Zephyr11

I don't lock out my bike. Ever. You really don't lose that much power.

BlueRaleigh

I realize some folks don't mind spending every free dime they have (and then some) on bicycles. But for those of an economical mindset, hard tails are a better deal. Friend of mine blew out his rear shock and that was $300 he didn't have to get it fixed. But hey, maybe you're rich.

never

Who brought up "economical mindset"? The OP is looking at spending between $2000-2500.

samburger

Dude, I work at a chain drug store making just above minimum wage at less than full time hours with no benefits. You don't have to be rich to afford a decent FS bike, you just have to be passionate enough about the sport to sacrifice beer money for bike money, & either save it or build as you can afford parts. Think of all the things you own that you could survive without & then tell me you can't afford a $1200 custom build. You're on a MOUNTAIN BIKING forum. Most people here are incredibly passionate about the sport, & it seems you are not. That's fine, but don't pull the 'you're a rich *****' card just because we like biking more than you.

crazyotte

^+1. Another 19 yr old college student, splitting paychecks between groceries and bike parts.

Dilberto

...what Samburger said. Word.

96_xj

x1000 on what Samburger said.

I am a college student (turning 21 soon) and these are the bikes I brought with me to college. I make $8.25 an hour at a call center working 30 hour weeks and traveling ALOT, plus I have a jeep addiction so that is where alot of money goes too.

I support myself completely and yet I can still enjoy the sport. Doesnt sound like your heart is in it fully, the more you race too the cheaper it gets. I have alot of part and fuel sponsors just because I am ambitious. I am not a Cat 1 rider by any means (altho I have cat 1 equivalent bikes) but I am always competing and in good spirits and companies look at that. I do everything TT, tri, road, xc, am, SS, and cyclo cross. Just a matter of setting your heart to it.



as it is for maintenance I can go to our on campus bike shop and do my own free of charge (even tho I have all the tools here at home).







you dont have to be on the podium every race to get a sponsor to help out either. Hell I always do one of the local bi-monthly rides and am at the local races, I am known for just being there and having fun, I had our LBS come up and ask me what I do to order parts I stated I normally go through Trisports.com, but for anything I cant get thru them I shop around. We got to talking and now I am on our LBS "supported members" list so I get things at cost from him.... Just gotta get in the mind set.

Also(not to derail the thread to much) but if you get a little backing from a LBS and then start asking for "help" in trade for advertisement alot of companies will go for it. Rudy Project is one company that I have a deal with. i get 1 "credit" a year just as long as I run their glass, helmets and put them on my Jersey's whenever I can. Easy and simple, I hold up my end and I get my "credit"

scrublover

Yeah...you don't have to be rich. You make priorities. I drive a small, cheap, used (and paid off) car. It will get driven until it dies. I live in a smaller, less expensive house than I "could" be in. We cook a lot at home vs. going out or eating pre-made crap. We don't pay for cable. Save. I use cheap cranks and some other parts, to stick the money into other parts instead. I ride to work most of the time, and run errands bike bike quite a bit. Hell, I do most of our grocery shopping and coupon clip and hit sales like mad. Do as much of our home work and repair on my own. Do my own bike wrenching.

All of that means I have several pretty nice rides.

And your implication that all shocks will blow up because your buddy had one blow up is just dumb. Sorry, but it is. Dude, he could buy a new shock for $300. $300 to have it repaired? If it wasn't under warranty, and he paid $300 for a basic shock repair, he's an idiot.

crazyotte

After riding my "dream on a budget" HT for the past few months, by a twist of fate I hit the trail on a loaner Stumpy FSR comp 29er. And I shall say, YES, it is time to switch.

electrik

It's true FS bikes are a bit more maintenance, but $150 to repair a damaged shock is usually the limit, you also have bearings to replace but that depends on your local soil conditions mostly... some guys have to rotate once a season others never. Aside from the rear shock and bearings, it's probably worth it... be careful whose frame you buy also, big S doesn't warranty and part of the rear triangle so if you're the type to break stuff...