New Mountain Bike?

[kr236rk]

Xanthos Radford

 

[kr236rk]

Why not just replace the rings or even the crank set

The bike shop said the cost of that would equal buying a new or 2nd hand bike - I'd taken it in for servicing.

 

[vickster]

The bike shop said the cost of that would equal buying a new or 2nd hand bike - I'd taken it in for servicing.

Nah, not usually if you source the parts yourself

 

[raleighnut]

The bike shop said the cost of that would equal buying a new or 2nd hand bike - I'd taken it in for servicing.

Don't tell me they'd take your old un in and get rid of it for you.

If you're looking at dropping £500 on a new bike i'd rather spend it making that one better than new.

 

[kr236rk]

Must admit I'm flummoxed, wrongly assumed I could pick up a similar model bike but considerably lighter in the decades of progress since the Xanthos appeared. Lighter frames have appeared, but they've had suspension and shock absorbers added to them, which has cancelled out the weight-loss advantage.

Racers are great but the pot holes round here would probably do for one in no time.

 

[vickster]

Must admit I'm flummoxed, wrongly assumed I could pick up a similar model bike but considerably lighter in the decades of progress since the Xanthos appeared. Lighter frames have appeared, but they've had suspension and shock absorbers added to them, which has cancelled out the weight-loss advantage.

Racers are great but the pot holes round here would probably do for one in no time.

You can, probably now called a Hybrid though. Look for a Pinnacle, probably one with 40mm tyres.
Eg https://www.evanscycles.com/pinnacle-lithium-2-2020-hybrid-bike-EV339937

I ride 23mm or 25mm tyres on utterly shocking roads, stay out of gutter, moderate speed and stay alert

 

[kr236rk]

You can, probably now called a Hybrid though. Look for a Pinnacle, probably one with 40mm tyres.
Eg https://www.evanscycles.com/pinnacle-lithium-2-2020-hybrid-bike-EV339937

I ride 23mm or 25mm tyres on utterly shocking roads, stay out of gutter, moderate speed and stay alert

This looks very nice - thank you any idea of the approximate weight of a medium framed one please?

 

[kr236rk]

Or this?

4&1/2lbs lighter than my Xanthos.

Dawes Discovery Trail Hybrid Bike

Would it cope with some bone-shaker terrain though? Tyre upgrade? 🤔

 

[raleighnut]

Or this?

4&1/2lbs lighter than my Xanthos.

Dawes Discovery Trail Hybrid Bike

Would it cope with some bone-shaker terrain though? Tyre upgrade? 🤔

'Revoshifters' and an Aluminium frame would put me off.

 

[vickster]

This looks very nice - thank you any idea of the approximate weight of a medium framed one please?

Says 11.2kg in the Q&A

 

[kr236rk]

Got a Carrera from Halfords - it is a beautiful 'retro' mountain bike & lighter than my old one

Love this bike BUT

First rule in providing someone with a bike it to check it matches the cyclist. This was ignored & it appears to be Halfords policy because it is also ignored in the handbook.

Once outside the store I cycled the bike briefly just to check it out, I could hardly get on it - the saddle was set WAY too high. No problem I thought, re-set the saddle once I get home.

Ha, ha, ha

When I got home I discovered the saddle was set as LOW as it would go. So why was it sticking up in the air? The saddle has quite a long stem to it, & this collides with the rivets set into the frame to hold a water bottle cage - these rivets are moulded into the frame - they protrude inside the frame - they cannot be removed.

My fix was to replace the new saddle with my old one, which has a shorter stem, a real bodge job & a crying shame to do such a bodge on a lovely new bike, but at least I can ride the Carrera now & pull up with both feet safely touching the ground. What has the world come to?

Still trying to work out what pressure the tyres should be - the 'handbook' doesn't tell you. Halfords wrote "90" beside the tyre check - ninety what?

Thanks

 

[vickster]

Got a Carrera from Halfords - it is a beautiful 'retro' mountain bike & lighter than my old one

Love this bike BUT

First rule in providing someone with a bike it to check it matches the cyclist. This was ignored & it appears to be Halfords policy because it is also ignored in the handbook.

Once outside the store I cycled the bike briefly just to check it out, I could hardly get on it - the saddle was set WAY too high. No problem I thought, re-set the saddle once I get home.

Ha, ha, ha

When I got home I discovered the saddle was set as LOW as it would go. So why was it sticking up in the air? The saddle has quite a long stem to it, & this collides with the rivets set into the frame to hold a water bottle cage - these rivets are moulded into the frame - they protrude inside the frame - they cannot be removed.

My fix was to replace the new saddle with my old one, which has a shorter stem, a real bodge job & a crying shame to do such a bodge on a lovely new bike, but at least I can ride the Carrera now & pull up with both feet safely touching the ground. What has the world come to?

Still trying to work out what pressure the tyres should be - the 'handbook' doesn't tell you. Halfords wrote "90" beside the tyre check - ninety what?

Thanks

90 psi, you need a track pump with a gauge. The range for the tyres is stamped on the side of the tyre wall. It’s down to the tyre NOT the bike (tyres can/will need to be changed)
What you should go for is partly down to your weight and what you find comfortable (just don’t go too soft to avoid pinch punctures)

sounds like the bike is too big for you? Or do you have rather short legs for your height?

 

[kr236rk]

Thanks. Blimey, my old bike was 60 psi. This new bike is a 'hybrid' but the tyres are chunkier than on my old mountain bike I scrutinised the tyre walls yesterday but could see no psi indication. Might get 'kevlar' tyres fitted next year when I put it in for a service at my local shop.

 

[vickster]

Thanks. Blimey, my old bike was 60 psi. This new bike is a 'hybrid' but the tyres are chunkier than on my old mountain bike I scrutinised the tyre walls yesterday but could see no psi indication. Might get 'kevlar' tyres fitted next year when I put it in for a service at my local shop.

I wouldn’t bother changing the tyres unless punctures are an issue or they don’t suit the terrain. There should be a max min range somewhere on the side wall. However if 90 feels good, then stick with that