Looking to buy a mountain bike - COMPLETE NEWBIE!
#1
henk
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 6
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Looking to buy a mountain bike - COMPLETE NEWBIE!
I'm looking into buying a mountain bike to ride on some mild/moderate trails as a fitness/leg muscle building routine. I'm a complete newbie when it comes to mountain biking. I live in the Orange County area.
I'm considering the Trek 4300 w/o disc brakes in a 16" size. I went to go see the bike and he recommended a smaller size for me since I was planning to get more agressive when I become more experienced. My budget is somewhere around $400.
Is there anything I should know or any other options I should consider? Please enlighten me... any comments are welcome!
Thanks!!
I'm considering the Trek 4300 w/o disc brakes in a 16" size. I went to go see the bike and he recommended a smaller size for me since I was planning to get more agressive when I become more experienced. My budget is somewhere around $400.
Is there anything I should know or any other options I should consider? Please enlighten me... any comments are welcome!
Thanks!!
#2
DNPAIMFB
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Cowtown, AB
Posts: 4,654
Bikes: Titus El Guapo, Misfit diSSent, Cervelo Soloist Carbon, Wabi Lightning, et al.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
The most important thing [other than getting a hardtail], is fit. Ride several bikes, whether they're in your price range or not to see what feels best, and see what size bike the different bike shops put you on. It can be enlightening...
__________________
Proud Member of the HHCMF
'06 Cervelo Soloist Carbon | '09 Titus El Guapo | '09 Misfit diSSent | '09 Wabi Lightning
Proud Member of the HHCMF
'06 Cervelo Soloist Carbon | '09 Titus El Guapo | '09 Misfit diSSent | '09 Wabi Lightning
#3
henk
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 6
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Will do. I'll try different sizes at different shops. Is the 4300 a good model to start and build on?
#4
Elite Rep
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Melbourne - Australia
Posts: 2,096
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
When you say build on do you mean upgrade parts on it?
#5
henk
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 6
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
no i meant it as building up my skill level.
#6
You know you want to.
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Norman, Oklahoma
Posts: 1,896
Bikes: Pinarello Prince, 1980's 531 steel fixie commuter, FrankenMTB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Originally Posted by m0ss
Will do. I'll try different sizes at different shops. Is the 4300 a good model to start and build on?
My experience with those is that they take a bit of a beating, and then start to quickly fail. Just personal experience. And make sure all your parts are tightened before you ride it (especially cranks).
In that price range, also take a look at the Specializeds, a little more bang for the buck, I think. And, they look cooler.
__________________
Weather today: Hot. Humid. Potholes.
Weather today: Hot. Humid. Potholes.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Boulderado
Posts: 1,474
Bikes: Intense SS, Old spesh P series, ski/snow bike, fixie conversion
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Specalized hardrock!! I bought an 04 frame from a friend and have totally pimped it out. It can be used from XC all the way to hardtail freeride.
#8
DNPAIMFB
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Cowtown, AB
Posts: 4,654
Bikes: Titus El Guapo, Misfit diSSent, Cervelo Soloist Carbon, Wabi Lightning, et al.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Originally Posted by m0ss
Will do. I'll try different sizes at different shops. Is the 4300 a good model to start and build on?

__________________
Proud Member of the HHCMF
'06 Cervelo Soloist Carbon | '09 Titus El Guapo | '09 Misfit diSSent | '09 Wabi Lightning
Proud Member of the HHCMF
'06 Cervelo Soloist Carbon | '09 Titus El Guapo | '09 Misfit diSSent | '09 Wabi Lightning
#9
henk
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 6
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
lol well i'm not planning on jumping off 5-6 ft cliffs on my bike... i'm planning just to take it on some rough/hilly dirt terrain to build some leg muscle... i would call that light riding... dont you think?
#10
henk
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 6
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
oh and yeah, i will look into the specialized hardrock... that bike looks pretty mean as well... looks more agressive IMO than the trek 4300
#11
Banned.
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Moncton NB
Posts: 2,123
Bikes: Trek Jack...trials bike soon.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
I'd look at GT's if I were you. More bang for the buck than both trek and specialized. If you want to build leg muscle fast, take your new bike and work on going up hills without walking your bike up them.
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: california
Posts: 196
Bikes: Specialized Hardrock Sport 2006
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Ya ive been mountain biking for a couple months and have been riding my hardrock sport everyday and i got my first flat intertube yesterday 
But i wouold really reccomend the hardrock!

But i wouold really reccomend the hardrock!
#13
Mad bike riding scientist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 20,940
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, an orange one and a few titanium ones
Mentioned: 82 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2194 Post(s)
Originally Posted by m0ss
I'm looking into buying a mountain bike to ride on some mild/moderate trails as a fitness/leg muscle building routine. I'm a complete newbie when it comes to mountain biking. I live in the Orange County area.
I'm considering the Trek 4300 w/o disc brakes in a 16" size. I went to go see the bike and he recommended a smaller size for me since I was planning to get more agressive when I become more experienced. My budget is somewhere around $400.
Is there anything I should know or any other options I should consider? Please enlighten me... any comments are welcome!
Thanks!!
I'm considering the Trek 4300 w/o disc brakes in a 16" size. I went to go see the bike and he recommended a smaller size for me since I was planning to get more agressive when I become more experienced. My budget is somewhere around $400.
Is there anything I should know or any other options I should consider? Please enlighten me... any comments are welcome!
Thanks!!
Look at a Rockhopper ($520). It has a lower standover height than the Hardrock and is more cross country oriented. That makes it more fun for mild trails/singletrack than a bike that is aimed more at the urban assault crowd.
__________________
Stuart Black
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Days of Wineless Roads. Bed and Breakfasting along the KATY
Twisting Down the Alley. Misadventures in tornado alley.
An Good Ol' Fashion Appalachian Butt Whoopin'.
Stuart Black
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Days of Wineless Roads. Bed and Breakfasting along the KATY
Twisting Down the Alley. Misadventures in tornado alley.
An Good Ol' Fashion Appalachian Butt Whoopin'.
«
Previous Thread
|
Next Thread
»