Best mountain bikes around 500

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Le Tour in particular reflects it like no other. Each year, we expect more dynamic racing, earlier breakaways or more intense head-to-head stage finishes. The featured articles below explore the most significant shifts and challenges "La Grande Boucle" has been through since For the last 11 years, I have been running a bike-tour agency that has grown to have nearly bikes. Some of them are road bikes, some hybrids, city bikes are not missing and of course, we have many mountain bikes.

Best mountain bikes around 500

Be warned: all of these great value bikes will hook you into a new sport and a whole new way of life. You can save this back, and more, by taking advantage of the Cycle to Work scheme , though. Wheel size: Reasons to buy: Choice of wheel sizes. High quality frame. Sound geometry. Reasons to avoid: Sticky fork is not that effective. At the heart of the bike is a quality frame with geometry that lets you ride confidently on proper mountain bike trails. Read our full test review of the Vitus Nucleus VR. Reasons to buy: Amazing price, great geometry and range of sizes, spot-on cockpit and component choices, and an active fork. Reasons to avoid: The fork tops out with a clunk. So you get the same confident, fun handling and excellent spread of sizes, along with a wide-range yet simple 9-speed drivetrain and a plush coil-sprung suspension fork. The only fly in the ointment is that the fork can get a bit clunky, but overall this is a killer bike for the money and one you can upgrade as your skills progress. Read our full review of the Voodoo Braag.

With contributions from Jim Bland Freelance writer.

This can make the world of budget mountain bikes seem like a bit of a minefield, but you're in the right place — keep reading for our choice of the best cheap mountain bikes as reviewed by our independent test team, and check out our guide on what to look for and what to avoid at the end. With a few key upgrades, the bike will be even more capable, which means as you get better you'll be able to increase the bike's scope without shelling out for an entirely new rig. The Aizan is a great option if you're looking for an all-rounder mountain bike. That's because the relative lightweight and bigger wheels mean it crosses ground efficiently, while the geometry is friendly enough that there's plenty of control on offer. A few choice kit upgrades can also easily change the character of the bike, so if it's not per cent to your tastes, it shouldn't take too much to get it feeling just right, which aids the bike's versatility. Calibre is renowned for offering quality bikes at impressive prices and the Rake is the brand's budget hardtail 29er. We gave the Calibre Rake 4.

CyclistsHub is supported by its readers. We may receive a commission if you buy products using our links. I evaluated them based on my mountain bike scoring system. My parents once bought me such a bike. It was terrible too heavy, misaligned, poor quality. I recommend paying extra and buying from specialty retailers. Alternatively, you can buy a second-hand bike to see if a mountain bike is suitable for you. The Polygon Premier 5 is one of the best options for men. It has It provides great value for money.

Best mountain bikes around 500

The best trail mountain bikes are designed to be all-around MTBs that can take on any trail, all day long. As trail mountain biking fills the middle ground between enduro and XC, it's the most popular riding style and virtually every brand has at least one trail bike in its range. Trail bikes are designed to combine uphill and downhill performance. For this reason, they often have a relatively efficient pedaling platform, yet the best trail bikes will shine on the downhills too. Usually sitting somewhere between and mm of front and rear travel, these machines can tackle everything from trail center loops to gnarly off-piste steeps. With so many quality trail bikes here, it's very tough to pick any overall winner and the one that's best for you will depend on where and how you want to ride.

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These can be in inches, or use descriptive terms like Small, Medium and Large. Best for novice riders. Cube Aim. And it has also hydraulic disc brakes. Get Started. We're not sure why, but more affordable bikes seem to have been hit hardest by price increases and component specs have dropped dramatically for a similar cost. Merida also do the Big. The Marlin hardtail family are Trek's best-selling mountain bikes, which makes them some of the most popular in the world. We've also picked XC and trail style options along with a couple of great full-suspension options at affordable prices. And who knows, if you enjoy it, you'll have a solid frame that you can start to upgrade componentry around. Unfortunately, Whyte have recently discontinued the along with most of its other non-electric bikes , but there are still plenty of them on sale at the time of writing. Contact Blog. Two wheel sizes are available

Today's best mountain bikes are seriously impressive machines and only the most capable riders will be able to push them to anywhere near their limits.

It comes in two colours and has a cool paintjob. I'm not sure if they are found. Carrera Vulcan. The sag is how much the suspension compresses under your weight. Click here for specs. Whyte is a brand well known for its slack, long, and progressive geometry and while the Whyte V2 might not be as slack as some other bikes in its range, it still has great numbers for beginner and intermediate riders seeking speed thrills out on the trails. What is a 29er? So you get the same confident, fun handling and excellent spread of sizes, along with a wide-range yet simple 9-speed drivetrain and a plush coil-sprung suspension fork. Read our full review of the Voodoo Braag. Welcome to the Bike Hub, where you will find an action-packed collection of two-wheel films, shows ….