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Slight sob story, but hoping someone here might be kind enough to take my £300-£350 for a mountain bike.
My nephew is 15, nearly 16. He and family had to be evacuated by the foreign office from their home at an international school in India at the start of the pandemic. He has ADHD and now PTSD, having been though a pretty tough time and having no home in the UK to return to during the pandemic. He is on a great path, currently studying for GCSE's at an additional needs school. He does some boxing, but also loves his cycling. He had a bike (and trails!) in India, but has outgrown the cheap one we donated to them a year or so back.
My sister and husband are in a tough spot financially after all the changes, and a need to re-train. We don't have a big budget.
So, does anyone have a bike suitable for a heading-for-6-foot teenager which they can sell to me for £300-£350, maybe more if I add something to the pot? A sturdy hardtail would be great.
I have looked at a few, but struggling to find something that won't either fall to bits as it is so cheap, or is rather too worn. I am also distant from them, so cannot see bikes locally to them.
I am travelling down to them in a few weeks from Central Scotland, so could meet and collect on way through southern Scotland, Cumbria and Lancashire.
He is coming up on the train in the summer, so that my boys can show him the local trails....
Sorry I can't help with a bike but if you use FB marketplace you can change your location to anywhere. Probably the easiest way to browse cheap bikes local to them.
I've got an old Cove Stiffee that I keep wondering what to do with. It's perfectly functional - just that everything on it is basically obsolete!
26" wheels, 3x9 gears, flappy paddle shifting etc. I mean, it'd do but there's probably better out there! A modern (ish) Rockhopper or something would be ideal... 🤷🏻♂️
I'm at work at the moment but PM me your phone number, I'll WhatsApp some pics through if you're interested.
FB marketplace is awash with decent hardtails in that price range. Loads of them were the bought by people during lockdown and have barely been used. You'll get something as good as new
The bike charity I volunteer for is selling off used 2022 Trek Marlin 7s for £350 in a range of sizes. We're in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Rockshox Judy forks, Deore 1x10 with 46t lowest gear and all freshly serviced with worn BBs etc replaced. PM me if that's of interest.
B marketplace is awash with decent hardtails in that price range. Loads of them were the bought by people during lockdown and have barely been used. You’ll get something as good as new
I am looking locally - seen a couple first hand and they were shockers.... The classic jump between £350 'bargain mate' knackered Boardman and a £600 'proper' bike seems a big jump.
The other option is to donate my bike and buy myself a new one.... 😂
I’ve also got a 26” cove stiffee 2x9 I’m Edinburgh based if that helps
Our local Facebook market place regularly has semi decent bikes on it - probably lockdown purchases.
Do you have a Bike Project near you? I was looking in the Gloucester one the other day and they have some bargains in them.
I don't have a bike... but i can add in some money to help get one.
I've got an old Ragley Blue Pig steel hardtail parts bin build I'd sell for that price. Rockshox Reba RL fork, WTB i29 wheels and tyres, NX 11 speed (11-46t), crank brothers dropper, Shimano 2 pot brakes.
I'm in Leeds though, which isn't necessarily on the way if you're heading down the west coast. Drop me a PM if interested.
Theres a Boardman in the classifieds that looks decent. £275. Not mine. They say central belt, so assume thats scotland. Edit: Paisley.
The Trek Marlins are nice frames though, ripe for upgrading. My daughter has one and its great.
Hi Matt
I can help I think. I have a Sonder Transmitter I built up during lockdown as a project, but have never used. It's pretty reasonable. It's a large, so would suit a 6fter. It has decent forks, new wheels and tyres, four pot brakes and very decent gears and a dropper.
I can send photos and details later.
I was planning to list this soon as I haven't ridden it - it's worth at least £900 I'd guess, and I'm happy to take a big hit on this for a worthy cause -so we can make this work I'm sure.
Where are you based?
Phil
Theres a Boardman in the classifieds that looks decent. £275. Not mine. They say central belt, so assume thats scotland. Edit: Paisley.
Thank you. The delights of the classifieds means I had not found that one.
I have also PM's @munrobiker and will PM @droplinked.
I am being a bit fussy about "obsolete" 26" wheels and such - keen I can do the best for him and hopefully encourage him into the ways of bikes....
Do you have a Bike Project near you? I was looking in the Gloucester one the other day and they have some bargains in them.
We do.
Ours sold me a new stem last week (pretty much off a new bike) for £2. But they do lack anything newer than 2000 and better than a £200 Raleigh...
@matt_outandabout - Newton-le-Willows is no problem
My Mom lives on the Wirral, so that could fit in with a visit.
When I get home later I'll post details - I might need help posting a picture!!
Phil
PM'd you Matt.
If you don't mind something a bit older I'm looking for a home for a large Stumpjumper. It's 26" wheels, Magura fork, XTR brakes 1x9 transmission, decent tyres, wheels are good.
Price would be a charitable donation to Air Ambulance/ Mountain Rescue etc.
And it's in Dunblane
A huuuuge thank you - some brilliant offers, and some of you are properly generous. I will faff with a few of them to see which is most workable and well-fitting bike for him.
I also have an offer of some clothes as well - so thank you for that too....
I love a bit of STW generosity.
I promise to post some pics when we get sorted...
Fifty quid over budget, but brand spanking new:
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/vitus-nucleus-27-vr-mountain-bike-blue/rp-prod206313
or in 29er form
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/vitus-nucleus-29-vr-mountain-bike-black/rp-prod206927
I have most of a dismantled trek x caliber 8 (frame, wheels, fork, bar, and 12speed SX eagle drivetrain) I’d be willing to donate. You would just need to find seatpost, bb and brakes I think. Based near Chester.
I think @bassman I have a couple of amazing offers, one of which will work, for complete bikes.
Again, thank you all...
I don't have a spare bike, but a reasonable parts bin of stuff that is not getting used due to not riding as much. Drivetrain is 9-speed, though, so not sure if that counts as obsolete given your wish to avoid 26" wheels, but there are also bars/stems/saddles etc. I'm up the road from you, Deeside, but could get stuff your direction via MR connections. If you do end up needing extra bits to make the bike work for your nephew, or want to upgrade some, then I'd happily contribute them.
I've been wondering whether to sell my spare bike. It's one of those Iroko frames Evans were selling off, in a Large, built up pretty nice (mullet, 1x11) and a really fun ride... ooooonly problem I just spent £350 on some new forks for it! and I can't really afford to lose that. So if you haven't got any suitable other options and someone else could sort 29er forks for you. The rest could go for £300.
Dunno if that's very helpful!
It's nice! Got stickers n everyfing. Dropper post, 1X, quality wheels, fat tyres. Just the forks would have to come off 😛
matt, a week late for a 1 year old spesh rockhopper i almost gave away. would have been ideal.
got loads of stuff for a build if you need anything. F.O.C
Yes mate, I have a Boardman FS 27.5" in Large sitting in my house doing nothing whilst im waiting to buy a treat for myself. Few scratches, but a very nice ride, only reason I dont use it much is the amount of PSI it takes in the rear shock to cope with my heft.
PM me if youre interested, Id rather sell it here than on ebay.
Spec is
Fox 36 Rhythm forks
Avis Trail XO four pot brakes
Avid XX1 shifter/Derailleur
Cane Creek dropper
Charge saddle
Race Face cranks
Ergon grips
Oh my word - that is amazing.... Phil, I will PM you and make an offer as much as we can.
I'm too short got a few spare bits though if your going down that route I'm in Dumfries and Galloway
Thank you all again - I've done a deal with Phil, and he's being massively generous. Buy him a coffee/beer/cake if you ever bump into him...
I've also got some clothing and maybe a helmet to send down as well.
I'll post up some pics of him out riding when we can...
Great stuff. Nice one phil56!
Mate I've got a few bits of kit that I'm happy to chuck his way. Any gaps in riding kit he might need?