Build a Mountain Bike for some Fun.....

[Graham O]

Chaps,

Some advice required. I am toying with the idea of building up a mountain bike so that I can come out with the club every now and then and learn about the local trails.

I want something that I can ride quite hard without it breaking and something which doesn't cost the earth. I think a hard tail would be fine and I reckon that I should stick with Aluminium rather than Carbon.

I am quite happy to build and use second hand bits...Alternately I could just look for second hand stumpjumper.....

Does anyone have anything they might want to sell.. I am 5'11 or so..

Graham.....

[Grahame]

Good thinking there Graham, I think metal is the way to go for mountainbike frames for those of us who don't get our bikes for free.

I'd look second hand - specifically at the classifieds forums on http://www.singletrackworld.co.uk and http://www.bikemagic.com

[Andrew G]

I was thinking the same a few months ago, and Marco recommended also keeping an eye out in cash convertors. He said he got a nearly new one for not a lot in there. Then I remembered my brother had one he'd never used so grabbed that.

Carbon for a MTB frame has got to be asking for trouble, no?

[stu23]

Carbon on an mtb's fine!! even round places like Coed y Brenin (a proper bone shaker) but if youre after a 2nd hand bike on a budget stick with alu!! or steel if you're not to arsed about weight!

Have a look on Bikemagic and Singletrack as suggested before, many a bargain to be had on there.

Also, depending if you know what you're looking for ebay is full of gold. Failing all of the above try more obscure forums, ie

[url]http://mtb-wales.com/index.php[/url]

[url]http://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/?region=5[/url]

how much have you got to spend?

on one do full bike builds bloody cheap...
[url]http://www.on-one-shop.co.uk/acatalog/Mountainbikes.html[/url]

[higg]

Worth looking at merlincycles or on-one for fairly cheap ready made bikes. Depends really how much you want to spend. Roughly anything up to £500 is well up to taking some abuse, at £700-800 you can get a hardtail with a better fork and brakes which will help with the technical stuff no end. Above that you get lighter more racy hardtails and also the lower end of the full suss XC bikes.

[jon avery]

I was shown a carbon MTB frame in Evans that had shatterd and split in two! Scarey sh*t!

[Graham O]

Cheers Guys.....I wouldn't want to spend much more than £500 so second hand looks the best option...

[stu23]

where is cash converters?

[virek]

[quote="marco"]edit: and you get a pawnbrokers 3 week warranty if you dont like it[/quote]

Is that in addition to the 12 month caveat emptor guarantee?

[stu23]

[url]http://www.bikemagic.com/classifieds/advert.asp?c=17090&t=Specialized+Stumpjumper&sp=&v=2[/url]

a mighty fine machine..well wortha poke for that price

[url]http://www.bikemagic.com/classifieds/advert.asp?c=17117&t=On-One+Geared+Inbred&sp=&v=2[/url]

get some mx comps off ebay for sub £100 and a pair or panaracers and it'l be lovely!!!

[Graham O]

Don't have the cash to buy right now, but I reckon that something like the stumpjumper would be just the ticket. Thanks !!