MTB for oldie

[Geejay]

Can you help me narrow down the options please? I'm in my late 60's, about 5'10" pretty fit and looking to buy a new hardtail mtb up to around £1500. I'm not going to be doing anything serious, just forestry tracks, the occasional single track, nothing technical; we go to Spain for 3 months in the winter, so I'll be doing quite a bit there where it's dry and hardly ever rains where I want to go on the road as well to go shopping and just for fun 20/30 mile trips. I think I need a triple as Spain's very hilly so 22 chain ring and 34T at back. Wondered about a spare set of wheels and tyres for the road or easy rollers like Furious Fred?

Any suggestions for a suitable bike gratefully received.

 

[MikeW-71]

In all honesty, you wouldn't necessarily need to go as high as £1500.

This would do the job well:
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/talon.27.5.1/19250/77360/#specifications

The model above it has a double chainset and a better fork, and is still only £1k. With the change you could get the spare set of wheels, you needn't go mad on them, and some road tyres. You'd still have money left over from the budget too.

You can spend the full £1500 on a bike, but you're likely into carbon XC race bikes then, which may be a bit extreme for your usage.

 

[Kevoffthetee]

The answer may be you just want to treat yourself, but why spend that much. You could get a decent hardtail for £500 and upgrade parts As/when you feel necessary.

I have a Giant revel 1 with the rubbish Suntour forks but I don't need anything better for using mainly on cycle tracks and bridleways. I don't go throwing the bike downhills but the forks are ok for the occasional bobbly track.

 

[Geejay]

Thanks for that both. I was wondering if I was going to spend money for no good purpose. Too good a bike for what I can use.

 

[vickster]

These guys often have good deals on older models, e.g. (27.5cm options)

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m1b0s182p0/Mountain-Bikes/Mountain-Bikes-Front-Suspension-27-5

Or are you buying in a shop in Spain?

 

[I like Skol]

Just bought THIS for my oldest son and have to admit been a little jealous and very impressed with the Spec for only £750

It's a real MTB that should cope with gnarly rough stuff all day long and even has the latest 10spd XT rear mech with chain tension clutch for those hairy downhill runs and a remote fork lock-out for the climbs. Compared to the Giant I would say it has a slightly better spec due to the Deore crankset despite being £100 cheaper. The only compromise I can see is the lack of pedals (everybody chucks the stock ones in the bin anyway) and the non-brand wheels (The Giant has own brand wheels too).

GT make well respected, tough mountain bikes that do the job. This bike is well under budget so the money saved can be used to upgrade the immediate items like pedals and saddle, with plenty left over for a superb set of handbuilt wheels when the need arises (which it may never do).

 

[samsbike]

If you are confident or have a mate you can help take a look at Rose and Canyon, which is mail order from Germany

 

[Kestevan]

Also have a look at Planet X.

A nice 29" trail bike,
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBOOPWX5/on-one-parkwood-sram-x5-mountain-bike

Or a bit more Old Skool - 26" Steel
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBOO26INTR/on-one-inbred-26-sram-x5-mountain-bike

Both well under budget,.

 

[surfdude]

Forme do some very nice hardtail bikes. Nice spec and good prices. I think mine is great

 

[Pale Rider]

Spending more will get you a lighter bike.

As others have said, £1,500 is a bit more than you need to spend, but it's certainly worth looking at about £1,000 rather than £500.

Deals to be had on older models, and as @vickster said, Pauls is a good source.

They are known for buying in lots of last year's bikes to sell at a discount, although they may not have so many in the popular medium/19" size.

Separate wheels and tyres for road use sounds good, but daft as it may sound, the rear gears don't always index well with the second set even if you spec the same cassette.

 

[Geejay]

Thanks again. I liked the look of the Giant and there's local dealers not too far away. However, Pauls seems to have some really good bargains at £1k, but would probably mean mail order. Unless we take the tandem to Norfolk for a short break and some flat cycling.

The point about indexing I hadn't realised. Maybe need the Furious Fred. I fitted Smart Sam Plus on our existing mtb's and they certainly roll nicely on tarmac.