£500 Halfords bicycle 'cycle to work' voucher - which bike?

[Postman10]

The usual dilema so asking advice from the more experienced. Looking for a mountain bike, work only 12 mins away from home, do the occasional day out in the summer with friends on bikes on trails. The options I am considering are :Carrera Kraken Mountain Bike at £429.99 or The Carrera Centos Limited Edition Mountain Bike 2013 which is £329.99 down from £599.99 apparently. What is your advice or should I go for another. I can always buy accessories to make up the rest of the voucher to £500. Thanks Halfords Only.

[chris-red]

The Kraken is a better bike.
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[The Artist]

https://www.blogcdn.com/www.urlesque.com/media/2010/03/release-the-kraken-template-500js031710.jpg

[G]

If you are actually going to be riding to work, do consider if a road/hybrid bike might be a better way to go.

While I prefer my mountain bikes, for a 12 mile ride I'd certainly be considering a proper road-biased bike, where I think it does make a good bit of difference.

The Performance Hybrid comp comes in at £499 and should be able to handle trails ok too, providing you're not trying to go too hard/fast down the bumpy stuff.

(Note that I used to be all for mountain bikes in any situation, but have tasted the other side, I have to admit that for the right situation, it's worth it - and suspect you'll find yourself using a bike with higher gearing and lighter rolling resistance a good chunk more for your commute.)

[soforene]

A Bike?

Without an engine !?!

You iz Trippin' Bro !!

[The Tot]

Carrera Vulcan was going to be my bike of choice, until I realised that halfords didn't participate in cyclescheme! As a result, i went into my local bike shop and got my Trek 4300.

I've hybridised mine by sticking on 1.5" wide Schwalbe Marathon Plus' and to be honest, it does a decent job. My commute is 5 miles each way, but I often like hitting the hills on "the long way home" the odd day or so - total of 12 miles. Either way, I've had Schwalbe Big Apples (balloon tyres) on the bike which were great for comfort, but for reduced rolling resistance, the 1.5" marathons are worth a shout.
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[carlosthejack...]

Kraken's are cracking.
https://sphotos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/557515_10150941213917511_182912609_n.jpg
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DonnyBrago: "I think you may be confusing rain and napalm..." Paulington: "It's not what you ride, it's how you ride it."
Current rides: '05 VFR800 VTEC, '57 Mondeo 1.8 TDCi #58LEGEND

[Drew]

[Pigeon]

Unless you buy two bikes, you will have to compromise.

I bought a Hybrid (Claud Butler Urban 200) in 2009. It was cheap (£180) and pretty good. Not only on the flat rail line that took me from Guildford to Shoreham and Petworth a few times. But not bad off road too. With those 29" 700c wheels and 24 spokes, I threw it off hills with rocks and it did well.
After 2 years (kept outside 100%) I started to bust spokes on the heavy stuff. And any mud on the trail meant spinning wheels if climbing.

Bought this last year:
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-53-mountain-bike-white-id_8206682.html

Amazing value (£300). It has many of the same components (XCR forks with Lockout, SRAM X5 shifters, derailleur and rear cassette) as the Specialized Rockhopper (£800).
It's been fantastic, except for the bottom bracket which disintegrated on the second outing.
I walked the bike to a local bike shop who fitted a better quality (more expensive) Shimano bottom bracket, to replace the "made in slovinia" part that collapsed.

Decathlon refunded me the full cost of the part, even though it was not a like for like swap. Pretty good service.

Sorry, I digress. The mountain bike is great. Better than the Hybrid off-road. But, its heavier (chunky frame, forks and 32 spoke wheels). And the rolling resistance is MUCH higher. Makes doing distance a proper workout, whereas the skinny lightweight hybrid basically free-wheeled me 40 miles no bother.

Hybrid:
+ Faster, more efficient.
+ Larger frame + wheels (by larger frame, I really mean more relaxed riding position).
- Not so good in the mud (but not as bad as you'd think).
- Not as tough

Mountain Bike
+ Great offroad
+ Good fun, sharp handling
- SLOOOOOWER
- Heavier

If you want to get a mountain bike for <£500, it will likely include a budget fork (Suntour). Try and get one with Lockout, it will save you energy on tarmac. Unless you weigh 8st or spend £900 on a bike with Rockshox etc, the fork won't be great and you'll benefit from being able to shut it off on tarmac.
I'd also check the reviews of bikes brakes in this category. If they are disc, and hydraulic, be prepared to be endlessly covered in DOT4 and pissing about with alignment and modulation.
Mechanical discs are not as powerful, but are much less hassle on a day to day bike at this price range.

Is it 50/50 split of road+commute and offroad?

If it's 80% road and 20% offroad, I'd go Hybrid.

Halfords Carrera range gets pretty good reviews.

EDIT:
Just seen [n]The Tot[/b] has managed to get the best of both. Got the mountain bike and got a set of skinny tyres/wheels. Sounds perfect.

[The Tot]

Suffice to say, a 30 mile uphill jaunt to Cleeve Hill in the cotswolds was excruciating on the mountain bike with the 1.5" tyres. Hence why I'm soon to be purchasing my first road bike, which despite people's opinions on the decathlon's jobbies, I'm settling for a Merlin Maven. My budget wouldn't extend to a Ribble. Still though, should be effortless on the road by comparison to the Trek 4300. Looking forward to sticking knobblies back on the trek and going in the trails!
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The Tot 2007 Yamaha R1 4C8 2002 Yamaha FZS1000 Fazer &
www.youtube.com/Titot182 for your bike gear reviews and pop punk covers
Earl Of Easycore Pop Punk Will Never Die!

[G]

[carlosthejack...]

If you've been hauling a mountain bike round on the road, your first outing on a full road bike will feel like cheating...
____________________
Responsibility. It's a difficult reality for some. I'm running the 2014 Sheffield Half Marathon on behalf of Bluebell Wood Childrens Hospice. Please sponsor me, even if it's just a quid.
DonnyBrago: "I think you may be confusing rain and napalm..." Paulington: "It's not what you ride, it's how you ride it."
Current rides: '05 VFR800 VTEC, '57 Mondeo 1.8 TDCi #58LEGEND

[Postman10]

Thankyou for all the advice, much appreciated. Haven't decided yet. (Yes it was 12 minutes)

[JonB]

£600 gets you 10 Speed Shimano Tiagra (allows you to upgrade to 105, Ultegra or Dura-Ace seamlessly) groupset.

Try and upgrade 9 or 8 speed and you will need new levers, derailleur, cassette which costs £££.

https://www.wiggle.co.uk/verenti-belief-2013/
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[marsden1967]

I have got a Trek hybrid. Great for the road and gentle off roading. Much much faster than a MTB on the road due to having bigger wheels which is good when you need extra speed .