Looking at MTB

[Dark46]

I keep getting asked if I have a MTB ? So I`m now in a position to get myself a MTB.
So far I`ve decided on a hardtail 27.5 , but there are still too many bikes and makes to choose from. I`ve been looking a Scott and Norco and Gaint plus others. Then on Friday I called into a local shop and had my mind blown away. What took my fancy was a Whyte, the fact that its a UK company and also a lifetime warranty on the frame. I was looking at the 901 and the only thing that put me off was the colour. I see someone on here has one in the Lime Yellow. The 905 looks great few a few extras but again the Colour does not impress me. So sods law I looked at the 909 and it looks amazing in black and bronze. I just wonder if its too much of a bike for a first MTB. The budget is not a problem and I know around where I live in Gloucester there is a lot of places to use the bike, the Forest of Dean is on my door step too.

I get advice from friends of who I trust but its difficult when the have different opinons ! So I thought I would give here ago as I`ve had good advice in the past about road cycling. The biggest difference with their opinions is the the crank gears. As some say thea a single gear on the front is the way to go and you`ve guessed it, others recommend a twin on the front. The shop assistant says you dont really need a twin on the front if the on the range on the back is right.

The other real question is on pedals do I go for flat or clip in?

 

[fossyant]

Stretch the budget. Whyte's are good and the lifetime warrenty is excellent. Also look at Bird !

I have a double up front on my Full Suspension and it suits the riding I do - mainly XC where the closer ratio is better, especially on the 'flat'.

My next bike is likely to be a single chainring, but that's what most seem to have now.

 

[Dark46]

I did see that someone on here said about Bird, but I`m always weary on ordering a bike from a online suppplier just incase their are any issues in the future. But I will have a look cheers.


I see the Zero TR and the 909 are very similar in price and spec

 

[fossyant]

Bird are UK based and I believe their customer service is excellent - you can go in and buy direct from their premises if you live locally. They just don't have dealers.

 

[Cycleops]

For VFM you couldn't do any better than Decathlon.
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-920-se-mountain-bike-275-id_8387540.html
Single chainsets seem to be flavour of the month right now and there's much to be said for them. You need to ask yourself about the type of riding you'll be doing.

 

[NorthernDave]

Nobody ever had too much of a bike

If it's within your budget and you like it, why not?

The worst that can happen is you don't exploit the full potential of the bike - which matters to absolutely no-one. I get nowhere near the full potential of my 'best' bike, but it doesn't stop me enjoying riding it, or knowing I can push myself to get more out of it every now and then.

A single chain ring on the front seems to be the future (well for now, anyway) and while a twin will give you a wider selection of gears you probably won't miss it too much if you don't get one.

 

[marzjennings]

The Whyte 909 looks like a good bike, but that head angle is slack and that's big ol' set of forks. It designed more for going down than going up. Plus that fork is going to feel sloppy if you prefer tight single track. Have you test ridden one yet?

There's no such thing as too much bike.

All my mtb's have single chain ring at the front, it's just one less thing to worry about. Plus hitting the Forest trails on a muddy day always means a bunged up front mech.

 

[Dark46]

I see the Ragley Blue Pig is really rated too. Looking at reviews at MBR at the moment.

 

[Crackle]

The Whytes and the Birds are both trail bikes, big slack head angles, wide bars, short stems. You can do XC with them but they're less suited to it, so if you want to do trails and short XC runs they're fine but if you want to do long rides in the country, they're probably less suited than a pure XC bike being an XC/trail hybrid. Mind you, I'm probably being picky but it's just a thought.

 

[fossyant]

There isn't too much to be bothered about. My Full suspension trail bike covers ground as well as the rigid XC bike. It does go down rocky hills much better though.

XC bikes have "around" 100mm of travel, trail around 130mm and Enduro 150 to 170mm.

 

[Crackle]

There isn't too much to be bothered about. My Full suspension trail bike covers ground as well as the rigid XC bike. It does go down rocky hills much better though.

XC bikes have "around" 100mm of travel, trail around 130mm and Enduro 150 to 170mm.

you're probably right although you don't have as slack a head angle on your Boardman as those two.

 

[Dark46]

Cant believe looking at Bird website they have a lack of parts to build bike at moment lol

 

[Dark46]

I've not ridden a MTB at the moment but I want to have more of a idea before I go into more shops, so I don't get talked into buying something I don't want and is not suitable.

 

[fossyant]

you're probably right although you don't have as slack a head angle on your Boardman as those two.

No but it's slack compared to the 90's old skool 72/73 degrees.
My next might be a long travel trail or an Enduro - I still want something that climbs - the Boardman does well for a squishy bike.

Depends what the OP wants though - a short travel might be fine. Hard tails have much less to 'go wrong'.

 

[Crackle]

I've not ridden a MTB at the moment but I want to have more of a idea before I go into more shops, so I don't get talked into buying something I don't want and is not suitable.

I hired bikes at trail centres. More and more have a good selection of hire bikes or demo days.