Mountain Biking - I just got my first mtb and need some advice

I picked up a diamondback outlook yesterday but I'm having a few problems. First off, I cannot find the same bike as mine anywere online, I'm trying to see if I got a good price but cannot find a year that matches the look of my bike. It has the same paint style as the 05's but is blue, black, and silver and says "sport atb" under outlook. It was recomended to me because of my weight and price range ( I got the bike to help with my weight loss, I'm at 315 down from 340 2 months ago ) They recommended I look into new pedals because the ones it come with are somewhat cheap plastic. Is there anything else I should possibly replace before taking it on light/medium trails? I had a peice of crap huffy when I was like 16 that I took on some trails and ended up having the handle bars snap off and I took a pretty painful shot to the chest going over the front of them.

where did you buy it

a bike shop in margate, NJ

is this it i think it says some thing under outlook
http://www.epinions.com/bicycles_2003_Diamondback_Outlook

I'm trying to see if I got a good price

You are supposed to do that before you buy it. Just ride it.

Well, first off. Way to go on selecting a very efficient and fun way to shed weight. Ride it and you'll see what holds up and what doesnt. One thing, with a steel stem and handlebars, you shouldnt have a repeat of your close call on your other bike. If your just getting back into biking, stick to some solid terrain, like hardpack, or even a nice paved area, until you get your muscles in tune a bit. Nothing worse than hitting the trail only to find out that some loose surfaces require alot of additional exertion and right now you just need to get your pedal rotations going and gradually work into a routine.

is this it i think it says some thing under outlook
http://www.epinions.com/bicycles_2003_Diamondback_Outlook

Yup, that's what it looks like, I said I was looking to spend under 300 and I got that bike for 150 brand new, with a free comfort sadle. I'm noticing after only riding twice that the pedals are going to break on me for sure, I can see white stress marks in the "teeth" on the pedals and near the inside

Yes, you WILL need new pedals. I had that same bike a while back when I was starting and they snapped off.

You are supposed to do that before you buy it. Just ride it.

+1 :D

.... Anyway, congrats on the bike and many happy miles to you. As for the pedals, when I ran platforms and the first set crumbled, I would just get a set of DKs off of eBay and they held up well.

Yes, you WILL need new pedals. I had that same bike a while back when I was starting and they snapped off.
Yikes!

here is a pic I just snapped

http://y4ruh8.net/pics/IMG_0782.JPG

Is it okay to store my bike like that? I live in Philly and don't want to leave it outside or it will be stolen for sure, plus it's the Northeast and the bike would probably rust in a week =P

if you can't tell from the pic, I just took the front wheel off and have it siting on a peice of cardboard to protect my carpet from getting grubby.

Now, about pedals, I'm really scared of them breaking off and I can tell that it's going to happen SOON. I'm going to a bike shop tomorow to see if I can pick up some new ones, but I don't know ANYTHING about bikes. Do they come in different sizes? I'm not going to be able to bring my bike with me (I could, if I need to, let me know) I really don't care about the price, I just got a little bit of spending money from my Grandma for starting fall term. I'm really turned off by the idea of clipless pedals though, I have bad legs ( hip slope, had both achilies tendons loosened, and reconstructive surgery on right foot to build an arch ) so the thought of getting stuck in them while learning is a bit scary, plus it's a pain in the ass to find shoes that fit comfortably.



EDIT: I'm also considering a different seat because the one I have is pretty uh, crappy. Am I going to get laughed at by experienced cyclers for my bikes fanny pack? =P


EDIT2: I didn't buy a helmet because they had so many different kinds and I didn't know what kind I should get. Can someone link an example of the style of helmet I would want for some hard trails / light mtn trails? I'm a clutz and know I will be spending a fair amount of time eating dirt, so I want to protect my noggin.

If there's carpet under there I'd go to a decent hardware store and buy about 10 feet of clear plastic runner for ~$2 a foot. You can put the bike on that, it's easy to clean and doesn't really bad compared to cardboard. You'll also have to think about road grit/oil coming off the pedals/tires/drive train which the plastic will protect you from.

Yikes!

here is a pic I just snapped

http://y4ruh8.net/pics/IMG_0782.JPG

Is it okay to store my bike like that? I live in Philly and don't want to leave it outside or it will be stolen for sure, plus it's the Northeast and the bike would probably rust in a week =P

if you can't tell from the pic, I just took the front wheel off and have it siting on a peice of cardboard to protect my carpet from getting grubby.

Now, about pedals, I'm really scared of them breaking off and I can tell that it's going to happen SOON. I'm going to a bike shop tomorow to see if I can pick up some new ones, but I don't know ANYTHING about bikes. Do they come in different sizes? I'm not going to be able to bring my bike with me (I could, if I need to, let me know) I really don't care about the price, I just got a little bit of spending money from my Grandma for starting fall term. I'm really turned off by the idea of clipless pedals though, I have bad legs ( hip slope, had both achilies tendons loosened, and reconstructive surgery on right foot to build an arch ) so the thought of getting stuck in them while learning is a bit scary, plus it's a pain in the ass to find shoes that fit comfortably.



EDIT: I'm also considering a different seat because the one I have is pretty uh, crappy. Am I going to get laughed at by experienced cyclers for my bikes fanny pack? =P


EDIT2: I didn't buy a helmet because they had so many different kinds and I didn't know what kind I should get. Can someone link an example of the style of helmet I would want for some hard trails / light mtn trails? I'm a clutz and know I will be spending a fair amount of time eating dirt, so I want to protect my noggin.

I don't see any problems with storing it like that. Better to have it inside where it will be protected from the elements and thieves. Just be careful each time you ride to make sure you have the front wheel locked in securely.

Pedals are all the same size. You will probably need a pedal wrench to get the old ones off and either the pedal wrench or a 6mm or 8mm Allen wrench to get the new ones on. If I were you, I'd bring my bike to the store and have them put the new pedals on for you, unless you think you'll need the pedal wrench in the future. Look for some decent quality aluminum platforms if you don't want clipless. Crank Bros. makes some nice ones.

As for the helmet, I think that's something best tried on first. I got a Specialized Air Force helmet with my bike and it was fine, but then I ordered a Giro on sale from Nashbar a couple weeks ago on a whim, and it fits WAY better. I wish I had tried more helmets before I got the Air Force. As a matter of fact, I gave that helmet away today. The Giro feels like it comes down farther on my head and protects it better.

The fanny pack is cool, I wouldn't worry. The seat looks a bit cushy for my tastes. I prefer a smaller, harder seat with some bike shorts. The shorts move with you, fit well, and you can wear them on multiple bikes. That said, if the seat fits you, then go ahead and use it. As long as you're comfortable it's fine. Still, if you can afford it, I would recommend picking up some cheap padded shorts and gloves.

Congrats on your new bike, hope you gets lots of miles out of it!

Actually pedals come in two different sizes 1/2" which are used on older bikes and those with one piece metal crank arms and kids bike. Then there are 9/16" pedals which are most common.

I suggest going to a shop that deals with a lot of BMX bikes. You should probably stick to a platform pedal vs. clipless for now. You can get some decent platform pedals for about $20.00. Prices can go up to $250 for pedals. The difference being mostly with the types of bearings.

A couple tips, a 15mm open end wrench is what you'll need to remove/replace the pedals. Non-drive side pedal is reverse thread, so righty tighty / lefty loosey doesn't apply!

picked up some gloves, helmet, water bottle, and pedals today

http://y4ruh8.net/pics/IMG_0790.JPG
http://y4ruh8.net/pics/IMG_0783.JPG

i love the pedals, they feel and grip great

I have one of those pedals and ordered something similar - they're great!

Your headset it a THREADED headset. It looks like it's 1-1/8" but you'll need to measure it to be certain.

Did you ever find out exactly what model year this bike is?

If you decide to change the fork out, you'll have to replace the headset and get a new stem. This would be costly!

You paid $150 for that bike! Yeah, I'd say you did real good to get a Diamondback from a LBS for $150. Good luck with it.

got my wtb speed v comp saddle today and put it on, then took it out for its ( and my ) first "real ride" got really sweaty and dirty, i was freaking exhausted and then realized it had only been 20 minutes, holy **** that is crazy excersize. I think I messed up a wheel, I jumped off a little drop ( maybe 3 or 4 feet ) and went down hard and sideways, the rim seems to be bent :[

I see everyone has their seat up pretty high, is there a reason for this? I was keeping mine low, just to wear I cleared my handle bars. Should it be higher?

also, my front tire rubs my shoe when I turn, is that normal?

LOL. sounds like you are riding that thing hard. good for you. Outlook is a decent bike and $150 is a nice price. Your rim may be bent or your brake tension is off center. either way, take it back to the shop. it is perfectly normal for wheels to go a little out of true after the first hard ride. as things settle, the bike will need to be tweaked, it is perfectly normal. also, set height is dependant on how rough the trail is. on smooth trails you want your seat up to the point where you have a tiny bend in your knee when the pedal is at 6 oclock. rougher trails, seat goes lower so that you have more room to shift around

I think I'm going to outgrow this thing alot faster than I expected

Drew... congrats on the new bike and getting out there and riding.

I am so hoping that by now, you have purchased your helmet. Do not ride without one PLEASE! All helmets, whether cheap or expensive will protect your noggin if you fall. Find one you like, in your price range and fits your head and buy it. Just a suggestion - look for a Giro Havoc on sale. On sale they run $35 - 40.

OK as to pedals - are you looking to ride with with cleats (ie clipless pedals)? If so look at the Time ZControl. There are two models - the cheaper one is now on sale at Performance for about $50. You'll have to buy cycling shoes to attach he cleats to. Once you get your helmet, then practice clipping nad unclipping into the pedal but the Z Control has a nice platform so you can ride out of the cleat.

You'll also want to get a better saddle, something narrower (I know that doesn't sound right but trust me on this - narrow is good). Look at some of the WTB saddles like the Lazer. Should support yur current weight.

Good luck - have fun (get that helmet!!!!:mad: )!

PS: Newbie error - having the saddle too low. If you can touch your feet or toes to the ground while still sitting on the saddle, your seat is entirely too low. You should be able to almost entirely extend your leg on the down pedal stroke. To low saddle will cause knee pain, and early fatique. It's very hard to ride with your knees hitting your chest! It really sounds like the bike is too small for you. Did you get a fitting at the time you purchased the bike? Some toe overlap with the wheel can occur especially if the bike is very small. How tall are you and what size is the bike? Note the more important measurement is the reach. Can you comfortable reach the handlebars and brakes or are you cramped or too laid out?

Wait, so you shouldn't be able to even touch both your tippy-toes against the ground whenever you're on the saddle?

I've never had a professional fit, and while I cannot mak both heels touch, I can easily point my toes down and touch the ground. Is that really too low for mountain biking? My bike is a 13

I appreciate the advice!

Wait, so you shouldn't be able to even touch both your tippy-toes against the ground whenever you're on the saddle?

I've never had a professional fit, and while I cannot mak both heels touch, I can easily point my toes down and touch the ground. Is that really too low for mountain biking? My bike is a 13

I appreciate the advice!
The best way for me to explain general saddle height that works for most people is for you to put your heel on the pedal (in the shoes you ride with) if your leg is fully extended at the bottom f the rotation you're good to go. When the ball of the foot is over the axle of the pedal (the way it would be using clipless) you should have a slight bend in the knee at the bottom of the stroke.

The best way for me to explain general saddle height that works for most people is for you to put your heel on the pedal (in the shoes you ride with) if your leg is fully extended at the bottom f the rotation you're good to go. When the ball of the foot is over the axle of the pedal (the way it would be using clipless) you should have a slight bend in the knee at the bottom of the stroke.


And if you ride more technical terrain, drop the saddle another inch.

Wait, so you shouldn't be able to even touch both your tippy-toes against the ground whenever you're on the saddle?

I've never had a professional fit, and while I cannot mak both heels touch, I can easily point my toes down and touch the ground. Is that really too low for mountain biking? My bike is a 13

I appreciate the advice!


It's just not that easy to explain. If mountain biking on tough terrain and doing steep descents, you may want to drop your saddle quite low in order to be able to get off the back, hanging over the rear wheel in order to control the front wheel, but that's just for descents. Although the seat is low, you aren't going to be sitting on it.

Basically, if riding fairly level terrain, or gradual climbs or descents, you probably should not be able to touch both tippy toes to the ground while on the saddle. Of course, if you are very short (and a 13/small bike is fairly small - I ride a 17/medium) you might not have any choice.

Here's the question, when you brake to stop do you remain on the saddle and stop by putting down both feet to balance or do you slide off the saddle, with one foot remaining on the pedal and as you brake then use the other foot to balance? When I stop, I cannot sit on the saddle and stay balanced. I have to lean the saddle (and the bike) to one side or the other. When I start again, my butt is not on the saddle. To start, I push the pedal of the foot still engaged in the cleat and as I do that I lift myself onto the saddle and engage the other foot and keep going. To stay sitting on the saddle I would have to have someone hold the bike for me.

Hopefully this makes sense. It needs a visual.

And if you ride more technical terrain, drop the saddle another inch.
Indeed