I’ve had a Claud Butler Cape Wrath D24 for about 7 years now, and it’s stood up well to the abuse it’s had.

However, rear mech, chain rings, casettes etc have worn to the point were I can’t properly adjust them any more. I figure the cash I’d need to spend to replace them might as well go towards a new bike rather than keeping a completely worn out bike going. (Is that assumption reasonable?)

I don’t really have time to hunt for a good used bike, so with a Budget of £350 what new hard-tail should I buy?

This is for (very) non-competitive trail riding around QEII park and the South Downs.

I don’t need this year’s model, and I’m prepared to tolerate a heavier bike.

I understand big compromises will have to be made at this price but maybe the wise folk of STW will suggest something serviceable.

TIA.

Halford Carrera’s range don’t get the love that they used to but are still pretty good value in this price range (& sign up for the Halfords emails, to be notified about their regular/almost weekly 10% off online sales), decathlons own rockriders are also worth checking out.

stretch a bit?

http://paulscycles.co.uk/m1b0s2p4505/GIANT-REVEL-1-LTD-2012

Fixing your current bike will definitely be worth it. A new deore cassette/chain/rings/derailleur for £100 ?

I had a Spesh Hardrock and with a bit of searching you can find a disc model for that budget plus your old bike must be worth something.

This,

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductMobileDisplay?catalogId=10151&langId=-1&categoryId=165499&productId=927849&storeId=10001

Combined with this and your sorted

http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/22-off-any-purchase-halfords-1603626

I have a very little used Dialled PA for £450.
I built it up a couple of years ago but have only ridden it a handful of times due to illness

Crest rims, RS Recon forks, Avid Elixir brakes etc.

I’m not far from QE park either!

**Edit: excuse the cat related paraphernalia, it the uh… missus’s 🙂

Rockrider 520 at Decathlon?

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-520-mountain-bike-id_8293188.html

@chojin, I have a mate in Winchester who might be interested, drop me an email

chojin – size?

It’s a medium.

Jambalaya, will drop you a line shortly

Too small but thanks.

I was in halfords next to west quay the other day and they had a clearance voodoo hoodoo.

Never owned one but they’re frequently mentioned as a good cheap bike.

Might be worth a call to see if they’ve still got one in stock?

We’re selling our ex-hire Saracen Mantra Pros for £395. One 17″ and a few 19″ left. They’re in good nick, have been well maintained, and a couple are being sold with brand new wheelsets.

I very nearly bought a Voodoo Hoodoo, you can get cracking deals on them from time to time and at that price point you wont beat the spec. I went for the BeOne that Merlin had on offer but they’re now showing out of stock except for the lower spec’d Sport model.
BeOne Spirit Sport

Thanks to everyone for taking the trouble to reply. (Including the used bike offers which I wasn’t expecting but would have been tempting if the sizes had been right.)

Rockrider 520 looks tempting and at 6’1 they have my size:
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-520-mountain-bike-id_8293188.html

The Beone Spirit looks amazing value to my inexperienced eye and well under budget:
http://www.merlincycles.com/beone-spirit-sport-26-mountain-bike-71770.html

Would I regret buying the Beone? What’s the drawback?

The Beone comes in 22.5″ inches. My current Cape Wrath is 22inches and is perhaps a fraction too tall so I’d be going 1/2 inch bigger than that. I reckon I can manage that – would I regret that?

Is one of these obviously better than the other? Why?

Thanks again, I wasn’t expecting such a useful set of responses, with not a single duff reply.

Thoughts on this?

http://www.bikes2udirect.com/B6188.html?mv_pc=gp1&gclid=CIb80LCZ58MCFSSWtAodn38AbA

It’s 2 inches smaller than my current Cape Wrath so might be a little small. (My inside leg is 33 to the ground, trousers are 31-31 inches.)

Or this Cape Wrath 29er:

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Claud-Butler-Cape-Wrath-1-Mountain-Bike-2014-Hardtail-MTB_70031.htm?sku=214804&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=AdwordsProductAds&utm_campaign=Adwords&gclid=CLThlLKZ58MCFUvLtAodgmkA5g

Mechanical brakes a bad move?

Hmmmmmm. http://www.ebicycles.com/bicycle-tools/frame-sizer/ suggests that at 6’1 33 inside leg (Crotch to ground).

I need a 19″ inch frame.

Is that right? I don’t reckon my 22″ CB is 3 inches too tall.

I’m around 6’2″ and would ride either a 19″ or 20.5″ bike from our hire fleet. My own hardtail is a 19″. If I’m riding full-sus I’d tend to go large, rather than XL.

22″ bikes are huge, and I’d generally only suggest that sort of size for very tall folk, 6’6″ and upwards.

But, people prefer different sizes, and different manufacturers measure different things – so hard to say for sure what size you need.

If you were hiring from us, based on your height and no other info, we’d put you on a 19″ though.

Thanks, drovercycles. I suspect that 7-8 years ago buying the CB I used a frame size calculator for roadbikes. Imagine how fast I’m gonna be with the right size frame. 😀

Keswick Bikes are selling these from their “hire fleet” for £350

http://www.specialized.com/gb/gb/bikes/mountain/pitch/pitch-sport-650b

I got one for one of my boys… We`ve always liked Spec bikes as good value for money and this one is no exception. + they have only had light use and well maintained, Ours is immaculate as it happens and £200 off retail!!!

😀

Surprised no one has suggested gooutdoors ‘house’ brand calibre bikes, spec is cracking for the price…

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/calibre-two-two-alloy-hardtail-mountain-bike-p275612

My bloke has a Giant Talon 0 in good nick. He paid £800 a couple of years back. It’s a large which I think is 20 inch. He would want about £300 for it. If you are interested, we are in Bucks so might be able to arrange a delivery meet up.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

thepublican – the two.two was an outstanding suggestions – superb review: http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/category/bikes/mountain-bikes/hardtail/product/review-calibre-two-two-13-47865/

I’d actually decided to buy the two.two then had an attack of wallet anxiety and went with the BeOne Spirit Sport for a ton or so less. (Thanks Ollybus).

Really appreciate all the sound advice/suggestions.