Recommend a MTB for a turbo trainer

[JohnnyBoy 10]

Hi, unfortunately I've got to stop running due to a foot injury but to keep active I was thinking of getting a turbo trainer to keep fit at home.

 

The snag is my 15 yr old muddy fox MTB that i used for commuting is a bit knackered - the back wheel came off when I was cycling. I took it to Edinburgh cycles and they reckon it would be £150 to get it roadworthy and even then as it is old other stuff might go wrong with it. They reckon a comparative bike would be about £250.

 

I've been to JE James and they have some mongoose 21 speed MTBs for £200+ that are reduced. And decathlon have the rockrider brand starting from £100. Speaking to them in the shop the rockrider 5.2 (£200 - 24 speed) or 5.3 (£299 - 27 speed) should be fine if I put a slick rear tyre on when using on the trainer.

 

My work do cycle to work scheme but for some bizarre reason they only open it for a week in December so I was thinking of doing this then and getting the decathlon Triban 3 road bike when the schem opens. But in the mean time I just want a MTB that I can use on a turbo trainer with a slick tyre and also use it for cycling outdoors with the kids.

 

What MTB would you recommend - would one of the £99 cheap rockriders be no good? Woukdl the rockrider 5.3 be overkill? Any advise would be great.

 

Also what turbo trainer to use ina terrace house so not too noisy. I've seen good reviews for cycleops mag trainer and the taxc satori. Cheers

[Wroughton 10]

Have I got this right?

 

You are thinking of buying a Mountain Bike for £100-£299 plus the price of a slick tyre to put you on for roughly two months before you buy a £299 road bike on the CTW scheme?

[onewheeldave 22]

Hi, unfortunately I've got to stop running due to a foot injury but to keep active I was thinking of getting a turbo trainer to keep fit at home.

 

The snag is my 15 yr old muddy fox MTB that i used for commuting is a bit knackered - the back wheel came off when I was cycling. I took it to Edinburgh cycles and they reckon it would be £150 to get it roadworthy and even then as it is old other stuff might go wrong with it. They reckon a comparative bike would be about £250.

 

I've been to JE James and they have some mongoose 21 speed MTBs for £200+ that are reduced. And decathlon have the rockrider brand starting from £100. Speaking to them in the shop the rockrider 5.2 (£200 - 24 speed) or 5.3 (£299 - 27 speed) should be fine if I put a slick rear tyre on when using on the trainer.

 

My work do cycle to work scheme but for some bizarre reason they only open it for a week in December so I was thinking of doing this then and getting the decathlon Triban 3 road bike when the schem opens. But in the mean time I just want a MTB that I can use on a turbo trainer with a slick tyre and also use it for cycling outdoors with the kids.

 

What MTB would you recommend - would one of the £99 cheap rockriders be no good? Woukdl the rockrider 5.3 be overkill? Any advise would be great.

 

Also what turbo trainer to use ina terrace house so not too noisy. I've seen good reviews for cycleops mag trainer and the taxc satori. Cheers

 

I've got a £99 rockrider- very decent bike for the price: many good reviews online for it as well. It's the only bike in that price range I'd get.

 

I'd also get it above any of the slightly more expensive Rockriders that have front suspension- front suspension on a bike in that price range is going to be trash.

[JohnnyBoy 10]

Sort of. I need a non road bike to go cycling with the kids so I will be getting a MTB regardless as mine is kapput.

 

I need to start doing some exercise - I've had plantar fascitis for 9 months and now got something called a skewed foot too and it is doing my head in not being able to run etc and i work shifts so can't always make trhe gym. Plus going to the gym takes quite a bit of time which got me thinking a turbo trainer. And I thought cycling would be a decent new hobby if getting back to running and football is unlikely

 

I'm only thinking of the road bike if my interest keeps up and with the cycle to work scheme (299 minus tax and NI divided over 12 months) doesn't seem too bad.

[Wroughton 10]

I see what you mean Johnny. Give the MTb a try and see how it goes. Makes sense.

 

Couldn't agree more with you about the cycling and it's a great way to get some low impact fitness.

 

I'd either go with the cheapest MTB or for me Plan B would be a cheap hybrid. I think Onewheeldave has hit the nail on the head aswell to stay away from cheap bikes with suspension.

 

Good luck with it!!

 

EDIT- just looked at the £99 Rockrider and it looks great.

Edited September 13, 2012 by Wroughton
More info

[onewheeldave 22]

Sort of. I need a non road bike to go cycling with the kids so I will be getting a MTB regardless as mine is kapput.

 

I need to start doing some exercise - I've had plantar fascitis for 9 months and now got something called a skewed foot too and it is doing my head in not being able to run etc and i work shifts so can't always make trhe gym. Plus going to the gym takes quite a bit of time which got me thinking a turbo trainer. And I thought cycling would be a decent new hobby if getting back to running and football is unlikely

 

I'm only thinking of the road bike if my interest keeps up and with the cycle to work scheme (299 minus tax and NI divided over 12 months) doesn't seem too bad.

 

Have you found anything useful for that? I think I've got it a bit, and I also can't run anymore.

 

My chosen form of exercise is outdoor unicycling, which doesn't seem to stress my foot anywhere near as much as either walking or running.

 

I've also got a bike (the Rockrider), but, for the exercise, find the unicycling both more fun, and, more intense- it doesn't have that bike thing where 1/2 the time you're coasting rather than pedaling

[JohnnyBoy 10]

Have you found anything useful for that? I think I've got it a bit, and I also can't run anymore.

 

Not found anything brilliant tbh. Just rest but then you think it is better and do something like a walk and it flares up again! Rolling a tennis ball under the foot seems to be the most help. I've been told I specifically need to do a gastroc stretch, basically just stretching your calf. Lean against a wall with your hands, your good foot near the wall and your bad one stretched straight behind and you should feel your calf and achilles and i repeat this through the day. Specialist says it can take up to 2-3 years to heal There are loads of other exercises too and soft insoles to wear. I'm seeing an orthotist about that and to sort out the skewed foot.

 

Good luck with it and cheers for the advice on the bikes

[Squiggs 11]

The snag is my 15 yr old muddy fox MTB that i used for commuting is a bit knackered - the back wheel came off when I was cycling. I took it to Edinburgh cycles....

 

Go to Edinburgh Cycles if you want a new bike - my last 2 came from there

 

For repairs/servicing, use your local independant. Butterworths is only around the corner and will give you an honest appraisal, a better service and probably cheaper. Plus they have no incentive to poiunt you towards a new bike rather than repair.

 

I'm struggling to imagine what would cost £150 just to get it roadworthy (rather than replacing like-for-like of course, "getting roadworthy" I mean for instance replacing a knackered XT mech with a perfectly servicable for non-extreme riding Sunrace M30)

[JohnnyBoy 10]

Yeah i went to butterworths first yesterday at about 13:50 but his shutters were down so took it to edinburgh cycles as the next nearest place. I've left my bike in the car and will try butterworths again later today.

 

My back wheel came of when cycling and my gears were jumping so I thought my bike was pretty far gone and stupidly left it outside all summer to the elements. The guy who looked said I would need new back wheel, maybe a cassette, a new chain, cables and breaks and I guess you got the labout/cost of service on top. i would probably shell out £100 to get it sorted but a bit reluctant to spend more. i'll see what butterworths say.

 

Cheers

[Tobyjug 10]

I have an old road bike permanantly on the turbo in the garage, fitted with a specific turbo tyre. You will find if you use same tyre on turbo and then on road it will become very smooth, and you will get fed up of lifting bike on and off turbo, I'm sure you can pick up an old road bike for less than £100, as long as the bb and wheel bearings are ok you're sorted.

[Fudbeer 12]

Not sure on the turbo trainer bit but for cheap mountain bikes was going to buy from Decathlon while I agree they are fairly good value some of their bikes are pretty weighty!

 

I found better value and lighter bikes at JE James,look for the clearence models and remember they will often match the internet.

[adamf 10]

Go to Edinburgh Cycles if you want a new bike - my last 2 came from there

 

For repairs/servicing, use your local independant. Butterworths is only around the corner and will give you an honest appraisal, a better service and probably cheaper. Plus they have no incentive to poiunt you towards a new bike rather than repair.

 

I agree with both of those recommendations.