XC Race bike

Need an XC bike to race this season. Need a racing based medium 17/17.5/18 inch hardtail frame with as good spec and strong wheels as possible. Have £1300 max! to spend, but would obviously rather spend as little as possible.

So far I’ve narrowed it down to these 5 –
Felt Six Pro – http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/27987/Felt_Six_Pro_Bike_2010

Kona Kula Gold – http://www.evanscycles.com/products/kona/kula-gold-2011-mountain-bike-ec026525

Focus Black Forest 3.0 – http://www.wiggle.co.uk/focus-black-forest-30-xtr-2011/

Giant XTC Alliance 0 2009 – http://paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b4s2p2292

Giant XTC Alliance 2010 – http://paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b4s2p2786

Anybody own any of them and can give me some opinions? Or anybody just got any opinions in general? Any help at all would be great, need to get this sorted asap.
Many thanks, Monty

Bump!

Have you tried any of them for fit? If you’re racing fit is key to getting the most out of your fitness mate.

For that money I would by looking at the Cube range, look at chain reaction.

I had a quick spin on the Felt as a friend has one, felt like a good fit although I was only on for a minute or two so couldn’t really tell.
The other ones I can’t get to a shop that stocks them to try for size and I don’t know anyone that has them, but I know what you mean!

Was looking at the cubes too, but for example, the ltd race, which is roughly the same price as those bikes, hasn’t as good a spec in my humble opinion?

Need an XC bike to race this season.

isn’t the season half over already

I’d go for a Boardman personally. £1000 for this year’s with BB30 and tapered head tube, or £850 for last years. Excellent kit for the money and very quick.

Know some people who own the boardmans and say the frame quality is no good at all?
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?PartnerID=79&ModelID=57164 – Cube Reaction Team – how would that compare to the bikes I had originally listed? Have a 10% voucher for CRC so could get that at £1260ish.

Sent an email to your graemeATsurf-salesDOTcom address there mate

I had a boardman frame which, was very light and beautifully finished. Maybe a little harsh to ride, but no more so than any other ally frame I’ve owned, and less so than a giant xtc for instance.

Have you checked out the canyon range?

No one here is going to recommend a Giant, too damn mass market. But I’d say they are the most race proven out of all those brands. Certainly very popular amongst racers down here.

I’d look at Canyon too

ON ONE CARBON WHIPPET!

Beat me too it – Whippet surely for that price? Or even a Scandal?

Know some people who own the boardmans and say the frame quality is no good at all?

I’d take them off your list of people whose advice is worth listening to.

http://www.canyon.com/_en/mountainbikes/bike.html?b=2056 this looks pretty good value!

however this is amazing! http://www.canyon.com/_en/mountainbikes/bike.html?b=2057

I’ve got a Spesh Epic for sale if you’re interested….

http://www.xcracer.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=4752

here you go (same budget too)

Thanks for the replies guys, much appreciated. Right now it seems to between the OnOne custom build, or what seems a very well spec’d machine – the canyon grand canyon 8.0.
Is it right to think an aluminium frame e.g the canyon would take more of a beating – crashes, rocks flicking up etc. than the carbon frame of the OnOne?

Surely the CRC kona discount is attractive?

But +1 for riding the bikes first.

Is it right to think an aluminium frame e.g the canyon would take more of a beating – crashes, rocks flicking up etc. than the carbon frame of the OnOne

No. They’ll all be tough as boots, and all fine for racing.

Is it right to think an aluminium frame e.g the canyon would take more of a beating – crashes, rocks flicking up etc. than the carbon frame of the OnOne?

I’d say tother road round, but it’s a can of worms. I have a 2001 scott strike carbon (very very light full sus carbon frame) which is still in perfect condition despite lots of abuse. I’ve dented alu frames very easily…

I bought a boardman frame off ebay and put my old bits on it. really really good frame. Full bikes are a bargain.

The whippet is a good deal, but I don’t like the cheaper deore brakes on it nor the cheapy wheels or forks. by the time they’re sorted, you’re looking at the thick end of £1500

Ok, so if the frames are much the same durability wise, and there’s no chance of a test ride of either, then the deciding factor will be spec I guess.
Going by that, I could get the Grand Canyon Al standard spec – http://www.canyon.com/_uk/mountainbikes/bike.html?b=2056. Or an OnOne SLX spec with Reba Race dual air pushloc forks – http://on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOOWHIPSLX/on-one-carbon-whippet-slx

Canyon seems to be the winner to me?

I’d never buy a bike without riding it first. Surely you can get to a shop?

And I’ve never ridden an on-one but surely it’s a bit slack for XC race?

Live over in Northern Ireland, and even with that, I don’t know anyone who ride either bikes and they’re both online retailers.. :/

There must surely be bike shops in NI?

Well yes, we have a commencal dealer, spesh dealer, halfords, rocky mtn dealer, giant dealer, chain reaction cycles amongst others, but I’m currently looking at the on-one and canyon, neither of which can be test ridden over here as far as I’m aware.

I’ve recently picked up a Canyon AL 9.0 SL and can honestly says it’s the best bike I’ve ever owned. It’s ridiculously fast. Love it more than my Zesty and that’s saying something. Checkout their website, the service I received was excellent.

I’d much rather buy a bike I’d ridden and liked, rather than one that had the perfect spec on paper…

Yep, on Canyon’s website at the minute, really thinking of going for the Grand Canyon 8.0.

silly Q:
what size is the BikeGuard box? Thinking about getting a Canyon but working away so will need it dropping off at another address.