Mountain bikes

[Paul in NZ]

OK - Just a top of mind rant - probably cabin fever from too many wet weekends...

Vicki was doing a few gentle rides with her mates. All women of a certain age and all having a bunch of fun… Nex minit she arrives home with two basic entry level mountain bikes and a heap of cycling related munt. (yes – actually you really DO need those padded shorts)

Now I have no problem with this – in fact I’m rather enjoying it… Except I’m starting out from mountain bike basement zero… And it appears that as you learn a bit more you suddenly find that the guy who sold you the bike in the first place may have been a little less than honest… and basically fitted us up with some hard to sell / inappropriate for use stuff that he had in stock.
Still – I can’t blame him as I wasn’t there and Vicki is also starting from zero so couldn’t know the difference.. Definitely not all his fault… We should have done a bit more research.

But like a Charlie I went back and explained the problem – said that I accepted that as a purchaser we took responsibility but that I would be in the market for another bike … (happy to keep the first one as its great on the road – nice and roomy) Basically the bike is way too big for me to ride off road and I keep falling off it (admittedly I keep trying to do shit I have no ability in but that’s ok)

Ok – now there were a lot of places this guy could have gone. But he immediately steers me to something else that I am pretty sure is inappropriate and then starts spouting shit. No apology – no we will look after you and give you a deal on a second bike (like who ever pays rrp for a bloody bicycle – you can get 40% just farting in a cycle store) or even suggests a test ride or tries to help out in any way with advice… huh? Shit no wonder people buy shit on line…. Honestly I might know shit all about bikes but he was just spouting bollocks… I left totally pissed off… and I won't be going back...

Anyway – been to a few other places and only had good experiences. I mean one place are just hopelessly organised I'd be scared to buy a bike off them but they are SO enthusiastic with advice and on cycling and fall over themselves trying to help its embarrassing. If nothing else its a fun place to visit...

One thing I have learnt – trademe bikes are horrendously overpriced. Yeah mate it might have had an rrp of $1000 when you bought it 4 years back but you can buy better now for half that – new… Weird… I getting very disillusioned with it all…

[avgas]

Best piece of advice I got was "go to the track, see what others bought.......if you can see more than 1 generation at the track of the same bike - buy that".

FYI if someone in Auckland is interested in some dirt cheap MTB's and a bike rack let me know. I have a couple of quality semi-classics (10 years old) that need to be gone before I leave NZ.

[Paul in NZ]

Best piece of advice I got was "go to the track, see what others bought.......if you can see more than 1 generation at the track of the same bike - buy that".

FYI if someone in Auckland is interested in some dirt cheap MTB's and a bike rack let me know. I have a couple of quality semi-classics (10 years old) that need to be gone before I leave NZ.

Thanks for the advice - probably not up to going to a track just yet... Thus far the whole thing has been horribly intimidating... Should have taken up surfing, I hear those guys are really welcoming to beginners lol....

[carbonhed]

Well it's been ages since I raced MTB's so I'm out of touch... but I'd start looking at something like this in an appropriate size :-

http://www.trademe.co.nz/sports/cycl...-642022430.htm

[Gremlin]

After a lot of years off from cycling - I did school team time trialling etc, custom built road bikes etc, I gave it all away as engines were... easier

In May I finally got myself a sort of entry level but good quality mountain bike to try and regain some fitness (yeah, that easier thing has downsides). No way I'm interested in going on the road without an engine, but riding around on bike paths, walkways, and after a bit of time, some forest stuff, I reckoned getting some fitness while going places a motorbike can't, was going to be a good idea. No, I'm now old enough to realise that throwing myself down a hill at break neck speed (and that's probably literal) pretending to ride the bike, is not an appealing thought, so I'll stick to simple stuff.

Now... having purchased it in May, I've managed to make myself busy since... Really should buck up and get on the damn thing. I'm actually really impressed with the number of areas made available to mountain bikes for recreational riding.

Plenty of pedal bikers on here anyway, so plenty of advice can be offered. My preference was some front suspension but didn't need any on the rear yet. Oh, be prepared to have your mind blown on the number of options and features. Disc brakes didn't exist when I last cycled, and any suspension was a luxury. I got a Kona Cinder Cone, $800, TM had them a while back.

[sil3nt]

I wouldn't spend more than $1000 if you are new to the game. Also 29ers (linked above) look ridiculous

I picked up a GT avalanche new for around $900. Very similar to the cinder cone Gremlin has. They can handle anything that doesn't involve landing heavy (small jumps and drops will be ok).

Bikebarn and evolution cycles always have 1/2 price sales. Service at both places can be a little average in my experience though.

Sadly I have become addicted to MTB'ing and am about to spend more than I did for any of my motorbikes

[sil3nt]

My recommendations:
http://evolutioncycles.co.nz/must-go...SL-29'er-4
http://evolutioncycles.co.nz/must-go...-Avalanche-1.0

But your down in Welly? So you will have to trust buying online. I can at least vouch for the Avalanche being an awesome cross country bike

[Crasherfromwayback]

Sadly I have become addicted to MTB'ing and am about to spend more than I did for any of my motorbikes

You should be banned from the site until you recify that.

[carbonhed]

Also 29ers (linked above) look ridiculous

very true. Didn't have them back in my day.

[MisterD]

FYI if someone in Auckland is interested in some dirt cheap MTB's and a bike rack let me know. I have a couple of quality semi-classics (10 years old) that need to be gone before I leave NZ.

Could be, could be. I'm especially looking for either some short-travel forks that will go on my un-corrected geometry frame, or a frame & fork combo that I can swap all my singlespeed bits over to. I've been completely stumped by an inability to find an adapter to re-pressurise my Quake forks.

Also 29ers (linked above) look ridiculous

Oh hell no. I love mine, takes a bit more to accelerate, but if you're over both 6' tall and 40 years of age they're the go.

[sil3nt]

I am going 650b next so I can be a cool kid

Never tried a 29er and don't really want to. I do understand they are useful for taller riders.

[Gremlin]

I'm 6' + and stayed with 26... frame isn't much smaller at 22

Better compatibility for stuff I reckoned, and there will be ongoing support because it's common. Sure enough, 29 looks like a fad with some manufacturers now dropping 29 entirely I believe...

[carbonhed]

Back in my day the top Shimano componentry was XTR then XT, Deore and Exige. How is that organised these days? What other breeds are there?

[scissorhands]

Emotive noobs are salesmen's bread and butter.
I fend them off as best I can, but end up bailing most stores with nothing, due to those annoying pricks

Buy an unsprung $70 18 speed and ride around and around the block on the grass verge and over kerbs until your fit and ready for something better.

I chose the 3km loop road in cornwall park to get up to speed, and perfected all the jumps and tricks it offered. Beginner heaven. Then I went to the summit via the paddocks and sheep tracks

Building muscle and loosing fat is the current primary focus?
The larger frame low end bike you have now, is probably then ideal for your current needs till you go off-road?
Maybe Vicki chose wisely and got you both GN250's?

[sil3nt]

Back in my day the top Shimano componentry was XTR then XT, Deore and Exige. How is that organised these days? What other breeds are there?

SLX is in there somewhere as well.

These days everything performs at a good enough level that you only end up paying for better features and lighter weight.