Boardman Mountain Bikes

[Dan_K]

Just got back from Bavaria where the place is geared up big time for mountain biking (fortunately there was bike hire as I took my road bike!)

Got me interested in mountain biking again and have decided to upgrade my mountain bike for a newer model around October time. I know the new Boardman models will be out by then so am thinking of getting one on the C2W scheme around the £1000 mark.

Anyone ridden the current full sus or hardtail and can let me know what they're like?

I've never ridden a full suspension bike so am torn over whether I need one or not. The spec on both seem really good. Should I take the plunge and bounce at both ends? I just want a general trail bike that climbs and descends well. I'm not a big DH nutter or anything!

[Andrew G]

The hardtails are George proof .

[Snoop Doug]

will be good to see another off roader soon

[Dan_K]

Andrew - are we saying that full suss is overkill then?

Snoop - i made it out on one of Marco's excellent night rides last winter - with LED commuter lights Bit scary through the woods.

I've currently got a Giant XTC 3.5 but was thinking of palming that off on my other half and getting something more shiny to do more over winter. Wouldn't mind doing some of the welsh trail centres. I only generally ride the mtb now when I visit the inlaws in the Peak District but I'm looking to change all that....

[Andrew G]

I know nothing of full suspension bikes Dan, I dont know much about MTBs full stop (well the hydraulic brakes and forks are a mystery, I understand hydraulic basics but that's about it, and I haven't got round to working out rebound settings and such like. I like the way mine's set up so leave well alone ).

I have a Giant XTC3.5 as well (2008 model bought cheap last winter as they wanted to get the new models in) and it does everything I want it to.

I've recently cut the bars down by an inch and fitted a short stem to get it more to how I want as it's a small frame (oh surprise ) but the bars felt way too wide and I didn't think the stem was suitable for the frame size either, went shorter for nice quick duck and dive handling and on the couple of run outs it's had since the changes is much better.

Personally I like a hardtail, it feels nice and involved and I don't ride any ridiculous downhills as I don't want to risk injury. I happily chuck the bike about Surrey Hills and local trails at reasonable speed and with a fair amount of gay abandon, full suss might take some of the fun out of that by softening it up and making it too easy. It's only stuff like Deliverance at Leith Hill that I leave alone. If/when I get an upgrade it would be to a better frame but I'd stay hardtail and go for something like a Cotic Soul or similar and some better brakes as the XTC has standard Giant ones which are now an "older" model and the pads aren't as easy to get hold of.

Sylv, Grahame, Marco, Dombo or another proper MTBer will be able to fill you in of something big and bouncy .

[Snoop Doug]

oh - and whatever you get, it has to have a pannier rack. Great for carrying the shopping home and doubles up as a handy mudguard

[Dan_K]

[quote="Snoop Doug"]oh - and whatever you get, it has to have a pannier rack. Great for carrying the shopping home and doubles up as a handy mudguard