Topic Title

Hello

Ive narrowed down my choices after looking the bike in and around york and the interenet.

Focus Raven 2008 Ex-Demo
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Focus ... 360039023/

Kona Caldera 2008
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/kon ... e-ec000766

MARIN B 17
http://www.yorkcycleworks.com/products. ... 0s167p1266

And i came across this which i think would best suit my ability/price range

Specialized Rockhopper Comp Disc 2009
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/spe ... e-ec016419

Any advice would be greatly apreciated.

David

No contest, I'd go for the Focus. Fox forks and SRAM X0 rear mech for £880. If you dont buy it I will!

Well the focus is nice...very nice - but it on (well just over) the limit on what i want to spend on my first proper mountain bike. So what out of the other 3 would you say, plus the focus might be to big as well for me.

david

Problem with the focus is you can't see it until you buy it. Apart from that its a good buy the Marin and Kona are good bikes but have a poor spec. A mate has a boardman from halfords and is well pleased. See

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... 65499#dtab

Nice spec for the money.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165499

but its 750 cos of 10% discount and vat savings - and i may get another 10% because of my student card

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=produ ... egoryId=39

I had one of these and when the time came to sell it I actually felt quite upset!

can anyone give me any thoughts of the boardman - as the 10% off deal ends on midnight monday - and I don't want to miss out.

Haven't ridden one but a friend has one and likes it. Good spec for a good price. Some people don't like halford's, they sold me the wrong size bike last year but that was partly my fault. I can't fault there customer service to date. Had a six month old pair of rockshox revelations replaced no hassle due to cable rub on them.

Right so it's worth the money? Ill go order it now then.

Are you in York? I'd go to Halfords or cycle republic and try it first. I made a mistake buying a bike that didn't fit right first time round.

Well i meant order and collect it thing - i don't pay till i actually pick it up

While im here has anyone had any experience with www.chainreactioncycles.com as they are the only place i have found that have the helmet I want in the size i need (I went to evans to try them on to find the size that fit - it's allowed)

Yes ordered quite a bit of stuff from them. Quick delivery nicely packaged, never needed to return anything so can't say what that's like.