Mountain bike advice?

[MK Shrimper]

Got mine from Halfords about 18 months ago and it has been superb, I used to repair and upgrade push bikes as a youngster and have been more than impressed with the one I got. It is a Diamondback S10 with full suspension which comes in handy as i live 2 mins from a forest.


Diamond Back do a wide range of mountain bikes and are very good indeed.

My only advice to you SBH is that if you misplace it and can not see it, that does not mean it has been stolen mate!!!

Has Senga taken the stabilisers off for you yet?

 

[Aberdeen Shrimper]

Has Senga taken the stabilisers off yet?

Not yet mate........my one has a little plastic wicker looking basket on the front and rainbow colour streamers coming of the handle bars!!

:D

 

[jstallan]

I got mine via my companies 'Cycle to Work' Scheme. Trek 4500 - changed the knobbly tyres for some ordinary road tyres and what a difference they make....

Tescos sell padded cycling shorts for about £8 - buy 2 pairs and wear them underneath some normal shorts (well worth the investment!)

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

That doesn't bode well! The Mrs bought me a bike for my birthday earlier in the year, from Halfords. Still, it's been a good present so far and I'm loving my morning bike rides along the Grand Union Canal. It also gave me an excuse to buy this bad boy:

No prizes for guessing what you will be wearing the next time you go to see the Tour de France in London...;)

In response to the OP, mountain bikes are not my strong point, although I'd usually advise people against buying from Halfords (unless it's a specific Halfords BikeHut). Can't go wrong with a Specialized if you ask me. Also, option possibly not open to you, but see if you can negotiate a tax-free purchase on an employers Bike to Work scheme as others have said.

Also if most of your riding will be on road/hard tracks/cycle paths get the tyres changed from heavy off road knobbly tyres to slicker more minimal traded tyres.

 

[The Big Shrimp]

Moving this on a little bit. I'm looking to buy a bike in the next month for so that I can cycle the mile or so to work (when I can't be arsed to walk!) Those who know me will know I ain't small & will probably need the Hummer of the bikeworld!

I'm 6ft 2, 17-18 stone (probably more at the mo!) & need something that will get me about & will not buckle under my weight!! I doubt i will be doing lots of mileage, so it doesn't need to be expensive, in fact I don't want to spend lots of money either!

Any advice or help would be appreciated!

 

[Benfleet A1]

That doesn't bode well! The Mrs bought me a bike for my birthday earlier in the year, from Halfords. Still, it's been a good present so far and I'm loving my morning bike rides along the Grand Union Canal. It also gave me an excuse to buy this bad boy:

Expect it to breakdown very soon. Peugeot is the very worse. :cool:

 

[Uncle Leo]

No prizes for guessing what you will be wearing the next time you go to see the Tour de France in London...;)

Too right :)

Or maybe even in France next year - one of the boys wants to follow the TdF for a few days to celebrate his 30th. I'm hoping he goes through with that...

 

[jstallan]

Moving this on a little bit. I'm looking to buy a bike in the next month for so that I can cycle the mile or so to work (when I can't be arsed to walk!) Those who know me will know I ain't small & will probably need the Hummer of the bikeworld!

I'm 6ft 2, 17-18 stone (probably more at the mo!) & need something that will get me about & will not buckle under my weight!! I doubt i will be doing lots of mileage, so it doesn't need to be expensive, in fact I don't want to spend lots of money either!

Any advice or help would be appreciated!

Your build resembles mine.... Trek 4500 with a 22.5" frame... That's what I have... Holds up very well

 

[steveo]

Inspired by this thread, I popped down to the local bike shop. My last bike was a mountain bike which i bought because my kids had them and I thought they were the thing to have. I never really enjoyed it, it was uncomfortable and heavy. Spoke the big shop people and as I dont intend going off road they recommended a hybrid, which for the uninformed is a cross between a mountain bike and a road racing bike.

Tried a few on the private road next to the shop but ended up with a Claud Butler Odyssey. Took off the rack and the mudguards and am ready to go.

 

[Berrichonne shrimper]

Too right :)

Or maybe even in France next year - one of the boys wants to follow the TdF for a few days to celebrate his 30th. I'm hoping he goes through with that...

Shame its not this year for his 30th as it goes through our local largeish town this year an could have put you up for a couple of days.

 

[The Big Shrimp]

Your build resembles mine.... Trek 4500 with a 22.5" frame... That's what I have... Holds up very well

Expensive? I won't get loads of use, but enough to make it worth buying!

 

[Hotman]

recommned a hybrid / city bike , i am in the middle of a half-assed conversion of one of my marin's into a hybrid (primarily just changing to schwalbe city jet thin tyres, presta valve tubesm and am looking for a rigid front fork) as it is a pain in the arse riding a mtb on the road (and i have a spare mtb doing nothing).

other things are different such as handlebars, gear ratios, etc. the cost / benefit of changing these on mine are not worthwhile, but must be nice to have on a hybrid.

 

[Hotman]

also on a hybrid the wheels are bigger i believe

 

[steveo]

also on a hybrid the wheels are bigger i believe

Yep as I found out today mountain bike wheels are max 26" which is why you always feel bunched up.

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

also on a hybrid the wheels are bigger i believe

Yep 700c on a Hybrid (same as a road/cyclocross bike) but only 26" on a MTB.

* says he having ridden for 2 years on a time-trial bike with a 24" front but 27" rear wheel setup...

 

[The Big Shrimp]

So what size frame or wheel size should I be looking for?

 

[steveo]

So what size frame or wheel size should I be looking for?

Think you need to go to a shop and try a few. What I thought was comfortable was ok but the woman in shop who new what she was talking about, made some adjustments to the handle bars and saddle and it was miles better.

 

[The Big Shrimp]

Think you need to go to a shop and try a few. What I thought was comfortable was ok but the woman in shop who new what she was talking about, made some adjustments to the handle bars and saddle and it was miles better.

Thats what I thought, but I know I will probably pay more that way! I'm a cheapskate!

 

[Hotman]

Thats what I thought, but I know I will probably pay more that way! I'm a cheapskate!

And if you're not a bike mechanic (based on your posts on here so far, probably not) you'd be best to take any bike ordered over the internet to a local bike shop for putting together and adjustments. You'll probably not save much at all by ordering on line, and if you do go that route you'll end up having an ill fitting bike that you'll regret.

 

[BalmainShrimper]

Thats what I thought, but I know I will probably pay more that way! I'm a cheapskate!

Honestly a decent bike shop will fit you a bike for free, and should probably do the first service for free too.

Sounds like what you need is a hybrid. If you can afford it, go for a carbon fork. This helps with weight but more importantly soaks up the road vibrations making it more comfortable. I'd also avoid disc brakes - they look flash but are unnecessary for road riding. Think about clip in pedals and shoes. Takes a little getting used to but will make your riding more efficient and you'll join the "serious" rider club. You can get mountain bike pedals which clip in on one side and are normal on the other so you don't always have to wear cycling shoes.

Remember to budget for a decent helmet, lights, gloves, shorts and a flouro jacket and you're ready to go. Before you know it you'll be shaving your legs!