Mountain Bike

rlh2000

Moved to Calgary a couple weeks ago and I am wanting a mountain bike badly!  I don't have plans to do anything too crazy/technical (treated a few too many spinal cord injuries and TBIs to not have a very hefty dose of fear) but want to have something fun to get out on some trails with and may also use as a commuter bike for my 3 mi commute for more traction when weather gets dicier.  Main thing is I don't want to spend a lot of money, preferably <$1000 and cheaper is better as long as it isn't a total piece of crap.  I've been looking at this guy: </p>

https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5043-732/Tacana-3-Bicycle

But don't know enough to know how that stacks up.  Thoughts?    

Shaughn Simmons

One Option you might consider with a budget of <1,000 is to look on Ebay for a 1 year old bike.  You'll get a lot more bike for that same budget and often times you can find a bike someone bought and never really rode or put to use....</p>

Good luck and have fun!

SS 

Scott Alexander

Don't forget that pushing that MTB around, on any terrain, is quite a cycling-specific strength workout! MTBs aren't light!

Good luck on your hunt. Like SS said, use ebay and find a year old one. Also, end of year sales at LBSs are great deals.

scott dinhofer

eBay, or the online swap meet group on Facebook, and pinkbike.com
Go more than a year. I bought a six yr old mtb a couple of years ago and used it for Leadville this year.
Key is first figuring out what you want, specific models, etc, then watching for them to come up.

John Withrow

Hey Rachell, I think I have seen that bike for sale on the floor at REI... If it were me, I'd buy a used one on eBay. You'll get a lighter bike with better components, even if it's a couple of years old. I don't know what size you are, but here are a couple of bikes purely as a example of the type of bike you could get for $700-1,000:

This is a newer version of the Mtn Bike I have: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Specialized-Stumpjumper-Comp-29-17-5-X9-Elixir-Reba-Fantastic-29er-/131970536593?hash=item1eba0e9491:g:VSAAAOSwzaJYARSE

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Niner-EMD-9-29er-NEVER-RIDDEN-NO-RESERVE-/172372715873?hash=item282236e961:g:0Y8AAOSwi0RXz3Nm

Probably too big, but just showing indicative bike: http://www.ebay.com/itm/2013-Kona-Kahuna-DL-29er-Mountain-Bike-20-LARGE-Sram-Rock-Shox-XC-Disc-Hardtai-/401201460786?hash=item5d69787632:g:Sp4AAOSwCGVX2Ige

Probably also too big, but sweet bike: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cube-29er-Sting-Mountain-Bike-/122171453224?hash=item1c71fc6f28:g:yNgAAOSwLF1X-BDU

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2012-Trek-Superfly-AL-Elite-Mountain-Bike-19-LARGE-FOX-Float-Shimano-XT-29er-/381813574046?hash=item58e5dcc99e:g:GzQAAOSwpLNX~nJy

This one is small... http://www.ebay.com/itm/Jamis-Dragon-29-sport-/282188933933?hash=item41b3c56b2d:g:rm8AAOSwQNRXLOqv