JohnClimber
Guru
Just, test ride, test ride and test ride until you find the one you want and not just around the shops car park.
New bike advice please
- Thread starter rich p
- Start date
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Just, test ride, test ride and test ride until you find the one you want and not just around the shops car park.
Pale Rider
Legendary Member
The bike is a birthday present for the OP's adult son.
I bought the Boardman Sport four or five weeks ago. It seems fairly decent, been out on it at the local trail centre a couple of times. I'm very much a mtb beginner though, so nothing to compare it against. I did get an extra 15% off rrp, as Halfords were doing a promotion on Boardman at the time.
I went to pick it up on a Friday morning that was extremely wet. I got a taxi to Halfords, so needed to ride it home. This involves a fairly steep short climb. I'm a regular road rider though, so fairly fit, and its a climb I would have breezed up on my road bike. About half way up the climb I was absolutely gasping for air, my legs felt like I had just run a marathon.
I had to get off and walk. I knew MTBs were a bit harder to ride on the road, but this was ridiculous. My primary thought was that I had just wasted a lot of money as I obviously wasn't anywhere near fit enough to ride a MTB.
I pushed up the hill, and got back on the bike on the flat. Again, it was a major struggle. I arrived home completely knackered after a two mile ride, totally devastated at my introduction to mountain biking.
It was about 15 minutes later when I got my breath back, and noticed there was virtually no air in the rear tyre.......
D'oh
As above, however, once I put some air in the tyre, it seems a fairly decent bike for the money
I went to pick it up on a Friday morning that was extremely wet. I got a taxi to Halfords, so needed to ride it home. This involves a fairly steep short climb. I'm a regular road rider though, so fairly fit, and its a climb I would have breezed up on my road bike. About half way up the climb I was absolutely gasping for air, my legs felt like I had just run a marathon.
I had to get off and walk. I knew MTBs were a bit harder to ride on the road, but this was ridiculous. My primary thought was that I had just wasted a lot of money as I obviously wasn't anywhere near fit enough to ride a MTB.
I pushed up the hill, and got back on the bike on the flat. Again, it was a major struggle. I arrived home completely knackered after a two mile ride, totally devastated at my introduction to mountain biking.
It was about 15 minutes later when I got my breath back, and noticed there was virtually no air in the rear tyre.......
D'oh
As above, however, once I put some air in the tyre, it seems a fairly decent bike for the money
Motozulu
Über Member
- Location
- Rugeley, Staffs
The Boardy will do you fine - and yes, get used to being knackered for a bit. Please don't take this as a knock at roadies, certainly not meant to be, but I would guess that hard MTB miles are going to be a fair bit harder than hard road miles - if that makes sense?
there is nothing more knackering than a technical climb involving loose surface, steps, rocks and big roots.
there is nothing more knackering than a technical climb involving loose surface, steps, rocks and big roots.
Definitely makes sense, and I have already experienced it. After a couple of outings I also think its more enjoyable than ploughing the furrow on the road, certainly a lot more thought and planning goes into your riding. I guess a healthy mix of both will be ideal.
Problem was my first couple of miles were definitely made far harder by the non inflation of the back tyre by the shop ! I didn't notice it because I was so annoyed at the weather that day.
Motozulu
Über Member
- Location
- Rugeley, Staffs
Yes ha ha that wouldn't help! I admire you lads who can do the long miles on a road bike - I just can't hack the (to me) boredom of it and it's why my roadie/MTB mates are all much fitter than me.
