I’d ideally like a Heckler or a 5, but it would be rude not to take advantage of the cycle scheme, so is it doable? If so what?

Can you not add the cash difference to the Cycle Scheme and buy the Heckler??

Can you not add the cash difference to the Cycle Scheme and buy the Heckler??

I’d prefer not too.

Pitch

Trance X5?
Bargain basement bits, but upgradeable frame.

If you’re after a single pivot like the Five and Heckler what about a Prophet 2?
I got mine for not much more than a grand with upgraded crankset and tyres.

This is the stock demo I rode.

I’d go for the Pitch, but Simon makes a good case for the Prophet too.

Pitch was on the short list for me, but I wasn’t sure of the durability of all those bearings on the Pitch after my mate had problems with his Stumpy, so the single pivot simplicity won.
Having said that warranty on Spesh bikes is supposed to be excellent, but I’ve heard mixed reports regarding Cannondale and warranty.

bearings on my stumpy lasted 2 years and cost £40 to replace hardly worth losing sleep over

If you can find the pitch that’s under £1k anywhere in the uk you’ve done well as they’re sold out with specialized. The same will be true very soon of that dale too which is hard to find.

My Prophet has lasted 3 years with no issues. Warranty issues? Never had any (as never needed any).

Not had any issues with the pivots on my Pitch, had it for just under a year riding roughly twice a week.

GT I-drive 5 from Halfords? 20% off this weekend on all GTs I think so £800 too. MBUK/WMB basically spunked over it in their £1000 full suss test 😉 Yeah, I know it’s Halfords but on the face of it, it’s a pretty brilliant buy. Recons and a Fox RP2, Juicy 3s, even comes with a nice saddle. Bit ugly, mind. There’s a guy in my office who has one, though he’s changed a lot of parts as mtb’ers are wont to do, he can’t stop praising the thing.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_512535_langId_-1_categoryId_165499

Doubt you would get the offer price through cyclescheme though.

Yeah, that’s true enough.

Oh, another downer is that it only comes in 18″ and 20″, and most of the shops don’t carry it, it’s a factory direct deal. Though as another option, getting away from the cycle scheme side, some Halfords apparently still have the 07 which is almost identical, for around £600. Magic, that.

Proflex Enduro 768. You’ll want to change the bars though.

If your workplace does the scheme via Halfords then I’d be confident of getting any Halfords promotional price on the scheme.

It’s getting offer prices sourced from third-party brands that’s generally a no-no.

Geoff doesn’t say who his company is using for the scheme though.

Its Cyclescheme – so I guess I can’t use Halfords?

X5

TranceX’s are like magic carpet rides

Oh yeah Trance Xs are really nice

I have the Trance X0 and it is awesome. The frame on the X5 is basically the same (just covered in paint) so you can be confident it is the same frame as a 3,500 bike.

+1 for TranceX5

6’2″ 14.5 stone biffer here and got the TranceX3 in the Wiggle sale for a bargaintastic £850.00 in Feb. It’s done Penmachno, Marin, Llandegla, Quantocks and Exmoor (amongst others) so far and taken everything in its stride. The X5 is similar spec in this years model with the exception of the shock (I think), so I’m sure you’d not be disappointed.