heckler Posted June 9, 2008 Share Posted June 9, 2008 I heard bad things about the quality / reliability of the Carrera's so avoided. I decided on the GT Avalanche 1.0 and am picking it up from an Evans shop tomorrow evening Cheers, Brian. same company makes both bikes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heckler Posted June 9, 2008 Share Posted June 9, 2008 How about just a general mountain bike to get a bit fitter on for around £200? I feel the Halfords stuff is either over priced or just poor components. Am I right? halfords stuff is very competitivly priced, I bought a road bike from halfords for £400, equivilent price for a "branded" bike was £700 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tDR Posted June 9, 2008 Author Share Posted June 9, 2008 Yeah it's an expensive old game. I got my bike.... so the other half decided she too must have a bike. A trip down to halfords later we'd bought her a 'jump bike' for £260 - a Saracen Instinct. She looked at a number of bikes but liked that one because of the easy riding position. Halfords also had a deal on - £50 of accessories if you bought a bike at £250 or more. So that helped, but we spent another £100 or so on the extra stuff over and above that and around £270 on a Thule roof bars / bike holders kit to make transporting them around easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heckler Posted June 9, 2008 Share Posted June 9, 2008 Tell me about it, I've spent just shy of £9k on 3 bikes in 8 years. Not including the "others" I've had inbetween Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 Thanks guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 Yeah it's an expensive old game. I got my bike.... so the other half decided she too must have a bike. A trip down to halfords later we'd bought her a 'jump bike' for £260 - a Saracen Instinct. She looked at a number of bikes but liked that one because of the easy riding position. Halfords also had a deal on - £50 of accessories if you bought a bike at £250 or more. So that helped, but we spent another £100 or so on the extra stuff over and above that and around £270 on a Thule roof bars / bike holders kit to make transporting them around easier. My missus choose hers based on the colour.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tDR Posted June 10, 2008 Author Share Posted June 10, 2008 My missus choose hers based on the colour.... That did play a big part in the decision making process for mine too She doesn't like girly looking stuff most of the time so the fact it looked mean helped Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl_S Posted June 11, 2008 Share Posted June 11, 2008 I'd say avoid carreras too if you can, you can order specialized and other bikes from halfords if you are gagging for the halfords service. Or just look on ebay, definately go for a decent brand, eg, marin, specialized, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heckler Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 I'd say avoid carreras too if you can, you can order specialized and other bikes from halfords if you are gagging for the halfords service. Or just look on ebay, definately go for a decent brand, eg, marin, specialized, there is nothing wrong with carerra (me and my miss's have one - I also have a santacruz blur) The company which maked the carerra bikes, also makes the GT's etc... but the carerras are better spec'd for the same cost. Brands these days make no difference as like (VW etc) one company (in taiwan) makes makes frames for most of the big names (with the exception of santacruz who make there own frames - but thats reflected in the price) Cannondale, Scott, GT etc.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bolarbag Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 How about a work bike i.e a bike to get to work - I'm fairly fit, run about 3miles a day plus gym at night but would like to get fitter, my works around 15miles there, so no fancy malarky just general roads? Under 500quid - 300quid wishful thinking:innocent: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 It has to be said, I'm really struggling to get my head around the costs of these bikes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bolarbag Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 It has to be said, I'm really struggling to get my head around the costs of these bikes. lol I was just thinking this too, I remember my first mountain bike about 12year ago, Raleigh(Not sure if their crap) was like 200quid, done the job and I took it up and down mountains and all sorts, Why do you need suspension on a bike? Why do you need the bike to be excessively light unless your competing, isnt the fact its heavy a little heavy increasing your strength and general fitness? my mate spent nearly 4g on a CF bike I just thought wtf! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 lol I was just thinking this too, I remember my first mountain bike about 12year ago, Raleigh(Not sure if their crap) was like 200quid, done the job and I took it up and down mountains and all sorts, Why do you need suspension on a bike? Why do you need the bike to be excessively light unless your competing, isnt the fact its heavy a little heavy increasing your strength and general fitness? my mate spent nearly 4g on a CF bike I just thought wtf! Its the same concept as what you drive.... Do you really need a 550+bhp single turbo supra on UK roads????? Or for the odd track day? No but you WANT IT!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bolarbag Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 Its the same concept as what you drive.... Do you really need a 550+bhp single turbo supra on UK roads????? Or for the odd track day? No but you WANT IT!!! Yes but you can feel the difference your 10 or 20g has made, do you feel the difference on a bike with suspension unless your competing, moderate difference to me when I used both - also its a bike!:limp: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 Yes but you can feel the difference your 10 or 20g has made, do you feel the difference on a bike with suspension unless your competing, moderate difference to me when I used both - also its a bike!:limp: Yes you can feel the difference made by weight and decent components compared to rubbish. Its like saying driving a Hyundai is the same a supra...... you can feel the difference when you change your cars suspension, or lose a couple of kgs in weight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted June 14, 2008 Share Posted June 14, 2008 I'm starting to fancy one of these - a Rockrider 6.3 http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/rockrider-63-07-20096 Although the review price seems to be fifty quid out from the actual. http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/rockrider-6-3-34963775/ In fact, most of the prices from the reviews in 2007 have gone up substantially...and if you search Google you can find the Carrera Vulcan was available for about £149 at one point. It's nearly twice that now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 I bought the Vulcan with disc brakes. £279 from Halfords, then £50 of free accessories which I would've bought anyway. So I figure I paid £229 for the bike which is closer to the review price. (Don't dispute my logic, it'll only upset me!) Took it out yesterday for its first ride and really enjoyed it. I even had to haul it over a fallen tree in the road (which wasn't there when I went!) and lifted it over quite easily. Also passed a local BMX track which I couldn't resist. Jumping on soft suspension forks isn't the best idea but it was great fun! That was until the kids turned up on their ninja BMXs and chased me off. I'm glad I spent a bit more than the usual hundred quid or so for something which I would've no doubt had a harder time riding and lifting about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tDR Posted June 23, 2008 Author Share Posted June 23, 2008 Absolutely. I'm glad I got the bike I did as it's already taken a hammering on downhills - so much so I've managed to slightly buckle the front wheel after fluffing a jump off a dry stone dyke wall onto a dirt road below. Been using it in anger and am already feeling better for it. It's a slow climb back to fitness but feel like I've broken the back of my unfitness Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.