A colleague at work wants a new bike, they always wanted a carbon hardtail and now they can afford one, but are there any good deals out there? (full bike only, no frame-up builds). Use would be just general XC, nothing technical and no racing. I realise there is no ‘need’ to go for carbon but that is what they want so im trying to help out.

Whats out there then?

GT Zaskar carbon
Specialized stumpjumpers?
etc.

Ta,
Rich.

On-one whippet?

Ibis tranny?
Santa Cruz Highball?

what budget?

26/29 wheels?

Ibis tranny?
Santa Cruz Highball?

I wouldnt call them a good deal in terms of getting into the carbon hadtail market 😆

Price wise id think you should get a decent spec for under £2000, so lets say that.

On-one whippet?

A good bottom end to quailfy other ‘contenders’ i think, shame its not very pretty (enough tacked on cables giudes?!)

various GT/Giant/etc carbon hardtails here at good prices;

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/offers.php?cat=1

On One 456 Carbon? I am building one with 100mm forks at the moment but can get as complete bike. Bit more friendly than the Whippet which is more of a race machine

So the the high range are too expensive and the budget ones are ugly, I think you’ll have to compromise somewhere..

http://www.canyon.com/_uk/mountainbikes/bike.html?b=2548

Carbon, XO, Sids, DT wheels, £2,100

for me it can’t be beaten for the money, personally i love mine as well 🙂 but i seem to be in the minority on that one 😆

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/PBOOC456X9/on_one_carbon_456_x9_complete_bike

That Canyon is great value for a new bike, there are some good deals on 1 or 2 year old models on Pauls (Giant, Scott, Cannondale), some of the On one or Planet X carbon frames are nice (i.e. PX Dirty Harry) if you don’t like the Whippet or 456… Cannondale flash gets good reviews for comfort, scott scale for weight and stiffness, On-one for value, that Canyon is good value too… Plenty out there around 2000!