Mtb recommendations please...

[Numnut]

I currently have a Cannondale Quick 3 Disc - it's a 2017 model I think. It's really nice and does everything I want it to.

I pretty much only use it to commute to work which is about 8 miles each way. I've got a few route variations available which are all nice country lanes but I'm getting sick of getting skimmed by passing cars. So, I'm considering a mtb instead. I can pretty much get to work using footpaths over fields and spend maybe half a mile on tarmac so might be more fun...

Say I want to spend maybe £600 ish - what's the least worst thing I could get. Don't mind 2nd hand. I'm thinking a hardtail is going to be fine. The local shop recommended a Scott Aspect 950 which seems nice enough to me.

https://www.scott-sports.com/gb/en/prod ... green-bike

Cheers

[Ditchfinder]

If you're only looking at paths across fields commuting rather than full on MTB you could put some wider off road tyres on your cannondale.

As it's running 700c wheels you can usually increase clearance for bigger tyres by running 650b wheels.

Should be able to get a 1.9" tyre in on 650b wheels. Loads of gravel type tyres to choiose from too in the 650b x 47c size. This is what I run on my tourer which gives plenty of comfort for towpaths and dirt tracks/forest roads.

The only thing you would have to do when swapping wheels is realign your disc calipers which is a 5 minute job.

[Numnut]

Thanks an interesting idea actually. I didn't consider swapping wheels at all. And that's going to end up being cheaper as well. I've got 700 x 28 tyres at the moment, they didn't play nice when I had a little ride over one of the paths last week (not that I expected it to!).

[Ditchfinder]

You can get barely used 2nd hand wheels on ebay in QR form too - quite often the seller will leave discs and cassette on too - My set cost £50 and came with a pair of discs on - looked like they were taken off before they were ridden.

A 650b x 47 (same diameter as a 27.5") is a whole world comfier than a 700 x 28 and you can run them at 40psi with tubes or go tubeless and you can use lower pressures than that

[weeksy]

if they actually fit the frame that is... i can't get bigger than a 700*35 in my commuter frame. Would i get something in 27.5 maybe... dunno.

[Mr Moofo]

You would get 27.5 in the frame - the question is how wide a tyre you could fit is.
Where are you?

[Ditchfinder]

So my tourer would take a 700 x 35 with clearance for guards. I have a 650 x 47 with guards in so a 2" (without guards) would be fine as long as the tread wasn't too knobbly.

Those Cannondale Quicks are pretty much the same frame as the old Cannondale Bad Boy. I used to have one of those and that just took a 700 x 42.

The Road.cc review of the Quick had a 700 x 32 in theirs - "with room to go bigger".

Point of limitation will be between the chainstays but if you reduce the wheel size from 700c to 650b the point where the tyre sits is often wider.

[Numnut]

You would get 27.5 in the frame - the question is how wide a tyre you could fit is.
Where are you?

I'm in Halstead, which is north essex.

So my tourer would take a 700 x 35 with clearance for guards. I have a 650 x 47 with guards in so a 2" (without guards) would be fine as long as the tread wasn't too knobbly.

Those Cannondale Quicks are pretty much the same frame as the old Cannondale Bad Boy. I used to have one of those and that just took a 700 x 42.

The Road.cc review of the Quick had a 700 x 32 in theirs - "with room to go bigger".

Point of limitation will be between the chainstays but if you reduce the wheel size from 700c to 650b the point where the tyre sits is often wider.

Ah ok cool - it's going to let me go a fair bit wider than i can now at least. I'm sure I've read a 35 is the biggest they can go at 700. I've got some guards on which are pretty tight fitting, but they can come off or get replaced.

Having another set of wheels might be a better idea though, it gives me the choice between on/off road depending on how much the traffic's wound me up!

[Mr Moofo]

I don’t think any of us are near you so you can try a 27.5 wheel slotted in. Do you have any mates with mountain bikes- just so you can get a feel ?
I have a very old road rat 700 - I reckon I could get 27.5 wheels with 2.0 tyres in okay

[Numnut]

I think I'll keep a look out for a set on ebay, and take a chance and see what fits. They can always be sold on. There's a few people I know who I can bug for a ride to see what suits, or the local shop will let me have a play too.

[Numnut]

Just bringing this one back...

I'm now looking at cheaper 2nd hand models - seeing as it's just really for going to work (for now anyway).

There's a few Whyte 603, and Voodoo Bizango that are the right price and local enough to be viable.

Spec on the Whyte is https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0127/ ... 1636454691

The Voodoo has a review, and specs at the bottom. https://www.bikeradar.com/reviews/bikes ... 15-review/

Anyone have any thoughts as to which one would be a better option. I'm thinking at this price point and age, there's not going to be much noticeable difference. I can sort consumables easy enough. Suspension I haven't got a clue about.

[weeksy]

Forks on the Voodoo are better... I'd buy the Whyte though, mostly because i like them and i've owned loads

[Numnut]

Cheers. I'll make some offers on ebay and see who gets the least offended!

[Numnut]

Well, I put in an offer for a Bizango, I'm not sure they'll go for it. For what it is, it looks nice, and well looked after so we'll see. If not, I've got a couple more lowball offers to try on a whyte and another bizango so we'll see.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334252087435 ... %7Ciid%3A1

[Ditchfinder]

You'll be needing another £100 for a dropper for that - I'd be asking for receipts for the fork service at that price too

[Numnut]

The Voodoo I offered on didn't work out, so stupid question time...

If I'm between frame sizes - ie the size chart says for my height I could go M or L, is there a general rule of thumb of it being better to go smaller or larger?

[Taff]

I'm 5ft 10 ish and tend to fall between m & l depending on make, my ghost felt fine in M, Cannondale M a smidge small but it's rarely a problem and my Whyte L feels massive compared to the Cannondale but feels right.

I'd go up in size given the option between m&l but riding the sizes back to back is really the only way to know.

[Ditchfinder]

Not all mediums are equal - check geometry - especially top tube length not just standover height.

[Numnut]

Nice one, thanks. There's a Whyte 603 locally that's an L, but at 5ft 10 too, I fall right between the sizes. My cannondale hybrid is an M, but I needed a longer stem otherwise I was far too cramped.

Whytes seem to be quite long, so thought it worth checking - the difference is top tube is 623mm to 641mm so not massive.

[Ditchfinder]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q ... NoclynRh-x

Yeah I'd go for the large if I was that tall