Originally Posted by
jrhoneOC
3. $300 on a used mid level bike and then spend $400 on mods and upgrades.
Avoid this ^^^ option. Spend more up front on something you'll enjoy. Immediately upgrading is not cost effective.
If buying used, don't go too far back in time because recent thinking around geometry has been good for the sport by making bikes more fun to ride and riders less likely to crash.
Would an old guy like me really benefit or notice some things like the 1x vs 2x drivetrain? I have read hydraulic brakes vs mechanical brakes is a must. In the past it was common knowledge to stay away from the low end components, weight and functionality were not great. Still the same? Tubeless?
I personally don't feel strongly on the drivetrain question. Either 1x or 2x is good by me. Hydro brakes are nice, but I wouldn't use the word "must". What you'll notice about brakes is that these days mechanical brakes are mainly spec'd on low-end bikes. Tubeless gets pushed harder than it deserves.