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Hi,

I have been road cycling for the last few years but a couple of weeks ago I was riding North Hill in Danbury and saw a load of guys on MTB's covered in dirt and thought 'I want a go of that!'.

So I am currently looking for a MTB, my budget is about £5-600, not massive I know but I am hoping to get a decent starter bike my trouble is I know next to nothing about MTB specs.

Due to my budget I am looking at hardtails and after trying a few out I quite like the idea of a 27.5.

I quite like these so far

http://www.cube.eu/uk/bikes/mtb-hardtai ... blue-2015/ - I have a cube road bike and know/like the brand

http://www.cube.eu/uk/bikes/mtb-hardtai ... reen-2015/

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/m ... -bike-2015

Does anyone have any thoughts on the above or recommendations around my price range?

Thanks!

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/m ... in-bike-18

Will always recommend voo doo bazingo as a good starter bike (very similar to my trek stache in frame geometry), lots of good review and awards given to it. I will say that coming from a road bike back ground you will probably struggle to deal with the change in position/how you sit on the bike. any advice just ask. What sort of rideing are you looking at doing? xc/trail rideing, little bit of jumping ect

I started on a Decathlon Rockrider and still think they are amongst the best bikes out there for the money.

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-81 ... 68918.html

Shimano Deore Hollowtech Crank, SRAM X7 rear mech, SRAM X5 shifters, Rock Shox Recon with remote lock.

Brakes are pants to be fair...

Or I'm selling this puppy that I built as a project - spec is unreal but it's a little more than you wanted to spend at £850 - but it'll need no upgrading...

Thanks for the replys and recommendations, not seen either so will check them both out.

I will mainly be doing trial riding to start with but will see where that leads me, looking forward to something a bit different.

Really like the look of that stumpie but I reckon the Mrs will kill me if I go above £600!

No problem sir... she is a very nice bike though.. buy your Mrs some flowers and take her out for the night...

Win - Win

http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/news/artic ... ook-36650/
http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/categ ... -13-47282/
http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/categ ... -14-47920/

Review for the bizango and the aizan (pretty much the same frame but with a BIG step down in components), will help to high light its worth spending as much as you can in the first place (less upgrading needed straight away). Also pros and cons of a cheap 29er

This advice will save you a lot of grief and cash. I bought a low end bike (second hand), and have already spent a bucket load upgrading parts thats either didn't do the job well or i didn't like/get on with. I would say, try and get a test ride of a couple of bikes, and try to find what suits you and what you prefer. Don't rush in blind like i did. The guys on here are like bottomless pits of MTB nuggets, and from the short time I've been on here, very happy to share them and help you out. If you waited 1 month, would your budget be any more? If yes, then is it worth waiting that time to get the bike you want?

Just my thoughts, Pete.

Thanks for the advice, to be honest I'm not sure I can up my budget too much without getting a divorce - spent way to much on bikes in the last couple of months including a new single speed/fixie in the last couple of weeks so really pushing my luck as it is!

Some times N + 1 needs you to N - 1 = N + 1*

Boardman Comp 650b seems decent value at £650. 120mm air fork. You might be able to nab that for 600 quid if they have a sale on soon.

Like the look of that as well for the price, air fork for easy adjustablility and X5 gearing

I had a look at the boardman earlier and like the look of it, I've got british cycling membership so get 10% off at halfords so sits nicely in my budget. I also tried to see the voodoo while I was there but was told 'it's a specialist bike that's kept out the back', when I said I wanted to have a look with a view to buying one he went out back and said 'it's not built so you can't see it'.

To be honest I don't think I'd trust him to build me a bike so left, I will pop to a different store tomorrow and hope I can speak to someone who knows what they are doing and actually cares about making a sale.

Well, after a lot of faffing around I finally picked up my new bike yesterday. Went for the Boardman Team 650b as my works cycle to work scheme opened so managed to increase my budget a bit but had to buy from Halfords, the team seemed like good spec for the money.

Only rode her the 5 miles from shop to home last night but hope to get out proper for the first time over the weekend, will hopefully join a ride once I get used to it.