MOUNTAIN bike advice for my teens please?

[52andblue]

I have a 15 y/o and a 18 y/o.
I live close to 2 great mountain biking areas.
We've been a few times with their old crappity bikes & they LOVE it.

They both have ASD and do no sport normally as it's really hard for them so I'm very keen for them to take up Biking as it is great for their health & independence. Both are extremely safety conscious.

Issue is that they need proper bikes. We hired Hardtail Trek Marlin 7's which they liked. The bike shop is quoting £825 made up (via Tiso).

Is this a decent bike for the money please? I have NO idea?
My budget is really low as I'm on Carer's allowance so I am partly using their DLA for this (with their consent) so I need to make sure I am using our limited funds wisely (plus I need decent helmets etc)

Treks are good bike brands. Those prices seem around average from googling. You might be able to get them slightly cheaper if you go for the 2021 models, but if you have a good local bike shop, you might find it worth supporting them, even if it's not the cheapest option, as they'll be helpful with making sure the bikes fit your boys properly and they're correctly built.

I assume they're both more or less fully grown at that age?

Only problem with bikes and bike enthusiasts is the correct number of bikes is n+1 where n is the number of bikes you currently have. As they get more experienced/competent they might start looking at full suspension versions, and then you'd be looking at 2/3/4 times that £825.

Although you'll always be able to sell a well looked after second hand Trek bike for a good percentage of the price as new.

Best to try on helmets in the shop, different brands suit different head shapes, although there is some size adjustments.

Then they'll need gloves, padded shorts, Muc Off by the gallon. But if it's something they're happy and able to spend their DLA on, after all, it could be transport as well as leisure/exercise, they might be able to pay some of the costs themselves.

Would either of them be capable of training as a bike mechanic to fix and service their own bikes and get a job in the bike shop for the discount? I'm only half joking.

@BarbaraofSeville thank you so much that's a really helpful reply !
Good to know Trek is a decent 'starter' bike. I had budgeted an extra £200 p/c for decent helmet shoes gloves too.
My only other question is: would it be worth getting a cheapish electric bike instead? My younger child has had long covid and they're both a bit hypermobile so do get fatigued easily. Costco have an electric bike for £1k which seems very good value, but I couldn't afford the ones at the bike hire place which were £2/3k+ (eeek@)

I've just asked DS who is biking mad. He said Trek is a good starter bike, seems to think £700 would be a better price (he's only 13 though so I'm not sure I'd take his word for it).

The other essential kit is obviously a helmet, gloves and knee pads and a small biking rucksack with water pouch (camal back) are really handy too. You can spend a small fortune on Jerseys, coats, shoes, padded shorts etc but you can get that later down the line if they really get into it. Have a look on vinted/Facebook marketplace for second hand stuff.

I would absolutely do everything you can to encourage them to do it. DS found biking a couple of years ago after many failed hobbies. It's so good for mental and physical health plus its a great social activity without having to be 'too' social.

Loads of tutorials on YouTube for bike maintenance.

Hi - Trek is a really good brand. I ride Treks. ☺️

Since you are referencing Tiso, have a look here.

Marlin 6

The Marlin range come in 4, 5, 6 , 7 and 8. They have last years Marlin 6 on their website for £540 rather than £650 for this year’s model - this can be a good way to save a bit, it’s usually just a couple of different components and a different colour. A 6 would be perfectly fine for going round where I am presuming you are based on the fact that the bike shop on site is Tiso! If you order it online, they will deliver it to the local shop for you and build it up there.

Don’t go for an electric bike - the one you are suggesting will be unlikely to be built for the type of riding your boys will be doing.

Good gloves, padded shorts and a helmet are all the clothing they need to start with.

Mountain biking is great!

Ask the hire centre if they sell them off at the end of the season, that might be a way to pick up one cheaper.
I'm guessing you're in Scotland by the Tiso reference, I bought my Trek bike from Roots Cycles in Doune and they sell a lot of Marlins so might be worth contacting for a price. They were very helpful, I was clueless when I went to buy my bike!
Criterium Cycles at Dobbies in Dalkeith also stock Treks www.criteriumcycles.co.uk/

Treks are excellent bikes. Get a mid-top of the beginners range like the 7 and you will not have to replace it in a hurry. You could also sell it second hand easily if you needed to. A marlin 6 will be fine, 7 will just be the latest model.

Invest in a decent helmet and bike lock. Locks are important as there are sadly a lot of bike thieves out there so look after them and keep them out of sight (in the home ideally rather than shed).

Also get some chain oil (£5 max) as this extends the life of the chain considerably. Bike pump for the tyres if you do not have one.

Electric bikes will not be suitable for the type of riding your boys are planning on.

Ah, this is all SUPER helpful thanks so much!!

I live slap bang inbetween Glentress and Keilder so they have (1 hr) access to all that. They did a red run on their ratty old bikes last time (eek) but older child is Cadets trained so very responsible & younger one also super sensible. There is a College near us which does a Mountain bike course if they really get into it too :)

I was thinking last years model and hoped a 6 would be good enough but maybe a 7 would be better ...

The Marlin 7 is “only” 699 on the criterium website

Glentress is so brilliant! I’ve not been for a while but need to head down soon.

The 7 and 6 are very similar, the 7 just has slightly better components on it. I’d second whoever said spend some money on a good bike lock - the bike thefts in the area are terrible at the moment.

You can get helmets, locks etc online at better prices than the GT shop.

I would look for a used one on eBay - a 2020 Marlin 7 would be between £3-400 max. But bikes tend to be "collection only" so it might be harder in Scotland - just fewer of them.

You need to get the size right - there may be a frame size and a wheel size. A hire shop or Halfords should be able to advise.

Don’t go to Halfords for bike advice unless you know exactly what you want!!

thanks again
I know the wheel & frame size I need as they got measured up (and had a wee shot) at the Glentress bike hire place.
Yy to decent locks and helmets, all else can come in time I think :)

@emmathedilemma - thanks - this is EXACTLY the bike they ride at Glentress, so I know the correct frame & wheel size etc.
Now, is the red and yellow (my choice) or the slate gey/ blue 'cooler do you reckon?
(I've looked at 2nd hand but v little on ebay round here. Glentress don't sell their Hardtails on, and need 2 & pref for Easter hols so no time to lose)

@52andblue The grey navy is matte finish - avoid that like the plague!!

We bought two Trek x-calibers during lockdown and one is matte, one is gloss. You literally just have to look at the matte finish and it scratches. It looks terrible now. Meanwhile the gloss finish one hardly has a scratch on it. So go for the red/orange!

@Williamshatnershorses - Ah ha ! VERY useful to know, thank you ! x