Beginner needs bike suggestions
 

Hello! I am new here (and new to mtn biking) and looking for advice on how to buy a decent bike.

I am looking to buy a decent mountain bike for a beginner, but something that will last me a while as I get better. I want a quality bike with quality parts. My budget is not huge but I would rather spend more to get a bike that will last longer and be useful to me as I progress.

Any tips or suggestions? Also, any good places to look for used bikes (my local bike shops are def. NOT that place for that).

Thank you!

What is your budget?

Where do you want to ride?

What they said...

Give us an idea of your budget, where you want to ride, and who you are (height and weight) and we'll be happy to help you spend your money. Just be sure to budget for extras that you'll want/need like helmet, pedals, cleats, shoes, lights, camelback, etc. You can accumulate that stuff over time so you're not breaking the bank now but it will add to your enjoyment.

Mike

Well, I am 5'9", weight about 145, and female. I live in WNY and will be riding in the mountains (Adirondacks, Catskills), and he smaller and lesser-known Allegheny's. I will also be using the bike for commuting in the winter. I live up a HUGE, steep hill in what becomes a true winter-wonderland from November through March. My road bike is fine for commuting in dry conditions but there is no way I will be able to climb the 3 miles up the mtn. once the snow flies.

I already own helmet/gloves/camelback/shorts/etc as I do road bike tours, up to 100 miles a day.

My budget is going to be around $800.

Thanks!

anyone?

Where in WNY? I grew up out just South of Buffalo.

At $800 you could find a decent hardtail. You should go to a trusted shop and try out what they have in your price range. If you narrow the choices down, maybe some people here will be able to suggest one out of a few. Good luck on the hunt!

Craigslist Buffalo has a very active bike section, and mountain bikes in your size (?) are fairly common.
http://buffalo.craigslist.org/bik/832440865.html
Just an example (not mine), but similar bikes show up every few days.
Bikes in the $800 range are a bit more scarce, but do show up if you are patient.
Also check WNYMBA's forum, they tend to have a few more "higher end" bikes.

Thanks for the replies!

I went to 2 of the 3 LBS's today to try some bikes out. Of the ones I tried, the ones I like included the Cannondale F5, Trek 6000, and the Gary Fisher Wahoo Disc. Ones that I did NOT like included the Marin Hawk Hill and Ironhorse Maverick 3.0. The Marin had a too-short wheel base for me, annd the Ironhorse just felt cheap and the disc breaks were awful. It did however shift VERY smoothly.

I also realized that I LOVE lock-out shocks. Disc breaks are a MUST. And I wish decent bikes came in "girlier" colors but I guess I can work around that ;)

Also, to elaborate on my riding style. I'm pretty gutsy and although new to mtn biking, I already participate in other "extreme" sports such as snowboarding, 3-day eventing (which is a hard-core horse-back riding competition), and sky-diving. So I think I will probably be more courageous and harder on my bike than a lot of new riders. I have been commuting on my road bike and even though we stay on the road, its really just getting beaten up and rattled apart because its not up to the kind of ride I give it.

Edited to add that I live in Ithaca, NY, and grew up about 1 hr South of Rochester.

gary fisher piranah is a nice bike. specialized rockhopper is also one of the most popular models. take a look at those.

I've got an F5 and can only say positive things about it (well, I think I got something on the pads and now have no stopping power, and at 25-30$ for a set of pads, I think I'd be better off just getting something better like BB7s).