Save my nephew from himself

[Black Sheep]

the carrera banshee wasn't too bad, looked like a copy of the kona stinky

do halfords still carry the kona's?


tell them to get to grizedale and look at the bike hire place there - they have a shop and are happy to, for a fee, try out a bike or two around the forrest trails, if you buy the bike they knock the cost of the hire fee from the cost of the bike.

the lake district is one place where a short - mid travel full sus bike makes sense. i wouldn't go above 5-6 inch of travel tho.

price point? at about £800 the kit on full sus bikes starts to become known named equipment.

 

[fossyant]

Can I throw a spanner in the works......

If doing what's now called XC (cross country) blah blah.... you don't need suspension at all......

My DB (Diamond Back) is very capable - I re-off roaded it last week - zarking great going off road, and as a roadie, I appreciate a stiff frame...

It's not as fast going down hill as any front or dual suspension bike, but up hill it batters them....

I'd not take a cheap suspension bike anywhere near the stuff my rigid DB did last week end - you'd smash it...

My MTB is proper old skool, but get it off road it is a very nice bike - and I don't have any stupid mega range gears - 26 x 26 is more than enough to get up any bouldered climb....

 

[alecstilleyedye]

Must admit a year ago I used to go in Halfords and think the Carrera rd bikes where ok!!! After having read this forum for the last few months I now go in and think OMG what was I thinking!!!!

the carrera bikes are fine and get good reviews. the issue is how well the monkeys in the shop set them up…

even a colnago set up by a spotty youth with no proper training is going to ride like a dog.