Mountain Biking - Looking for advice on bike purchase!

Need Advice on Bike Purchase
Looking for advice on what bike to buy.....
I need advice on buying a mountain bike. My husband and I ride locally in forest preserves, etc. in the northwest suburbs of Chicago and southern Wisconsin. We also ride in Breckenridge, Colorado. Time for a new bike! I have no clue what bike to buy and seem to be mis-guided when going into local shops. We've been riding for about 4 years....What should an athletic, fit, 51 year old female cyclist purchase? We ride on single-track terrain...roots, rocks, etc.
Thanks

Budget is about $800.

fit is the most important thing. get a bike that you are comfortable on. go to as many bike shops as you can and try as many bikes as you can until you find the one that you like most. look at trek, specialized, and giant. they make good bikes in that price range.

ime for a new bike! I have no clue what bike to buy and seem to be mis-guided when going into local shops. We've been riding for about 4 years....What should an athletic, fit, 51 year old female cyclist purchase? We ride on single-track terrain...roots, rocks, etc.


What bike are you riding now? Why do you feel that the bike shops have been misguiding you?

With an $800 budget and the riding you're talking about, I'd look into your garden-variety mountain hardtail--something like a Specialized Rockhopper. All the major brands have similar bikes.

pablosnazzy is correct about fit. It's worth going to some shops and doing some test rides. It is surprising how two similar-looking bikes can feel very different. When I shopped for my daughter years ago, she was uncomfortable on a 15" Rockhopper, but she loved Giant's 14" Yukon. She and I went to different shops. When we found a bike she felt comfortable on, that's what we bought.

Most of the brands make women-specific models. Those are worth a look as well. The general thinking with those is to aim the geometry at someone with a shorter torso relative to leg length.

Bike shopping can be fun. I like getting out and test-riding the different, new models.

I ride a 20 year old Fuji hybrid. No suspension. They seem to have little knowledge of the bikes they are selling. It just doesn't seem right.

Breck has quite a few bike rental shops - you could try out a few different brands.

With $800 budget, you could go used and probably get a smoking deal .. there seem to be a lot of used mountain bikes on the market.