£600 to spend on a MTB at Evans Bikes in Milton Keynes

Sparky · 10 Apr 2009 at 22:33

Have joined the Ride2Work scheme and have set a max figure of £600. We dont have a lot of hills around here so the bike will just be used for general use around the local parks etc.

I take it a hardtail [is that the right term?] would be the best choice and if in budget i would prefer Hydraulic disc brakes. I prefer Black,Red or Blue but would consider other colours.

So thats basically it, what would you go for?

I quite like this

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/scott/scale-80-2009-mountain-bike-ec016240

cheets64 · 10 Apr 2009 at 22:55

Ride2Work scheme = riding to work, not riding to work, isn't that fraud?

Sparky · 10 Apr 2009 at 22:56

It will be used for work every other week.

Gaijin · 11 Apr 2009 at 01:37

cheets64 said:
Ride2Work scheme = riding to work, not riding to work, isn't that fraud?

Half my company have bought bikes on this scheme and only about 5 ride to work. Its not something the company chases and no-one will find out. Who really cares?

I'm about to buy mine and will use it for the commute and trail riding for the record.

Sparky · 11 Apr 2009 at 12:44

Cant tell if this has Hydraulic brakes or not but looks like a nice bike.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cannondale/f6-disc-2009-mountain-bike-ec016564

Gaijin · 11 Apr 2009 at 12:48

CS||nuTs said:
Cant tell if this has Hydraulic brakes or not but looks like a nice bike.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cannondale/f6-disc-2009-mountain-bike-ec016564

Looks to be hydraulic, not sure how good they are though:

http://www.tektro.com/02products/01auigacomp.php

Sparky · 11 Apr 2009 at 12:51

Gaijin said:
Looks to be hydraulic, not sure how good they are though:

http://www.tektro.com/02products/01auigacomp.php

Works out to cost me about £20 a month for 12 months. Might go for this one.

GSDog · 11 Apr 2009 at 12:55

I'd go for the 2009 GT Avalanche 1.0 personally.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/gt/avalanche-10-disc-2009-mountain-bike-ec016364

Sparky · 11 Apr 2009 at 13:22

GSDog said:
I'd go for the 2009 GT Avalanche 1.0 personally.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/gt/avalanche-10-disc-2009-mountain-bike-ec016364

Oh that's very nice too.

McNutter · 11 Apr 2009 at 15:29

CS||nuTs said:
Cant tell if this has Hydraulic brakes or not but looks like a nice bike.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cannondale/f6-disc-2009-mountain-bike-ec016564

No hydraulic brakes there just mechanical disks (you can see the brake cable) which are to be avoided.

shadowcreaper · 11 Apr 2009 at 17:23

i wouldnt go with any of those bikes personally the forks are pretty poor if you get a dart 2 turkey fork you just wasted your money tbh as anything below dart3 even dart3 is pretty **** poor quality.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/commencal/combi-disc-2009-mountain-bike-ec017311

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/gt/avalanche-expert-2008-mountain-bike-ec000670

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/genesis/core-20-2009-mountain-bike-ec017150

or just out the window one depending on if guys at merlin arent having a bad day and actually helpfull maybe.

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=product&productId=51&categoryId=39

and if you can squeeze it this bike really very good and the frame is awsome along with some very nice spec.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/rockhopper-comp-disc-2009-mountain-bike-ec016419

andi · 11 Apr 2009 at 17:54

I'd recommend the rockhopper too if you stretch the budget a bit. Excellent bike.

Sparky · 12 Apr 2009 at 12:54

I like the look of the RockHopper are the components [brakes/gearing] worth the extra though?

shadowcreaper · 12 Apr 2009 at 13:56

the breaks are good, and the gearings is also very good for this price range as you see getting SLX is allways a nice touch.

personally i think this one of the best specs you can get in this price, also the frame is excellent quality and extreamely light.

Sparky · 12 Apr 2009 at 15:40

Looks like the one to go for then,bonus that it is in my preferred colour choice.

Psypher5 · 12 Apr 2009 at 16:06

id go for the GT.

i love my older GT avalanche. but then i have no experience so

Jimi · 12 Apr 2009 at 17:13

Specialized have amazing customer support too, so that's another reason to go for the Rockhopper.

GSDog · 12 Apr 2009 at 21:39

You can't go wrong with either the GT Avalanche or the RockHopper - but if you can, try and find a local bike shop to test the bikes first and see which you like best.

Sparky · 12 Apr 2009 at 22:05

Jimi said:
Specialized have amazing customer support too, so that's another reason to go for the Rockhopper.

Thats good to know

GSDog said:
You can't go wrong with either the GT Avalanche or the RockHopper - but if you can, try and find a local bike shop to test the bikes first and see which you like best.

Couple of lads at work will have theirs this week and other than those that went for £1000 cannondales, most have gone for either the Rockhopper or the GT. I had a GT before and liked it but that was stolen!

Might even join Webber on his weekly rides.

shadowcreaper · 12 Apr 2009 at 22:49

Might even join Webber on his weekly rides.

whos that?