in message <[email hidden]>, Mark
(') said:Hi
I know this sort of request comes up fairly regularly but I've
searched
google and don't see anything that quite answers my questions. Also,
I guess this sort of thing changes fairly rapidly as new models come
out etc.
While I know something about touring bikes and tandems, I'm struggling
when
it comes to ATBs. I'm looking for my first bike now that I've moved
somewhere a bit more rural. My requirements are:
- a 'reasonable' bike that won't disintegrate in a year (I'm about
13st at the moment)
- something that will cope with reasonably rough off-road tracks (but
probably not jumps)
- price around £500-700
- hardtail (I'm assuming that rear suspension isn't worth it at that
price).
You're right. £700 will get you a very nice hard tail, but won't get you
a full suspension bike worth having (unless you're very lucky with your
deals).
Having recently stripped a couple of RockShox forks and discussed them
with friends and with my local LBS I would recommend against anything
with RockShox up front - I was amazed by how flimsy and crude the ones
I took to pieces were, and one friend who rides them has had to have
his sent back to the importer under warranty twice. LBS man says that's
his experience too - he gets lots of them coming back with problems.
Marzocchi or Manitou are allegedly much better.
For £700 you're just into the bottom of the Cannondale range - the F400.
Whether it's worth going for a 'dale at this level is a bit doubtful;
you get a brilliant frame, but they scrimp on the parts. If you can
afford £1200 for a hardtail the F800 is a *lovely* bike, mind you...
The very nice Orange Sub Zero is out of you bracket, as well, but the
Orange Gringo (which I haven't seen) is in it.
The Specialized Rockhoppers are the sort of Mondeo in this bracket.
Ubiquitous, competent, not very exciting, but will do you. A lad I ride
with regularly has a Giant XTC which seems a very competent bike for
the money.
Quoted message said:I've seen quite a few recommendations for Marin but I do wonder how
much one
is paying for the name. Would I be better getting something less well
known?
Hardtails people in the know are riding include Cove and On-One
<URL:http://www.on-one.co.uk/index2.html>. But frankly with the big
American brands you are saving as much through mass production as you
are paying for the name. The smaller makes are produced in smaller
numbers and tend to be more expensive.
Quoted message said:Also, how does ATB sizing work - is a 17" bike from Marin the same
size as
one from Trek?
No!
Quoted message said:Is the recommendation just to go to the LBS and try
it?
Definitely.
Oh - the other thing - there are definite bargains to be had second
hand, people who go out and buy expensive bikes, ride them round the
block a couple of times, and decide they don't like them. Try eBay.
--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
;; lovely alternative to rice.
