ed 

Hi. I'm looking to buy a new mountain bike. I've been riding road for a few years, but to me it looks like all the fun kids go mountain biking on dirt paths littered with rocks and tree roots and the like.

I'm looking to spend about $250 but willing to upgrade things immediately. I want something that's really light, but will handle a pounding b/c I think I'll progress rather quickly. I'm planning on doing drops to flat with it. I want to be able to race some 24hr races and short track XC races. Maybe some duathalons. The main thing is that I want to have a good platform to upgrade things. I'll probably start with the rear derailleur. It doesn't have to have disc brakes, but I plan to install them sooner or later.

Thanks

24/7biker

if you plan on upgrading immediately then you should just save up and buy a better bike to start out with. upgrading parts becomes expensive, it's better to buy a bike with decent components than to buy a bike with lower end components then trying to upgrade everything.

for $250 you can probably get an entry level hardtail, something like a trek 820. the trek 820 is a decent starter bike, the frame is steel and very durable but it's not very light. i'd check your local craigslist and see what you can find there. for $250 though you want a hardtail bike, don't even think about buying a full suspension bike for $250. a decent entry level full suspension bike usually costs about $800.

lofnsjoke

you needed to add a

P.S. im to lazy to use the search function

Terry66

I would look at a rigid 29er. You know you want it

mystolenbikes

Walmart should have just the thing you want.

craigcraigcraig

this will be perfect.

ed 

I've looked at WalMart and Target, but they have some sort of LBD that mentions something about "not intended for off road use".

mystolenbikes

No no they are perfect for off road and down hill like the picture above craigcraigcraig posted is the perfect one.

craigcraigcraig

2 inches of travel in front and back will be perfect for hitting the jumps to flats.

never

A V10 sounds like the bike for you.

dminor 

That's a good place to start. Get a good SRAM x.9 or a Shimano XT derailleur . . . then start shopping for other components and a frame to go with it.





OR . . . I have this really cool frame with a custom, one-of-a-kind decal that I'll sell reasonable:

standingovation

I agree with 24/7, upgrading can become very pricey. If you plan on upgrading the components later it may be better to save the extra $$ and select a bike that already has what you want. If at all possible stay away from WMart or Target bikes... unless you want to spend more time making repairs than actually riding.

KM

mystolenbikes

You know this is a BS post right?

Dannihilator

I could see 49er being perfect for you.

24" front wheel, 29" rear wheel. So that way running a marzocchi super monster won't screw with the geometry.

ed 

Are you being serious or just trying to mess with the noob?

mtnbiker66

Start with a good set of brake levers and build from there. You'll really understand what kind of riding you'll be into by the time you buy your next logical part, the saddle. From there the world is wide open.

ed 

Good thought...how do I attach brake levers to the saddle? Some sort of Unigeezer bracket?

junkyard

Just put some fat tires on your roadie, ride low pressure. You should be fine and get a taste for if you like mountain biking or not. If it turns out you do, just slap a suspension fork on one of your spare roadie frames and build from there.

You can thank me later when you see how much money I've saved you.

sscyco

For $250 you can go on Craigslist and find a good deal - there are many out there if you know what looking for - here are some tips -

1) Do worry about size - it's a bicycle, size does not matter - motorcycles only come in one size.

2)You need suspension - you must have it - motorcycles do.

3) All decals must load bearing - or it would just fall apart

Here are my picks:
https://spokane.craigslist.org/bik/1624268790.html
https://spokane.craigslist.org/bik/1624081731.html
https://spokane.craigslist.org/bik/1623259433.html

m4ximusprim3

one advantage you have coming from the road scene is that you know the importance of really expensive shoes. I'd make sure to buy dedicated MTB shoes that cost at least $300 and be sure to keep them in a hermetically sealed box when you're not using them to make sure they retain the proper flex for optimal power transfer. I hear the negatively charged ion particles in the air play hell with the polymers.

Other than that, the rest of the bike isn't really important.

m4ximusprim3

Wtf is with that last one? What's the point of posting a picture if it looks like Muhammad Ali took it?

sscyco

ha

Siu Blue Wind

Oh that's hella funny

craigcraigcraig

lol