Learn me up: mountain bikes
Team,
I want to buy a mtn bike. I've been riding the same roads in my hood for 13yrs, I have mtns in my backyard, I have tons of great riding areas through dirtbiking, many of friends are getting dirty, have the flexibility to ride pretty much all over the West, etc
My budget it about $1500, would like to buy used on Ebay, but I know zero about mtn bikes. Pretty sure I want full suspension, but would like to be able to lock it out, especially the back, when needed. Please learn me up on:
- I want disk brakes
- What size am I? 5'9, 31" inseam, 54c road bike.
- Frame brands?
- What are the families of components I should be looking for? That is, what are the mtn bike equivalent of Force, Red, Ultegra and DA?
- Anyone with MB knowledge and Ebay skillz want to be a bike broker for me?
Moms of EN: don't worry, I'm a complete chicken on a mtn bike. I'm used to blasting through trees, rocks, sand, etc on a 65hp dirtbike totally robocopped out in full body armor. All I can think about on a mtn bike is "holy shit this suspension sucks, the brakes suck, and I'm totally naked!"
Comments
Rich -
Do you have any buddies whose bike you could borrow? The reason I ask is that a lot of people think they want full suspension, but don't really need it. For me personally, I don't find the extra weight is worth the limited benefit. I have a hardtail with a thudbuster seatpost that gives me some additional comfort with modest weight and complexity added.
You'll also want to see if you prefer 26 or 29 inch wheels. Do a google search...you'll find thousands of opinions telling you both are better. It's a personal decision.
You'll also want to weigh carbon vs. aluminum. Carbon will be more comfortable, but in mtn biking damage from accidents is more likely so the durability of aluminum is sometimes preferred.
Size wise you'd probably be a Medium. If I'm in between I usually prefer to have my mtn bike on the small side for agility and just bring the seat tube out a bit.
I am pretty eBay savvy...would be helpful to help you out. In fact..I just bought a brand new Felt 29er on eBay a few months ago.
Hard tail vs rear suspension: if riding flat no issue, if doing lots of downhill rear suspension is certainly my preference
Weight: carbon is always carbon ... But not sure you can fit that within your budget. You'll be fine with non carbon ... will just work harder (#hardworkworks)
Components: Don't know a lot but Shimano XTR works great for me (although XT is more than fine and cheaper).
Brands: lots of great brands out there (I ride a YETI and love it) but I suggest you narrow down your search within budget and scream for help to make final selection within those found.
Good luck!
LX is like 105
XT is like ultegra
XTR is like Dura-ace
Can't remember the SRAM system. Check out Pasadena Cyclery if you want to check out some new bikes (trek) even if just to try out the size.
Juan's right, if you're doing any downhill, you want full suspension.
My last Mtn bike was a specialized Epic, aluminum, with a "Brain" shock in the rear. The brain has a sort of automatic lock out for the rear. A front lock out is useful when riding uphill on a long steady climb - can be reached while riding. Disc brakes are mandatory. You don't need XTR unless you are racing. LX is OK for front derailleur, but XT for other stuff.
I'm tempted to sell you mine, but still harbor fantasies that I'll get back on it (no dirt rides in past 2.5 years).
OTOH, you could just get a beach cruiser with tassels and a front basket, and go shopping in Monrovia. Save your skin.
http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1127248_-1_400318__400318
this thing is sooooo great i am no longer using my mountain bike (with disc brake and front suspension). I usually ride 3 to 4h with friends (all with mountain bikes) and i am ahead most of the time (well, they do get ahead when it's shaky as hell on descent), but on dirt or gravels, i drop everyone of them like a bad habit. And u will be much more skilled on your road bike
to add some confusion:::
new 27.5 wheel size. might be good for your size.
new sram XX1. 1 x 11. No front derailleur. Slick.
When/if I get done with the Iron thing, I'm going 29er and 1x11. Of course I'm a bit taller than you.
Thanks for the tips!
Right now I'm thinking 29'er (I was already there), full suspension, and aluminum. I'll start out on the very low end of price so I have money for pedals and shoes, then trade up incrementally maybe by mid summer. I want to get a group of guys up to Mammoth and then maybe get a mix of my moto and cycling friends to join me in Moab mid October, so maybe I trade up before those trips.
I'll post up links to bikes I'm looking at. Thanks again!
I'm partial to the idea of the cyclocross as a good all-around, it won't excel at anything, but it will do just about anything except the most technical. Good for long haul riding on forest service roads etc,
SRAM also makes great Mtn Bike components. The higher the number, the better, so from worst to best: X5, X7, X9, X0, XX, XX1. Mine has X9 Front Deraileur and Shifters and X0 Rear Deraileur, and that is plenty good for my purposes. I paid ~$1,100 (shipped) on eBay last fall.
I totally would consider a 1x11 if I as doing it again, especially with as big of a cassette that they can fit on a Mtn Bike, but a 2x10 is also great. Whatever is cheapest would work. I chose Aluminum because it was my first Mtn Bike and didn't feel as though I had "earned" the skills yet to have a Carbon Fiber bike. I'm 6'-1" and ride an XL Frame which I think is a 21". As a comparison, I ride a 56cm road bike and tri bike. I generally like my bikes a little small and I thought it would be a little weird with a bike so big, but my LBS mechanic was right, it felt totally natural once on the trails. I probably could have made a 19" work as well. I don't really think the perfect "fit" is as paramount as it is on a tri bike...
You're going to want to go to tubeless wheels/tires right away. It's way better than running with tubes on a Mtn Bike. You can run lower pressure and they tend to flat a lot less.
FWIW, I also have a cyclocross bike, but would not even consider riding it on any of the technical stuff with big rocks and logs... I mostly just use it for rails-to-trails type of things and riding around our campgrounds.
Good luck.
@JW, I'll keep an eye out for that. Your Ebay-fu is legendary
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So I take it a 21" is large and a 19" is medium? Am I a medium?
I'm 5'9". Sawiris says I'm a medium. Hardtail. I think my style will be longer distances, not crazy technical, which means I need to have all rides with Sawiris vetted by an independent 3rd party
I'm 5'10 and have a 17.5 frame, just for comparison. I might be a little big for it. The guy I bought it from is 5'8 and it fit him well.
With the year you had last year and with CDA in 12wks, I'm making the decision that you are not to ride a mtn bike until CDA. But I'd be happy to take your bike out for a spin
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I want to put together a Mammoth Man Camp for the end of August.
Team,
What say you?
Or this?
Or this?? What is SRAM X4?
I kinda think now that I want to stay well under $1500 so I have room for top of the line shoes and pedals, then upgrade later this summer.
Do not get the last one unless you really are trying to keep the budget super low. X4 would be similar to Shomano Tiagra components on a road bike. Yes they work fine, but are heavy and won't likely stay smooth over time and with the beating you will give it. You will want X7 or higher, bonus points if you get X9...
I had my eye on that middle one for you. You get an older, slightly less advanced frame, but pretty decent and newer components if you believe the listing. This would be like what you have done with your road bike if I remember correctly, a 6yr old bike with new components can still be a sweet bike. I'd rather have that than a brand new frame with 6yr old components... I think this one also has a better shock, nicer bars, etc.
The first one looks like a decent total package and is new. I don't know much about the Rosetti brand off the top of my head. I think it is a 'direct to consumer' brand so they don't waste money on advertising or on inventory and agreements with bike shops. That may mean you get a better bike for the buck. The components are all 'good enough' such that you will be able to tool around on that thing with no problem to see if you will actually use it or not. I see a lot of Rosetti road bikes as well on eBay and they always have great looking listings and the prices always seem compelling for what you get, I just don't know anyone who has actually ever owned one.
I took a slightly different approach. If you buy the slightly nicer one now, then you will actually not feel like you need to upgrade it anytime soon, even if you get into it semi-seriously. And then a yr or 2 down the road if you start doing Xterra races or doing some epic riding then you can go all in and upgrade to a sweet Carbon Fiber bike with sick components at that point once you have "earned" it.
Here are 2 other options that might be better bikes and component sets. But it will certainly depend on where they finally trade. With both of these, you won't be "well under $1,500" but then you also wont't even think of upgrading these bikes anytime soon... Doubtful that the Cannondale trades near $1,000, but there's always a chance you get a deal.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/271186623507?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649
http://www.ebay.com/itm/251257248615?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649
X9 Rossetti
Thanks for the listings. I already had the Specialized on my watch list but missed the Cannondale.
I'm trying to leave $400-500 in my budget for the initial investment in shoes, pedals, elbow and knee pads in case I can't move my moto stuff over. Or I could just ride the bike in my motocross boots, at ~9lb for the pair
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Both of John's suggestions are good ones. It's also a matter of time...if you are patient you'll find a good deal come across. For example, I just bought a brand new Felt 29er and Reba Air fork for $1,200. http://www.ebay.com/itm/221173179193
Email me separately...may be able to help you with shoes.
After a bunch of research, here are the pedals I got and I like them. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Shimano-XTR-2012-PD-M985-Trail-MTB-Bike-Pedals-NEW-Mountain-clipless-w-SPD-Cleat-/111048154852?pt=Cycling_Parts_Accessories&hash=item19dafc5ee4 There are certainly cheaper ones that I'm sure would work just fine as well...
I think my shoes were ~$75 at my LBS and they work totally fine for my purposes. I don't use elbow pads or shin guards, but given your history...
Swung by WB today. Turn out Sawiris can get employee pricing on Felt bikes so I'm now looking at their new offerings:
Their top end (I think) aluminum frame: http://www.feltbicycles.com/USA/2013/Mountain/Nine-Series/Nine-20.aspx
Carbon, with a lockout front fork: http://www.feltbicycles.com/USA/2013/Mountain/Nine-Series/Nine-3.aspx
I bet I have less than 300 miles on it. Come pick it up and take it for a few spins. Call me when you realize it is a dirty caveman experience compared to the civility of a gentleman's road bike and I will come collect the brut....