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Evening all,
Just registered for this website as after searching for several bike reviews on Google it always threw up loads of matches on this forum, so seemed a good place to start!
Not ridden a bike 'properly' for about 15yrs now! I spent my youth riding/training/racing DH around the country, my last season was spent riding for a manufacturer who's time in the market was brief. Their product was superb however the production and tooling costs were obscene! Anyway riding with my best mate at the time (rode for Muddy Fox) it got to a point where the fun of DH racing was diminishing and talk at the top of the track turned to loosing weight/turbo trainers and lycra! As this started to happen more and more we left the scene and I wasn't to ride in anger again - until now!
I am looking for an all mountain steed that I can ride at Cwmcarn, Afan, Mendip Hills, Long Ashton etc. so it needs to go up as well as down. I am 6'3 and weigh around 15st sl it needs to be built and able to take being ridden hard (if I still can!!!) I bought 'What Bike' magazine today and it didn't really help me. Things have moved on hugely since my last season, back then if your bike cost £1500 that was a lot of money, now it seems £1500 is classed as entry level! I nearly passed put when I saw a Specialized something or other for £7000 today - that's more than my car!
Anyway the point is I don't have a HUGE amount of money to spend, maybe around the £1500 mark and ideally I need/want to buy new so I can utilize the Cycle to Work Scheme through my employer.
In the what bike I liked the Giant Reign 2 which seemed to tick all the boxes and at the price in the review (£1600) was pretty much bang on! When I looked on the net they are priced at £1999 🙁 so what do people advise, can anyone recommend something's to look at?
The second place 'aggressive trail' bike in there recommendations was a Carrera Banshee X which at £800 seemed a bargain! But in days of old Carreras were dressed up Apollo's - maybe things have changed in 15yrs?!?
Would love some advice because things are so so different now.
Cheers in advance
Si
No pro mates to help?
Personally I'm a fan of Rose bikes (german brand) have a snoop round their website.
Cynic-al - been out the game a long time now unfortunately and no longer in contact with anyone I used to ride with apart from me mate who now rides little wheels!!
Jezzkidd - thanks forth tip, will have a look now although have to confess I have never heard of the them. I have to say looking at the manufacturers websites it seems my budget could beca huge limiting factor which is a shame. I am not after a race bred machine by any stretch of the imagination just something that can cope with some regular trail riding.
Si
The rise bikes look superb and good value for money, is there a UK supplier or distributor or is it all done online and ordered direct from Germany?
Si
If you're looking at rose bikes why not browse through the YT and Canyon sites as well?
[url= http://www.mbr.co.uk/news/just-in-yt-industries-wicked-150/ ]YT Wiked review[/url]