Mountain biking is awesome. It’s fun, it’s exhilarating and it’s even good for you! What’s not to like? If you haven’t tried it, we strongly urge you to do so and not to let the lack of a big budget to spend on a bike get in your way. Sure there are some extremely expensive mountain bikes out there which are finely-tuned speed machines fit for competition, but if you’re just starting out this is going to be way more tech than you need or know what to do with.
If you’re tempted by the trails or deliberating downhill we’ve picked out a few of our favourite mountain bikes at an entry-level price, so you can head out and get a feel for it without breaking the bank.
Giant Talon 4
That name may seem like a mathematical mouthful, but the numbers actually make a lot of sense. The 4 denotes that this is the 4th iteration of the Talon model from Giant, while the 27.5 denotes the size of the wheel (in inches). The 27.5 is slightly smaller than the more common 29-inch option, but this actually grants a lot of benefits for a bike of this price. The handling is responsive and the bike feels lighter and more playful – great for experiencing the thrills (and occasional spills) of MTB for the first time.
Bike Radar had the Talon 4 in for a test and they called it “A solid frame, inspiring brakes and components up to the task, the Talon 4 is a worthy starter for hitting the dirt.â€
The Talon 4 is £475 and you can order online, or call into one of our stores.
Specialized Pitch
You won’t find many moodier, cooler looking bikes in this price range than the Specialized Pitch. The all-black stealth machine uses Shimano components in its drivetrain and benefits from disc brakes for excellent control on the downhill.
Bike Radar praised the “well-thought-out cockpit†as well, referring to the smart touches that have allowed Specialized to give you a lot of control using relatively little budget. What this means, without getting too deep into handlebar millimetres vs stem heights, is that the bike offers a very responsive ride and plenty of leverage on the handlebars when you’re fighting to get round a bend.
We have the Specialized Pitch on our site if you want to check out the specs a bit more. It’s currently £425, a frankly awesome price for this level of bike.
Trek Skye SL
Mountain biking is about adventure and having fun. Sure there are those who scale the heights of the sport and get competitive, but generally speaking most people are out there to have a good time! The Trek Skye SL is all about making sure it’s as easy as possible to do just that, with responsive handling and some women-specific design tweaks that make it a joy to ride.
The saddle, bars and grips are all modified to better suit female riders, while the Shimano drivetrain ensures you’ll have plenty of power and no problems switching between gears.
We’ve got the Skye SL in two colourways – blue and purple – both at £450. Check them out online today.
