Mountain Bikes......school me!!!

[KatoKid]

So there seems to be a few "bicycle freaks" out there as Mossy calls them......... I need some advice.

 

Ive been battling with a bad knee for quite a few months now and resigned myself to the likelihood of having to give up running so I'm looking at buying a mountain bike (if that's the correct name these days).

 

I used to do a lot of road riding when I was (much) younger as I had a mate who eventually turned pro and he kept on dragging my ass out on training rides. Ive decided that sharing the road with cars isn't for me, plus I live at the base of the Dandenongs with instant access to lots of tracks, not downhill stuff but good terrain for training (I think).

 

So I'm looking for advice on what sort of bike to buy. I don't want to spend big $ as I may try it and hate it, so looking at something that is mid level (not entry level junk but not the latsets and greatest either). Do I go for front suspension only? What brakes and gears? What else to look out for?

 

Ideally Id like to buy something secondhand to get started so any suggestions on brands/models I should look for and roughly what I should spend?

 

I'm a total noob at this so expect lots of dumb questions.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

David

[mossy]

David I ride a dual suspension giant anthem advanced SL, I've pretty much ridden and raced hardtails (front suspension only) most of my life but in the last 2 years switched out to a dually and haven't looked back, getting close to 40 its definetely easier on the body for me and I feel i actually can ride faster through the corners on my dually.  MTB's were generally 26" bikes but a lot of the market seems to have switched to the new trend of 29"MTB's which people say is a lot smoother to ride and climb but you lose the nimbleness in the tight corners (I've ridden one and don't like them). 650B or 27.5" MTB's is the bike in the middle which some companies have at the moment but I think it will take off big in the next few years and it will be the size I chose next as I think you will get the best of both worlds (in between 26" and 29")

 

Personally I would buy a new bike and you should be able to get a good deal on some 26" dually bikes at the moment, just depends on how much you want to spend, I just hooked a mate up with a new 2012 giant anthem advanced with full XT but your looking at around high 2k, these retailed for 4k so a pretty good deal, let me know if you want help looking for one new or second hand.

 

cheers

Mark

 

Hey 1000 posts 

[thriller]

This forum: http://www.rotorburn.com/forums/forum.php is pretty decent. The second hand section is quite good, and the people are generally pretty willing to help you out, so long as it looks like you've put some thought into stuff.

[MaygZ]

I'm a roady so don't know a great deal about mountain bikes BUT.....

 

I have found that a bike that is a little small is more fun to ride as it is quite a bit more nimble.  I had always ridden a 57cm frame, but bought a 55cm compact Giant frame and have never looked back.

 

In my limited opinion, if you are riding reasonably good tracks I don't see the value of carrying the extra weight of suspension.  Just get out of the saddle if it gets a little bumpy.

 

If you are going 'bush' and the tracks are crap, then get suspension - or find smoother tracks. 

 

The other thing you could do is to get a road bike, and I am now a big fan of the compact frames (Giant is very good - OCRs or TCRs) and put some bigger tyres and/or wheels on it.  You then have the best of both worlds.  The Giants can come with a 36 small chain ring.  Match that with a 21 or even bigger cluster ring and you should be able to climb a wall!

 

Then if you change you mind and want to go back onto the road and feel the wind in your hair and the bugs in your teeth, it's just a case of swapping tyres.

 

My 2c

[Aliangus]

I commute on a bike most days.

I just changed from an Avanti 26" with normal brakes to a GT Karakoram 3.0 29" with disc brakes.

I'd buy a new bike, from what I've experienced second hand bikes mean its just sooner until spokes start going ping, derailers need adjusting, brakes are shot etc and you spend more time fixing them than riding them.

I'd go with disc brakes - they are much better.

Front suspension lockout is a nice touch too, makes riding on the road a little bit easier as energy from pedalling isn't lost into suspension movement.

The 29" is smoother and faster to ride than the 26", can't comment so much on the nimbleness, because I'm not nimble anyway so it doesn't matter what the bike does.

The GT is a good bike for about the $800 mark, (add a bit more if you want to swap to cleat pedals etc), and it's a pretty reasonable kit to get you started and see if its for you.

[Gordo]

All good advice from the guys, depending on how much you are going to ride , the quality bike is the way to go, you could regret the cheaper heavyweight bike. You can also look at the flat bar road bike, more of a hybrid half mtb and road. The wheels you select will determine what terrain you are going to ride on.

  On another note. There is a 6.30 pm ride that leaves from the Cog bike shop at Mt Evelyn every Thursday night. You do have to be fit for this one as some of the guys go alright. It's on the Warburton trail about a hour out and one hour back. 50 km. good fun talking to all the guys. It's a mix of Mtb hybrids and road bike. See you there. Ha ha ha.

[KatoKid]

Thanks guys for the advice.

 

Gordo, will talk to you at the BBQ on Saturday.

 

Mossy, you going to the BBQ? Would be good to talk bikes as well as cars!

[mossy]

Yeah mate, looking to borrow the car from the missus so I should make it, we can have a chat about bikes there, weathers not looking too good though.

[BatmansDatsun]

Hey mate

I raced DH and did alot of park and freeride stuff a few years ago, and one of my good mates Brandon Yrttiaho is a FTH Yeti team rider (his first DH ride was my Norco back in 07) but as has been said id all depends on what you are going to be doing most.

 

no point buying a DH bike if your doing x-country same as no point buying a Hardtail if your wanting to hit some hard DH trails.

 

sounds like you would be best off with a x-country from what you said tho. extra set of wheels with hybrids and then a set of knobbys.

 

My old man knows the guys who import GIANT and he gets a mean discount i can see if he can help you out if you go down that track.

 

But he has a Trance X3 and it is such a damn good bike to ride. you can pick them up new still (2012 stock) for 1500-1700. if thats too much try the X2 still a great bike just the 2010/2011 stock ones.

 

ive used that bike on some intense DH tracks up in brissy and it held up, a little bit sketchy compared to my old Team DH but we are talking 1700 vs 10,000

 

All in all for a good solid bike that comes with some good parts and a good solid frame, your looking at 1400+ thats cheap for a mtb in my experience.

 

just my 2c

 

cheers

 

Nic

[KatoKid]

Thanks Nic.

 

Had a good chat with Mossy at the BBQ today and Im pretty set on a Giant XTC 29er 2 and Mossy might be able to hook me up through a mate.

 

Cheers