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Hi all,
the wife and I are looking at getting back into riding.
History:
I rode a lot through the 90s still have a '94 Clockwork.
Wife raced BMX.
About 6 years ago, after a a few years off we bought new bikes with the intention of getting out again - but with a combination of bad advice and pressure from pushy sales people made bad choices that made it difficult to sustain the enjoyment.
Now:
Want to get back out again. Don't want to repeat the same mistakes.
Bikes look very different to what I recognise.
We want to get bikes that will enable us to ride out in the mountains - we spend a lot of time clambering up them as it is. We're not averse to bike parks either, we tried them a few years ago but the bikes we had were not really up to it.
Not looking at being able to clear road gaps and impress all our friends with our sick edits but would like to be able to go down hill at a reasonable clip.
Don't know about wheel size but I'm 6'1" and the smarter half is 5'1" if that makes a difference.
Hardtail is what I know but wouldn't mind going FS if it's in budget and won't make climbing too unpleasant.
Ideally 1x as the terrible acera gears that were on the wife's bike angered her (BMXs have one gear and don't drop the chain if you look at them funny.)
Keep reading about the long and low and slack and don't know if that is relevant if we want to go out in the hills and not just ride around bike parks.
Looking to spend £1000 ish each, can go more, less seems a bad investment. Don't need to be forever bikes, just need to get us out again until we know what we want and maybe make a bigger investment in a couple of years.
Hope that all makes sense, any suggestions gratefully received,
thanks,
TLDR:
Looking to spend £1000 each ish on new bikes for me and smarter half.
Returning after break.
Want to ride mountains and bike parks leaning toward the natural
HT or FS, 27.5 or 29
I'll be first in with the calibre boss nut. Upgrade it with a cheap dropper and good to go for most stuff. Not the fastest uphill I assume as it doesn't look light, but it's going to be far more capable for bike parks and downhills than a hardtail at an equivalent price
Thanks, I'd looked at those, was concerned about all day riding and dragging it up mountains though as it does seem a little porky. Does anyone have any experience taking them on big, long, up and down rides?
Being from the past I never had many issues riding down things on a hardtail but I was young and fitter then.
Never ridden one but I find that all trail bikes are a bit of a pain uphill. I doubt that it's any worse than my 3 grand trance that is an absolute pig to climb.
You won't get much better full susser for the cash.. Maybe a boardman worth a look as well. If you can stretch to 1500 then there is way more choice. Something like a last season anthem climbs like a goat.. Different bike than the boss nut though I wouldn't take it to a bike pa
Like you I came back into mtb after some time away and thought I didn't need suspension given my old fully rigid bike did me fine in the day. But trails have changed a bit I found to my cost!
You would defo get a better choice of hard tail for your budget . I can't recommend any however as I hate them.
Sonder transmitter? Plus hardtail with lots of positive reviews around and £1300 quid gets a decent spec
Thanks. I do quite fancy a transmitter, they're out of stock until mid August on line which is a pity though. I think for my wife we might have to go big brand though to fit her.
I would have said a Bird Zero - either the TR, or the AM if you want a bit more of a hooligan bike - but they don't seem to have any XS at the moment.
Whatever anyone recommends, and whatever you decide on, spend a good few hours googling and looking through online shops to see if last year's model can be had for a fraction of the cost, CRC, wiggle, Westbrook's, pedalon, lots of others, often have last year's bikes with up to 40% off.
Mrs_oab is 5' 1" also, and I'm 6'.
Fit on her small stature is more hassle - we used local shop for getting a good fit, few manufacturers make a properly small bike for 5' folk. She has fabby fast and light 13" Trek Superfly - and it properly fits. If I were you I would definitely go for local shop for her.
At 6' I'm pretty middle ground, plus have much more idea of what different geometries feel like, borrowing rides on friends bikes. I went online and picked up lovely Marin Nail Trail - light, fast, lowish, slackish, longish, Yari, wide rims and dropper. So far I'm still loving it...
The Boardman HT or FS range is amazing value, middle ground geometry, and 10%off with British Cycling. I've bought recently ex display and ended up with nearly 50% off...
Paul's Cycles always worth a look for bargains.
I'm selling a spotless Niner Air, but it won't let you go down hills with much in the way of any speed. That said, and this is more so testament to my lack of riding skill and generally weary bones, but I'm done with trying to combine any hardtail with quick descents.
Maybe you could try and find a Vitus Sommet? I think they look nice.
The likes of a Cannondale Habit, or a Giant Anthem would be my do it all bikes. Not too heavy yet very capable in all directions.
I don't have either, however I've been riding for many years and I know what I like 😉
YMMV of course.
Thanks for all your replies, sorry for not responding. Recent, random shoulder injury has put the plans back a bit sadly. But again thanks for all the input.
Thanks, I’d looked at those, was concerned about all day riding and dragging it up mountains though as it does seem a little porky. Does anyone have any experience taking them on big, long, up and down rides?
Being from the past I never had many issues riding down things on a hardtail but I was young and fitter then.
Bossnut V2, all day riding: yes. No problem at all. Fun bike. Pre-assembly is crappy so - after receiving you need half a day to take stuff apart and assemble it again properly. After that it's a great bike for 1k.
Big, long up and down rides: that's what the Bossnut is designed for. Fantastic engineering but not so perfect quality control at the assembly plant?
Other option: hardtail with 2.4 ... 2.6 inch tyres and 130...140 mm fork?
Bikes like:
https://www.commencal-store.com/meta-ht-am-origin-650b-yellow-2017-c2x19265727
or with 160 mm fork:
https://www.commencal-store.com/meta-ht-am-essential-650b-black-2017-c2x19822507
For that price I’d be looking at a Boardman Pro fs if you can still get one. Not a bad weight for the price, not uber long or slack, but will be fun on fairly testing trails. Come with 1x 11, Pike forks, decent Guide brakes and solid if unspectacular wheels.
If you can eek a little more out I think there’s a Vitus for around £1650 from Chain Reaction, but it’s more modern longer slacker geometry and probably a bit heavier.
Bossnut Evo is meant to be very good, although perhaps a little on the heavy side for longer rides. It depends what you’re used to though.
For £1000, go for a hardtail with 120mm forks and clearance for big tyres. Try some with 27.5+ tyres if you can, otherwise 29er for you and 27.5 for 'her'. If you get into riding, then at a later date you can buy a full suspension bike, or just a frame and swap parts across. Keeping a lightish hardtail gives a bike for riding around when you don't need suspension. Buying a £1K full sun means you'll get a heavy bike with compromised parts (remember the cheap gears you hated).
ideas?
https://www.ubyk.co.uk/charge-cooker-4-27-plus-hardtail-2016/30595
https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m1b0s155p8746/MARIN-Nail-Trail-7-29-2018
https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m1b0s184p8971/MERIDA-Juliet-600-2018
Try a few, but a decent frame and forks, and wheels that don't double as anchors are key. Forget about dropper posts and such like.