a lot less than your budget and had mostly slx/xt, with deore cranks. I think it was £1799, so £2500 should get you a stonker.
I deliberately haven't put any other info down as it might limit the recommendations. Was looking for suggestions on real life experiences/what you own.
Last FS i owned and rode was a 2004 heckler about 8 years ago. Didn't get on with it so didn't ride it much. I then built up a remedy, but had to sell it without riding it when Mrs G began to get ill, that was about 4 years ago.
The stiffee size wise is good, and a great bike to ride. All i am hoping for is a similar, if not better ride experience with a FS. Not in a position unfortunately to test ride hence the question.
OP. You're being a little vague in your requirements. FS is an extremely broad brush. Do you like munching miles or struggling up fire roads s(pushing perhaps) and then plummeting down again?
Fair point.
I am not the fastest by any means. I enjoy pedalling up the fire roads (sense of achievement) but prefer the plummeting down. Not really looking to jump gaps or do drop offs. I like fast flowing and technical singletrack type trails.
Hope that sort of makes sense.
Again I'm chucking the T130 from Whyte cap in the ring, a great bike climber and stupidly capable pointing the other way , Even the G160 is in the price range if you can find one if you want even more capability pointing south.
Bravo, she loves you and wants you to have fun. This is way harder than buying a bike. 99% is achieved. Enjoy the search.
£2.5K is way too much, for the win. Spend £1.5 on classified here or somewhere like Paul’s cycles and take your self and the wee barn in a holiday for the win. ( thumbs up)
The new canyon spectral aluminium looks good. Plus you don’t spend all your moneys
New ally Stumpjumper £2500
A friend recently bought an Airdrop Edit V2 for 2.6k. Had a go whiilst he was demo-ing it. An absolute belter of a bike. He is madly in love with it. A shade over-budget, but definitely worth considering.
Just seen this on offer:
https://www.c6bikes.co.uk/Trek-Fuel-EX-9.7-2018/cycle_detail/3-408
Might be a bit too big, not sure how the sizing compares.
Commencal meta tr is another one to look at.
Evans have the trade in a banger bike for ££ off at the moment and Hargroves Cycles have the spend and save. Most independents are offering 10-20% off at the momemt too it seems from my recent hunting.
This gets the 2019 Stuntjumper FSR Comp at c£2250
I had a go on one the other day. Bit heavy in the Alloy version but it's an awesome bike and you don't feel the weight.
Alternatives such as the 2018 Giant Anthem 2 or Trance 2
BIRD Aeris or Whyte T130 and the S is now down to 2.2k in some shops.
Thanks for the suggestions, some there i hadn't thought of. My last new purchase was the stiffee frame at a ridiculous discount in 2013, so this would be my first bike to purchase new.
I know i could have a lower budget, but this will be a bike to keep, not one to chop and change. Prefer to have a decent budget and get something i like/best i can get for the money rather than spend a lot less and not be overly happy with it.
One thought i have had though, i could spend a decentish amount on a frame and forks, use birthday and xmas money (2 days apart) to put towards some wheels and use my existing drivetrain/brakes etc for now and upgrade later on when i need to.
Due to the time of year i’d hang on a month or two as the 2018 kit will be discounted ready for the 2019 stuff.
Last year you could get a new Orange 4, 5 or Segment (now Stage 4) within budget so if you fancy Orange keep an eye on Sunset MTB. Love my Segment btw, highly recommend.
Spectral looks like good value, reviews are positive too.