[205Chris]

Help UKB hive mind.

It's years since I owned a Mountain Bike and looking around now there seems to be far too much choice what to spend your hard earned on.

What's the entry point for a decent hardtail that will stand up to a moderate level of abuse round Peak District trails?

Also what's the knowledge on 26" v 27.5" v 29". Only ever ridden 26" before.

Recommendations for bike shops in Sheffield, is JE James the way to go?

Thanks

[Paul B]

I'm not going to wade in as an expert but I bought my first MTB in years two or so ago (second hand from Yorkshire Cycling Sales on FB).

It's a Canyon Neuron AL and it's got 27.5"wheels. It's noticeably easier to me to get over objects than on Nat's 26" Trek. It's worth remembering I'm not very tall!

[tomtom]

I suspect the first question you’ll be asked is how much is the budget...

[User deactivated.]

Budget?

On a hardtail, for peak district trails I'd be inclined to suggest a 29er (perhaps I'd qualify that with you being at least 5 foot 9). A 27.5 will be more playful if you're into jumping and manualing off everything.

A fantastic hardtail that's priced very competitively is a Bird Zero as this brand is direct to market. They are a very reputable UK brand that offer lifetime transferable warranty, let you choose your spec, etc. But are definitely top end in terms of quality so may be out of budget.

I often see one of the vitus bikes recommended as a great mid prices options, I forget the model. I also see a voodoo model from Halfords of all places rated very highly for an entry level bike! Again I forget the model name but you could search for reviews, eg. "Best hardtail under X pounds."

[Catcheemonkey]

I wouldn’t be shy about embracing 29 inch wheels - with modern frame geometry the bike will feel much more capable than the 26 you’ve used before.

The only reasons not to go for a 29er in my mind are if you are shorter than average or want to use the bike for jumping or particularly twisty techy riding.

Edit: what Liam just said.

[Catcheemonkey]

I’ve got a Bird Zero 29 and can heartily recommend it too.

[SA Chris]

Agree with height, if you are big enough to need an L/XL ish size frame, but if you are on a small frame you will look like Big Ears on his bike. IMHO anyway.

https://www.mbr.co.uk/reviews/hardtail/best-hardtail-mountain-bike

[205Chris]

OK, the Bird 29 looks quite spendy. Does sub £1k get you anything decent these days.

I found the problem with 'best bikes under....' searches is the first review I clicked on listed about 10 bikes and eulogised about all of them.

[SA Chris]

Also, it might be worth holding on for a couple of months, 2021 bikes are normally released late autumn, at which point the 2020 bikes (which are usually just a different colour) still in stock will get dropped in price.

Usually the case anyway, this year it might be different, I expect so few bikes have been sold and made most may not release a new bike for 2021.

Worth waiting if you can anyway, maybe find out if you can demo a couple you have your eye on?

[teestub]

Usually the case anyway, this year it might be different, I expect so few bikes have been sold and made most may not release a new bike for 2021.

Was interested by the balance of the boom during lockdown and the lack of supply, looks like the prediction is only a 10% downturn, so hopefully should still be plenty of end of line bargains knocking about.
https://road.cc/content/news/uk-bike-sales-hit-ps1-billion-2023-274681

[galpinos]

Also, it might be worth holding on for a couple of months, 2021 bikes are normally released late autumn, at which point the 2020 bikes (which are usually just a different colour) still in stock will get dropped in price.

Usually the case anyway, this year it might be different, I expect so few bikes have been sold and made most may not release a new bike for 2021.

Worth waiting if you can anyway, maybe find out if you can demo a couple you have your eye on?

What? There's not stock left of bikes, especially if you are a standard height. My LBS look like it's been robbed, there's two lonely bikes, sitting in the racks where there's normally loads. Walk into Decathalon and Go outdoors, it's the same, not a bike to be seen. A mate buying a bike was told they could probably get it but it would cost a "£500 finders fee" (it was a high end road bike) and they couldn't guarantee the size......

[galpinos]

I have an On One Inbred, not that dissimilar to the On-One Big Bog now. Mine was a little cheaper but with better equivalent spec bits (fork, gears and brakes)

https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBOOBDSX/on-one-big-dog-sram-sx-mountain-bike

Steel 29er, really lovely to roll over difficulties, not exactly great in a tight spot. I'm not much cop as a MTBer so it suits me fine!

[gme]

Also, it might be worth holding on for a couple of months, 2021 bikes are normally released late autumn, at which point the 2020 bikes (which are usually just a different colour) still in stock will get dropped in price.

Usually the case anyway, this year it might be different, I expect so few bikes have been sold and made most may not release a new bike for 2021.

This couldnt be more wrong. I tried to get a new bike for my 16 year old and could not get a bike, other than the top end stuff, despite going to four shops. All of them looked like they had been robbed.

My local shop is due new stock at the end of August but already being told its going to be late. He sold more bikes in May than they would in a normal year.

[Catcheemonkey]

It is nuts at the moment. I sold a second hand MTB a couple of months ago on Facebook and in the space of 12 hours had almost 500 offers!

[SA Chris]

OK, OK, not what i thought clearly. I've not been in a bike shop this year.

[Yossarian]

There are occasionally some amazing mountain bike bargains in the bikes for sale section on here - http://lfgss.com - It’s mostly London-centric but there’s also stuff scattered around the country.

[Catcheemonkey]

There’s a new article on BikeRadar that might be of interest:

https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/buyers-guides/best-mountain-bikes-under-1000-2/

The bikes all look decent, but the full suss ones are probably a bit more hefty than you’re after.

[205Chris]

Thanks for all the replies.

The challenge seems to be finding somewhere with stock!

[dunnyg]

I dont know much about bikes, but got a calibre bossnut, which seems to do the job so far, used on trails as well as mooching offroad in the dales. The woman's version was about 200 quid cheaper and the only difference was the handlebars were 2 cm thinner (!), so me and the mrs have matching...

[sxrxg]

Thanks for all the replies.

The challenge seems to be finding somewhere with stock!

What size frame are you looking for?

[SA Chris]

The challenge seems to be finding somewhere with stock!

Maybe the flipside of my reply is to wait a few months for next years bikes to come in? You'll likely have to pay full whack but if that's OK you'll have the pick. You might have to preorder if demand is high; especially if you are an unusual size; my partner had her eye on a TREK Fuel EX 6 or something when they were coming out, apparently TREK imported something close to 500 of them into the UK every year in the L size but only 5 in XS, so she had to preorder.

[sxrxg]

Had a quick look and found a few things in stock...

https://m.bikester.co.uk/gt-bicycles-zaskar-lt-al-expert-gloss-moss-greenbritish-racing-green-1245123.html?_cid=21_1_-1_9_108_1245123_201897230296_pla&ef_id=CjwKCAjw9vn4BRBaEiwAh0muDGiQw-QgdDhaS2MhQ_ZwkngENEXW195bZIUHOcwJ8j4lguKM7gYGlxoCfDcQAvD_BwE:G:s&campaign_detail=shopping&gclid=CjwKCAjw9vn4BRBaEiwAh0muDGiQw-QgdDhaS2MhQ_ZwkngENEXW195bZIUHOcwJ8j4lguKM7gYGlxoCfDcQAvD_BwE

https://m.startfitness.co.uk/cycle/bikes/hardtail-mtb/nukeproof-scout-275-race-mountain-bike-2020-blue-npsc275rcmy20.html

https://m.bikester.co.uk/marin-pine-mountain-1-29-gloss-navy-blueyelloworange-1057382.html?_cid=21_1_-1_9_43_1057382_201897230302_pla&ef_id=CjwKCAjw9vn4BRBaEiwAh0muDHV5dc1Zcvxv8ObO3boEa6KDfA6euLW2R-qEzs5wPU4_8zPAuF8NZBoCl48QAvD_BwE:G:s&campaign_detail=shopping&gclid=CjwKCAjw9vn4BRBaEiwAh0muDHV5dc1Zcvxv8ObO3boEa6KDfA6euLW2R-qEzs5wPU4_8zPAuF8NZBoCl48QAvD_BwE

All slightly different (wheel size, Frame material, geometry) and slightly more than £1k. Gives you some options if you want something now though.

[petejh]

Check out Whyte bikes for a quality hardtail around a grand. British brand. If you can stretch to £1,500 the 900 series seems to consistently get great reviews.
The 800 series for under a grand.
They also do a 29er version.

[sxrxg]

If you don't need the bike straight away then my money would go on a Vitus Sentier 29 (or 27 depending upon your riding style and terrain). Best in class Marazocchi fork, good geometry, boost spacing on frame and fork, good tyres that aren't a cheap compound on 30mm wide rims, Shimano brakes with the same lever shape as the top end brakes, 12 speed SX, dropper post. Overall it seems a well sorted package

https://vitusbikes.com/products/sentier-29-vr-bike-sx-eagle-1x12

[sxrxg]

For a really nice upgradable steel frame then the Ribble 275 might be an option (provided you are ok with 27.5 wheels and 2.6 tyres). Fork isn't as good as some other options however this would be easily to upgrade in the future.

https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-ht-725/