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Hi All,

Im Andrew and I live in Wickford/Essex. Really looking forward to meeting up for some MTB fun, but first I need a bike. Im looking to be visiting trails in Epping, Langdon Hills & Danbury but not sure which type of bike to purchase. My Budget will is £1000.
Your advice would be a great help and look forward to meeting up with you in the near future

Many thanks
A

Welcome along, for £1000 and just starting out best place to start is with a hardtail (lighter, better spec, and you learn how to be a better rider from the off than a full sus bike). Worth having a look at a few of the current mags, bikeradar.com for reviews. Have a look at on one 456, whyte 901, and bird zero. All get good reviews for a trail bike, if you want more xc style bikes (less travel, less fun handleing, lighter though) worth looking at voodoo bizango, trek superfly.

have you done any riding off road before? On road?

On-one do some good selections on £1000 hard tails, i take it on cycle to work?

Yes mate, would be mad not to use that scheme I'm wiling to add £200 to that if need be.

Thanks for your advice.
I have a hybrid bike which I have taken through Hainault forest in the past. Ive also been on off road trails @ Centre Parks. Im not a complete beginner but definitely a novice. Fitness is okay as I do a bit of gym work and a few 5k's every week. I don't think I'm gonna need a full suspension bike to begin with. Popped into Evans the other day just to have a look and the guy showed me a Scott hardtail which looked okay!

Cool, Hainault is a nice XC route afew long climbs up if ridden from Befords CP, good training mate !

If I brought another HT I'd go for 29er, something like 120mm travel

Two great deals, different riding styles.
http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOOPWX9/on ... ntain-bike
great for fast xc and forrest fun

or this one for hard hitting fun.
http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOO45650BX ... ntain-bike

Thx, I know this a little above my budget but is it worth looking at as well? http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOOLURCHX9 ... ntain-bike

The Lurcher is a good bike but more XC orientated so may struggle as you want to do more progressive things.

Thats a lovely "race" bike, anything other than pure XC and you'l be struggling. Very steep head angle and very stiff frame.

I had one with a rigid fork, fast as fook.

Sorry I might be slightly confused with this whole MTB stuff. Forgive me I am a newbie.

XC - Cross Country? Also Would I not need a XC if I'm going to be visiting Epping Forest & Langdon Hills?

Sorry about that

XC is cross country.

Epping would be cool on the Lurcher and Langdon Hills would be OK (ish) but if you went to Danbury you might want a less cross country race orientated bike.

Reality is all bikes will work but something like the Lurcher is a fast cross country bike and that's where it will feel most comfortable.

For me it's like this:

1 - Fast Race Cross Country, no jumps or drops = Lurcher (http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOOPWX9/on-one-parkwood-sram-x9-mountain-bike)

2 - Trail Bike, just about most trail centres/single track/start to get wheels off ground = Parkwood (http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOOPWX9/on-one-parkwood-sram-x9-mountain-bike)

3 - All Mountain Bike, just about everything except downhill = 45650b (http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOO45650BX9/on-one-45650b-sram-x9-mountain-bike)

I started with a fast cross country bike and to be fair I didn't see what others saw and couldn't understand why they said the riding I was doing would suite a more trail orientated or all mountain bike until I rode one.

I did have a very short travel (90/110mm) 29er. I now have a very aggressive AM (All Mountain Bike) in the form of a custom Bird Zero like this (http://shop.birdmtb.com/zero/zero-3-439.html) and a long travel full sus bike.

My Bird Zero is awesome over Epping (very fast and capable), I've also smashed it around Danbury, Langdon Hills, Wales and even taken it to Canada. If Bird do Cycle to Work I would strongly recommend the Zero... and what's best if the do then you can go ride one round Swinley as they run demo days.

Here's my Zero;

Pretty much what stumpy said, some bikes can fall in to more than one category if one or two items are changed. Also does your ride to work have to be done through even? or can other shops be included?

Thanks Stumpie, Very useful and helpful information there.

Matt, don't think its limited to Evans. I shall find out tomorrow,

Makes me want another Lurcher