Recommendations for first Mountain bike ???

"Tom" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

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I'm looking to get a mountain bike.

Congrats.

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I'm going to use it as a workout tool, and plan on riding fairly rough terrain, but not racing it.

Use it as a 'fun tool' instead. The workout is just a byproduct.

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What should I look for, and what should I avoid?

Full suspension? Steel or aluminum frame? Type of brakes? Are low $ bikes worth it?

Look for something that fits. You will get many opinions, and feedback as far as bikes are
concerned. I'll just give you my preference in a bike first. Hardtail, steel, and disc.

Now for an opinion. As with anything you buy, you get what you pay for. Bikes are no different.

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knowing what you know now, what would you do differently when you bought your first bike?

Get_sized_correctly.

My suggestion would be to shop around, do research, and ask questions. Find out who the reputable
bikes shops are in your area, and don't impulse buy. Take your time. Getting a good bike is an
investment that you can reap many benefits from, for lots of fun. Good luck.

loook for a jamis aluminum hardtail .. sumwhere around 500 US and see if they can swap ur fork on it
to upgrade to a marzocchi... then ud have a sweet starting bike that u can keep upgrading

dave

"Tom" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm looking to get a mountain bike.

I'm going to use it as a workout tool, and plan on riding fairly rough terrain, but not racing it.

What should I look for, and what should I avoid?

Full suspension? Steel or aluminum frame? Type of brakes? Are low $ bikes worth it?

knowing what you know now, what would you do differently when you bought your first bike?

Quoted message said:

What should I look for, and what should I avoid?

cheap full suspension bikes!

Quoted message said:

Full suspension? Steel or aluminum frame? Type of brakes? Are low $ bikes worth it?

knowing what you know now, what would you do differently when you bought your first bike?

It depends what you'll use it for, If you really do start enjoying it and ride a lot of offroad then
maybe you should get a good strong hardtail (front suspension only) which you can get reasonably
cheap. Maybe about $400 for a decent bike.

The problem is with mountain biking is that you only learn what you want in a bike yourself after
riding it a lot. Cheap bikes break very very easily when you use them offroad a lot, so just buy a
good bike you can afford, enjoy it and you'll soon realise what its all about. :-)

Tip: Dont get into mountain biking if you want to "work out", do it for the fun of it. Once you
start competing against yourself you're defeating the whole purpose of the game. Enjoy it first and
then you'll get fit without even trying :-)

Tom's cat walked across a keyboard and came up with this:

Quoted message said:

I'm looking to get a mountain bike.

I'm going to use it as a workout tool, and plan on riding fairly rough terrain, but not racing it.

What should I look for, and what should I avoid?

Full suspension? Steel or aluminum frame? Type of brakes? Are low $ bikes worth it?

knowing what you know now, what would you do differently when you bought your first bike?

bbauer.gomen.orgnewbikeOpen ↗

Dave Adnum says:

Quoted message said:

loook for a jamis aluminum hardtail .. sumwhere around 500 US and see if they can swap ur fork on
it to upgrade to a marzocchi... then ud have a sweet starting bike that u can keep upgrading

Why don't they teach kids to spell these days?

Steve "Curmudgeon of the Day"

"Tom" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm looking to get a mountain bike.

I'm going to use it as a workout tool, and plan on riding fairly rough terrain, but not racing it.

What should I look for,

A good bike shop and a bike that fits.

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and what should I avoid?

A dept store.

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Full suspension? Steel or aluminum frame? Type of brakes? Are low $ bikes worth it?

Define "low $". What is your budget for this?

Pete

Try it till you like it.

MTB Ride hard die free.

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Subject: Re: Recommendations for first Mountain bike ??? From: "Penny S"
[email hidden] Date: 11/15/2003 4:45 PM Eastern Standard Time Message-id:
<[email hidden]>

Tom's cat walked across a keyboard and came up with this: <----that is really

reallly getting old.

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Subject: Re: Recommendations for first Mountain bike ??? From: "Eurig Jones"
[email hidden] Date: 11/15/2003 4:33 PM Eastern Standard Time Message-id:
<[email hidden]>

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What should I look for, and what should I avoid?

cheap full suspension bikes!

Define "cheap full suspension bikes". This has been the standard answer around here to anyone
considering a lower priced full suspension bike for years, but the reality is a number of
manufacturers have made full suspension quite affordable and with good components. Case in point:
2003 Jamis Dakar Sport. Manitou Black Fork, Fox Vanilla rear shock, TruVativ cranks, Deore front and
rear, Hayes mechanical discs; hardly what I would call low end, with a $999 dollar retail.

"Tom" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm looking to get a mountain bike.

I'm going to use it as a workout tool, and plan on riding fairly rough terrain, but not racing it.

What should I look for, and what should I avoid?

Full suspension? Steel or aluminum frame? Type of brakes? Are low $ bikes worth it?

knowing what you know now, what would you do differently when you bought your first bike?

I would buy the most bike I could afford. I wasted cash on lesser bikes, moved up another notch
every 3rd year, basically losing most of my investment on the first bikes because they were
worth very little at that point. I got it pretty much right on my 3rd try, and have stuck with
that bike for almost 6 years now. Technology has increased pretty rapidly of late, and prices
have fallen, giving more bang for the buck (mostly due to the japanese yen not being worth as
much as in yesteryear, a trend which could be now reversing itself a bit.) Anyway, are you
serious about mountain biking, serious enough to stick with it over the long haul? (and if you
have decent access to trails, I can see no good reason you wouldn't love it more every year) If
so, I suggest getting an aluminum, full suspension frame bike with quality disc brakes if at all
possible (ie. Hayes, Hope, ShimanoXT/XTR, or Avid. Preferably hydraulic if you can manage it.)
If you can get it with a Marzocchi or Fox fork, great. That may not happen, and that's okay.
Some RockShox and Manitou are decent forks. Read up a bit on the one(s) your potential bikes
have and see if they are decent forks or not. Brand of bike is probably pretty open, as long as
it is not totally off the wall, no-name, and definitely not anything sold in a Mart store or
discount store. What brands are sold in shops in YOUR area, near enough to get assistance from a
shop if (when!) needed? Read online about some brands. Don't blindly believe everything a shop
tells you, but don't ignore it all either. Be open enough to let them educate you some. Research
a bit; ask around. Any other local riders you can pump for answers, or look to for riding
partners? It would be nice to be able to get it all on the first buy, but realistically, you
will likely not start out at the upper end, so only you can decide where to compromise. If you
can test ride a bike on the trails you will actually ride it, that is a huge plus. Only by
riding a few bikes and feeling what they offer can you really know which bikes fit what you try
to do on a bike. You can grow into a bike over time, but it's nice if it does not feel totally
foreign to you right from the start. Good luck, and have a blast on the trails as often as you
can. There is no substitute for time on the bike on the trails. Probably 95% of all the skills
you learn will take place out there doing it yourself, and watching others if that's available.
Maybe 5% can be learned by reading how to ride.
--
Off to ride the mountains, D H Reply to newsgroup. Spam is out of control.

[email hidden] (MTBScottie) wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

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Subject: Re: Recommendations for first Mountain bike ??? From: "Eurig Jones"
[email hidden] Date: 11/15/2003 4:33 PM Eastern Standard Time Message-id:
<[email hidden]>

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What should I look for, and what should I avoid?

cheap full suspension bikes!

Define "cheap full suspension bikes". This has been the standard answer around here to anyone
considering a lower priced full suspension bike for years, but the reality is a number of
manufacturers have made full suspension quite affordable and with good components. Case in point:
2003 Jamis Dakar Sport. Manitou Black Fork, Fox Vanilla rear shock, TruVativ cranks, Deore front
and rear, Hayes mechanical discs; hardly what I would call low end, with a $999 dollar retail.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA You're only kidding yourselfski.

JD

"MTBScottie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Subject: Re: Recommendations for first Mountain bike ??? From: "Eurig Jones"
[email hidden] Date: 11/15/2003 4:33 PM Eastern Standard Time Message-id:
<[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

What should I look for, and what should I avoid?

cheap full suspension bikes!

Define "cheap full suspension bikes". This has been the standard answer

around

Quoted message said:

here to anyone considering a lower priced full suspension bike for years,

but

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the reality is a number of manufacturers have made full suspension quite affordable and with good
components. Case in point: 2003 Jamis Dakar

Sport.

Quoted message said:

Manitou Black Fork, Fox Vanilla rear shock, TruVativ cranks, Deore front

and

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rear, Hayes mechanical discs; hardly what I would call low end, with a

$999

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dollar retail.

Well a 1000 for a bike isn't exactly cheap is it!? If you're considering taking up mountain
biking, spending a thousand on your first bike is stupid, when you might not even like the sport
in a few days!

What i mean by cheap is you can pick up bikes in supermarkets for about 200 with disc brakes, full
suspension, and they look like something out of star trek.

[email hidden] (JD) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

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[email hidden] (MTBScottie) wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

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Subject: Re: Recommendations for first Mountain bike ??? From: "Eurig Jones"
[email hidden] Date: 11/15/2003 4:33 PM Eastern Standard Time Message-id:
<[email hidden]>

> What should I look for, and what should I avoid?

cheap full suspension bikes!

Define "cheap full suspension bikes". This has been the standard answer around here to anyone
considering a lower priced full suspension bike for years, but the reality is a number of
manufacturers have made full suspension quite affordable and with good components. Case in
point: 2003 Jamis Dakar Sport. Manitou Black Fork, Fox Vanilla rear shock, TruVativ cranks,
Deore front and rear, Hayes mechanical discs; hardly what I would call low end, with a $999
dollar retail.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA You're only kidding yourselfski.

JD

You're right as always; a $3000 custom made bike would be the way to go for someone just
starting out.

Someone can spend $2000 on a single speed, but yet wears his hair so damn long he has a pony tail.

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Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

What should I look for, and what should I avoid?

cheap full suspension bikes!

Define "cheap full suspension bikes". This has been the standard answer around here to anyone
considering a lower priced full suspension bike for years, but the reality is a number of
manufacturers have made full suspension quite affordable and with good components. Case in point:
2003 Jamis Dakar Sport. Manitou Black Fork, Fox Vanilla rear shock, TruVativ cranks, Deore front
and rear, Hayes mechanical discs; hardly what I would call low end, with a $999 dollar retail.

And $999 isn't exactly 'cheap' ffs.

Or was the post meant to send as daft as it did for some sarcastic reason ?

--
Lordy

MTBScottie's monkey pounded on a keyboard and came up with this:

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What i mean by cheap is you can pick up bikes in supermarkets for about 200 with disc brakes,
full suspension, and they look like something out of star trek.

You'll get what you pay for, Dr. Spock.

Dr. Spock was a pediatrician, are you sure that's the reference you wanted to make?

"MTBScottie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

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ubject: Re: Recommendations for first Mountain bike ???

From: "Eurig Jones" [email hidden] Date: 11/16/2003 8:23 AM Eastern Standard Time
Message-id: <[email hidden]>

"MTBScottie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

>Subject: Re: Recommendations for first Mountain bike ??? From: "Eurig Jones"
>[email hidden] Date: 11/15/2003 4:33 PM Eastern Standard Time Message-id:
><[email hidden]>
>
>> What should I look for, and what should I avoid?
>
>cheap full suspension bikes!

Define "cheap full suspension bikes". This has been the standard

answer

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around

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here to anyone considering a lower priced full suspension bike for

years,

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Quoted message said:

but

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the reality is a number of manufacturers have made full suspension

quite

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

affordable and with good components. Case in point: 2003 Jamis Dakar

Sport.

Quoted message said:

Manitou Black Fork, Fox Vanilla rear shock, TruVativ cranks, Deore

front

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

and

Quoted message said:

rear, Hayes mechanical discs; hardly what I would call low end, with a

$999

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dollar retail.

Well a 1000 for a bike isn't exactly cheap is it!?

You're just an ornery [censored], aren't you? Can't figure out why people

want to

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ride a single speed, and now you've got my number, although it was never stated by the orignal
post what "cheap" was in their mind. Now to answer

your

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question, in my mind, considering the components I quoted vs. the price,

it is

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a great buy. $1000 or less for a descently spec'd bike is cheap.

what do you mean I've got you're number?! considering paying 1000 for a bike you want to work out on
it rather expensive. And about the discussion of

about the whole affair so I carried on asking questions.

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If you're considering taking up mountain biking, spending a thousand on your first bike is

stupid,

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when you might not even like the sport in >a few days!

If you would have paid attention, I was not suggesting this bike to

anyone; I

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was debating with another poster about not getting a descent full

suspension

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bike for under a thousand dollars.

you didn't debate at all about that!! wtf r u on about?

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What i mean by cheap is you can pick up bikes in supermarkets for about

200

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with disc brakes, full suspension, and they look like something out of

star

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trek.

You'll get what you pay for, Dr. Spock.

defensive?

"Eurig Jones" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

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"MTBScottie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Subject: Re: Recommendations for first Mountain bike ??? From: "Eurig Jones"
[email hidden] Date: 11/15/2003 4:33 PM Eastern Standard Time Message-id:
<[email hidden]>

> What should I look for, and what should I avoid?

cheap full suspension bikes!

Define "cheap full suspension bikes". This has been the standard answer

around

Quoted message said:

here to anyone considering a lower priced full suspension bike for

years,

Quoted message said:

but

Quoted message said:

the reality is a number of manufacturers have made full suspension quite affordable and with
good components. Case in point: 2003 Jamis Dakar

Sport.

Quoted message said:

Manitou Black Fork, Fox Vanilla rear shock, TruVativ cranks, Deore front

and

Quoted message said:

rear, Hayes mechanical discs; hardly what I would call low end, with a

$999

Quoted message said:

dollar retail.

Well a 1000 for a bike isn't exactly cheap is it!? If you're considering taking up mountain
biking, spending a thousand on your first bike is

stupid,

Quoted message said:

when you might not even like the sport in a few days!

What i mean by cheap is you can pick up bikes in supermarkets for about

200

Quoted message said:

with disc brakes, full suspension, and they look like something out of

star

Quoted message said:

trek.

OK, we've got stupid on top of stupid here. (Actually, at least Eurig BOTTOM posted for once...first
time for everything.)

Neither a thousand-dollar bike (FS or otherwise) OR a $200 "Star Trek" anchor is a good choice for a
first-time mountain biker. What he (or she) should consider is an entry-level hardtail -- $350 to
450 range -- or better yet something used if a friend is available to help out.

Bill "stay away from Eurig's GEARLESS bikes, whatever you do" S.

"Sorni" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

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"Eurig Jones" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"MTBScottie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

>Subject: Re: Recommendations for first Mountain bike ??? From: "Eurig Jones"
>[email hidden] Date: 11/15/2003 4:33 PM Eastern Standard Time Message-id:
><[email hidden]>
>
>> What should I look for, and what should I avoid?
>
>cheap full suspension bikes!

Define "cheap full suspension bikes". This has been the standard

answer

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

around

Quoted message said:

here to anyone considering a lower priced full suspension bike for

years,

Quoted message said:

but

Quoted message said:

the reality is a number of manufacturers have made full suspension

quite

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

affordable and with good components. Case in point: 2003 Jamis Dakar

Sport.

Quoted message said:

Manitou Black Fork, Fox Vanilla rear shock, TruVativ cranks, Deore

front

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

and

Quoted message said:

rear, Hayes mechanical discs; hardly what I would call low end, with a

$999

Quoted message said:

dollar retail.

Well a 1000 for a bike isn't exactly cheap is it!? If you're considering taking up mountain
biking, spending a thousand on your first bike is

stupid,

Quoted message said:

when you might not even like the sport in a few days!

What i mean by cheap is you can pick up bikes in supermarkets for about

200

Quoted message said:

with disc brakes, full suspension, and they look like something out of

star

Quoted message said:

trek.

OK, we've got stupid on top of stupid here. (Actually, at least Eurig BOTTOM posted for
once...first time for everything.)

Neither a thousand-dollar bike (FS or otherwise) OR a $200 "Star Trek" anchor is a good choice for
a first-time mountain biker. What he (or she) should consider is an entry-level hardtail -- $350
to 450 range -- or

better

Quoted message said:

yet something used if a friend is available to help out.

Bill "stay away from Eurig's GEARLESS bikes, whatever you do" S.

I dont have a gearless mountain bike Bill

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cranks, Deore front and rear, Hayes mechanical discs; hardly what I would call low end, with a
$999 dollar retail.

And $999 isn't exactly 'cheap' ffs.

Like I told your buddy

My 'buddy' ?

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(or maybe alterego)

Hmm, paranoia. Interesting.

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I was not suggesting this bike to the original poster

What has that got to do with anything, it's your stated price point that was under deliberation.

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I was debating with someone else about the fact that you can or cannot get a good full suspension
bike for under a thousand dollars.

But you did suggest that a thousand dollar bike was 'cheap'.

--
Lordy