Hi all. I am eighteen years old, and I have always been very active. I have always wanted to try mountain biking, and have decided to finally give it a shot.

I have biked all my life, but it has been just recreational and I haven't payed much attention to it. I want to make mountain biking a hobby for me so that I can get great exercise, and have great fun while doing it.

My budget is around $400, and I was wondering what a good starter bike could be for someone like myself.

Thanks.

If you're completely rigid to that budget, then check out the bare bones Specialized Hardrock.

If you can stretch your budget out a bill or so (never pay MSRP for a bike...a dealer worth his weight will work with ya)...check out the Hardrock Sport Disc.

There are so many facets of mountain biking that it's impossible for a nooblet to know what kind of rider he's gonna be. You may like grunting out XC courses and doing lap times. You may just like exploring trails and getting out into nature. You may wanna catch some air and tear the trail a new one. You may decide you dislike pedaling up hills, but love to smoke down the mountain.

The Hardrock will not be a "fantastic" bike for any of these, but it's a decent enough bike that it will handle "all" of these thing well enough to get you some experience, get your feet wet, and help you decide which area of MTB'ing that really lights your fire. After a year or two...if you get bit by the bug as bad as we have...you can throw down some serious $$$ for a serious bike that will help you enjoy your favorite part of the sport to the fullest.

You won't win any XC races against any serious riders, you won't do any backflip/tailwhips with it, you won't be able to hang on the heels of Lopes or Carter on 4x track, you won't be able to huck any monster 20ft drops...but you will have a crazy fun time finding yourself on the trail.

welcome man

That budget was just an estimate, but thanks for the help.
I'm really excited to get started this spring/summer!!

I was at my local sportchek the other day, and they had this mountain bike. Is it worth it?


https://www.sportchek.ca/product/inde...ductId=3991157

No.

Head to a bike shop and see what they have in your price range.

Not to be a snob...but it's just like playing guitar. If you play on a piece of crap...you won't stick with it. A nice bike will make you want to ride longer which will get you in better shape in a fun way which will make you able to ride your trails faster which will make riding more fun which will get you in better shape in a fun way which will make you able to ride your trails faster which will make riding more fun which will get you in better shape in a fun way which will make you able to ride your trails faster which will make riding more fun which will get you in better shape in a fun way which will make you able to ride your trails faster which will make riding more fun which will get you in better shape in a fun way which will make you able to ride your trails faster which will make riding more fun which will get you in better shape in a fun way which will make you able to ride your trails faster which will make riding more fun which will get you in better shape in a fun way which will make you able to ride your trails faster which will make riding more fun which will get you in better shape in a fun way which will make you able to ride your trails faster which will make riding more fun which will get you in better shape in a fun way which will make you able to ride your trails faster which will make riding more fun which will get you in better shape in a fun way which will make you able to ride your trails faster which will make riding more fun.

Go to your LBS and check stuff out. Get some prices. Ride a few bikes and see what feels best. Find the size that feels best. Ride that size in several makes/models. Don't let some desperate bike shop owner try to dump his old stock on you in the wrong size. Don't let him have you hop on some desperate piece of crap that is the only bike in his store that fits you all the time saying "See? This bike fits you perfectly"...and dump that crap on you. Come back with some results before you buy so you don't get screwed.


Make sure you come back with either cell phone pics or a good description (paint scheme) so we can also determine that LBS man is not trying to sell you a 2008 bike as a 2010.


And have some fun.

Fixed.




Haha. What Ed said, really.

Stop confusing the kid.

Alright, thanks guys.

btw, I've been on some forums before, and I must say, this is by far the most helpful. Most forums are full of people who just pick apart everything you suggest, especially since i'm a noob.

So you're saying you've been in here before?

lol, I just realized what I said. What I meant to say was that this forum seems a lot more helpful then some other forums ive been apart of.

I got that...I'm disagreeing with you.

This place is as cynical and insidious as any. I'll go down in flames before it gets all creampuff.


Now go do your research you flippin noob and stop bothering all of the nice people of the interwebz

While this forum does get a bit "insidious" from time to time, there's a certain levity to it that makes it all worth it. Most forums, people take themselves way too seriously, but not here.

Hey, levity is very serious business around here.

You're a bunch of bike snobs. What the kid really wants is a single speed, fixed gear, steel, rigid 29er with road slicks.