5 ft 6", Short Legs, MTB Recommendation for Trails £1500-£2000

[Cubist]

Do tubeless come as standard with the Cotic Soul? If not, should I buy tubeless 27.5" tyres? Recommend any? Will they match up with the Shimano MT15 wheels?

They sound incredible! I'm aware that I have a lot of learning to do where bikes are concerned. Appreciate the help.



Sounds like it IS like photography haha! That's what I'm aware of... so £1650 for the bike, plus £300 for extra kit should do it. I'll get the best gloves, helmet and mini toolkit I can afford / best comfort etc. for now, as well as a waterproof coat and go from there. Thanks a lot!



Thanks Cubist! I will have to look more into how to make the tyres run better on tarmac then should I wish to go out and have some fun in the local area. Will the tyres always be draggy on tarmac or will I find a nice medium by playing with the tyre pressures?



Thanks for the tips on the brand names and the shape of mountain bike helmets! I'll be sure to try before I buy. I'm not too bothered about being fashionable when I'm riding. I don't tend to take too much pride in the way I look, much more so that I'm comfortable and prepared.



I'll get those - I'm simply in the mood to get it, rather than do a tonne of research. At the end of the day, experienced riders will know more than any research that I do!



Thank you! Amazing post! Do they do glasses that I can put my perscription in? I need glasses to see far.

As @Jody says, a decent small pack for tool kit and spare clothes/ tubes and a pump. With a reservoir, or use it to carry a drinks bottle.

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So, are we all in agreement that I should get the Cotic Soul?! I've read on mbr.com that the Whyte 901 is the best and £500 cheaper? Is that because the Cotic is an older model and therefore, it is often forgotten about?

You're welcome. The Whyte is no doubt an awesome bike, and great VFM. It's alu though, and it ain't a Soul!

Whereabouts are you? If you want to throw a leg over my oldskool 26 wheel Soul you're welcome. I'm in Huddersfield.

 

[Cubist]

The trail kings can be run tubeless. Ask Cotic to make sure when you order that they've set them up tubneless for you or whether they've tubed them. I doubt they will have. Good grippy tyres off road will be, almost without exception, compromised on tarmac. Don't get rid of those Contis though, they really are a premium tyre.

Forgot to say, you'll also need pedals. Get some decent pinned pedals like Superstar Components Nano thru pins or Shimano Saints. DMR V8s or the Wellgo copies are also good. Ordinary trainers or a pair of flat soled skate shoes from Sports Direct are as good a start as any. You an get MTB specific ones, or go for SPD type pedals and shoes if your confidence grows.

 

[RuffDraft]

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You're welcome. The Whyte is no doubt an awesome bike, and great VFM. It's alu though, and it ain't a Soul!

Whereabouts are you? If you want to throw a leg over my oldskool 26 wheel Soul you're welcome. I'm in Huddersfield.

Sweet! Just what I needed to hear! I wondered why there were many rave reviews of it, when it was a lot cheaper. Glad that there's a difference with the Soul!

Thanks very much for offering, but I'm near Liverpool - an hour and a half away! I think I should be sound with buying one now? I'll just follow their size chart and measure myself and go from there? Maybe when I have my bike we can meet up for a spin once I'm not terrible?! Haha!

I think I have all the information I need? I'm considering going on a course to learn the basics, and then go from there. Do you find yourselves going for a bike ride alone often? I am intending to make one day of the week, bike day. I'm going part time in my career job, as I am also running a business, so I think I can dedicate one morning drive out to a place and then bike for a few hours and return home to work in the afternoon.

 

[RuffDraft]

The trail kings can be run tubeless. Ask Cotic to make sure when you order that they've set them up tubneless for you or whether they've tubed them. I doubt they will have. Good grippy tyres off road will be, almost without exception, compromised on tarmac. Don't get rid of those Contis though, they really are a premium tyre.

Forgot to say, you'll also need pedals. Get some decent pinned pedals like Superstar Components Nano thru pins or Shimano Saints. DMR V8s or the Wellgo copies are also good. Ordinary trainers or a pair of flat soled skate shoes from Sports Direct are as good a start as any. You an get MTB specific ones, or go for SPD type pedals and shoes if your confidence grows.

Thanks Cubist! So basically, get the Soul, but always ride off road to avoid damaging the tyres!

Thanks! Yeah, my brother has had many falls on the bike pedals he has, but has since become a much better rider. I don't see him very often though, as he lives down south. I am quite stoked to get a bike! Cotic says that they are hoping to get the bikes back in stock by the end of July. Might put my order in before to ensure that I get the bike and it doesn't become sold out again!

 

[Jody]

Do you find yourselves going for a bike ride alone often?

I would say my time is split 70/30 with mates and loan riding. We are at that point in life where kids and her indoors mean we can't always get out for rides together. A lone ride in the peaks is a wonderful thing if you need time to think and reflect, although if the riding is gnarly or remote try to ride at 70-80% of your ability and don't take excessive risks as there is no backup if anything goes wrong.

 

[Cubist]

I would say my time is split 70/30 with mates and loan riding. We are at that point in life where kids and her indoors mean we can't always get out for rides together. A lone ride in the peaks is a wonderful thing if you need time to think and reflect, although if the riding is gnarly or remote try to ride at 70-80% of your ability and don't take excessive risks as there is no backup if anything goes wrong.

I plot a course on an OS Map and leave a copy at home with rough ETA etc. If you ride on your own a lot, a phone finder/tracker app may be a good (if slightly power hungry) addition.

 

[RuffDraft]

Thanks everyone! I'll head off and do some more research and then when it's back in stock and I buy it, I'll return to let you know how I'm getting on - first ride to tenth ride etc! Really excited! I went to Halfords just to look at bikes yesterday - didn't want any there - but just wanted to be a part of it. There's a really great bike shop nearby. I'm going to hear there at some point too!

 

[Jody]

Sounds like it IS like photography haha! That's what I'm aware of... so £1650 for the bike, plus £300 for extra kit should do it. I'll get the best gloves, helmet and mini toolkit I can afford / best comfort etc. for now, as well as a waterproof coat and go from there. Thanks a lot!

You dont have to go excessive on kit. A good multi tool is £20ish, gloves £15-20, picked a £130 Polaris waterproof for £40. It depends, like Cubist pointed out how much you are willing to spend but it can all be done on a budget without looking like a cheap skate. Get a few basics, go for a ride and see what you need from there.

 

[Jody]

I plot a course on an OS Map and leave a copy at home with rough ETA etc. If you ride on your own a lot, a phone finder/tracker app may be a good (if slightly power hungry) addition.

I'm never that organised and if out on my own I normally have no set route. Although I have an SOS type app that can pinpoint your location and call 999 for you and a location type app for her indoors, but as always depends on signal/battery.

 

[RuffDraft]

You dont have to go excessive on kit. A good multi tool is £20ish, gloves £15-20, picked a £130 Polaris waterproof for £40. It depends, like Cubist pointed out it depends how much you are willing to spend but it can all be done on a budget without looking like a cheap skate. Get a few basics, go for a ride and see what you need from there.

Thanks! Do you know if they do glasses for riders, or am I better off just wearing my usual glasses for a ride?

Will do! Shame the bike isn't in stock. I will get it once it is! Then I can't wait to go for a ride!

 

[Jody]

Thanks! Do you know if they do glasses for riders, or am I better off just wearing my usual glasses for a ride?

Will do! Shame the bike isn't in stock. I will get it once it is! Then I can't wait to go for a ride!

You can have prescription put into Oakleys and other glasses but don't know how much it would cost. My other half is an optician so could ask her what the high street stores can offer you but I don't wear glasses myself.

 

[RuffDraft]

You can have prescription put into Oakleys and other glasses but don't know how much it would cost. My other half is an optician so could ask her what the high street stores can offer you but I don't wear glasses myself.

That would be amazing if you could?

How long have you guys been riding?

Ever done any courses like day rides with teachers???

 

[Jody]

How long have you guys been riding?

Ever done any courses like day rides with teachers???

Difficult one to quantify. Riding MTB soley for about 18 years if you exclude the break from cycling when I thought cars ruled and excersize didn't.

I have never done a skills course but wouldn't mind going on one. I don't have a problem with the basics (wheelies, manuals, bunny hops etc) but would like to brush up in a few areas. If your new to MTB there will be a lot to learn and it could save you a trip to hospital for the sake of £60-100ish

 

[RuffDraft]

Difficult one to quantify. Riding MTB soley for about 18 years if you exclude the break from cycling when I thought cars ruled and excersize didn't.

I have never done a skills course but wouldn't mind going on one. I don't have a problem with the basics (wheelies, manuals, bunny hops etc) but would like to brush up in a few areas. If your new to MTB there will be a lot to learn and it could save you a trip to hospital for the sake of £60-100ish

That's my thoughts exactly!

I'm hoping that it's possible to do trails and not get injured. I need to be mobile for my business as a videographer, but I don't want to be a lazy person who does very little exercise, as that's just as bad!

Definitely going to do a few courses over the summer! I haven't done wheelies or bunny hope before, but have been watching tutorials on YouTube.

Do you also have a Coltic Soul, or do you have another love?

I think it's great that you've been riding solo for 18 years - that's where I want to be. Going to take a GoPro out with me, and that'll heighten my interests even more!

 

[Jody]

Current bike is a Giant Anthem which is a comfy all day XC full suss. It rides well and does most of what I need to do on it. Its not good for big hits or long drops but neither are my bones these days so it suits me fine.

You will be fine riding trails with a few basics but just remember to ride inside your comfort zone. The are no rewards for heroics, so if you don't feel comfortable riding what you can see, get off and push it past the obstacle.