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I have some C2W vouchers that are burning a hole in my pocket(not actually applied for them yet).
I fancy a steel hard tail with 130ish travel that would be suitable for covering decent miles but pretty capable for trail riding.
I’ve got an eeb and a long travel fs bike so want something for some off road adventures and even riding to work.
id prefer it to be uk made and about £4k.
its the Halfords c2w which limits where i can get it.
any suggestions?
Well, I was thinking cotic as soon as I started reading your requirements.
Then you mentioned Halfords. However, if memory serves, there was a time you could get cotic bikes through Halfords c2w. No idea if it's still an option.
https://www.halfords.com/bikes/mountain-bikes/voodoo-loco-mountain-bike---m-l-frames-272459.html is £1k
I think sonder take Halfords vouchers which should give a few options
Yeah looked at cotic but they don’t do Halfords unfortunately.
Not many steel frame MTB's at halfords... this? https://www.halfords.com/bikes/mountain-bikes/voodoo-loco-mountain-bike---m-l-frames-272459.html?plpPlacement=1
Steel frame, mullet and has Bombers 😜 swoon
Yeah Sonder look interesting.
Planet X seems a good place for a bargain.
that’s not a bad shout. The Signal Ti pinion is an interesting machine. Might pop into alpkit tomorrow to see what they have in store to look at
I think sonder take Halfords vouchers which should give a few options
Sonder's a solid shout, definitely worth the Alpkit visit.
Never managed to get to Alpkit but I did manage to make a flying visit to pedals in Edinburgh to check out one of these.
hoping to get a demo soon then see how much it is going to cost with a couple of changes.
The guys at Pedals are decent, that will be a lovely bike no doubt
Steel frame, mullet and has Bombers
What, exactly, has caused cyclists to jump onto this stupid obsession with ‘mullet’ wheel sets? I truly can’t understand the logic, it makes no sense to me. Cannondale had a stab at something similar with a 24”/26” wheel set, and that made no sense whatsoever. 650b I understand completely, I tried riding a 29er when they first hit the market, and they felt clumsy to me, mullet describes this fad - stupid and ugly.
If I could, I’d have 650b rims fitted to my bikes while they’re in the workshop, but they won’t fit, especially the Inbred hooligan hardtail.
Bird Forge? They take Halfords vouchers and you can build up any spec you like.
Forget the C2W for a moment and look at the Cotic outlet page, if you are small or medium you can get a Solaris frame for £700.
OK it's welded somewhere in eastern Europe IIRC, but it's a UK company and you're not gonna find a better frame at that price.
Then get a donor bike on the C2W, or just build from spares/cheap bits and upgrade over time.
Apologies if you're L or XL 🙂
What, exactly, has caused cyclists to jump onto this stupid obsession with ‘mullet’ wheel sets?
It's just another (pretty good) option these days, which some prefer and some don't.
I have a bike which takes both and it's really useful for some riding locations - but it's not the second coming of Christ.
Steel frame, mullet and has Bombers
What, exactly, has caused cyclists to jump onto this stupid obsession with ‘mullet’ wheel sets? I truly can’t understand the logic, it makes no sense to me. Cannondale had a stab at something similar with a 24”/26” wheel set, and that made no sense whatsoever. 650b I understand completely, I tried riding a 29er when they first hit the market, and they felt clumsy to me, mullet describes this fad - stupid and ugly.
If I could, I’d have 650b rims fitted to my bikes while they’re in the workshop, but they won’t fit, especially the Inbred hooligan hardtail.
After riding my 29er and 650b bikes back to back recently I can certainly see the point. Not sure I'd personally go for one though?
it makes no sense to me.
It's not meant to make any sense to folks that think a 26 inbred is the pinnacle of MTB.
Or it's just another option, maybe try some of this new fangled stuff 😉 you don't understand and work out what you like best.
What, exactly, has caused cyclists to jump onto this stupid obsession with ‘mullet’ wheel sets?
I think it makes sense for shorter riders, the advantages of the big front wheel to roll over stuff but keeping the back in proportion with the smaller frame. That way it can still go around corners and you don't buzz your arse on the rear wheel.
For taller riders and bigger frames, I guess it makes less sense.
This is exactly what I did last year with my Halfords C2W voucher & Bird. Would recommend the whole experience with them
Still love it 😊 
You've already 2 MTB's so get a gravel bike instead.
What, exactly, has caused cyclists to jump onto this stupid obsession with ‘mullet’ wheel sets? I truly can’t understand the logic, it makes no sense to me. Cannondale had a stab at something similar with a 24”/26” wheel set, and that made no sense whatsoever. 650b I understand completely, I tried riding a 29er when they first hit the market, and they felt clumsy to me, mullet describes this fad - stupid and ugly.
Have you ridden a modern mixed-wheel bike? I have a 2017 loan Levo, which originally was specced as 650b+, but was in full 29" mode when I first got it. As a 29er it felt a bit ungainly. As I had a spare 27.5 wheelset lying about, I stuck a 27.5 rear wheel in and it worked pretty well, a bit more agile than a full 29er on twisty stuff. It's just another option to try / play with.
Oh and 29ers have come a long way since the early days, it does feel a bit like you're looking at the whole thing with ten-year-old spectacles on. Similar with aesthetics, you just get used to stuff. 29ers used to look weird and ungainly back then, now 26"-wheeled bikes look like they have tiny little skateboard wheels, a bit like a very tall person with stumpy little legs.
Anyway, modern bikes are rubbish etc.
I have two mullets - one (Kenevo) which was 650b but I stuck a 29 front end on. Completely transformed the bike for the better. And also the Levo that just comes that way - you'll struggle to find many people saying a newer generation Levo doesn't ride well. Full 29 would take away some of the nimble characteristics of the rear end.
I don't think I'd buy a bike that didn't at least have a 29 up front - have a full 29'er HT and looking at it, it all looks in proportion, not like when they first appeared and resembled clown bikes
Have you ridden a modern mixed-wheel bike?
He hasn't even ridden the bikes he's got! 29er clumsy?! haha . Sometimes it's best not to type anything and go listen to a record.
that is very nice.
This is exactly what I did last year with my Halfords C2W voucher & Bird. Would recommend the whole experience with them
Still love it 😊
He hasn't even ridden the bikes he's got! 29er clumsy?! haha . Sometimes it's best not to type anything and go listen to a record.
Bollocks. I haven’t ridden the bikes I have recently. That’s because of a minor accident that’s left me with a lifetime injury that’s affected my confidence on a bike. I bought my first MTB in 1988, a Stumpjumper, I’ve ridden in Colorado, Chamonix, the Parc du Volcans, the FoD off-piste trails, and several of the other Welsh trail parks. I have ridden 29ers, and didn’t feel comfortable with the larger wheel size. I’ve had several Cannondales, one, my SuperVee 3000, and signed by Missy Giove, has a RockShok conversion, which I took to Vail in ‘94, I had a Beast of the East, two Coves, a Handjob, (the frame is still in the shed), and a Hummer, and the Trek Remedy 66 is being given a full service soon, next will be the Inbred 567 Prototype, followed by the Inbred 835 SS.
How many bikes have you ridden?
My Remedy, somewhere in Wales…
the Trek Remedy 66 is being given a full service soon, next will be the Inbred 567 Prototype, followed by the Inbred 835 SS.
Save yourself some time and money and just get a more modern bike.
Things have moved on a lot.
Looking at that Trek reminds me of just how bad bikes were not that long ago.
The guys at Pedals are decent
Just dropping a plus one in here..... Excellent after sales service.... ( 4 years after in my case)
Took a while to get sorted due to some c2w issues but finally picked this up last week
Pedals Downshift trail spec, only had one quick blast but already feeling pretty happy with my decision.
Had to post a link as I’ve still not figured out how to post pictures on here.
That looks really nice. I like a simple Hardtail.