Mountain bike advice please

Ry@n · 27 Apr 2007 at 12:30

Hi, im after some advice really on what kind of bike to buy. I just want it to cycle to and from work (approx 5 miles each way).

I have found a MuddyFox Meltdown for £200 which looks ideal. Is it ?

I dont know if it is a reputable brand or not, if it is then is this model ok for an all-rounder?

Thanks allot for any info. Lets save the world by cycling more

Ryan.

basmic · 27 Apr 2007 at 12:34

http://bicycleuniverse.info/transpo/beef.html

SDK^ · 27 Apr 2007 at 12:38

If you are using the bike for commuting then I think a Hybrid bike would be more suitable. They sit between road racers and mountain bikes so are lighter and easier to pedal on road surfaces but still tough to survive pot holes and curbs

Check out some Hybrid Bikes here : http://www.evanscycles.com/dept.jsp?dept_id=4218&subdept_id=1032

triggerthat · 27 Apr 2007 at 12:39

Halfords, dad got something quite decent for £80!

Raymond Lin · 27 Apr 2007 at 12:49

triggerthat said:
Halfords, dad got something quite decent for £80!

It'll be thin steel everywhere and full of plastic parts.

KaHn · 27 Apr 2007 at 12:51

A bit over your budget but something like this would be ideal.

http://content.konaworld.com/eurostore/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=248

KaHn

triggerthat · 27 Apr 2007 at 12:54

Raymond Lin said:
It'll be thin steel everywhere and full of plastic parts.

It looked pretty decent, website it was £150.

It does the job

Jonny ///M · 27 Apr 2007 at 12:55

triggerthat said:
Halfords, dad got something quite decent for £80!

lolol?

Decent? £80? nah........that would either be a shockwave "my wheels buckle under my own weight" or an Xc26 "my bottom bracket cant spin backwards lol"....both are steel both are heavy....both are crap.

£200 in halfords for riding to work will get you a carrera subway 1 i think. I think you can do better within other brands though.

Raymond Lin · 27 Apr 2007 at 12:57

triggerthat said:
It looked pretty decent, website it was £150.

It does the job

No, this is (semi) decent.

£80 is not a bike but a suicidal journey to the A&E. I am not saying you need to spent loads but you should spent that little bit more if anything for safety and reliablilty.

Chaos · 27 Apr 2007 at 13:27

I had a Muddy Fox bike when I was younger, its a decent brand.

RDM · 27 Apr 2007 at 14:26

A Trance is a bit much for a few mile ride to work don't you think?

Raymond Lin · 27 Apr 2007 at 14:28

RDM said:
A Trance is a bit much for a few mile ride to work don't you think?

I never said he should get a Trance, but certainly spent more than £80 on a bike.

jpmonkey69 · 27 Apr 2007 at 14:37

Sorry to hijack... Is a Giant Rock (06 model) any good at all? I have a mate offering one to me in as new condition + light + lock + pump + handlebar extender things for £170.

calnen · 27 Apr 2007 at 15:02

jpmonkey69 said:
Sorry to hijack... Is a Giant Rock (06 model) any good at all? I have a mate offering one to me in as new condition + light + lock + pump + handlebar extender things for £170.

Giant are good, yep. I hardly know anything about bikes but have only heard good things about them.

RobP · 27 Apr 2007 at 15:06

jpmonkey69 said:
Sorry to hijack... Is a Giant Rock (06 model) any good at all? I have a mate offering one to me in as new condition + light + lock + pump + handlebar extender things for £170.

Giant are a good make, so should be fine, but for that money you can get this years version...

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b4s2p723

jpmonkey69 · 27 Apr 2007 at 15:08

RobP said:
Giant are a good make, so should be fine, but for that money you can get this years version...

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b4s2p723

Cheers mate!

I was looking at a newer one on the net too, but with the extras he's throwing in (plus the fact he's used the bike 3 or 4 times since he bought it!) it worked out better value.

IIRC it's a £40 lock, and the lights are quality looking LED ones. and it's a nicer colour...

I think I'll buy it off him.

LordSplodge · 27 Apr 2007 at 16:48

You need one of these:

GT Avalanche 3.0 Disc 2007

(I got my wife on for Christmas, very lightweight 2006 model though...)

And ROAD TYRES for the love of God. Mountain bike tyres on the road = hard work.

These will do but I got some puncture resistant Kendal tyres for £13.99 each

Good Road Tyres

Edit: Heres a pic of my bike pre modification...

And if you want to carry anything, you don't want it on your back in a rucksack making you sweat and/or having the back strain so go for a quick release pannier rack and a good bag. I can recommend the Top Peak EX rack and Top Peak bags. Not cheap but brilliant for carrying your stuff.