Any Mountain Bikers?

Off Topic
21

Lost of good advice here so far. My two cents worth…test drive as many bikes as you can!! I think I rode about 6 bikes when I was looking for mine, also tried a few models in different frame sizes. Some I even tried a couple of times to see how a bike felt after trying some other rides.

It is kind of like finding a good pair of hiking boots. You want something that is going to work with your body type, balance, etc. Of the ones I tried, some felt huge (wide handle bars, long seat post to steer tube dimension), others felt like I was going to pop a wheelie if I pedaled hard on anything resembling a hill (not good when trying to climb).

Some aspects of a ride you can adjust, such as moving the seat up/down, forward/back, and adjusting till. You can also increase the amount of lean by using a different riser that moves the handle bar forward or back. If the bike almost feels comfortable, or your choice is limited, see if the bike shop will entertain you and make a few changes and then ride it again.

It is dangereous sometimes, but you may want to try a few a little outside your price range (both lower and higher) just for feel. You may find some thing that fits like a glove, and for a $100-200 more (or maybe less!) it may be worth it for something that would take longer to out grow, or could upgrade later. Don’t get sucked into buying way more bike than you need, though.

Cheers, and happy riding,
BU

22

[quote]comedypedro wrote:
OK been checking stuff out on mtbr.com and a few UK sites. Lots of new lingo to learn XC, freeride etc!! Fuck it I’ll just be hitting dirt trails, gravel paths, light cross country and general commuting. Although I can see myself getting more into mountain biking and wanting to do jumps and shit cos I was pretty big into BMX when I was a kid.

Can you give opinions on this bike?
http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=60153

Works out at $640 although front disk brakes are probably excessive for my needs.

[/quote]

Yes! Good pick. Get disc brakes. You are not counting grams and disc brakes are better in wet or shitty weather in general.

Disc brakes are the way to go period. No rim wear, which you have to replace, an better braking all around.

The Hardrock or the Rockhopper, both by Specialized, are great HT’s. These bikes will serve your needs easily. Good choice. I am suprised you chose so well already.

Mtbr.com can be too much info in a short time. I have 2 Specialized HT’s. I have the Enduro last year they made it in a HT and the Expedition Sport that I turned into a real trail bike too. Did reviews on them there.

Specialized have great bikes period. I like your choice so far. What are you going to do about it now? Lol.

Take care,

Joe

23

Yeah SPV can be a bit pricey and personally I don’t like it but I think it’ll suit your needs well if you can afford it.

I’m a trials rider so I’m used to riding a rigid bike and I found the SPV messed up my timing on things like bunnyhops because it sometimes hopped like a rigid bike and sometimes like a squishy so I taco’d a few rims. . .

Personally I like a squishy with a rear lockout for my riding, which would be another option for you.

Stu

24

Maybe you guys can help clear up the differences between :

xc,
trail,
freeride,
downhill,
etc

I gather that the main difference is the degree of sus in the rear?

At the minute I can either buy a cheaper ride that will last a year or so or save for a while for that bike above. Want to save but want to hit the dirt like NOW!!!

25

[quote]Sturat wrote:
Yeah SPV can be a bit pricey and personally I don’t like it but I think it’ll suit your needs well if you can afford it.

I’m a trials rider so I’m used to riding a rigid bike and I found the SPV messed up my timing on things like bunnyhops because it sometimes hopped like a rigid bike and sometimes like a squishy so I taco’d a few rims. . .

Personally I like a squishy with a rear lockout for my riding, which would be another option for you.

Stu[/quote]

Oh yeah and whats rear lockout? Is that when you just tighten the sus up when you know you’ll be on roads mostly??

26

[quote]comedypedro wrote:
Maybe you guys can help clear up the differences between :

xc,
trail,
freeride,
downhill,
etc

I gather that the main difference is the degree of sus in the rear?

At the minute I can either buy a cheaper ride that will last a year or so or save for a while for that bike above. Want to save but want to hit the dirt like NOW!!!
[/quote]

Cross country and “trail” are very similar, usually long(er) distances, less technical, uphill and downhill, most would want the lighest bike possible. You could get by these trails with a hardtail or a full susp.

Freeride and downhill are much more technical, ususally both have big suspension front and rear. Bikes are heavy since you dont need to go uphill, toughness, strength, and susp travel are most important. Freeride is like urban riding.

[quote]comedypedro wrote:
Sturat wrote:
Yeah SPV can be a bit pricey and personally I don’t like it but I think it’ll suit your needs well if you can afford it.

I’m a trials rider so I’m used to riding a rigid bike and I found the SPV messed up my timing on things like bunnyhops because it sometimes hopped like a rigid bike and sometimes like a squishy so I taco’d a few rims. . .

Personally I like a squishy with a rear lockout for my riding, which would be another option for you.

Stu

Oh yeah and whats rear lockout? Is that when you just tighten the sus up when you know you’ll be on roads mostly??[/quote]

Yes.

27

[quote]rrjc5488 wrote:
comedypedro wrote:
Maybe you guys can help clear up the differences between :

xc,
trail,
freeride,
downhill,
etc

I gather that the main difference is the degree of sus in the rear?

At the minute I can either buy a cheaper ride that will last a year or so or save for a while for that bike above. Want to save but want to hit the dirt like NOW!!!

Cross country and “trail” are very similar, usually long(er) distances, less technical, uphill and downhill, most would want the lighest bike possible. You could get by these trails with a hardtail or a full susp.

Freeride and downhill are much more technical, ususally both have big suspension front and rear. Bikes are heavy since you dont need to go uphill, toughness, strength, and susp travel are most important. Freeride is like urban riding.

comedypedro wrote:
Sturat wrote:
Yeah SPV can be a bit pricey and personally I don’t like it but I think it’ll suit your needs well if you can afford it.

I’m a trials rider so I’m used to riding a rigid bike and I found the SPV messed up my timing on things like bunnyhops because it sometimes hopped like a rigid bike and sometimes like a squishy so I taco’d a few rims. . .

Personally I like a squishy with a rear lockout for my riding, which would be another option for you.

Stu

Oh yeah and whats rear lockout? Is that when you just tighten the sus up when you know you’ll be on roads mostly??

Yes.[/quote]

Cool, cheers. Its just that no one seems to agree on what is what!!!

28

I’m totally a hardtail fan if you plan on riding up and down. You also want to take a look at the frame’s rigidity. I have a hardtail and a very rigid KLEIN frame.
Trails here in jersey are quite rough. Most people dont know it but if you can ride in NJ you can pretty much ride anywhere.

With a rigid frame it makes me work very hard on the trail, especially on the ones we go on, however that much better conditioned, focused and skilled you will be if you go with one. And if you ever decide to race you will be faster with a HT rigid.
A very important point is weight. HTs are much lighter, and on longer sweeping trails and roads it makes a huge difference.

Good luck,
JOE:)

29

I know this thread is old but I recently got a decent mountain bike and have been hitting the trails here in Arizona. I have a Marin Bobcat hard tail, and love it. The ride is smooth even on rocky terrain and it’s light on the up hills and fast on the down hills.

I’m new to this sport and did one of the more popular trails here in Phoenix for the first time, all I have to say is I’ve got to hit the squats and deadlifts alot harder than I have been cause my quads just quit on me on a big up hill. Lots of fun though.

If anyone in the Phoenix/Casa Grande/Tucson area want to ride on the weekends, (preferably early mornings) shoot me a PM I’m game. I’m preparing for a race in November so lifting and cardio for endurance are a priority, but practice and race course familiararity are a must.

30

Rockscar eats mountain bikes for lunch.

31

and dinner

32

[quote]Rockscar wrote:
Rockscar eats mountain bikes for lunch.[/quote]

What kind of sauce do you find best for mountain bikes?

33

[quote]WantAbs wrote:
Rockscar wrote:
Rockscar eats mountain bikes for lunch.

What kind of sauce do you find best for mountain bikes?[/quote]

Just some dirt and rocks works fine. Sometimes my own 90 weight works too!

34

[quote]marcusxavier wrote:
I find using my legs as shock absorbers most of the time.

Rocky downhills are tough in the hard tail(rear bounces off the rocks), so thinking about the terrain you going to be riding on is important also.[/quote]

My thoughts exactly. I mountain bike not only because its fun and its nice to get outside, dirty and some sun or rain or whatever mother nature throws at you, but I also ride for the workout. Trying to keep my ass off the seat and use my legs as much as possible is a priority for me. A rear suspension for me is useless.