Yo, so I used to do DH when I was a teenager but I gave it up due to cost and bad decisions - had a Raleigh DHO for anyone who's old enough to remember them.
I'm now 27 and now that I'm no longer a student I can finally get myself some wheels. Alas, I have no idea where to start.
I have a budget of 1000 (cycle to work scheme) and I'm eager to get into Enduro (I don't remember that being a thing when I was doing DH a decade or more ago). Should I get one of the budget full sus bikes - e.g. Boardman Team 29er/Voodoo Canzo from Halfords (reliable shop?) - or should I go with a slightly more upmarket hardtail seeing as I'm practically a beginner.
Any advice on bike type, brands, components, where to buy, etc. will be hugely helpful.
Definitely a consensus on Halfords. There bikes will break your heart, they are poor quality and poorly assembled by inexperienced staff. Give the lads in Expert cycles a shout and they will set you straight, I'd recommend increasing your budget and get something like an entry level Giant Trance or a focus as you will get very little for 1000 and when you catch the bug you will want to upgrade your bike and you will have no bike to work scheme and the resale is poor on mtbs
Okay, thanks for the advice on Halfords, a dedicated local store does seem more appealing!
Unfortunately, I can't go above my budget. Reading other discussions, many people have suggested going for a decent hardtail as this will enhance my learning - all be it through falls and crashes - but also give me more bang for my buck. It also makes sense as I will most likely be using the bike on the road too.
Seen as I'm in the Dublin area, what type of bike do the trails generally suit in the area? 27.5 or 29er?
You will probably get better value for money going for a hardtail and if you can find a reasonable priced steel frame bike you could be laughing - also costs less to maintain (no frame bearings)
Somebody mentioned the Trance which is a good do it all type of full-sus bike (enduro/xc) that comes in a number of different specs. The other brands will have something similar. Whilst it is nice to have the better components / wheels and bling from the top of the line models, try find a model with the best frame and fork that you can afford. As the components wear out, you can replace with whatever you can afford. If you can stretch as far as a dropper then do it.
As Chris pointed out, second hand bikes can be good value (but you won't be able to use your B2W) so long as they have been properly maintained.
"27.5 or 29er" - let the debate begin ... again! In my view its horses for courses. I have both and I like both. Either will suit the trails around Dublin / Wicklow... but maybe some of the enduro bikers can give better advice.
Going for a steel hardtail get a cotic or a stanton Expert cycles can sort you out with a cotic, 27.5 or a 29er i have a 29er with 120 forks up front and it can handle most of the trails in wicklow or Dublin .
Definately concentrate on best value frame and fork. Components can and will be upgraded over time. For enduro an aggressive/slacker geo hardtail frame with 140mm forks would do well I reckon ( but Iâm no enduro head). The Cotics are getting great reviews all round both from those who own them (bias perhaps) and the media. I believe they are also able to accommodate 27.5+ and 29er wheels so you can alternate on the same frame. Iâd go 29er as I prefer them, but it took me a long time to find one that felt right for me. I ride 27.5 for a while converting my 26er to that size before it was âthe normâ whilst trying to find a 29er. Most trends are heading back towards the larger wheel size though, both in enduro and DH. Whatever you buy start saving for your next one as this game is addictive....N+1. Chat to Alfie or Robin in expert they would have ridden pretty much everything and everywhere so best place to get advice