Mountain Biking - New to mountain biking. Advice?

I purchased a Trek Wahoo two weeks ago and have taken it out a few times on some Texas trails. It is fun but realized I would enjoy and have more fun with a full suspension.

After about a week of research and going back to the bike store, they took my bike back with a full refund (even with about 120 miles on it already) and I purchased a new bike. It's a bit more expensive but seems to be pretty good. I was going to either purchase a Trek EX8 or Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Expert.

After about two hours of testing and going over all the parts with the sales guy, I purchased a 2010 Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Expert that was the stores demo bike.


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Do you guys think this was a good purhase for a new rider? I'm 42 and new to mountain biking but found that I love it!!!! I feel like I'm 18 when I'm flying on a trail. So far, no major accident, just major fun.

What all should I pack in my backpack?

There is a ton of good info in the archives of this thread. The easiest way to find it is use the search function. Think of a topic and look it up.

You got an awesome first bike. You will be having a blast in no time. Post some pictures of your trails and first booboo. Mountain bikers are like Vampires, we like blood. Makes for legends.

the fourth thread is a sticky by chelobed. Read that three times and submit a paper to dminor listing the most vital points. You will be graded for accuracy and proper english. Seriously, it is good info.

Do you guys think this was a good purhase for a new rider?

Oh, heck yeah. The Stumpy FSR is a fantastic bike to ride, and I believe you get the Brain Shock w/the Expert model. I'm 48 now. Got into mountain-biking up here, oh, about seven years ago I believe. If there's one thing I wish I'd done sooner rather than later it is to have spent the cash on full-suspension. It took a dealer to loan me a Stumpjumper FSR for a weekend in late 2006 to make me realize what I had been missing.

Some will argue to ride a hardtail first, blah, blah, blah. Don't listen to any of that nonsense. Enjoy that "feel like you're 18" feeling. Pretty soon you'll be as fit as an 18-year-old too.

Regarding what to bring on a ride: I always carry a spare tube, small pump, and a multi-tool. For comfort's sake I put them in a saddle mounted bag and the pump gets mounted to the frame. But that's just me.

Great bike with the FSR BTW.

Hey yall, my name is Jonathan, I'm from Augusta, Ga. I live in Charlotte, Nc, going to school at Nascar Technical Institute. I have a Schwinn S-25 full susp. And I need some tips on upgrading my crank set, casette, and rear derailleur. I know its not the greatest, but i can out ride my buddy that has a Cannondale Raven. I can tell that these are the weak links on the bike, and i broke the derailleur the other day. Any HELP is Greatly APPRECIATED!!!!

Had my first accident but no blood (sorry JonathanGennick). Went out to a park with basic to Advance trails. Did an endo while crossing a beam. I was too excited and locked up the front break (by the way, these brakes are freaking awsome)

Great tip Chris_F. I now have a spare tube, pump, tire tool, hex set and small first aid (and camera for Jonathan so I can take pictures of "first blood"..lol). All of this fits nicely in my camel pack with plenty of room.

More pictures to come!

Ride the heck outta that schwinn! Your fun meter is pegged same as anybody else's. After you win the lottery buy a real bike you can tell your new bike buddies stories about cutting your teeth on a schwinn.

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Had my first accident but no blood (sorry JonathanGennick). Went out to a park with basic to Advance trails. Did an endo while crossing a beam. I was too excited and locked up the front break (by the way, these brakes are freaking awsome)

Nice job, crashing like that is something to be proud of. Gotta get that first crash out of the way so you're not quite as scared of them. :)

When you endo like that, or otherwise have a big crash, shift in to 1st gear and give your pedals a spin. If your rear deraileur takes a hit in the crash the deraileur hanger can get bent. If it bends inward then your deraileur can get snagged on a spoke and break both the deraileur AND the rear wheel. It's an expensive mistake to make. The hangar itself is replaceable so that's no big deal, but jumping on and riding the bike like that can make things much more expensive for you quickly.

Had my first accident but no blood (sorry JonathanGennick).

Huh? I'm a little lost. No need for blood. Frankly, I prefer not to crash. Ignore all that advice about crashing being a good thing; it's not. After all, you can't ride when you're injured.

Sorry JonathanGennick, I meant that comment for Daspydyr (http://www.bikeforums.net/member.php?179545-Daspydyr)..:)

Some people might say it is over kill. I carry an extra chain with two master links. Couple master links should be plenty.

Huh? I'm a little lost. No need for blood. Frankly, I prefer not to crash. Ignore all that advice about crashing being a good thing; it's not. After all, you can't ride when you're injured.

Yeah, ur frum Michigan aren't cha! figgers....... If you can't ride hurt better sell your mountain bike. Then again there are degrees of "HURT." I have impressed myself and been impressed with others at what you can do with one leg/arm/rib. I prefer never to crash, but some of the weird ones happen at slow speeds in easy terrain. Suddenly you find yourself heading in a different direction than the bike.

I have impressed myself and been impressed with others at what you can do with one leg/arm/rib.
:eek:

What CAN a rider do with one rib?

quibbly that is an awesome ride for a first bike. wish i had that kind of cash when i bought my first bike. enjoy the hell out of it and try to resist the "upgrade" bug until something breaks.

sorry to derail your thread quibbly, but...jamerson46....that is not a bike it is a toy. comparing that to a bike is like comparing http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQmPE3D1o_Y1FsDclzXjbooMC-Mi7uXK1qRTtc2u72pDhj5GnI&t=1&usg=__5Ui2lJxzBSkL7D4g0FhtaNHIv_0= to http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRgU6EJ9fMCzB_ojoKZFmBbXju9vNJb0Cl39wk6nw00LYpHC68&t=1&usg=__Wgif4IOB2FFnKHE54VXOWIhlktM=.
the stickers placed on that toy specifically state not to be used off road. if you can, take it back to the target you bought it from and get your money back. then look around the LBS (local bike shops) in your area for a nice entry level hardtail. let the people there actually help you pick a bike that fits you. also please read this thread (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?67259-Please-Read-Before-asking-Question-MTB-FAQ.)

My first mtn bike (in 1981) was a 1954 3 speed Schwinn Corvette with a 36 tooth front sprocket. My fun meter was pegged - same as now with my Stumpjumper fsr. Bikes are like car radios, they're ok till you have someting better.

Hey yall, my name is Jonathan, I'm from Augusta, Ga. I live in Charlotte, Nc, going to school at Nascar Technical Institute. I have a Schwinn S-25 full susp. And I need some tips on upgrading my crank set, casette, and rear derailleur. I know its not the greatest, but i can out ride my buddy that has a Cannondale Raven. I can tell that these are the weak links on the bike, and i broke the derailleur the other day. Any HELP is Greatly APPRECIATED!!!!

I'd just ride it as-is and replace stuff as it wears out and breaks. As for a replacement deraileur, what kind did you break, because some aren't compatible with each other.

Its was a Shimano Tourney, 7speed. Also, the front sprockets are all bent up from a spill that sent me over that the bars. I am looking at upgrading the crankset and cassette, rear derailleur, and chain. But I dont know the specs for this Schwinn, or what will or will not work on this bike?

Awesome first bike quibbly. I test rode one and loved it. Congrats!

I wish I could have gone that high, but was on a tight budget and went with a Camber Comp.