Wall of Mouths

Ensure you get Hydraulic disc brakes, so many ‘entry’ level bikes come with non Hydraulic brakes (work like old school bike brakes with wire) and they’re pants.

I was pretty much like you and wanted an entry level Hardtail, I tested makes like Specialized, Giant, GT but I opted for Kona in the end - I have an 07 Cinder Cone which is pretty well spec’d and I negotiated hard and got it for £500 with a years free servicing from a local dealer. Really though what you go for is personal choice, you can read reviews till your blue in the face, you need to like the way it rides.

You can buy old stock from quite a lot of places (08 bikes now), and save a few ££ - some good places:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/d/Cycle/7/1/1/

http://www.cyclestore.co.uk/

http://www.evanscycles.com/

Do you have any brand in mind?

http://www.chrispaulsoncycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m20b0s409p309

How does that sound?

Also found this:

http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=14590822

Have you tried a GT to see if you like the ride?

Well you sound in a pretty similar, if not exact situation to what I was in when I was searching for a bike. I only tested a few but I could tell the difference straight away when I tried a few Kona’s, it just felt like the ‘right bike’. I went for the Cinder Cone as it had the best mid range components (Dart 3 Rock Shox forks and Hayes Hydraulics) which on their own I read good review(s) on, with the plan that if this turned into another ‘fad’ I could sell the bike on quite easily.

I would seriously try as many bikes as you can before taking the plunge and buying one, at the end of the day the final decision has to be down to you though mate!

Ended up getting a Cannondale F6 with hydraulic disc brakes. just been out on a half hour spin over the moors. bloody hard but good all the same

Yeah - It worked out ok - was about £40 off rrp, plus I got 10% of the value of the bike to spend on accessories, so I got some baggy padded shorts, a helmet and a bike pump as well.