New to Mountain Bikes

vispreludevtec · 2006-09-23T04:05:42+00:00

Hi, I need some advice in which mountain bike to buy to start riding. I would like to spend in the 350 dollar ballpark. I know that is a very low end bike but i want to get started and make sure im going to stick with it. Most of my riding would be on paved trails but my one friend goes out on dirt trails once in a while. I would like a bike for both. I was told the Specialized Hard Rock is pretty good on the road even though its not a road bike. Im 6'1 230 lbs. Could someone offer some suggestions. Thanks!

[font='Comic Sans MS']Howzit [font=Verdana]vispreludevtec,[/font][/font]

[font='Comic Sans MS']I trust you looked at the previous posts this topic it comes up at least twice a week, The difficulty in actually telling you what bike to get is that personal, taste, preference and brand loyalty, would start hours of debate. [/font]

[font='Comic Sans MS']There is a great difference over the ranges prices, quality of components and then of course manufacturers quirks, such as frame style, shock position, colours and what the bike is designed to do i.e. hybrid, cross country or downhill single track.[/font]

[font='Comic Sans MS']Always get the bike that costs a little more than you intended paying. [/font]

[font='Comic Sans MS']I HAVE THE 3 BIKE THEORY[/font]

[font='Comic Sans MS']BIKE ONE shows you every thing you need on a bike and don’t have[/font]

[font='Comic Sans MS']BIKE TWO you get the bike you can afford with all the bits and bobs[/font]

[font='Comic Sans MS']BIKE THREE –You take out a mortgage on the house and buy a bike that costs more than your first car. [/font]

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[font='Comic Sans MS']First and foremost the bike has to appeal to you, what make of bike have you owned before of fancy? Look at the mtb range they offer.Then you have to choose between, Disk, cable or Hydraulic or V-brakes each with there pro’s and cons.[/font]

[font='Comic Sans MS']As someone so accurately put the comparison below.[/font]

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[font=Comic Sans MS]The classic shimano component models are:

$ - Acera - 8 speed mild recreation
$$ - Alivio - 8 speed recreation
$$$ - Deore - 9 speed mild performance
$$$$ - Deore LX - 9 speed performance
$$$$$ - Deore XT - 9 speed high performance
$$$$$$ - XTR - 9 speed ultra performance[/font]

[font=Comic Sans MS] [font='Comic Sans MS']A MTB with ali frame Deore 9 spd,components, with front lockout shocks and V-brakes will give you hours of fun, change the knobblies to slicks and you burn up the tar.[/font][/font]

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