Mountainbikers

Bike choice is highly dependent on what you intend to ride and what your budget looks like. Go to a bike shop and try some different types of bikes (hardtail, full suspension, fat tire, etc.) and get a sense of what fits and feels fun as well. My typical advice is to then go searching for deals on something used unless you have plenty of money and/or are completely mechanically inept.

1. I recommend not cheaping out when it comes to buying a bike, because if you do, you will quickly want a better bike or you won't like riding very much. Although I did learn to love mountain biking on a $400 crap bike.

2. I recommend years of practice. You're not going to be great immediately, and it will take a lot of practice to improve your skills. You can still have a lot of fun immediately even though you aren't very good yet.

3. You are definitely going to crash sometimes. Some of those times you will actually get injured and need stitches or worse. I have stitches in my shin right now as a result of a silly crash over Thanksgiving weekend. It's a bummer, but it happens periodically.

4. No matter how much you practice, you're never going to be able to ride like the videos that you're talking about.

5. Mountain biking is loads of fun. I highly recommend it!

Joe Jackson wrote:

Bike choice is highly dependent on what you intend to ride and what your budget looks like. Go to a bike shop and try some different types of bikes (hardtail, full suspension, fat tire, etc.) and get a sense of what fits and feels fun as well. My typical advice is to then go searching for deals on something used unless you have plenty of money and/or are completely mechanically inept.

Appreciate it. We have an LBS here with a decent selection but didn't want to get pressured into a hard sell of something that I had no idea about. I'll do some more research on the types you mentioned before I go in there.

I had the cheap-then-upgrade with my road bikes. A few times. Lost many hundreds of dollars because the used bike market is pretty gloomy.

We have some decent trails where I'm at in Texas. My plan is to record everything while riding at a leisurely slow speed and then speed up the video while keeping the audio normal before I upload my rides to youtube so I can look like I'm really bombing the trails.

Nutsack McGee wrote:

1. I recommend not cheaping out when it comes to buying a bike, because if you do, you will quickly want a better bike or you won't like riding very much. Although I did learn to love mountain biking on a $400 crap bike.

The only way someone with years of cycling won’t like MTBing after buying a cheap bike is because:

1. They simply don’t like MTBing

2. They lost their mind and bought some BSO from Target/Walmart (highly unlikely)

In either case, the dollars lost is insignificant compared to either the cost of a ‘good’ MTB ($$$$ or even $$$$$) or the amount likely to be spent on gear over the years should they really enjoy the sport ($$$$$). Even if he spends $500-700 on a basic MTB that will seem like nothing once he starts looking to upgrade. But he will also have a backup for when his main bike is broken and waiting on parts.

I was given the same advice getting into road cycling. I didn’t agree and bought something cheaper (under $1000). I used it for years even after I had purchased a better bike. I eventually sold it and went on to buy more nice bikes but I certainly don’t think I’d have gotten any more into road cycling if I had ‘bought the best bike I could afford’ as a beginner. I *still* haven’t bought the best bike I can afford but I still really enjoy it nearly two decades later.

I would definitely vote for a hardtail since you can get a much better bike for the price than a full suspension bike. Like 600-900 and you get a very nice hardtail (especially if you find a deal, last years bikes are great and now is the time as places like rei and such are putting up all their ski stuff and trying to get rid of bikes). A 900 hardtail will be a MUCH better bike than a 1000 dollar full suspension bike.

hard tail wrote:I would definitely vote for a hardtail since you can get a much better bike for the price than a full suspension bike. Like 600-900 and you get a very nice hardtail (especially if you find a deal, last years bikes are great and now is the time as places like rei and such are putting up all their ski stuff and trying to get rid of bikes). A 900 hardtail will be a MUCH better bike than a 1000 dollar full suspension bike.

This is actually what I was going to write. Go with a hardtail as you get more bang for your buck. Full suspension bikes are also a bit heavier. Since you have a history of road bike riding a lot of skills will transfer over which will help you get used to riding the trails. Have fun!

Hard Tail 2 wrote:

[quote]hard tail wrote:I would definitely vote for a hardtail since you can get a much better bike for the price than a full suspension bike. Like 600-900 and you get a very nice hardtail (especially if you find a deal, last years bikes are great and now is the time as places like rei and such are putting up all their ski stuff and trying to get rid of bikes). A 900 hardtail will be a MUCH better bike than a 1000 dollar full suspension bike.

This is actually what I was going to write. Go with a hardtail as you get more bang for your buck. Full suspension bikes are also a bit heavier. Since you have a history of road bike riding a lot of skills will transfer over which will help you get used to riding the trails. Have fun![/quote

that is true that you'll get more bang for your buck...BUT, what kind of trails will you do? if it's mainly flat, rolling trials, a hard tail is perfect. If you're planning to do more alpine/enduro trails where you climb for an hour then descend, a FS is so much better than a hard tail.

I'll also say, MTB is a lot different from road biking. Yes, you'd be better than a non-biker but i've taken many road cyclists mountain biking and they struggle with the technical aspects...even simple things like on steep climbs, you can't get out of your saddle like a road bike as your rear wheel will likely slip if you're standing.

I ran from 7th grade through college with 5k around 15:00 and sub 4 1500

I now MTB exclusively. I do a little gravel and cx racing but MTB is where it's at.

I ride about 500 hours a year. been doing this for about 7-8 years straight. I climbed about 500k feet this year. Not bragging just establishing that I ride more than, like, 20 times a year.

You should get a quality 29'er hardtail with good components, fork, and wheels. I'd go used unless you can spend on new.

A hardy bike built for throwing around will be closer to 28 lbs whereas you can get an XC race whip closer to 20-23 easier. The party bike is a lot more fun in non-race scenarios but leaning how to rip on an XC bike is awesome too.

Look at specialized epic, fuse, Kona honzo, trek stache, surly krampus, etc. Either a trail or xc 29er that's less than....5 years old. Geometry has changed quite a bit since then - for the better. I wouldn't buy a MTB that's steeper than 69-70 degrees up front.

29er hardtail. Don't get a full suspension bike. Don't bother with 27.5

I repeat don't get a full suspension bike. If you really need convincing reply here and I'll explain.

MTB is far superior to running. You can absolutely thrash your legs, core, arms, cardio. And it's fun as f---. I've gotten really good at technical climbing, clearing gap jumps, ripping downhill trails, and so on. It's super rewarding to ride with skill and pump through a trail.

Running doesn't have anything comparable to heading out for a 6 hour back country adventure on singletrack with your bike. It just doesn't.

I definitely support the 29er life... and like this bro said NOT a full suspension, not necessary if you are not bombing ski slopes, 29er will have all the rollover you need for most real world biking you will do!

Santa Cruz Tallboy is the bike to get.

Guess you could go hard tail but this bike is awesome.

This x2. Same progression/realization as rad bro. Running's fun for the competitiveness, but that's about it. MTB and skiing/ski touring win hands down.

x6 on the hard tail rec, though I do ride full suspension. Something to work into as your interest, skill and desire increase.

rad brah wrote:

Look at specialized epic

29er hardtail. Don't get a full suspension bike.

I repeat don't get a full suspension bike. If you really need convincing reply here and I'll explain.

The Epic is a full suspension

My bad. Specialized makes a hardtail Epic. Specialized has EVO versions of bikes that have a lower head angle and room for bigger tires. That is the type of bike that I am currently looking for. A lightish hardtail with a slack head angle (~68°) and room for 2.5 tires. You get a quick bike that I think runners and road cyclists enjoy, and more confidence on the downhill.

I know this may get laughed at by adrenaline junkies here but I want to plug fat bikes... I got one for myself when I turned 50 2 years ago.. Not worried that its slow, I was not looking for speed, just another way to get this fat old man into the woods. It is versatile and can be used year round.. again another way when trails up here in Maine are too icy for XC skiing. actually had a few days the last few years where on a weekend day I would get a trail run in, an xc ski and a fat bike ride.. all right from my house and never more than a half mile to get to the trail from my doorstep. All that being said, if speed is your thing a fat bike is not for you.

All good advice.

My personal flavor of MTB I enjoy is dirt jumping.

I have 26" hardtail singlespeed. I walk up all the hills. But I do catch sick air and do sick tricks.

Its fun.

Mtn biking sucks!!!

Bunch of tools!

You homos can only ride the downhills!?

You punks suck!! You dorks and your $4000 bikes haha. Always pushing your lame bikes up all the hills! Haha. How about trying to ride the hills, losers? Fun to blow by you little punks as I go running the steep mountain hills! Haha.... riding down a hill is NOT exercise. What a waste of time! Try running you weaklings!! Great shape you’re in??! Hahahaaa. Looosers.....???

Also, maybe start with flat pedals (RaceFace Chester is a good cheapish one) and get some FiveTens or something flat that will grab on the pedals well. I'm a lot more likely to try something sketchy if I have the opportunity to bail out.

Bike wise - a hardtail will be easier to get used to, and more useful to ride around otherwise. If you're getting something new, I think spending around a grand is going to get you something quality.

Def go with the Raceface pedals... I am not a pro by any means but I would venture to say I am a much more capable rider than most and I like to mtb without clips, yes I know you lose 15% pedal power or whatever but I don’t love being clipped in... Clips are great on my road bike but I don’t love it in the mountains.