[Fillmore]

I have a hybrid bike at the moment a Polygon Path-2, which is excellent and serves me well for city and road rides.

However there are pretty frequent times when I visit a place which has a lot of semi-offroad trails with steep climbs. So decided to pickup an MTB.

I have the following criteria that I need on the MTB.
Looking forward to any suggestions.

Price range : 26k +/- 4k maybe.

- Aluminium frame
- Should have a front suspension
- At least rear disc brakes
- Don't care about speed, but the cog set should be one which aids climbing.
- Rear cassette min 11x34

What I see in this range is a BTWIN Rockrider ST120

Also want to know if I can upgrade the rear cassette on the ST120 to one which is 11x40 maybe. (currently the ST120 comes with a 9 speed rear shifter)

If there are other brands that meet this criteria please do let me know.

[vb-saan]

Originally Posted by Fillmore

I have a hybrid bike at the moment a Polygon Path-2, which is excellent and serves me well for city and road rides.

However there are pretty frequent times when I visit a place which has a lot of semi-offroad trails with steep climbs. So decided to pickup an MTB.
...

If there are other brands that meet this criteria please do let me know.

Maybe worth considering something from the same brand - like the Polygon Premier 4 or 5?

[Fillmore]

Originally Posted by vb-san

Maybe worth considering something from the same brand - like the Polygon Premier 4 or 5?

At the moment I dont want to spend so much for a Polygon Premier series.
Better option would be the Polygon Heist X2 , but even that would be priced north of 35k+

Looking if there are any decent bike stores in Bangalore that deal with 2nd hand bikes, I can pickup a decent 2nd hand one and upgrade the Cassette , Shifter, Rear Derailleur so that I get a 11x40+ teeth Cassette.

Olx and the likes are filled with total crap cycles.

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by Fillmore

At the moment I dont want to spend so much for a Polygon Premier series.
Better option would be the Polygon Heist X2 , but even that would be priced north of 35k+

Looking if there are any decent bike stores in Bangalore that deal with 2nd hand bikes, I can pickup a decent 2nd hand one and upgrade the Cassette , Shifter, Rear Derailleur so that I get a 11x40+ teeth Cassette.

Olx and the likes are filled with total crap cycles.

For a 40t big cog on the rear, you will need a completely new drivetrain anyways. So it does not matter which drivetrain your donor bike is going to come with since you are going to junk it anyways. So basically buy the frame and wheelset that you want and that fits in your budget, after subtracting the price of a new drivetrain.

I personally doubt it can be done in under 30-35k. Since you are essentially looking at a 1x conversion. Having a 40t on a 3x or 2x makes no sense unless you want to cycle up a wall.

[bugatti]

Originally Posted by Fillmore

I have a hybrid bike at the moment a Polygon Path-2, which is excellent and serves me well for city and road rides.

However there are pretty frequent times when I visit a place which has a lot of semi-offroad trails with steep climbs. So decided to pickup an MTB.

I have the following criteria that I need on the MTB.
Looking forward to any suggestions.

Price range : 26k +/- 4k maybe.

- Aluminium frame
- Should have a front suspension
- At least rear disc brakes
- Don't care about speed, but the cog set should be one which aids climbing.
- Rear cassette min 11x34

What I see in this range is a BTWIN Rockrider ST120

Also want to know if I can upgrade the rear cassette on the ST120 to one which is 11x40 maybe. (currently the ST120 comes with a 9 speed rear shifter)

If there are other brands that meet this criteria please do let me know.

I was offered Maltrack bikes from a wholesale cycle dealer in Bangalore. The bike is nice, I was tempted but turned down the offer since I was looking for a hybrid. The pricing is about 16k. You can check out some of the details of this bike here

If you want to get the details, DM me. I'll connect you.

[abhinavm]

Originally Posted by Fillmore

However there are pretty frequent times when I visit a place which has a lot of semi-offroad trails with steep climbs. So decided to pickup an MTB.

I have the following criteria that I need on the MTB.
Looking forward to any suggestions.

Price range : 26k +/- 4k maybe.

- Aluminium frame
- Should have a front suspension
- At least rear disc brakes
- Don't care about speed, but the cog set should be one which aids climbing.
- Rear cassette min 11x34

Check if there are any options with Bergamont. I have a 2015 Bergamont (Vitox 6.x) which was around 26K at that time. Has been excellent

RR Cycles are an official dealer (I had then purchased from BoTS).

[Fillmore]

Originally Posted by ebonho

For a 40t big cog on the rear, you will need a completely new drivetrain anyways...

Originally Posted by bugatti

I was offered Maltrack bikes from a wholesale cycle dealer in Bangalore... .

Originally Posted by abhinavm

Check if there are any options with Bergamont..

Just to close the loop here ...
First of all thanks for your responses .
Evaluated couple of options .. and since my budget planned was limited i.e. 25k +/- 4k...

Settled on a BTWIN Riverside 500
It checked all the boxes I was looking for
i..e
- Aluminium frame
- Should have a front suspension
- At least rear disc brakes (both front and rear come with disc brakes)
- Rear cassette min 11x34 (It comes with 11x36 -> 9 gears)

Net cost was 24,999/-

I did checkout the BTWIN Rockrider 120 , however the M size seemed too low for my comfort , and L was not available in stock.

After I got the Riverside 500 I swapped the tyres of the Riverside with my Polygon Path - 2.
Polygon came with 700x40c Tyre's
Riverside 700x35c

So now the Polygon would be used only in Bangalore, with the 35c tyres now it works better for me on roads.
The Riverside will be used whenever I visit this 'Out of the city' place , the 40c tyres work well here.

A few pics


After the tyre swap

[AutoIndian]

Originally Posted by Fillmore

Settled on a BTWIN Riverside 500
It checked all the boxes I was looking for
i..e
- Aluminium frame
- Should have a front suspension
- At least rear disc brakes (both front and rear come with disc brakes)
- Rear cassette min 11x34 (It comes with 11x36 -> 9 gears)

Net cost was 24,999/-

Nice bike there, many congratulations

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by Fillmore

Just to close the loop here ...

After the tyre swap
Attachment 2220229

Beautiful bike. Congratulations! Use her well.

Cheers, Doc

[ebonho]

Just had to share this video.

You simply do not understand the sheer velocity of a pro peloton from the telecast we get on TV from the helicopter or tge motorcycle!

Take a look .... spine chilling man.

https://youtu.be/wr74sSOJo_8

I remember seeing a live race as a kid. It was the nationals, road race, 180 km. The ferocity of the bunch sprint on the last lap finish is still burned into my mind. It's spectacular, it's damn scary, and the guys at the pointy end of these sure have some big brass cojones!

Cheers, Doc

[Kpzonwheels]

Broken derailleur saga...

Rear derailleur of my firefox pro runner d was broken during yesterday's ride. A carelessly thrown mask was the culprit. I was doing a moderate climb during the incident. Changed the derailleur today with Shimano altus as acera was not in stock.

[shipnil]

Originally Posted by ebonho

I too will be getting on my roadie once I get the by now set tried n tested been there done that 2000 km of ACT miles into my legs.

Doc, looks like you are back on the roadie. I believe you visited Ravet, PCMC today morning. I think I spotted you wearing a black + green jersey on Ravet to Dange chowk road, at Tathawade intersection to be precise. I was on the opposite side on my ACT, practicing riding in clipless pedals today.

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by shipnil

Doc, looks like you are back on the roadie. I believe you visited Ravet, PCMC today morning. I think I spotted you wearing a black + green jersey on Ravet to Dange chowk road, at Tathawade intersection to be precise. I was on the opposite side on my ACT, practicing riding in clipless pedals today.

Yessir! That was me.

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/bicyc...ml#post5177063 (Post pictures of your Bicycle on day trips here!)

In my Merida team jersey. This one ...



The 2000 km went out of the window this time with some heavy monsoon grinding. Put in nearly 4000 kms from July to September on my ACT. Now she can rest for a bit while my body gets adjusted back to the roadie.

Let me guess ... you were the guy in all black (long tights, long sleeved jersey) and black helmet?

Cheers, Doc

[shipnil]

Originally Posted by ebonho

Let me guess ... you were the guy in all black (long tights, long sleeved jersey) and black helmet?

Cheers, Doc

Ohh, you registered me too? . Actually, I am not at all wearing cycling specific attire currently but rather something to have less injury or bruises in case of a fall. So I had knee guards, loose shorts, long sleeved fleece and yes the black helmet

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by shipnil

Ohh, you registered me too? . Actually, I am not at all wearing cycling specific attire currently but rather something to have less injury or bruises in case of a fall. So I had knee guards, loose shorts, long sleeved fleece and yes the black helmet

I actually registered the blue bike first.

Yup I think we looked at each other as well. You were riding in an aggressive attack MTB style position.

Cheers, Doc