I want to buy a MTB from Halfords but I don't know which one.
- Thread starter batlol
- Start date
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All uphill
Still rolling along
- Location
- Somerset
Welcome!
What will you be using your new bike for? Riding round a city? Country lanes? Shopping?
The Kraken looks to have a long travel suspension fork; do you need to carry around all that weight?
What will you be using your new bike for? Riding round a city? Country lanes? Shopping?
The Kraken looks to have a long travel suspension fork; do you need to carry around all that weight?
Kingfisher101
Veteran
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
It's only 120mm. Admit it's a bit much for the canal path, but if it's entry level off road, bit of cross country and rough bridleways, then it's fine. What's the bikes intended use ?
riding around city going on some paths having fun with friends
All uphill
Still rolling along
- Location
- Somerset
The Carrera Subway gets good reviews and would save you some money.
No suspension?
sevenfourate
Devotee of OCD
- Location
- Lowestoft, Suffolk
Seconded.
By someone who has one in ‘the fleet’.
Gets fab reviews for good reason and rides really well at a price that belies its solidity. Mine lives amongst bikes many-many times the cost of the Carrera - and I still truly enjoy riding it. In truth mine has actually only been in my ownership a month or two:
And goes everywhere inc some reasonably off-road paths / tracks / trails as you can see.
Infact for further clarity - this NEW Carrera Subway was only purchased to replace an outgoing 10-12 year old: Carrera Subway 🤣🤣🤣
Enjoy your cycling whatever you purchase 👍
All uphill
Still rolling along
- Location
- Somerset
And all the better for that.
Imo tyres are the best suspension, unless you have lots of money for a sophisticated suspension fork.
PaulSB
Squire
- Location
- Chorley, Lancashire
For the riding you describe you don't need suspension. In my view when riding on tarmac suspension will reduce your speed in two ways; added weight means you are pushing more bike around and the suspension absorbs some of the energy you are expending which would be better going into pushing the wheels round.
On paths you're unlikely to encounter anything worse than a few ruts or the occasional tree root. Suspension isn't needed by the majority of casual riders.
I ride a lot of gravel, up to 70/80 mile days. On my new bike I will be adding a Redshift suspension stem but wouldn't consider suspension forks.
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Punkawallah
Über Member
Tyres = suspension. I can do canal paths, bridleways, paddocks etc on an ‘83 Galaxy, no problem. 1.25” tyres do every type of surface up to cobbles and down to packed earth. Mud I avoid, as they sink.
Kingfisher101
Veteran
Those suspension forks will lock out, so if you like the bike just get it.
Cheap suspension is generally a waste of time in my experience. It adds weight to the bike and doesn't soften the blows anywhere near as much if you just on roads and tracks. It might work if you're doing regular jumps and downhill mtb'ing.
Decent tyres, some even come with extra cushioning, a comfy set of bars and grips and a nice pair of gloves, will all add to comfort as will bending your arms a bit too.
Decent tyres, some even come with extra cushioning, a comfy set of bars and grips and a nice pair of gloves, will all add to comfort as will bending your arms a bit too.
Valid point. A few years ago, a pal bought a bike from Halfords and a few days later whilst riding to work, the front wheel came out of the forks.
He was not amused and caused a stink at Halfords.
kingrollo
Guru
Agreed some over thinking going on here.
The carrea kraken is a well regarded bike and has been for a few years. You can do anything you want with that bike - should your interest get more serious.
Sure you might not actually "need" suspension - in the same way we don't need disc brakes, clipless pedals, cut out saddles.
Cyclechat can be very anti tech at times
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