Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.Al K
04-15-05, 06:57 AM
Hi MTB'ers,
I've only been an mtb'er about 3 months -- so take what I say with that in mind.
I got a great deal on a hardtail - $250 for a new 1999 Giant Yukon which had been sitting around in a friend's bike shop for 6 years and he just wanted to get rid of it.
A month later I got another great deal from same friend. He had his own 1998 Gary Fisher Level Betty L0 which he only rode several times - I got this dualie for $300.
Now here I am 3 months later after riding both of these bikes quite a bit on trails, reading mtb books, participating in this forum, reading Mountain Bike Magazine online, experimenting with equipment (tires / tire pressures / bars / seat height / pedals), experimenting with techniques for climbing, downhills, mud, logs, and, oh yes, screwing up a lot.
There's lots of good advice in these resources, but you need to get out there and try stuff and develop skills. Hey, a $6,000 mtb would be a waste on me now.
What I'm learning is not just skills, but also what kinds of mountain biking I prefer. So when I get a better handle on my preferences and better skills in a year or so, then maybe I can get a bike that is "better" for me. But for now, my $250 and $300 deals surpass my $200 skills.
I've only been an mtb'er about 3 months -- so take what I say with that in mind.
I got a great deal on a hardtail - $250 for a new 1999 Giant Yukon which had been sitting around in a friend's bike shop for 6 years and he just wanted to get rid of it.
A month later I got another great deal from same friend. He had his own 1998 Gary Fisher Level Betty L0 which he only rode several times - I got this dualie for $300.
Now here I am 3 months later after riding both of these bikes quite a bit on trails, reading mtb books, participating in this forum, reading Mountain Bike Magazine online, experimenting with equipment (tires / tire pressures / bars / seat height / pedals), experimenting with techniques for climbing, downhills, mud, logs, and, oh yes, screwing up a lot.
There's lots of good advice in these resources, but you need to get out there and try stuff and develop skills. Hey, a $6,000 mtb would be a waste on me now.
What I'm learning is not just skills, but also what kinds of mountain biking I prefer. So when I get a better handle on my preferences and better skills in a year or so, then maybe I can get a bike that is "better" for me. But for now, my $250 and $300 deals surpass my $200 skills.