General Cycling Discussion - Bike ? from a newbie..

Totally new to "wanting" to bike ride.. Ive dropped 20lbs from buying a ski boat and just using it, swimming, skiing,wakeboarding etc... I feel alot better.. My? .. Im interested in a mountainbike, this will be used to ride dirtroads, town, a few intermediate local trails etc...Ive been to all the box stores saw the mongoose,next,Schwinn, brands etc... Im 6ft2" 250lb athletic-ee,good balance,decent reflexes etc... I feel as if im too big an "ol-boy" to ride a 26" say 19-20" frame... I feel like one bump or rock/curb itll be toast... Whats a good beginner mtn bike without killing the pocket book...Ill be honest and looked at a Schwinn.at wal.mart for like 150... comftorable to me but feels like a toy, what do i do, splurge on a more xpensive unit, go w a 29" tire... im clueless and lost.... did find some nice diamondbacks at Dicks sporting goods that had tubless tires i felt would work.... suggestions folx. Thanx..

You are a bigger guy (like me), so I would not cheap out on what you buy. You may end up paying more in the long run, and just get aggravated. I was in your same boat years ago. I went with a Gary Fisher MTB from my LBS. I also established a really good relationship with them. They have fixed many things for me for free, and always provide good info. I think I spent $400 for the GF Advanced bike. I had that bike for about 10 years, and never had any issues other than replacing the tires to more Roady tires. I just sold it two weeks ago for $200 (but I had a few extras accessories on it).

I too thought the Box Store bikes "Looked" good, but folks here steered me in the right direction. I have never regretted it. I'm biking 600 miles a month now.

you just bought a ski boat but can't afford a bicycle? Ok. Here is what i would do if I were you. Go to LBS and buy an entry-level to maybe mid-level mountain bike. Do NOT get the first "level" that changes feature: IE The Dominato 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 all have, for example, rim breaks. BUT, the Dominator 4.0 has disk breaks, just like the more expensive Carbon Fiber Dominator! Don't buy the 4.0. The breaks are ****e and you would be better served with the kick-ass rim breaks on the 3.0 and save money too. Also, buy buying a lower level bike you avoid griping over the threshold where more expensive means less weight ( and therefore, arguably, a less durable bike).

Tube tires are fine
Aluminum frames are fine
Steel frames are fine
26 inch wheels are fine (and stronger than 29s)
Used is fine

all the Major Brands are pretty much the same thing quality wise.

I absolutely adore my Trek 820 for the uses you have outlined. It's the cheapest thing Trek sells and mine has been indestructible under my 230 pounds. I don't think the other brands offer a steel frame MTB new any more.

Hope this helps! Slide over to the Clydesdale forum and check things out there too.

Pretty good advice there from all of the above. All the bikes in the entry level price range are going to have crappy forks though. As a big dude thats something to be aware of. Might make buying used something to think about. Also check Bikesdirect.com. If you are a bit handy you can get something good for the price there. Do not even consider bikes with rear suspension at the price points you are talking about.

Welcome To Bike Forums, JD!

I would recommend the following:

The Giant Boulder MTB ~ $360
www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bikes/model/boulder/9043/48922/ (http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bikes/model/boulder/9043/48922/)

The Motobecane Phantom 29er Trail MTB ~ $500
www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/fantom29_trail_xii.htm (http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/fantom29_trail_xii.htm)

The Diamondback Overdriver Expert 29er MTB ~ $450
www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_537004_-1_202616 (http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_537004_-1_202616)

Its not "cant afford" by no means!! Im just not one to drop 1k on something im not sure of as of know.. Guy that works for me has 3500.00 in his bike, thats not the riding I will do.... Some great points and suggestions guys, think ill wonder to the LBS today and see what they say..... I've pretty much weeded out any box store, some pawn shops locally have some nice trek bikes i may need to summons my hand over ghere to put his eyes on em. Only thing he assumes the "bossman" wants to go hardcore like him...lol. not the case... thanx for your inputs ill check on the bikes above mentioned... JD

Wheels get no attention on bikes that are sold in big box stores,
never before, and there is no service after the sale,
... like proper bike shops provide.

Any thoughts on a 19" specialized hard rock... updated de-railers 2 years old new tires 250... ????

Any thoughts on a 19" specialized hard rock... updated de-railers 2 years old new tires 250... ????

The thing about buying used is that basically three things are required:

1) Somebody needs to know about bikes so that you won't be taken or scammed due to an inferior bike, a broken or damaged bike, a bike that will be too expensive to maintain and/or repair, or a bike that's not the proper size.

2) You need to test ride the bike. No matter how great you think the deal is for the money, if the bike makes you feel uncomfortable, you won't enjoy it, and you won't ride it!

3) You need to KNOW who the seller is for certain, just in case the bicycle is stolen...

Probably not a bad deal, but bring your boss and offer $200

Well guys i took a guy that works for me to look at the hard rock.. He said it was a good deal by the time we had left my employee "the bike guy" and the seller "another bike guy " knew each other, after they tslked i wound up with it for 175.00. Im tickled rode 4 miles as well.. I just got in from it getting a quick "once over" mini tune up. Its performance for me was great, i feel extremely comfortable on it, and am really thrilled.. Hopefully ill be upgrading because this is so.ethjng i think i could really get into...