Mtb

MAte of mine is after a MTB for his misses, he's on a tight budget, nothing silly fancy, anyone got any recommendations? I should think it will be used for nothing more than family rides on country lanes, I was gonna recommend Decathlon? Or, horror of horrors, Halfords.!! Did see a bargain at Merlin, but then realised it was just frame and forks!!!

decathlon or halfords would be o.k but don't expect to get the best of advice from the staff, a proper shop would be a better place to ask.
what is the budget?
whatever you do don't get a full suspension bike, a waste of time on a cheap bike as the rear shocks have no damping and they bob up and down sapping your pedaling energy.

whatever you do don't get a full suspension bike, a waste of time on a cheap bike

Can I get a 'Hell Yeah Brother'.

Can I get a 'Hell Yeah Brother'.

no but i have a wikked apollo rampage wiv disks badass moto-forks n that.
yours for 'a go' wiv your sister.

commencal do some nice entry level hardtails
http://www.moosecycles.com/products.php?plid=m3b75s2p537

Recommend a decent local shop like, for example, Holdsworths in Putney or any other non chain. They will give good advice and need those sales more than Halfords. They should be able to do a reasonable deal

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLqrymode.a4p?f%5FProductID=0&f%5FWebLinkID=12370&f%5FSortOrderID=1&f%5Fbct=c012372c012370

Fantastic value for money and most helpful.

God no, full susser on a budget, you're avin a larf!

Nope, he just wants a simple MTB, budget is around £150, so not a lot?
He has a nice Merlin Malt, but I doubt his wife will be doing much off road?

I'll check out Edinburgh now too. cheers.

I have a decent yet now completely stock Trek 6500

it used to be more interesting, but I had lots nicked off of it in Oxford.
would be looking for £200 its an excelllent bike.
height range 5'6 to 5'10

www.paulscycles.co.uk always have deals on bikes from the last year or 2.

when it come to MTB, it's usually hard to get the right quality at any given price, so here's what I usually do;

£200ish - rigid MTB

£300ish - rigid/front suspension MTB

£400ish - front suspension MTB

£600ish - full suspension.

Check out Edwardes Bicycles in Camberwell SE5 if you/he is local. Very good shop full of good advice and some complete bargains.

0207 703 5720

found a kona smoke for £180 and came with suspension seatpost and some extra, email send.

MAte of mine is after a MTB for his misses, he's on a tight budget, nothing silly fancy, anyone got any recommendations? I should think it will be used for nothing more than family rides on country lanes, I was gonna recommend Decathlon? Or, horror of horrors, Halfords.!! Did see a bargain at Merlin, but then realised it was just frame and forks!!!

I have a GT Agressor 1, cost £600 new, asking £300. I bought this while i was making my decision on a full suspension yet still wanted to be out on the trails, afer all don't want to fork out lots of money when you've not explored every avenue..

The GT has Rock Shox Tora u-turn front fork's 80 - 130mm (i think is the range can check for exact travell distance)
Hays Sole disc brakes front and rear
27 speed Deore Lx & rear / front mech
LX shifters
Alex rims with standard tyres from new..

i've used this for around two months then it's stood in my garage because i bought a full suspension, now the winters truely set in i'm looking to buy a single speed.

if your really interested let me know i can provide full and detailed spec's including pictures..

you know it all dont you mrsmith

when it come to MTB, it's usually hard to get the right quality at any given price, so here's what I usually do;

£200ish - rigid MTB

£300ish - rigid/front suspension MTB

£400ish - front suspension MTB

£600ish - full suspension.

Surely its not about how much money you have but what you will actually use it for?

Unless your doing actual 'mountain biking' you really dont need any suspension.

£150 is tight, but if your not fussy im sure you can find something even new. Concentrate on something that fits her well, decent gears and well made lightish frame.

Second hand youd get a lot better, but id still steer clear of suspension, which will make the bike heavy and sluggish.

http://www.pinnacle-bikes.co.uk/Bike-Range/Mountain/Source/?contentId=1261

when it come to MTB, it's usually hard to get the right quality at any given price, so here's what I usually do;

£200ish - rigid MTB

£300ish - rigid/front suspension MTB

£400ish - front suspension MTB

£600ish - full suspension.

What rigid mtb can you get for 200/300 braniac?
myka £300 lockout forks

Do you really need to be so annoying. Just a thought.

you know it all dont you mrsmith

No. if i did i would be paid millions by big corporations to tell them stuff they don't know.

Extremely cheap bikes from this place. Especially the folding bikes. Not as good as more expensive bikes, as I'm sure you might appreciate that already.

http://www.bikesandprams.co.uk/section.php?xSec=2

if you dont mind putting a bike together you can by a bike strait from the factory quite cheap
http://www.factorydirectbikes.com/

I'm trying to offload my Cannondale Chase 3 2005, only rode it a few times, has a dirt jump geometry so just put the seat up for normal riding, i converted it to single speed (but have all the original gears etc) .Originally cost me £750. £200 and it's yours.

Bought my first MTB for £300, a fully rigid Orange Gringo. Changed my life. I don't know what Orange's entry-level bike is anymore, but there must be one.

And you don't need suspension for off-road, early MTbers used to race downhill without it. I would avoid suspension at all, because unless you're going to spend £300 on the fork alone (forget the rear until you got serious cash) they're going to be flexy and poorly dampened

I get asked for this sort of recommendation every now and then at work and by friends- first thing I normally establish is what exactly they want it for- and most of the time the most challenging terrain is going to be a tow-path/light greenlanes.

I usually recommend a cyclo-cross bike for this- about 10 lbs lighter than an equivalent mtb, and one hell of a lot faster on tarmac.

Much more chance of them using the bike if it is light and fast- plus you can put mudguards etc on with ease.

Other than that, engaging bike snob mode, take Eds prices and add £600/£700 to each one and you have more of a guideline on what you need to pay for decent kit!