Any mountain bike advice?
2437
Member
1321 days
Triguy98 posted 5 weeks ago.
'29ers are cool, but I have never ridden one enough to say if I would have one as my only MTB. I prefer Gary Fisher's geometry over any other by far, but if your Rockhopper worked for you that much, get another one.
Sucks about the theft. I loathe bike thieves.
Life is short. Play hard and get dirty doing it.
291
Member
304 days
CadenceGuy posted 5 weeks ago.
Is the $1000 dollars just where you want to be or is it all you have to spend? I dont have any info on MTB's but is your home/renters insurnance not an option for you at this point? I ask that just wondering if you have more money into your bike then a thousand maybe you can go through your insurance and get a little more fun money to play with on this purchase. Sorry about your loss....
10
Member
232 days
jonnyboy3541 posted 5 weeks ago.
I actually did get with my home owners and my deductible is 1000, so i really can't get any cash from them. So... i am trying to stay under $1000.
229
Member
312 days
xc800runner posted 5 weeks ago.
In the 1k range, I've had both a Fisher Joshua and Trek Fuel, both aluminum, and both soft-tails. I was fortunate enough to get the Fuel the first year they were released, so even the lowest end had the ZR9000 frame. Great bike, surprisingly light (around 26 lbs) and tons of fun. Sadly, both of these were stolen and I haven't had a new xc bike since. If you want a hardtail, you're going to get a pretty good bike for that amount, regardless of the brand or model so I would just go with either the best one you can get a late season deal on, or a bike you are comfortable riding. I'm not a fan of the 29ers, personally. I find them to be just a bit too hard to accelerate uphill, and they are best on somewhat rocky terrain, but not too bouldery where you will need the nimbleness of the smaller wheel size. It depends on the xterras you intend to race, but if there are large elevation changes, or if the track is mostly smooth, I'd skip the 29er.
221
Member
77 days
jnrice posted 5 weeks ago.
xc800runner wrote:
I find them to be just a bit too hard to accelerate uphill.
+1 but going down they just eat up anything you point them at. They are fun, but don't see them as being the tool you want for an xterra as they tend to be hill intervals and not much else. Make sure you don't end up getting a bike that you aren't in love with. If you do you know you'll end up buying another bike in a year or so. Also about that stolen ride, depedning on the size of the city you live in it might be worth spamming the local bike/tri/college cycling lists and asking them to keep an eye out. The college cycling club that I used to race for has recovered about 3 bikes in the past two years that way. The last one was dumped at Arbys about 1/2 hr after it was stolen. Rumor has it the thief just NEEDED his 5 for 5.
242
Member
990 days
fpugsley posted 5 weeks ago.
I think the 29er is where its at. Since I bought my Vassago Jabberwockey I have not ridden my other bike. Especially if you are 5'10 or taller. Look used, i got my Jabber for under 1k with hope pro IIs, Stans Flows, bb7s, etc.
I would also try to get a decent fork. I have had best luck with Marzocchi (budget) and Fox (bling). Manitou have ALWAYS failed prematurely for me. Never had a Rock Shox.
127
Member
319 days
ryanweeg posted 5 weeks ago.
In the past year I have owned the following bikes: Intense Spider 29 (size Large), moved parts to a Niner Air9 29er (size Large), then sold the Niner and am now riding the bike I do all my racing and training on, a Specialized Epic Carbon (size Large).
I loved both the 29ers, the full suspension was nice and I had it outfitted pretty well but it was a little heavy, which is why I went with the hardtail. Then I decided I needed FS for some courses like Xterra Worlds in maui, which im racing in a couple weeks, so I still wanted a light bike and so I sold the Niner and got the Epic, which is awesome. Ultimately, when I get the money I want a hardtail to race on certain courses, and when I do get enough I will be getting a Motobecane Fly Pro for probably $1,300 after shipping. Its super light, has great components, doesn't have the flashy name brands of my other bikes and stuff, but It looks awesome and if it works well and is light, its a great deal. You can see that bike on www.bikesdirect.com and go to mtb, and then scroll down.
You would have to pay well over $2,500 to get a trek or gf or specialized to get a component package and fork like the fly pro. Anyways that is my two cents, but mtb selection, in my opinion, is totally based on where you ride and what types of conditions and terrain you have where you ride. So ask around your local shop, around the trails if you arent shy, and you could get some answers. For now, stick with a better 26er that you can get alot better value from at the moment.
"If one can stick to the training throughout many long years, that willpower is no longer a problem. It's Raining? That doesn't matter. I am tired? That's beside the point. It's simply just that I have to."
-Emil Zatopek
8
Member
42 days
upsidedown posted 5 weeks ago.
xc800runner wrote:
I'm not a fan of the 29ers, personally. I find them to be just a bit too hard to accelerate uphill, and they are best on somewhat rocky terrain, but not too bouldery where you will need the nimbleness of the smaller wheel size. It depends on the xterras you intend to race, but if there are large elevation changes, or if the track is mostly smooth, I'd skip the 29er.
I couldn't disagree with this more.
Our MTB team competes in the Mountain States Cup Series, which is extremely climb intensive, on 29'ers.
The larger wheel has approximately 8% rolling resistance so it rolls over rough terrain better than a 26 inch wheel.
I'll ride a 26 inch trail bike for fun, but you won't get me off my 29'er when it comes to going fast xc. It's a noticeable difference going from a comparably equipped 26 inch bike to a 29'er.
To the OP: Check out Felt's 29'er. It's a nice frame with acceptable parts that might fit your budget. I ride the same frame with upgraded parts and have been very happy with it.
55
Member
91 days
orangedog posted 5 weeks ago.
+1 to the height comment. If you are taller, you should at least try a 29er. And, the rockhopper comes in a mean 29.
I've ridden my 29er, a 2007 Raleigh XXIX+G, on MTB trails/races and on my first tri, which was an off road. The thing is just insane going downhill. It's a HT and yet is pretty smooth. As said before, for $1k you can get a nice HT.
If you are worried about nimbleness, you can always switch out the fork with something with more offset. As for going uphill - I think 29ers are a bit deceiving. You can feel sluggish, yet you're really keeping a good pace.
I ride in AZ, where rocks are everywhere - so maybe that is why I really like the 29er.
www.theorangedog.net
skills>> spirits>> speed>>
228
Member
689 days
Nobody posted 5 weeks ago.
Craigslist. You're going to get a much better bike buying a 4 year old bike that cost $3k new than buying a new bike that costs $1K new....and anytime I ever went the budget route on a mtn bike I always ended up paying more due to all the broken pieces I had to replace or upgrade.
Greatness is only achieved by those who perpetually raise the expectations of themselves to the point where it ruins their life.
55
Member
91 days
orangedog posted 5 weeks ago.
Nobody wrote:
Craigslist. You're going to get a much better bike buying a 4 year old bike that cost $3k new than buying a new bike that costs $1K new....and anytime I ever went the budget route on a mtn bike I always ended up paying more due to all the broken pieces I had to replace or upgrade.
very true - buy the best used bike you can on craigslist.
www.theorangedog.net
skills>> spirits>> speed>>
I know it is not exactly tri related but i was wondering if any one had any advice on mountain bikes? My beloved Specialized rockhopper was stolen the other day and i am going to replace it to do a few xterras next year (plus i love trail riding). I am looking to stay under $1000 and i prefer a hard tail. So what should i get? should i stay with the rockhopper? What does everyone think about a 29er?