PTerman
11-21-02, 02:55 PM
only 14 days to make up my mind and yes of course my parents are buying.
Mountain Biking - Need help have a $250.00 budget and .......
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PeterG1185
11-21-02, 03:02 PM
get a hardtail, and ask the LBS what they got going for used
Phatman
11-21-02, 03:15 PM
you can get a really low-end bike for 250. or you can work. Thats the great thing about America...you can work to get the things that you want. With that advice in hand...onward to make money! Come back when you have 1000 dollars. then we can talk about a nice bike.
Maelstrom
11-21-02, 03:43 PM
Ok since it is your parents buying and you are asking us our opinions I will just say go used. Get a good strong ht and ride a lot. When you get good enough and have over 1000$ american (the least I would EVER EVER pay for a dually) buy a decent dually bike and enjoy it. Either that or ask them to invest 250 and you work for another 250 and buy a really good ht.
dirtbikedude
11-21-02, 04:00 PM
If you like doing or atleast trying to jump and do tricks you could get a decent 24" dirt jumper. Granted you will hate it on long rides but it would work great for technical riding and jumping. Just a thought.
But as the others have said, do some work, save some dough and buy a better bike.
Forgive me if I am wrong but it seems as though your parents pay for your living expenses. With that in mind, it should not take you too long to save a few hundred $ for a much much better bike. Take the 250 from your folks, put it aside and then you will only have to save another 250 and you will be able to get a very decent hard tail. You might have to wait a little longer but it will be well worth it.
Slainte :beer:
But as the others have said, do some work, save some dough and buy a better bike.
Forgive me if I am wrong but it seems as though your parents pay for your living expenses. With that in mind, it should not take you too long to save a few hundred $ for a much much better bike. Take the 250 from your folks, put it aside and then you will only have to save another 250 and you will be able to get a very decent hard tail. You might have to wait a little longer but it will be well worth it.
Slainte :beer:
Airborne
11-21-02, 04:29 PM
I recall looking for something for my girlfriend this summer, and she didnt want to spend more than $300, much less get close to my 1K used rig. She insisted I couldn't add any $, and 300 was IT.
Though I would have upped the ante with her, we looked at a lot of $300 dollar bikes, some on sale at times from $249-$270.
In particular, you might look for the Gary Fisher Tarpon, Trek 820, Specialized Hardrock, or the Giant Boulder SE.
I was partial to the Specialized or the Gary Fisher. These are great started bikes, will last, and are worth every penny from 250 to 300.
Seriously, FIND 50 bucks; for $250, you are at walmart...
PS: I bought my last bike on eBay. It was worth about a thousand I figure; I got it for 660 on auction... I also sold a friends brand frackin new 2 month old $500 bike on there for $310. check it out!
Though I would have upped the ante with her, we looked at a lot of $300 dollar bikes, some on sale at times from $249-$270.
In particular, you might look for the Gary Fisher Tarpon, Trek 820, Specialized Hardrock, or the Giant Boulder SE.
I was partial to the Specialized or the Gary Fisher. These are great started bikes, will last, and are worth every penny from 250 to 300.
Seriously, FIND 50 bucks; for $250, you are at walmart...
PS: I bought my last bike on eBay. It was worth about a thousand I figure; I got it for 660 on auction... I also sold a friends brand frackin new 2 month old $500 bike on there for $310. check it out!
PTerman
11-21-02, 06:47 PM
sorry guys but what is a ht
MKRG
11-21-02, 07:04 PM
A Hard Tail. A mountain bike that's got no rear suspension.
a2psyklnut
11-22-02, 07:54 AM
You can get an entry level mountain bike for just under $300 that is what most people would consider "Shop Quality". As mentioned the used marketplace right now is great for buyers.
The difference between a "X-Mart" bike and a "Shop Quality" bike will be durability and weight. Plus, if you buy from a Shop, along with the bike comes the experience and expertise of a "Bicycle" mechanic assembling the bike vs, a part time stock boy who puts together bikes one day and lawn mowers the next.
Some of the other differences will include:
The quality of the wheels: Most "X-Mart" bike are poorly built and the quality of the bearings is marginal. A Shop bike will not be noticably different, but the bearings are a step higher in quality. I've seen wheels at "X-Mart" bikes that the spokes are not properly built. The spokes are suppose to not only form X's with the other spokes, but also to weave in and out of the other spokes. This is called "crossing" so the spokes go over the first spoke, under the second and over the third. Hard to explain, but when it's wrong it can be really scary!
The type of frame material, Hi-Tensile Steel vs. Chromoly Steel or Aluminum. Not only the type of material used, but the quality of the welding, the painting and the warranty that comes with a shop bike vs. an "X-Mart" bike.
The quality of the front suspension. No name vs. Rock Shox or Manitou. The better the suspension, the more adjustability the fork has. Some low end forks have no adjustment at all, kinda a "one size is supposed to fit all" thing that never does. Lower end shop bike forks will have some degree (if only compression) adjustability.
Speaking of "one size" that's another problem. "X-Mart" bikes only come in "Medium", that's great if you're about 5'-6" to 5'10" and weight 150-175 lbs. With a Shop bike, you can get a x-small, small, medium, large or x-large (13", 15",17", 19" & 21" or 14", 16", 18", 20", 22" - depending on manufacturer). Also, a shop will fit you to your bike and if necessary swap out the stem for a longer or shorter one to fine tune the fit to your size.
The most important thing to consider is as mentioned above, the benefit of someone assembling your bike that is an expert with bicycles. Also, the warranty issue is always a big deal. If you have a problem with an "X-Mart" bike, you return it and if you're lucky they might refund you $$$ if less than 90 days old and you get another similar bike. With a shop bike, you usually always get a free 30 day tune up,(all new cables will stretch and the brakes and shifting will stop working well.) some shops offer a 1-year free tune-up service, and some offer lifetime tune-ups for free. Guess what? with an "X-Mart" bike you're out of luck. I hope you know how to adjust everything, or you end up taking to a shop and get a $25-30 tune-up for it. All the parts on a shop bike carry a 1 year warranty, and most frames come with 3, 5 or lifetime warranty on the frame itself.
A shop bike is worthy of upgrading over time as you get more involved with the sport and you bend or break parts (and you will if you get serious about riding-regardless of quality!), an "X-Mart" bike will always be low-end no matter what parts you put on it. Think of an "X-Mart" bike as a disposable bike, that you will outgrow in a year.
I can understand the temptation of an "X-Mart" bike. For $250 I can get a full suspension mountain bike with a flashy paint job, compared to $300 for a "front suspension"(a.k.a. a HardTail) bike at a shop.
If you're just going to ride back and forth to school, or abuse the heck out of it, get the "X-Mart" bike this year, and get another one next year and another one the year after.
If you're going to get into serious "off-road" singletrack riding, some serious use or something you plan to upgrade over time, spend a little bit more $$$ and get a lot better quality. Go to all the bike shops in your area, meet the people that "cycling" is a big part of their lives, test ride as many bikes as you can, learn about the differences between shop bikes then go to "X-Mart" and compare. The differences are pretty apparent once you've learned even just a little about bikes!
Oh yeah, don't forget to save an extra $30-40 for a helmet!!!
L8R
The difference between a "X-Mart" bike and a "Shop Quality" bike will be durability and weight. Plus, if you buy from a Shop, along with the bike comes the experience and expertise of a "Bicycle" mechanic assembling the bike vs, a part time stock boy who puts together bikes one day and lawn mowers the next.
Some of the other differences will include:
The quality of the wheels: Most "X-Mart" bike are poorly built and the quality of the bearings is marginal. A Shop bike will not be noticably different, but the bearings are a step higher in quality. I've seen wheels at "X-Mart" bikes that the spokes are not properly built. The spokes are suppose to not only form X's with the other spokes, but also to weave in and out of the other spokes. This is called "crossing" so the spokes go over the first spoke, under the second and over the third. Hard to explain, but when it's wrong it can be really scary!
The type of frame material, Hi-Tensile Steel vs. Chromoly Steel or Aluminum. Not only the type of material used, but the quality of the welding, the painting and the warranty that comes with a shop bike vs. an "X-Mart" bike.
The quality of the front suspension. No name vs. Rock Shox or Manitou. The better the suspension, the more adjustability the fork has. Some low end forks have no adjustment at all, kinda a "one size is supposed to fit all" thing that never does. Lower end shop bike forks will have some degree (if only compression) adjustability.
Speaking of "one size" that's another problem. "X-Mart" bikes only come in "Medium", that's great if you're about 5'-6" to 5'10" and weight 150-175 lbs. With a Shop bike, you can get a x-small, small, medium, large or x-large (13", 15",17", 19" & 21" or 14", 16", 18", 20", 22" - depending on manufacturer). Also, a shop will fit you to your bike and if necessary swap out the stem for a longer or shorter one to fine tune the fit to your size.
The most important thing to consider is as mentioned above, the benefit of someone assembling your bike that is an expert with bicycles. Also, the warranty issue is always a big deal. If you have a problem with an "X-Mart" bike, you return it and if you're lucky they might refund you $$$ if less than 90 days old and you get another similar bike. With a shop bike, you usually always get a free 30 day tune up,(all new cables will stretch and the brakes and shifting will stop working well.) some shops offer a 1-year free tune-up service, and some offer lifetime tune-ups for free. Guess what? with an "X-Mart" bike you're out of luck. I hope you know how to adjust everything, or you end up taking to a shop and get a $25-30 tune-up for it. All the parts on a shop bike carry a 1 year warranty, and most frames come with 3, 5 or lifetime warranty on the frame itself.
A shop bike is worthy of upgrading over time as you get more involved with the sport and you bend or break parts (and you will if you get serious about riding-regardless of quality!), an "X-Mart" bike will always be low-end no matter what parts you put on it. Think of an "X-Mart" bike as a disposable bike, that you will outgrow in a year.
I can understand the temptation of an "X-Mart" bike. For $250 I can get a full suspension mountain bike with a flashy paint job, compared to $300 for a "front suspension"(a.k.a. a HardTail) bike at a shop.
If you're just going to ride back and forth to school, or abuse the heck out of it, get the "X-Mart" bike this year, and get another one next year and another one the year after.
If you're going to get into serious "off-road" singletrack riding, some serious use or something you plan to upgrade over time, spend a little bit more $$$ and get a lot better quality. Go to all the bike shops in your area, meet the people that "cycling" is a big part of their lives, test ride as many bikes as you can, learn about the differences between shop bikes then go to "X-Mart" and compare. The differences are pretty apparent once you've learned even just a little about bikes!
Oh yeah, don't forget to save an extra $30-40 for a helmet!!!
L8R
PTerman
11-22-02, 03:50 PM
hey i would aprieciete that u dont call me a beginner ive been riding fur almost 5 years !!!!!! so if u please dont call me a beginner i would sure appriciete it alot.!!!!!!!!!
PTerman
11-22-02, 03:57 PM
hellooooooooooooooo december 6th is my dead line and $250 is my spending high and no higher getting car next year
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Joe Gardner
11-22-02, 04:01 PM
You dont need a car with a nice bike... :)
Raiyn
11-22-02, 04:30 PM
Originally posted by PTerman
hey i would aprieciete that u dont call me a beginner ive been riding fur almost 5 years !!!!!! so if u please dont call me a beginner i would sure appriciete it alot.!!!!!!!!! You are a beginner I'm 25 and have been riding for 20.
By the way the English is a beautiful language when used properly. Lose the AOL'ese.
hey i would aprieciete that u dont call me a beginner ive been riding fur almost 5 years !!!!!! so if u please dont call me a beginner i would sure appriciete it alot.!!!!!!!!! You are a beginner I'm 25 and have been riding for 20.
By the way the English is a beautiful language when used properly. Lose the AOL'ese.
Raiyn
11-22-02, 04:38 PM
Originally posted by PTerman
hellooooooooooooooo december 6th is my dead line and $250 is my spending high and no higher getting car next year
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 HELLOOOOOOOOOOOOOO yourself take the advice given because that's the best you're going to get. For 250 clams you will NOT get a bike worth having, period, dot, end of discussion. Grow up and listen to someone who has been there instead of keeping your head wedged so far up where it doesn't belong. We're giving advice based on years of experience that you don't have what you do with it is up to you. Don't keep beating a dead horse in the hopes that someone will tell you something you want to hear. It won't work. I for one won't lie to you.
hellooooooooooooooo december 6th is my dead line and $250 is my spending high and no higher getting car next year
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 HELLOOOOOOOOOOOOOO yourself take the advice given because that's the best you're going to get. For 250 clams you will NOT get a bike worth having, period, dot, end of discussion. Grow up and listen to someone who has been there instead of keeping your head wedged so far up where it doesn't belong. We're giving advice based on years of experience that you don't have what you do with it is up to you. Don't keep beating a dead horse in the hopes that someone will tell you something you want to hear. It won't work. I for one won't lie to you.
KleinMp99
11-22-02, 04:39 PM
Originally posted by Raiyn
Lose the AOL'ese.
Its not even AOL ese or whatever you call it, he is just plain _____.
Lose the AOL'ese.
Its not even AOL ese or whatever you call it, he is just plain _____.
tFUnK
11-22-02, 06:39 PM
Originally posted by KleinMp99
Its not even AOL ese or whatever you call it, he is just plain _____.
:D :D
ok for 250 you can either get a used bike or a new entry level bike. 6 years ago i was in your situation and i got a giant boulder. parents put in 250 for it, and it was what i used to basically get into the game. i took it to the local hills quite a few times over the years and just a few months ago i started upgrading(not that i had to, but i was bored and i quit modding my car and mtb became my hobby again). if you look through classifieds you may be able to find a decent bike from 1994-98. again for 250 you can get a new hardrock or boulder, but i would want neither.
Its not even AOL ese or whatever you call it, he is just plain _____.
:D :D
ok for 250 you can either get a used bike or a new entry level bike. 6 years ago i was in your situation and i got a giant boulder. parents put in 250 for it, and it was what i used to basically get into the game. i took it to the local hills quite a few times over the years and just a few months ago i started upgrading(not that i had to, but i was bored and i quit modding my car and mtb became my hobby again). if you look through classifieds you may be able to find a decent bike from 1994-98. again for 250 you can get a new hardrock or boulder, but i would want neither.
Sneakyracer
11-23-02, 12:58 AM
Originally posted by PTerman
only 14 days to make up my mind and yes of course my parents are buying.
Ill sell u one of my bikes, its a Raleigh M80, + some bonus stuff.
$250+ shipping, there are pics and more info here
CLICK (http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=592920)
only 14 days to make up my mind and yes of course my parents are buying.
Ill sell u one of my bikes, its a Raleigh M80, + some bonus stuff.
$250+ shipping, there are pics and more info here
CLICK (http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=592920)
WorldIRC
11-23-02, 11:27 AM
250 for that. I'd go for that.
khuon
11-23-02, 12:04 PM
Originally posted by Sneakyracer
Ill sell u one of my bikes, its a Raleigh M80, + some bonus stuff.
$250+ shipping, there are pics and more info here
CLICK (http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=592920)
PTerman, if it looks like Sneakyracer's bike will fit you, I would suggest you take up that offer. $250+S&H for that bike is an awesome deal. Just make sure it'll fit.
Ill sell u one of my bikes, its a Raleigh M80, + some bonus stuff.
$250+ shipping, there are pics and more info here
CLICK (http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=592920)
PTerman, if it looks like Sneakyracer's bike will fit you, I would suggest you take up that offer. $250+S&H for that bike is an awesome deal. Just make sure it'll fit.
PTerman
11-24-02, 06:51 PM
I cant get it parents said has to be frum a store i realy would like to get it but u know how parents argue and dont get a bike at all
PTerman
11-24-02, 07:18 PM
i'm not getting the jeep f/s i'm taking u guys up on the h/t and saving up fur upgrades.!!! But i still have one ? what upgrades can i get ????? :confused: :confused:
Maelstrom
11-24-02, 07:24 PM
Originally posted by PTerman
i'm not getting the jeep f/s i'm taking u guys up on the h/t and saving up fur upgrades.!!! But i still have one ? what upgrades can i get ????? :confused: :confused:
I am not quite sure what you are asking?...Congrats on deciding on a HT. You won't regret it. As for upgrade, as things break (which they do) you will have to replace parts on it. You may find the fork isn't plush enough and replace it. Is this what you are asking?
i'm not getting the jeep f/s i'm taking u guys up on the h/t and saving up fur upgrades.!!! But i still have one ? what upgrades can i get ????? :confused: :confused:
I am not quite sure what you are asking?...Congrats on deciding on a HT. You won't regret it. As for upgrade, as things break (which they do) you will have to replace parts on it. You may find the fork isn't plush enough and replace it. Is this what you are asking?
PTerman
11-24-02, 07:29 PM
urm i thougt upgrades meant that additions make better custumize??!!!!!!!
Maelstrom
11-24-02, 08:30 PM
Originally posted by PTerman
urm i thougt upgrades meant that additions make better custumize??!!!!!!!
Because of your limited fund just worry about getting as good a bike a possible. Then upgrade things as you need to.
customizing a bike from scratch tends to get expensive. :)
urm i thougt upgrades meant that additions make better custumize??!!!!!!!
Because of your limited fund just worry about getting as good a bike a possible. Then upgrade things as you need to.
customizing a bike from scratch tends to get expensive. :)
a2psyklnut
11-25-02, 07:32 AM
Hey PT, from your pic in another thread, I'm guessing you weigh 220 lb +/-, If I'm way off, sorry, you do have a heavy jacket on!
The first upgrade to consider for a rider your height and weight would/will be a new wheelset.
As an inexperienced/novice (Note: Not Beginner) rider, you haven't learned to finesse your bike yet. It takes years of riding to be smooth, and some riders (myself included) have to work very hard concentrating on being smooth. I just like to bash things! You will need a new wheelset soon. Don't go out a buy some right away, wait until you bend/break things first. And you will, due to your physique and talent.
If you want to buy something right away, get a helmet! After that, consider buying some heavy duty elastomers or springs for the forks! If you buy your bike from a Bike Shop, see if they can include the heavy springs/elastomers as part of the deal!
L8R
The first upgrade to consider for a rider your height and weight would/will be a new wheelset.
As an inexperienced/novice (Note: Not Beginner) rider, you haven't learned to finesse your bike yet. It takes years of riding to be smooth, and some riders (myself included) have to work very hard concentrating on being smooth. I just like to bash things! You will need a new wheelset soon. Don't go out a buy some right away, wait until you bend/break things first. And you will, due to your physique and talent.
If you want to buy something right away, get a helmet! After that, consider buying some heavy duty elastomers or springs for the forks! If you buy your bike from a Bike Shop, see if they can include the heavy springs/elastomers as part of the deal!
L8R
WNCbiker
04-07-03, 06:43 PM
WOW you have been riding for 5 years and dont know what a hardtail is. Sounds to me like you have been riding 5 days. BEGINNER
KleinMp99
04-07-03, 06:47 PM
Originally posted by WNCbiker
WOW you have been riding for 5 years and dont know what a hardtail is. Sounds to me like you have been riding 5 days. BEGINNER
Ummm ok the last post in this thread was 11-25-02 09:32 AM. Not only was this thread by one of the dumbest people ever to come across this site, but you had to bring it back. I now officially hate you. >>:D
WOW you have been riding for 5 years and dont know what a hardtail is. Sounds to me like you have been riding 5 days. BEGINNER
Ummm ok the last post in this thread was 11-25-02 09:32 AM. Not only was this thread by one of the dumbest people ever to come across this site, but you had to bring it back. I now officially hate you. >>:D
B1105
04-07-03, 07:10 PM
pterman,
"from" is with a o not an u like "frum"
yes english is a beautiful language if used properly
byron
"from" is with a o not an u like "frum"
yes english is a beautiful language if used properly
byron
Jim311
04-07-03, 07:29 PM
You guys are f*ckin harsh. The guy just wanted some advice on a bike that isn't gonna totally suck.
Joe Gardner
04-07-03, 07:34 PM
This is going nowhere, thread closed.