Recommend me an MTB bike

Quigs Snr

Roadie, thinking of doing a wee bit of offroading for fun in the off season. Nothing serious, just messing around in the mud, no racing etc... mostly trails.

Don't want to spend too much (have a couple of expensive road bikes with maybe another on the way), so have been looking for bargains in the www.chainreactioncycles.com 10% off august sale.

I don't think I need full suspension, hardtail should be fine, but again I don't know. Similarly I imagine that regular brakes will be ok for me, discs not required, so with that in mind I was thinking along the lines of the GT Avalanche 1.0 (non disc version), works out about 509 Euro.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=17829

Now I know with roadbikes, paying below a certain amount gets you a bike not worth having, for roadbikes in general you need to get into the 650-750 euro bracket and the trek 1000, specialised allez bracket to get a reasonable bike. Would the GT be the MTB equivalent of this ? Are there better bikes on that site for similar money ?

Any advice appreciated.
Thanks

Raam

my 2 cents...
if you can stretch to one of the Kona's then you can't really go wrong. I bought one from Cyclogical about 5 years ago and I love it (was quite a premium bike). I don't ride it any more since I got the roadbike, but my Kona is a quality piece of kit, so I recommend going with one of them if you can. I've ridden a few Specialized Hardrocks (not bad) and Specialized Rockhoppers (quite nice), but I've no experience with Giants.

The disc brakes are the business in wet and muddy conditions as they are more reliable (it took some getting used to when I switched from the MTB with discs to the roadie without, felt like I was trying to stop using a sponge), but as you have seen they are expensive.

I'm sure others with more experience will be along shortly to enlighten you better than I have

Bluefoam

On the GT - the fork is not good for proper off road & you should get a bike with hydraulic disk brakes.

Quigs Snr

Thanks for the tips guys. Don't think I will stretch to the hydraulic brakes, at the price point I am looking at. Besides I am a roadie and race on carbon wheels with specific pads thus I am used to my brakes not working !

Won't be doing serious offroading, but its a worry that you reckon the fork is not up to it. Any of those other bikes in the 600 euro bracket got a better fork ? Or should I just splash out for a better bike ?

Ciaran500

Found this to be a decent guide http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12540401

You won't be looking at a worthwhile full suspension till over a grand.

Bluefoam

Quigs Snr wrote:

Thanks for the tips guys. Don't think I will stretch to the hydraulic brakes, at the price point I am looking at. Besides I am a roadie and race on carbon wheels with specific pads thus I am used to my brakes not working !

Won't be doing serious offroading, but its a worry that you reckon the fork is not up to it. Any of those other bikes in the 600 euro bracket got a better fork ? Or should I just splash out for a better bike ?

Looks like the suntour fork is pretty standard in this price bracket. have a look at this http://www.cycleways.com/store/product/32008/07-Specialized-Hardrock-H-disc/

BTW, you should look for a cash discount or some free stuff...

Ciaran500

You don't want a RST Gilla fork. They are heavy, don't give the full 100mm stroke and act more like a pogo stick since they have no damping. I just got rid of mine off my Hardrock.

Raam

Quigs,
have a look around this site for reviews

http://www.mtbr.com/

I used it when buying my MTB

P

Bluefoam

This looks like a savage deal http://thecycleinn.com/shop/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

Drapper

Quigs Snr the end of season is coming up in September! there will be loads of sales on at:-

wiggle.co.uk
chainreationcycles..com
winstanleysbikes.co.uk/
edinburghbicycle.com

and even cyclelogical will have one too! as for Konas, the Kona caldera or the kona Kula are lovely entry level mtb bikes and should be starting around 700 - 800 in the next few weeks!

one word of advice, its an addictive sport MTB, so buy good now! ;-)