I know we have a few MTB people on here so thought I'd ask before taking the plunge. In a nutshell I want a bike again as I've recently bought our eldest one for her birthday and I'd also like it to double up as a cardio trainer in my garage gym with the use of one of those turbo trainer things. I really need to start getting some good cardio in and jogging tends to hurt my knees/shins sooner than me actually getting tired so I wanted something less high impact and something I can do at home in the mornings as warms ups in the gym or full cardio sessions (using trainer) Ill be riding on the road/towpaths in the main with Ella and possibly do some weekend blasts with a mate of mine mixed in with whatever off-road stuff I feel I can take on. I haven't done any decent MTB riding in absolutely years so its a start from scratch I don't perceive I'll be dropping off big heights or jumping trees so have kinda got it in my head to just go with a hard tail and front (lockable) suspension along with disc brakes? Possibly two different types of tyre, road/slick and knobbly for the off road stuff. The killer is budget, I don't really want to spend more than £200 on the bike to start with as if I don't end up doing much outdoors then at least I've not blown silly amounts on my gym bike, also from what I can see the turbo trainers are going to add up to £100 2nd hand and then there's the extra tyres, carrier for the car, helmets etc So at the moment I'm looking on eBay at Carrera Krakens in 20" frame sizes (I'm 6ft 3) and also the Hoodoo Voodoo as both can be had for about my budget. are they any good? Reviews seem to suggest they are but I may be missing something else I don't know and haven't searched for it. also which turbo trainer is suitable for what I need in the gym and does it mean I have to faff about with the special blue tyre they sell or can I just use whatever tyres are on my bike at the time?
Dunno about those bikes, but anything cheap will be heavy, cheap components, suspension will be rock bottom and it's really a "mountain style bike" but it could be exactly what you're after for the riding you intend to do... If you get the bug you'll be upgrading soon. You can use a normal MTB tyre on a TT however the vibration and noise and potential mess as the tyre will wear much quicker it isn't ideal. I use the OH's bike on my TT with a hybrid style rear tyre, still has some edge grip in the pattern but the centre is mainly slick, probably still not ideal but means she can still use it on the roads, bridle ways around here on the same tyre.
So are the TT machines good then? The one mate I know with one says its crap but he is notoriously picky and tends to over egg it. Is the Tacx trainer the one to get?
Damo, I had a Tacx trainer it was excellent but I used it with a proper road bike fitted with a decent tyre, thing is on your budget your just going to get a shitter to be honest. Reasonable turbo trainers start at £200. If you go with a cheapo Halfrauds Carrera you can get a 1.5 road slick for the rear which as Freak says will reduce the noise and vibration.
I'd look second hand if I were you. If you buy a cheap heavy bike it'll put you off before you even begin. There will be loads on eBay soon . Another idea is to look on pauls cycles. They sell last year models at a big discount. If you have your heart set on halfords. Get a discount code off online. Usually there is 10% off floating around. Then join British cycling , to gain another 10%. And then order through one of the online discount sites. I've got one through my work but I think the other is quid co or cost co? I managed to get my mrs a carrera for £115 that had a rrp of £500. It was discounted anyway as they always are but the extra 10% x3 helps.
Damodici, As the others have said, realistically you are going to struggle to get anything at all even second hand that you want to ride for less than 500 quid, and you need to run a slick on the rear (or near as dammit slick) to use the TT. Plus, TT's are horrible things really, instruments of torture for training! I would buy something you will actually enjoy riding and then if you aren't getting out on it in winter etc, put a slick rear on for on the TT. You will also need to cover the bike with a towel if you are riding the TT in a windless environment as you will sweat like a bas&ard and it will just pour off you and all over the bars, stem, frame et al. Use something like a Specialized Hardrock as a benchmark minimum, and the lowest versions will still be heavy, but will have components you can upgrade if you are keen....
Oh and a turbo trainer , they are brutal. You will sweat loads and it's hard to keep motivated. But apart from rollers they as good as you get for indoor training. Halfords also have a decent sale on them too last time I looked.
Ok gents , thanks for all the solid input. i only said £200 as that's what the £500 (new) carrera kraken and hoodoo seam to be going for, in all honesty I can't afford £500 on a MTB (yet) so I need just a half decent bike that will do what I need so it's going to be a used one. at a push I'd go up to £300 2nd hand on the bike but no more at the moment, if I start to enjoy it then that's when I'd invest properly. the turbo trainer is simply to keep me fit and add cardio to my workouts , I'll have sky sports news on in the background on the ipad and just hit it for a solid 15- 20mins as a warm up to weights or 60mins as a pure cardio session. so what do I get 2nd hand then? If you had a max of £300 for a MTB and went on eBay what would you get? (Large frame ) also if a decent TT is £200 new how much is a decent one 2nd hand? I've seen loads but they go for £80-£150 and some are different colours and model numbers, non of which do I have a clue about
Ps it's just knowing what to search for and how old to go, eg when I was young (a kid) I had a Marin and a kona at some point, nowadays they all look pretty similar to me
Can recommend the voodoo hoodoo, bought mine about a year and a half ago and still happy with it. Do you have a cycle to work scheme at work, that's how I got mine and only ended up costing £260 for a £500 bike. You really don't have to spend thousands on a mtb to have fun! The chap that designs the voodoo bikes used to design kona bikes too.
No I don't think we have a scheme, only just joined them to be fair but I'm pretty sure they don't. im just trying to be sensible with budget at the minute and having read reviews on the two I mention I kinda thought they'd be a good starting point even if I can get them 2nd hand. Although if somebody can tell me what else to look for I'm all ears this is what I've read on them both and it sounds high praise indeed Carrera Kraken review - BikeRadar Voodoo Hoodoo review - BikeRadar
That's the review that sold the voodoo to me, it really is a cracking bike for the money, as the review says, I'd also be happy paying more than £500. The suspension is excellent (for the cost) and as for durability, it gets used regularly and nothing has broken etc
I've got a tacx TT which is a cracker tbh I got a great deal off chain reaction last year but I rarely use it now, I'd rather be out in the real world.
I have two turbos a magnetic reseitance rear wheel axle jobby and also a parabolic that belt drives the front wheel to aid stability. both good in different ways. the parabolic mimics the way you ordinarily ride a bike with the freedom of movement and its very natural to do stints out of the saddle on that trainer and the bike moves and bobs just like on the road / hill climb. you just cant do that on a magnetic resistance rear wheel jobby type. if I could have only one - parabolic :thumbup:
Anybody care to chime in on this Giant revel 0 ltd 2013? from what I've learnt so far the spec looks pretty decent and I can get a brand new left over 2013 for just shy of £400, is it something I could upgrade as I go along? http://www.giant-bicycles.com/_pdf/bikes/uk_ireland/giantbicycles-56887-2013.giant.revel.0.ltd.pdf theres also a a Felt six 60 but I don't think the fork is as good due to it being suntour?
Or I can get a Trek 4900 2013? honestly, it's mind boggling this i kinda don't wanna go too over the top but equally don't want something that can't grow with my enthusiasm if I really start getting back in to it.
Just thought I'd revive this. today is new bike day.... Ok it's German but at least I don't need a decat and ecu tune. Behold..... THE BEHEMOTH! cant wait to get out on it
