€1400 to spend on a mountain bike - any recommendations?

SuprSi

My much loved Claude Butler was nicked from the underground car park yesterday by some lad with a bolt cutter. All that's left is one half of a bolt

Anyway, I had the bike for 5 years and spent many, many hours on the hills with it, so I got great use out of it. Now I need to get a new one.

I'm going to use the 'Cycle to Work' scheme to assist, meaning I can probably afford around €1400. The one condition I have is that it must have Shimano XT gears as I had them on my last bike and loved them. I'm not too concerned about it being a hardtail or full suspension.

Any recommendations?

SuprSi

Sorry, I should say that the shifter must be XT as I like changing the gears with the brake levers.

tunney

A nice road bike?

Bluefoam

Cycleways have a couple of nice Specialised '09 bikes in and around your budget - I didn't look too closely at the spec while I was there...

Morgan

Are you planning on doing any XC racing?
How would you descibe your off-road use of the bike?
Will you also be riding it on the road?
Will you still be parking it in the underground car park?

I've seen very few complete bikes that come with dual-control shifters these days - they're still available (at XT and XTR levels) if you wanted to switch though.

SuprSi

Morgan wrote: »

Are you planning on doing any XC racing?
No racing, just casual off-roading n Ballinastoe woods or similar
How would you descibe your off-road use of the bike?
I'd be an intermediate cyclist, predominantly cross-country
Will you also be riding it on the road?
No
Will you still be parking it in the underground car park?
Not a chance! Moving it to the balcony in the apartment

I've seen very few complete bikes that come with dual-control shifters these days - they're still available (at XT and XTR levels) if you wanted to switch though.

Thanks.

Morgan

If you're looking for something light and racey I'd consider this:

http://www.canyon.com/_en/mountainbikes/bike.html?b=1804

Personally, if I was to have one bike and it wasn't for racing I'd go for a steel-framed hardtail with slightly longer (120mm) fork.

Like a Genesis Altitude:
http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/mountain/altitude/altitude-20/specifications/

Seeing as you're getting it on the BTW scheme you'll probably have to buy a complete bike - but there are lots of nice frames out there if you felt like getting something built up.

Diarmuid

check out slane cycles. I got a great deal on a 2009 Scale there 2 months ago.

CramCycle

Morgan wrote: »

Seeing as you're getting it on the BTW scheme you'll probably have to buy a complete bike - but there are lots of nice frames out there if you felt like getting something built up.

Depends on your work place and the shop but i don't think thats true, I got spare parts under it and got the shop to include it, I think the condition is you get it from the same place?

SuprSi

Morgan wrote: »

If you're looking for something light and racey I'd consider this:

http://www.canyon.com/_en/mountainbikes/bike.html?b=1804

Personally, if I was to have one bike and it wasn't for racing I'd go for a steel-framed hardtail with slightly longer (120mm) fork.

Like a Genesis Altitude:
http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/mountain/altitude/altitude-20/specifications/

Seeing as you're getting it on the BTW scheme you'll probably have to buy a complete bike - but there are lots of nice frames out there if you felt like getting something built up.

Thanks - really like the look of that Canyon bike, will check it out

avalanche

i have a canyon and can recommend it 110 per cent. i bought the model down which for me makes more sense, not much difference except cheaper. quality bike. only drawback maybe that its a bit plain paint scheme wise, but if that doesnt bother you go for it. has to be one of if not the best for the money out there.