Geared Rigid 29er to upgrade?
 

I have $1000 or so to spend, and i'm looking for something to ride in the DC/Virginia arena. So singletrack semi flat trails. I'm 6'4 and looking for a nice 29er but haven't see any that i'm in love with in that price range. The GF X-caliber looks sweet but its a bit out of my range. So i wanted to know if anyone knows of a rigid geared bike that might have better components and whatnot at the expense of a suspension fork. (So that i might upgrade at a later date, as to get some riding in now!) Or of course if you know of a deal somewhere id love to hear about it. But i'm trying to keep it from 1000-1200 tops. Thanks a ton guys.

what kind of bikes does your local bike shop sell?

Buy the Zion 29er frame and rigid fork from Jenson USA and have $800 to finish the build. Build it up as a 1x9 like the Salta El Mariachi. BB7 mechanics are CHEAP and especially if you can find some 2007 models for sub $50 each. As long as you don't need carbon bits, the stem, seatpost, handlebars shouldn't hit you hard.

For $1500 (maybe cheaper) the salsa El Mariachi is a fun looking bike (and steel).

Ya the Zion looks like a sweet ride.

Check out the Redline 1 x 9 29ers. Great specs for the price. I've been thinking about one once I get my touring bike sold.

Here's an option. You could add a rigid fork and still come out witha good price.

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...antom29_08.htm

I'm really digging this one.......
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...tcast29_08.htm

Jenson USA also has some reasonably priced, customizable build kits. Their 29'er Geared Kit is $699 configured with Avid BB7s and comes with mostly LX level components. Pick up the Zion frame and fork and you'd be out of there for under $1000. That'd be a blast to build up and ride.

hmm thanks for the ideas. The jenson built kit looks nice, and i have a chance to get a Salsa Dos niner frame used for 399, so maybe ill build that up. Im going to test drive a GF and a speccy today, and i tried a c'dal yesterday, and i must say i wasnt feeling the c'dale. Mind you it was an XL and just felt huge, but i guess testing out as many as pos is a good idea cause apparently i'm not totally sold on the 29's. Maybe the new G2 geo of the fisher will change my mind. If only i could try the zion first...

I have a dos niner and it kicks ass for an inexpensive frame.

very light and capable of alot of things depending on how you build it up.

keep in mind, at 6'4'' you might be automatically used to riding the xl size on most 26'' frames. you should try out some smaller (m/l, l) 29frames and see how they feel.