Another cycle to work MTB Thread!

mohawk · 22 Apr 2015 at 11:11

Hi All,

I was wondering whether i could get your opinion on which MTB i should go for on the cycle to work scheme.

ideally i don't want to spend more than £700 - i am mainly going to be using this for some riding trails and tracks around Hampshire.

ideally i would like to get it from http://www.hargrovescycles.co.uk/ as they have an easy checkout system for the cycle scheme.

i was looking at:

Charge cooker 2: http://www.hargrovescycles.co.uk/bikes/mountain-bikes/charge-cooker-2-2015-mountain-bike.html

or

genesis core 20: http://www.hargrovescycles.co.uk/bikes/mountain-bikes/genesis-core-20-2015-mountain-bike.html

are either of these any good or would you recommend a different bike?

Thanks

arknor · 22 Apr 2015 at 11:17

too many people buy mtb and hybrids for trails and tracks when they should get a cx bike

They mostly give up cycling because it's not fun or buy a new bike the next year that's more suitable and not as tiring to ride

even proper road bikes can handle trails and dirt paths fine

mohawk · 22 Apr 2015 at 11:29

Its going to be used for offroad cycling mainly (90% of the time) and i have a road bike already.

radderfire · 22 Apr 2015 at 11:48

Best to take them out for a quick test ride if they'll let you, and see what you think.

Of the two, I like the look of the Charge Cooker 2. That's a nice looking bike and it seems well specced. Plus it's supporting British designers.

Value wise, Cube are good, but I don't like the bulging chainstay design on their new bikes as I found it could get in the way of pedalling.

Rgds

Supercow · 22 Apr 2015 at 11:49

arknor said:
too many people buy mtb and hybrids for trails and tracks when they should get a cx bike
They mostly give up cycling because it's not fun or buy a new bike the next year that's more suitable and not as tiring to ride

even proper road bikes can handle trails and dirt paths fine

Too many people recommend CX bikes for trails and tracks when they should have recommended a Hardtail MTB.

They mostly give up cycling because it's not fun, or buy a new MTB when they realise the limitations of a dirt roadie.

Even a hardtail with narrow tyres can ride trails and dirt paths fine, and can handle so muvch more than that.

touch · 22 Apr 2015 at 13:00

arknor said:
even proper road bikes can handle trails and dirt paths fine

Just because it can do it doesnt mean it's the right tool for the job.

You could hammer a nail in with a pair of pliers, but why not just get a hammer?

touch · 22 Apr 2015 at 13:06

I prefer the Scott Aspect from hargroves

edit: actually, cube attention 29er is better spec for the same price. Big wheels too

Vonhelmet · 22 Apr 2015 at 13:26

Supercow said:
Too many people recommend CX bikes for trails and tracks when they should have recommended a Hardtail MTB.

They mostly give up cycling because it's not fun, or buy a new MTB when they realise the limitations of a dirt roadie.

Even a hardtail with narrow tyres can ride trails and dirt paths fine, and can handle so muvch more than that.

I've probably been guilty of it in the past, but it does amuse me that as soon as anyone asks a question about what bike to buy someone swoops in and suggests a road bike or a CX bike as some sort of concession.

UTmaniac · 22 Apr 2015 at 20:47

Hargroves has served me well for ~20 years, but for £700 MTB on a work cycle scheme, you would be pushed to beat the Voodoo Binzango from Halfords.

FrenchTart · 22 Apr 2015 at 21:46

Vonhelmet said:
I've probably been guilty of it in the past, but it does amuse me that as soon as anyone asks a question about what bike to buy someone swoops in and suggests a road bike or a CX bike as some sort of concession.

I actually have to stop myself posting exactly this in every "spec me an MTB" thread. It's so hard to resist the temptation

James07 · 22 Apr 2015 at 22:13

I wouldn't get a MTB, I got one cash last year and I shouldn't have done.

Ended up getting a roadie as 95-99% of my riding is on the road.

I wish id got a cheap CX cash and a roadie on CTW

arknor · 22 Apr 2015 at 22:16

Vonhelmet said:
I've probably been guilty of it in the past, but it does amuse me that as soon as anyone asks a question about what bike to buy someone swoops in and suggests a road bike or a CX bike as some sort of concession.

then people should stop asking for MTB specs for what is essentially a grass field with a strip of grass missing as the terrain

most uk roads are a worst ride than these trails

James07 · 22 Apr 2015 at 22:18

arknor said:
most uk roads are a worst ride than these trails

Genuinely the case in West Yorkshire, went on the canal last week and it was beaut compared to the road!

[Damien] · 23 Apr 2015 at 09:08

Nothing wrong with a hardtail MTB for semi-offroad riding. I commuted on one with slicks for years. Gave me good legs if nothing else.

Supercow · 23 Apr 2015 at 11:44

I'd still like to know, where the OP mentioned he will be riding these semi-offroad / grass fields and the like that warranted the immediate response of a niche bike that is a CX bike?

OP: The charge seems a good deal for the money.

Begbie · 23 Apr 2015 at 12:30

Used both bikes, the Core for hire and the cooker I borrowed from my uncle.

The cooker was the better bike by far.

mohawk · 23 Apr 2015 at 13:02

Cool thanks! i didn't realise this would cause such a debate!

I am going to Winch on sat to see if i can test some of the bikes out to see which suits me best.

Supercow · 23 Apr 2015 at 14:00

mohawk said:
Cool thanks! i didn't realise this would cause such a debate!

I am going to Winch on sat to see if i can test some of the bikes out to see which suits me best.

Sorry, I just get annoyed at the shaven legged ones, who immediately assume that a MTB is unrideable and CX bikes are the gateway to enjoy biking in the future. Might as well just recommend you buying rollerblades right off the cuff.

Take this wide eyes and bushy tailed, dashingly handsome fella as an example (posted a few years back)

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17794779

If someone lead me down a garden path and I didn't buy that hardtail, my eyes would never have opened to the possibilities out there. My life has literally changed in its entirety as a by product of this thread I... sorry I mean.. he... started.

arknor · 23 Apr 2015 at 14:03

Supercow said:
I'd still like to know, where the OP mentioned he will be riding these semi-offroad / grass fields and the like that warranted the immediate response of a niche bike that is a CX bike?

OP: The charge seems a good deal for the money.

am mainly going to be using this for some riding trails and tracks around Hampshire.

In Newcastle we know them as waggonways

He should at least get a test ride on one and a mtb before he buys

Supercow · 23 Apr 2015 at 14:07

arknor said:
In Newcastle we know them as waggonways

He should at least get a test ride on one and a mtb before he buys

You're clearly far manlier than I... I need a little more when I ride in in that area

Granted it's 10 minutes down the road from Hampshire ... so I guess the CX bike would be best.

Some world cup Downhill racers also somehow manage to ride there. Again, just a few minutes more, so the CX bike is best most likely.

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/phil-atwill--hindhead-2014.html