Mountain Biking - New to MTB.

Hi there.

I have read alot of the posts earlyer regarding this subject but kinda wanted a few more opinions. (as you guys really seems to have a clue)

My whole problem is that i have started biking with a very old, very heavy, very poorly made MTB but still I have found alot of joy when riding. So I have now reached the point where i want to invest some more money into it and start riding even more.

I have signed up for a race in 10 months. 92km offroad with alot of uphill.
By the looks of it these kinds of races is something i want to do regularly, but i also want to be able to do some downhill and trail biking if i get the chance.

So that brings me to the actual task ahead. I need a bike that fits my needs.
Been looking on the difference between full suspension and hardtails, have a problem deciding this.
My pricerange for my first "proper bike" will be around: 2000$
Will this give me a decent first bike?

And for that price, should I rather spend it on a hard tail with better gear or have you seen good FS bikes within that pricerange?
Any actual bike suggestions would be very much appriciated as I have very little knowledge of what good and whats bad.

Also.. Im 193cm and am abit worried about what size i should choose. After the calculations on different selling pages i seem to land on 22" or XL. Does that sound right? Seems like when i view more experienced people biking they seem to have so small bikes?


Some inputs would be very much appreciated. So many bikes and so many different models to choose from:)

I built my mtb up from a frame and random pieces so i'm not too good with the new mtbs out there but the fit situation is really a preference thing. It is much easier to decide after you ride some newer bikes in different sizes to see. I am about 180 cm and my bike is a 17 inch but the bike shop guys spec'd me at an 18-18.5inch frame i just prefer the shorter frame for more standover. Only way i found that out though was to go and ride different sizes first.

I'd go hard tail, especially if you're racing with a lot of climbing and your budget is $2k. You can get a sweet hard tail for that amount. I'm 6'3 also and ride a 20" on my hard tail, and my Specialized full suspension bike is an XL.

Go used and you can get a one year old bike, lightly used for half off or so. If your afraid of used, or just like new equipment 2k would buy a sweet hardtail. Sounds like your heavily into Mt biking now so it's worth it to have nice equipment. If I were you I would do a lot of test riding and research to make sure you get the right bike, 10 months sounds about right!

There are definitely good FS bikes within that price range. Given that you plan on doing longer races with plenty of climbing, I would start my search by looking at some 4" XC bikes. Anthems, HiFis, previous year Epics or Superlights, etc. A 29er might be an option too (this from the mouth of a 26" rider too).

Hi there.

I have read alot of the posts earlyer regarding this subject but kinda wanted a few more opinions. (as you guys really seems to have a clue)

My whole problem is that i have started biking with a very old, very heavy, very poorly made MTB but still I have found alot of joy when riding. So I have now reached the point where i want to invest some more money into it and start riding even more.

I have signed up for a race in 10 months. 92km offroad with alot of uphill.
By the looks of it these kinds of races is something i want to do regularly, but i also want to be able to do some downhill and trail biking if i get the chance.

So that brings me to the actual task ahead. I need a bike that fits my needs.
Been looking on the difference between full suspension and hardtails, have a problem deciding this.
My pricerange for my first "proper bike" will be around: 2000$
Will this give me a decent first bike?

And for that price, should I rather spend it on a hard tail with better gear or have you seen good FS bikes within that pricerange?
Any actual bike suggestions would be very much appriciated as I have very little knowledge of what good and whats bad.

Also.. Im 193cm and am abit worried about what size i should choose. After the calculations on different selling pages i seem to land on 22" or XL. Does that sound right? Seems like when i view more experienced people biking they seem to have so small bikes?


Some inputs would be very much appreciated. So many bikes and so many different models to choose from:)

lol

this is my input:

http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=46578&eid=4950&menuItemId=9248

http://www.pyorahuolto.com/taulu/kuvat/8.jpg

There are definitely good FS bikes within that price range. Given that you plan on doing longer races with plenty of climbing, I would start my search by looking at some 4" XC bikes. Anthems, HiFis, previous year Epics or Superlights, etc. A 29er might be an option too (this from the mouth of a 26" rider too).


this is my input:

http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=46578&eid=4950&menuItemId=9248

http://www.pyorahuolto.com/taulu/kuvat/8.jpgThank you for those. Refreshing change from the "I'd get a sweet hardtail for that price" nonsense.

the new 2010 line of Stumpy FSRs are unreal, Spesh really steped it up

Thank you for those. Refreshing change from the "I'd get a sweet hardtail for that price" nonsense.
Yeah having a lightweight, very efficient bike with awesome parts would be totally lame.

Yeah having a lightweight, very efficient bike with awesome parts would be totally lame.Will someone go back and tell nacho-man that it's not 1997 anymore?

Nacho-man, it's not 1997 anymore.

PS - I never rode a FS bike. I <3 my HT.

I love my HT too. But I also love my FS. And if I had $2000 to spend on my only bike, it would be an FS. I know he said his primary use will be racing and he needs to climb a bunch, but no one here is suggesting an 8" downhill bike. Heck, I don't even see any suggestions for a long travel AM bike. There's no reason a short travel XC FS won't climb well. I'd take a little bit more weight if it meant having the rear wheel tracking ability and forgiveness of rear suspension.

IMO, there is no comaparison between HT & FS bikes, i rode an HT for many years (over $2k HTs) and once i went FS, i will never ride an HT again. Granted, i ride an Epic which IMO is the best of both worlds.

I guess I'm weird. In my garage right now I have two full suspension bikes - an Epic and a Prophet, and my rigid bike. When it's time to put a bike on the roof of the car for a day of riding, the rigid bike is always the one coming off the wall, and I'm VERY close to selling my Epic to build up a 29er hard tail. I just like em :o Maybe it's the steel and the 29, maybe the rigid has rattled my brain too much, I dunno.

Saying a full suspension is better than a hardtail for all purposes is as dumb as saying a hardtail is better than a full suspension for all purposes. Is common sense becoming an endangered species now-a-days???

My vote would be for a 29er hard tail.

In fact I will start a debate and recomend this http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/fly_TeamTI_29_2010.htm

This is a wild guess.
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s262/toronto505/untitled.jpgIf this is the course, I'd recommend a hardtail for the fastest time.
But you'll be enjoying this bike on other trails too.
Try some different bikes out, if the shops allow you.
There's a lot of range in the feel of different bikes.

Saying a full suspension is better than a hardtail for all purposes is as dumb as saying a hardtail is better than a full suspension for all purposes. Is common sense becoming an endangered species now-a-days???From the looks of your post, it is.

Saying a full suspension is better than a hardtail for all purposes is as dumb as saying a hardtail is better than a full suspension for all purposes. Is common sense becoming an endangered species now-a-days???

At a given skill level a FS bike will allow the rider to ride trails that he would otherwise not be able to ride on a HT. If being able to ride more trails is better then FS would be better. If you only have one bike why restrict yourself?

IMHO, HT is ancient junk unless you race on smooth xc trails. We don't drive HT cars...

At a given skill level a FS bike will allow the rider to ride trails that he would otherwise not be able to ride on a HT. If being able to ride more trails is better then FS would be better. If you only have one bike why restrict yourself?

Incorrect.


IMHO, HT is ancient junk unless you race on smooth xc trails. We don't drive HT cars...

Even more incorrect

You should see me ride on my hardtail. I do stuff many would not attempt on a full suspension. Now I'm not saying I'm good, I just make bad decisions.

IMHO, HT is ancient junk unless you race on smooth xc trails.

False. There are still some applications where a hardtail is beneficial. For example, it's more responsive for pump tracks and DJ. Then again, I've never ridden a Transition Double, so I might be wrong. I still prefer an FS for general trail riding though, and would still suggest the OP look in that direction.


You should see me ride on my hardtail. I do stuff many would not attempt on a full suspension. Now I'm not saying I'm good, I just make bad decisions.

Bad comparison. You can't compare different bikes with different riders. There are two variables there: bike and rider. Brian Lopes could ride blindfolded circles around me on a Huffy, while I'm riding my Yeti. Does that make the Huffy a better bike than the Yeti?

Metzinger (http://www.bikeforums.net/member.php?u=47276): Yes you are correct.
The problem is that I live in southern parts of sweden these days, and there is not alot of shops that actually show off any MTBs here. (considering they do not even have hills)
So the only bikes I have been able to check out is Scott Scale and Aspect.

Thanks for all the inputs.
Guess I will go with a hardtail now, then ill rather put some more money and thoughts into a FS bike later on if I still find it fun.


http://cyclic-bikes.blogspot.com/2009/01/cube-reaction-2009-preview.html
German bike with full XT setup. Cant be to bad i guess.

That Cube looks great, but I would not buy a bike without riding it first to see if I liked it and felt comfortable on it.
Maybe you could try some when you next visit Copenhagen. Lots of MTBs in shops there.
Good luck!

Yeah Copenhagen is only 1 hour away so I might just do a weekend expedition.

Oh by the way Metzinger (http://www.bikeforums.net/member.php?u=47276), how did you guess the race? Birkebeinerrittet that is.

You listed your height in cm (not from USA or Canada). You are tall (northern Europe?).
You mentioned a race 10 months from now. The distance matched.

I would love to do the ski version one year.

From the looks of your post, it is.

LOL. When you finally buy a hardtail to compliment your other bikes these posts are going to come back to haunt you!