Exercise R Us

Question:

     A used bike probably is your best bet.  This way you will get a higher quality bike with out spending a lot of money, and as you learn a little about mountain biking you will come to realize how great the differences are between the type of  bike you are considering and other mountain bikes.      If you are going to buy a used bike look it over carefully and if you know someone who is already into mountain biking take them with you.  Also insist on having it checked out by a local shop if you feel uncomfortable about it for any reason or just don’t buy it.        Don’t worry about the people who say, "this brand is so much better than that brand,"  like everyone I have developed preferences in frame and part manufacturers, but a bike from any big name company is going to provide you with what you want.  Fit is more important than anything else.      Talk to people at the bike shops and read a magazine or two.  With more information you stand a better chance of finding a bike you will be happy with.   Jeff

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> >I will basically agree with what people have posted about getting > >a better bike than that from Wal-Mart etc. > >I just started mountain biking, and initially was thinking the same; > >to get a cheap bike to start. But, one of my cube-mates is really into > >mountain biking and he highly recommended getting something good. I finally > >bought a Diamondback-Topenga for about $500.It even has front shocks, > >which are really nice going down-hill in some of the trails we have > >here in Colorado. It really is too much fun!! > >It probably is a good idea to have an experienced mountain biker looking > >over your selection. > >So, it might be a good idea to get a used bike, like Trek etc. > >Senthil > Trek’s are ok for the average rider.  Someone that wants to really enjoy riding > should look somewhere else.   (I sold treks for five years so I do have some > experience with them.)  Trek’s top tubes are extremely short for the most part > and that is why they feel so good in the parking lot, but when you get them > out on the trail there is a difference.   The Y bike… what a joke.. it locks > out when you get out of the saddle…. now why would you spend so much money > on a bike for full suspension when it locks out??? > Yeah, yeah, whatever.  This thread had nothing to do with bike brand > politics for so long…<sigh>

This has nothing to do with politics… it has to do with the geometry of a bicycle.  Sorry if that offends you.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I will basically agree with what people have posted about getting >a better bike than that from Wal-Mart etc. >I just started mountain biking, and initially was thinking the same; >to get a cheap bike to start. But, one of my cube-mates is really into >mountain biking and he highly recommended getting something good. I finally >bought a Diamondback-Topenga for about $500.It even has front shocks, >which are really nice going down-hill in some of the trails we have >here in Colorado. It really is too much fun!! >It probably is a good idea to have an experienced mountain biker looking >over your selection. >So, it might be a good idea to get a used bike, like Trek etc. >Senthil

Trek’s are ok for the average rider.  Someone that wants to really enjoy riding should look somewhere else.   (I sold treks for five years so I do have some experience with them.)  Trek’s top tubes are extremely short for the most part and that is why they feel so good in the parking lot, but when you get them out on the trail there is a difference.   The Y bike… what a joke.. it locks out when you get out of the saddle…. now why would you spend so much money on a bike for full suspension when it locks out???

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I will basically agree with what people have posted about getting >a better bike than that from Wal-Mart etc. >I just started mountain biking, and initially was thinking the same; >to get a cheap bike to start. But, one of my cube-mates is really into >mountain biking and he highly recommended getting something good. I finally >bought a Diamondback-Topenga for about $500.It even has front shocks, >which are really nice going down-hill in some of the trails we have >here in Colorado. It really is too much fun!! >It probably is a good idea to have an experienced mountain biker looking >over your selection. >So, it might be a good idea to get a used bike, like Trek etc. >Senthil > Trek’s are ok for the average rider.  Someone that wants to really enjoy riding > should look somewhere else.   (I sold treks for five years so I do have some > experience with them.)  Trek’s top tubes are extremely short for the most part > and that is why they feel so good in the parking lot, but when you get them > out on the trail there is a difference.   The Y bike… what a joke.. it locks > out when you get out of the saddle…. now why would you spend so much money > on a bike for full suspension when it locks out???

Yeah, yeah, whatever.  This thread had nothing to do with bike brand politics for so long…<sigh>

Response:

I will basically agree with what people have posted about getting a better bike than that from Wal-Mart etc. I just started mountain biking, and initially was thinking the same; to get a cheap bike to start. But, one of my cube-mates is really into mountain biking and he highly recommended getting something good. I finally bought a Diamondback-Topenga for about $500.It even has front shocks, which are really nice going down-hill in some of the trails we have here in Colorado. It really is too much fun!! It probably is a good idea to have an experienced mountain biker looking over your selection. So, it might be a good idea to get a used bike, like Trek etc. Senthil

Response:

>I am currently looking to get involved in Mountain biking.  I am looking >to spend about $150 for a bike.  The reason being if I lose interest >after a few weeks I will have not made a mystake.  Though if I really >like it that is a different story.  So does any one have any good >recomendations.  I like a bike they have in KMART.  Its a huffy and it >costs about $130.

Huffy doesn’t make a single dirt-worthy bike; if you buy one, you’re wasting your money and are likely to get yourself killed. The primary problem with Huffies from an off-road standpoint is that their brakes are so bad that you might as well not have any.  They’re these awful stamped-steel things with pads that become totally useless if they get the least bit wet.  Component longevity is also not very good, but you probably won’t die as a result of that.  Their fork design scares the hell out of me, it can’t be safe. My younger brother went out and bought a department-store special (I think at Wal-Mart) called a Pacific Cobra which is in the same price range.  I don’t think that was a good buy either, but interestingly enough it had Shimano brakes and a frameset that looked like it might actually survive some riding.  Component quality was bottom-end (mostly Chinese), but good enough for 6-12 months of beginner to intermediate recreational riding I think.  If you’re going to waste your money on a department store special that one isn’t too bad. Unfortunately the only way that that bike was relatively safe to ride was if you retensioned the wheels, tightened up pretty much every part, adjusted the brakes and derailleurs, and swapped brake pads for some that actually work.  As it came from the store it was an accident waiting to happen — it was dangerous even riding around the block. The tune-up was not a big deal for a moderately experienced mechanic, but not the kind of thing you’re likely to know how to do if you’re considering a Huffy.  Most shops would probably just laugh at you. My recommendation: Look at previous-year Trek, GT, and Specialized models at a bike shop.  They will be a lot more expensive — even the cheapest close-out will probably run you $300 — but they will be a hell of a lot safer than any of those department store specials.  If you don’t like it you can sell it and probably not be out any more money than you would have been with a $130 K-Mart special.  And if you like it you can upgrade components as they wear out rather than having to go and buy another whole bike right off the bat. jim frost — http://world.std.com/~jimf

Response:

>I am currently looking to get involved in Mountain biking.  I am looking >to spend about $150.