WTB: Mountain bike reccommendations please

WTB: Mountain bike reccommendations please

I have about £300 to spend.

Any advice about what to look for in a first mountain bike?

I've been looking at Giant and Trek though not sure which is the
better brand. I've also been told just to get front suspension and
not rear, since it will be crap at this price point. True?

Thanks for any help.
Rob


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On Thu, 09 Sep 2004 10:55:36 +0100, Kalico wrote:

WTB: Mountain bike reccommendations please

I have about £300 to spend.

Any advice about what to look for in a first mountain bike?

I've been looking at Giant and Trek though not sure which is the
better brand. I've also been told just to get front suspension and
not rear, since it will be crap at this price point. True?

Thanks for any help.
Rob


Replace 'spam' with 'org' to reply

What kind of terrain and location, generally do you plan to ride it?

-B

On Thu, 09 Sep 2004 09:38:47 -0400, Badger_South
wrote:

On Thu, 09 Sep 2004 10:55:36 +0100, Kalico wrote:

WTB: Mountain bike reccommendations please

I have about £300 to spend.

Any advice about what to look for in a first mountain bike?

I've been looking at Giant and Trek though not sure which is the
better brand. I've also been told just to get front suspension and
not rear, since it will be crap at this price point. True?

Thanks for any help.
Rob


Replace 'spam' with 'org' to reply

What kind of terrain and location, generally do you plan to ride it?

-B

I am planning to ride mainly trails I think. I'm really not sure of
the terminology since I am new to this, having hired a mountain bike
only a few times in the Derbyshire and Scotland.

I do have experience road riding for many years although I'm now a bit
rusty.

One thing that does concern me is size. I am 6'2" so what frame size
would you recommend?

TIA
Rob


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On Thu, 09 Sep 2004 21:34:12 +0100, Kalico wrote:

On Thu, 09 Sep 2004 09:38:47 -0400, Badger_South
wrote:

On Thu, 09 Sep 2004 10:55:36 +0100, Kalico wrote:

WTB: Mountain bike reccommendations please

I have about £300 to spend.

Any advice about what to look for in a first mountain bike?

I've been looking at Giant and Trek though not sure which is the
better brand. I've also been told just to get front suspension and
not rear, since it will be crap at this price point. True?

Thanks for any help.
Rob


Replace 'spam' with 'org' to reply

What kind of terrain and location, generally do you plan to ride it?

-B

I am planning to ride mainly trails I think. I'm really not sure of
the terminology since I am new to this, having hired a mountain bike
only a few times in the Derbyshire and Scotland.

I do have experience road riding for many years although I'm now a bit
rusty.

One thing that does concern me is size. I am 6'2" so what frame size
would you recommend?

TIA
Rob

I would recommend you go to your local bike shop (LBS) and tell them you
plan to ride trails, and they will recommend a bike within your range. Some
shops may try and sell you a slightly smaller frame than you require, so
I'd advise you test ride one size larger. Test ride several bikes, even one
that might not be in your current stated range to get a feel for what
appeals to you. Don't be in a huge hurry to purchase.

Any of the Trek hard tails should work just fine for your purpose.

-B

On Thu, 09 Sep 2004 16:40:42 -0400, Badger_South
wrote:
[snip]

I would recommend you go to your local bike shop (LBS) and tell them you
plan to ride trails, and they will recommend a bike within your range. Some
shops may try and sell you a slightly smaller frame than you require, so
I'd advise you test ride one size larger. Test ride several bikes, even one
that might not be in your current stated range to get a feel for what
appeals to you. Don't be in a huge hurry to purchase.

Any of the Trek hard tails should work just fine for your purpose.

-B

Thanks for that Badger. So can I assume Trek is a good brand? Better
than, say, Giant? Or about the same?

Cheers
Rob


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On Thu, 09 Sep 2004 22:17:44 +0100, Kalico wrote:

On Thu, 09 Sep 2004 16:40:42 -0400, Badger_South
wrote:
[snip]

I would recommend you go to your local bike shop (LBS) and tell them you
plan to ride trails, and they will recommend a bike within your range. Some
shops may try and sell you a slightly smaller frame than you require, so
I'd advise you test ride one size larger. Test ride several bikes, even one
that might not be in your current stated range to get a feel for what
appeals to you. Don't be in a huge hurry to purchase.

Any of the Trek hard tails should work just fine for your purpose.

-B

Thanks for that Badger. So can I assume Trek is a good brand? Better
than, say, Giant? Or about the same?

Cheers
Rob

They are similar - Trek touts having a better warranty, and US
construction. Again, test ride both, and rather than going by price
(they're typically within $50bucks), go with the LBS that gives you better
service or a better gut reaction. The only overt problem with Giant, imo,
is that they only have three frame sizes, whereas Trek has several.

-B

Kalico wrote:

On Thu, 09 Sep 2004 09:38:47 -0400, Badger_South
wrote:

On Thu, 09 Sep 2004 10:55:36 +0100, Kalico wrote:

WTB: Mountain bike reccommendations please

I have about £300 to spend.

Any advice about what to look for in a first mountain bike?

I've been looking at Giant and Trek though not sure which is the
better brand. I've also been told just to get front suspension and
not rear, since it will be crap at this price point. True?

Thanks for any help.
Rob


Replace 'spam' with 'org' to reply

What kind of terrain and location, generally do you plan to ride it?

-B

I am planning to ride mainly trails I think. I'm really not sure of
the terminology since I am new to this, having hired a mountain bike
only a few times in the Derbyshire and Scotland.

For trails and paths, you don't really need the rear suspension. All
it would do is absorb some of the energy you might prefer to go into
propulsion.


I do have experience road riding for many years although I'm now a bit
rusty.

One thing that does concern me is size. I am 6'2" so what frame size
would you recommend?

I am about the same height and 21inches (~ 53 cm) is just right for
me. But do test ride the next smaller and larger ones for feel as
Badger suggests.

The one caution I would have or add is based on your size. If you
ride much, the weight which can go along with our height can be hell
on some of the parts namely the chain, cassette and hub. The chain
and cassette can be upgraded after you wear them out after 1000 miles.

The hub is a bigger issue. I had a Trek 3700 which after as little as
120 miles (basically weekly) the internal rear hub parts would come
loose and the wheel would wobble. It was within the first 12 months
and Trek was willing to replace the wheel, but I opted to trade it in
for a 2005 4500).

I was told (and it seems to make sense) that based on my size and
frequency of use, a double wall wheel/rim would help because it helps
distribute torque better thereby reducing it on the hub.

Even if your size/frequency of use dont present the same problem, a
better wheel woulnt hurt as to reduced maintenance, resale value,
durability etc.

YMMV


TIA
Rob


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[snip]
for a 2005 4500).

I was told (and it seems to make sense) that based on my size and
frequency of use, a double wall wheel/rim would help because it helps
distribute torque better thereby reducing it on the hub.

Even if your size/frequency of use dont present the same problem, a
better wheel woulnt hurt as to reduced maintenance, resale value,
durability etc.

YMMV


Thanks for that. Can I just ask what a double wall is?

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Kalico wrote:

I was told (and it seems to make sense) that based on my size and
frequency of use, a double wall wheel/rim would help because it helps
distribute torque better thereby reducing it on the hub.

Even if your size/frequency of use dont present the same problem, a
better wheel woulnt hurt as to reduced maintenance, resale value,
durability etc.

YMMV


Thanks for that. Can I just ask what a double wall is?

Instead of just a rim where the spokes attach directly to it, there is
the external/visible rim, but the spokes go thru that to connect to a
second/internal rim. That way, the torque or energy is distributed
across the inner rim then to the main/external rim and both support
each other rather than focused at a single point.

buy a specialised bike for the money their great iv just spent £1750
on 1 but its great