BayArea

Hello, I live in the northern coast of San Mateo County. I have been dirt biking for about 5 plus years "my favorite riding is single track trails" and now I want to get in mountain bikes. I'll be honest I'm not in the best shape but feel that this could be a great hobby. Any suggestions? Should I rent a bike to make sure I like it, what bike to buy, good local trails, or anything else you can think of?

Are their any other forums of guys with similar questions?

osco53

I was not in the 'best shape' when I started, I am now

Testing the waters,,, Renting is a good Idea, So Is getting a used first bike.
Going to your local bike shop and buying what they sell is smart..
You WILL need their help along the way so help them, buy from them.

So many get hung up on what bike is best, whats the coolest, whats the fad this season.
It's not the bike It's the engine. I have spanked guys on Uber bikes, $5,000 plus bikes.
I have been spanked by guys on beat to death worn out decades old $500 entry level bikes.

Most start on Hard Tails for simplicity and IMO hard tails teach you things. A new rider on a full suspension will
take longer to learn the basics because a soft tail will let you get lazy..
Hard Tails will smack you in the arze if you mess up......

If you get addicted focus on filling your bag of skills, not the bike...

As your skill bag fills you will learn what second bike is best for you..
There is always a second bike,
And a thrid,,
,
It's all about the bike ya know :XD

dminor 

Utter BS of course; but a hardtail is a good bet if you're not sure what you want and want something decent for a modest initial investment.

Welcome to the most fun you can have on two wheels without an engine . . . you're gonna enjoy it.

Coming from dirt biking, you have the skillset and you will quickly find yourself outstripping the capabilities and limitations of a hardtail. You no doubt will find yourself wanting something that mimics the abilities of your moto and that's where a decent full-suspension comes in. If you afford to avoid the pain in the a** of mucking around with hardtails to begin with all the better.

I came from a moto background, got into full suspension right away and never looked back. YMMV of course; and, either way, it's a great way to get and stay in shape.

ColinL

I agree with dminor, and like him, I also spent a lot of time on dirtbikes before coming to MTB. Cornering a MTB is a little different, mainly (IMHO) that you have pedal clearance concerns and you can't negotiate rear traction with a throttle.

Reasons to be out of the saddle on a MTB:
jumping
descending
slow technical climb
rock garden
whoops section

Look familiar for dirtbikers? Yeah, it's almost the same. There's no reason to get out of the saddle for small obstacles with full suspension.

osco was right that success starts with the rider, but the only reason to be on a hardtail is budget. Technical trails are more difficult and more punishing on a hardtail, and you can certainly hurt yourself and your bike by riding it beyond its intended purpose.

osco53

My "Utter BS" was how I was taught, I was told a Hard Tail teaches you why and when you need to be off the saddle.
On a Hard Tail you learn alot sooner how to use your legs and arms as shock absorbers.
You have to learn this real fast on a HT or you will crash more..
Most beginners need to learn this before they get into big speeds.
It trains you faster than a softy to ride light on the bike. And It has a bit less suspension to adjust.

diminor is right about one thing, "a hardtail is a good bet if you're not sure what you want and want something decent for a modest initial investment."

Because a good entry level full suspension starts near $2K and Decent Hard tails can be had near $1K new.

Do think twice about a Hard Tail, I had one, loved it, now on full squish and am done with HT's,
You gotta man up on a Hard Tail,
It will work you harder than you think,,,, a Great way to gain skills and strength fast.
I know some really fast Hard Tail riders btw...

Hard Tails are not for the meek that's for sure...

BayArea

Thank for the info. I was looking at some hard tails on Craigslist. There are a ton of Mountain Bikes on San Francisco Craigslist by the way. I just talked to one of my buddies and he as Mountain Bike he doesn't ride anymore. So I might just barrow his and possibly buy it. I can wait to get out for the first time! The last thing I need is another expensive hobby!

Also does any one know of any groups that does rides in the Pacifica area?

dminor 

That's the mantra that so many beginners get drilled into them but it's old-skool thinking that may have a shred of validity to roadies coming over to dirt or someone who's never ridden a bike since they were a kid.

You have to realize that the OP is someone who already knows how to ride two wheels in the dirt at speed. Not 100% of the skillset is transferable but dirt bikers are hardly 'beginners' when they swing a leg over a bicycle.

As Colin and I both mentioned, budget need be the only thing holding someone back from full suspension. As far as the "simplicity" argument, I think if the OP can handle the mechanicals of maintaining a moto, including its 'complicated' suspension, I would hope that the 'complexity' of an MTB would not overwhelm him .

osco53

True, very true,, I too came from moto, I say that skill set is a help but different.

On a Yamadog DT 250 you jam your arze into the seat and hit the gas to jump out of a turns apex.
Same goes for a light and fast 125 class bike. But you gotta be quicker in your moves.
You remember, for fast laps turn all corners into straight lines, one in and one out.

A Hard Tail makes you work more for it and that makes you stronger faster, just sayin....

BayArea

So my buddy is letting me borrow his old Bontrager with the option to buy it for $500. He said back in the day (15 years ago) he put around 3k into it and he wouldn't sell it if not for the fact that when he bought it he was 5'11" and now he is 6'8". He just got it tuned up at Paulo Alto bikes on University Avenue. It has a clean bill of health, and about a year ago he put new heavy-duty tubes in it with new street tiers. All that it could use would be a new seat, handlebars, and of course a set of dirt tires.

What do you guys think?

ColinL

you can't go wrong with borrowing a bike and getting to know the trails to see if you're having fun and if you're on the right equipment.

some pics would go a long ways towards determining value, but a vintage MTB probably is not worth much more than $500 since suspension has dramatically improved in 15 years.

Canker

Yeah what he said. From the pic I wouldn't pay $500 for it.

BayArea

Here's the pic i thought I already up loaded it

BayArea

What would be a good price to offer? If I like the bike.