Mountain Biking - Trials/off road bike?

Hey,
I've just recently begun mountain biking...just got a Gary Fisher Tasajarra. So far so good.

A friend of mine will be getting a bike soon...within a few months. He's getting the bike as a graduation (college) gift, so he'll be looking into a decent bike at a decent price range...I'll assume $1000 give or take a few hundred. Here's the issue: he wants to get into trials riding and is thinking about getting a singlespeed, trials-specific bike. I'm trying to talk him out of this and into an all out mountain bike so that we'll be able to ride together. He seems to think he'll be able to keep up in the woods, but I'm not sure he will.

Can anyone offer any advice or input? Do you think he'll be able to keep up? If he got a mountain bike (Hardtail of full), do you think he'll be able to ride trials at all? I know that some trials riders do use this sort of bike, but are the capabilities of a mountain bike limited for riding trials? Any ideas as to what might be a good bike for both types of riding? Any input is appreciated...I'm hoping to talk him into a bike that's more geared (pardon the pun) towards riding off-road.

Thanks

John

welcome to the forums :D

it really depends how good your friend is, if the trails you ride are all down hill then i guess he should be able to keep up, but if you ride XC, with a lot of height change he will struggle. Has he done trials before? if not then in my opinion it would be better to get a MTB if he has no trials experience and learn the basics on that, if he really gets into it and gets good, then the single might be a good idea, otherwise i wouldn't recommend it. + you want someone to ride with don't ya, 2 is always better then one, if your both at a similar standard that is.

You can set up a bike that can be ridden for both types of riding. Of course you will have less than ideal characteristics for both but it can be done. I personally ride trials on a Kona Stuff and I find that it can go anywhere and do anything. Thats the advantage of this kind of bike.:beer:

Originally posted by JohnBoston
He seems to think he'll be able to keep up in the woods, but I'm not sure he will.


There is no possible way that he could keep up with you in the woods on a trials specific bike with trials gearing.

Thats true, the gear you would run for trails is next to useless for XC because it would be so light. The best way to go would be a small ring on the front and an 8 spd rear casette. this set-up can be ridden for XC and trials....keep in mind however that trials bikes are usually really small and have poor geometry for trail riding. Your freind may want to consider getting a mountain bike in a small size and setting it up for trials. A good pick would be a Santa Cruz Chamelion, or a Kona roast. me and the guys I ride with all have bikes that are set up for all kinds of riding (trials,urban assult,downhill, dirtjumping). its very possible to do, however for strictly XC, these bikes will be a drag to ride.:beer:

Hey,
Thanks for the info. I'll see if I can talk my friend into something that will make him happy, but give me someone else to ride with off road. Your suggestions will be very helpful, i'm sure. Thanks again.

John