It could happen, Whitedog. I might, as you have it, "get taken by the bike love" but I'll just upgrade if that happens. I'll try a good few bikes at the shop and get the one I like. I might end up spending a fortune after all.

Aye, Gav, I checked and HR informs me that there is a Bike to Work scheme so I'll put it through on that.

Thanks for all the advice and suggestions, folks.

I took the hybrid bike I was looking at for a spin on the cobbles and was sick of jolting along on it within minutes so I started trying a lot of mountain bikes in different price brackets. After trying a Revolution Cuillin, a Giant XTC 4, a Cannondale F6, a Commencal something, and a Specialized Hardrock Pro ... I went with one of their own brand, a Revolution Triad 3.0. I think it was the forks that sold it really.

After my moaning yesterday it was inevitable that I would end up spending £500 after all!

Looks a much nicer bike.

Now you will need lots of expensive accessories, which if you haven't already done the deal can also be put through the c2c scheme.

That's a nice bike you got yourself there m8.

The forks are dam good ones and i use Avid brakes (juicy 3's) on my HT and find them very very good, they were my first outing into Hydraulic brakes and i still have them today ( almost 2yrs on, i'm quite a lump as well).

Just take care with them for the first ride or so until you get used to the extra power of them is all i'd say.

I wouldn't have said that you were moaning yesterday, spending any money these day's is often a tough prospect and you just wanted to make sure that you made the right choice, can't blame you for that at all.

Anyhow enjoy the bike m8

Cheers, guys. I might have to nip along the road to Glentress since I've bought a half-decent one after all.

You're right about the disc brakes. I think it'd be very easy to grab the front brake and take a flier.

Good bike you got there Jim, wasn't aware of that model myself in their range.

V.Good spec for the price.

If you are planning on some more 'real' Scottish jaunts (as in not 7stanes),  have a look via the search facility on these forums with the name of a place/glen etc.  A lot of information floating around, some is a bit old so fire away with any updates on track conditions etc.

Always useful to know what is/isn't bikeable when it comes to single dashes on the OS's!

Pentlands to start with methinks. Free time is in short supply at the moment.

(Mad Jim was an old alias I used to use. I've changed my username before it gets confusing.)