Spookeay Bird

Hey guys. Migrated over here from the road section.

I have several of my local road friends wanting me to try Mountain Biking. They have offered bikes but I know how I am about my own road bikes, I am not prepared to barrow some ones bike and crash it only to feel like crap for crashing it. Then I was by Wal-Mart today and saw this. I know how we roadies bash Walley world road bikes. But I could pop $300 for this bike and not worry about it if I don't care for Mnt Biking. Any ideas if this is going to be a fair bike to give the trail a go on? Also what kind of weight is a good average for a Mnt bike or is that just a road bike thing?

The first try at the trail bike in mind.

ESW116

It's going to be pretty crappy. It has discs and dual suspension...but they're going to be REALLY crappy components. If you ask me I would not buy a brand new wally bike if you're considering whether or not you want to get into it more.

Just find a good used hardtail from a respectable brand. You'll get way, way more value and it'll be easier to sell back for close to what you paid.

For what it's worth I'm the same as you. I was a roadie for a while but was invited buy a buddy to go MTB'ing. He let me borrow a bike and I basically fell in love. 10x more enjoyable than road riding (and 10x the workout).

Zephyr11

I'd ride a Walmart road bike way before I'd ride a Walmart mountain bike. The Walmart road bike will be heavy and shift like crap. The Walmart mountain bike will be heavy, shift like crap, and have suspension like a pogo stick. For that same $300 you can get an actual mountain bike on Craigslist. For an extra $150 you can get a new entry level bike.

electrik

Lets see... you've admitted to being very picky about bicycles, but are going to choose a bottom of the barrel bicycle! How much fun do you think road biking is on a $300 walmart bike? Same deal off-road.

Most likely you'll be back on the road in a week or so having concluding mtb biking sucks, is too hard or etc! Same way 99% wally-world road bikers are back on the couch saying road biking sucks.

Good luck, personally i'd borrow the friends b-ride - they have offered and shouldn't ***** about a few scratch if you crash.

Spookeay Bird

OK,,,, I thought this was how it was..... As my husband says. Never hurts to ask. So I ask for $1000 to go shopping and get yelled at.. and reply. I'm hurt. You said it never hurts to ask LOL... Ok LBS has a Cannondale for $600 Looks like hell but is sound.... I just hate brown.....I shall let you know how the ride next week end goes if I live.

Daspydyr 

Try shopping for a couple weeks, maybe find a Mountain Bike Club and see who is getting rid of a quality ride. If you just feel like you need a bike, C-dale in brown might make you grind your teeth in a couple weeks. But you sound bike compentent, paint that suckka and make it your own.

dminor 

Brown is a good neophyte color - - not as noticeable when something scares the poop outa you . . . .

Bighec

MTB's from Wally world also tend to break within the first 10 minutes on the trail.

iqbal624

Wow. That's an impressive statistic, I didn't think they'd last that long...

LesterOfPuppets

I forget which part of AL yer from, and from what I remember from pics of your road bikes this would be too big for you, but this is the kinda rig I'd be looking for, Spook:

https://bham.craigslist.org/bik/2657167833.html

I might go hardtail if I were you, however. There should be some good deals on your local CL. What kinda trails are you gonna hit?

catonec 

your busted!! jumping ship like that. I personally come from mtb'ing and jumped to the road scene. Im a big proponent of the bikes direct route. 300 gives you a few options that are better than the wallymobile. but...$400 & $500 scores you 1 of 2 pretty damn decent moto fs. theres some nice hardtails right in that price range also. coming from a road bike the fat tires will be all the suspension you'll need out back.
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...cane/500ds.htm
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...ne/500ds_x.htm

yifeng vivi

that price of MTB bike is very competitive,it worth you to buy.for the carbon wheels and frame are more expensive.

Gummee

Mtn bikes are supposed to be ridden. If your buddies are willing to lend you a bike, take it. It'll be nicer (and the ride will be better) than if you went and bought a hoopty. Just like borrowing tools: IF you find yourself going more than 3x you need to buy one.

Failing that, ebay and CL are your friends. IDK about your neck of the woods, but here in the DC area there's a boatload of newer old model bikes for pennies on the dollar on CL.

M

3speed

I too say borrow the friends bike if it fits you well enough. Doesn't have to be perfect of course just to get out there and get hooked. Don't worry about crashing it. MTBs get crashed. No big deal. They're built to stand up to some abuse. I crashed one of my nicer road bikes gently on some wet grass and toasted the fork. It was a seriously light crash and I'm still bitter about that frail piece of crap bending so easily. I've crashed my lower end MTB pretty damn hard going over the bars after a jump and rode it away perfectly fine. I doubt anything you're going to be trying on a first ride out is going to manage to damage a MTB even if you do crash it, which you probably won't anyway. I know didn't really start crashing until I starting thinking I knew what I was doing a little bit and pushing my limits more.