One of Decathlon's bike got a decent review in an under 500 test once. I wouldn't really contemplate them for anything more serious than bridleway riding unless you're getting the top of the range ones (but then for that money you could get something elsewhere).
saracan used to be decent, not really into thier latest stuff. what year is it and how much is it going for?
no because you'd hurt me Dex back in 95 the Saracen Pro trax was a damn fine bike and very well specced. for some reason, i think the brand was brought or cut costs and went down hill rapidly into producing rather shyte bikes for halfords.
i pick up my bike last night a specialized fsrxc got it for 390 off ebay and looks like it has been riden once . still has the nipples on the original tyres . can't wait to get out on it
my housemate had a red one, 07 I think. Uphill he couldn't get near me on my stumpy (one of the best climbing bikes there is imo) but then back down the hill he was loads quicker. I really want a rocky mountain full sus now
My boss is a **** and isn't interested in the cycle scheme at all despite sounding interested on monday. I'm after a used GT avalanche or Specialized Hardrock now. I've managed to kill the british eagle after 2 weeks of using it. The brakes are now non existant, the forks feel loose, the gears change by themselves every 2 turns of the wheel and it creaks like a good un when its wet. I've been hamering it though, i've been going up the road in the morning and then the scenic route home at night where after a bit of a climb theres a massive cobbled road to ride down. Heres some pics from my phone of a big res called Greenbooth:
looks great, get a decent bike and it will literally be twice the fun. one of the only sports where spending money on equipment actually makes the enjoyment factor better
Not gonna hurt ya I've got an old Saracen Protrax (not the SE I don't think) rigid front and rear, it's easily ten years old so sounds like it's from the right time. May well be swapping it for a Merlin though - currently running carbon fibre rigid forks, but most likely going to stick a spare set of Judys on there.
Sounds like a good plan there Dex. i spent a week riding a rigid bike whilst on holiday, i had forgotten how tough it was!
back in the day I always wanted a merlin titanium... lovely looking bikes and you could build them with what ever groupset you wanted etc
I'm thinking of a Cannondale F6 today, very light, RockShox forks and Avid juicy 3 hydraulic brakes amongst other stuff, that seems better than the GT 2.0's Suntour forks and Tektro brakes both are 369.00. A guy in my local bike shop who sells the GT said i'd struggle to get new pads for those brakes.
I own a Cannondale F600 (about 5years old now I guess). Had an F700 before that and also have a Gemini. Great bikes, you won't go far wrong with that.
I've got the '05 model GT Avalanche 1.0 Disc. Very happy with the bike, the spec has gone down slightly over the years with the front forks and brakes, but they are a simple upgrade. I have just fitted a pair of Rock Shox Tora forks and it's totally transformed the bike, picked them up for under 100 second hand with hardly any miles on them.
I went and paid for the 2008 Cannondale F6 today. They price matched 359.00 that I found on the internet, and I collect it tomorow then get a free service after 6 weeks and a free safety check after 6 months. I got it from Leisure Lakes in Bury. I can't wait!! I picked up a 2009 brochure while I was there and the F6 has jumped to 499.99 and lost its juicy 3's and got the Tektro hyd. brakes that the guy in the shop said weren't as good. THIS is it
