getting close
 

hey so im getting close to buying my first mtb and i need some help. my price range is 600 to a 1000. i want a bike for summer that will get me into moutain biking and see if i love it. Im just confused on whether i should get one of the first two more affordable options and see if i like it and then later on buy a more expensive bike or should i spend more now. Im scared if i spend 1000 now im going to fall alot, being the noob i am, and damage the bike. whats your guys opinions and which is better for me. thanks alot


khs aguila- http://www.khsbicycles.com/02_aguila_12.htm $769
felt nine trail-http://www.feltbicycles.com/USA/2012/Mountain/Nine-Series/Nine-Trail.aspx $700
felt nine sport-http://www.feltbicycles.com/USA/2012/Mountain/Nine-Series/Nine-Sport.aspx $1000

It's important to stay within budget and not run your bank account dry on just the bike. Keep in mind that you will also want to buy a helmet, and perhaps a camelbak (or similar), and perhaps other accessories. It is good to hold back a little cash for those things.

No matter what you do buy, if you get into the sport you'll want more. We all do. It's the way of things. LOL!

Don't worry about falling and crashing. For one, you can't let yourself obsess about the bike whilst riding, because then maybe you *will* crash. Just pedal the bike and forget what it cost. The other thing is that mountain-biking is not about crashing. It's about progression. I take a fair number of people out on singletrack for the first time, and crashing is rarely part of the picture. Ride within your limits. Progress naturally. Have fun!

yeah man thanks alot that makes complete sense. i didnt take that into consideration. do you have a favorite from the list or are they all gona be the same at that price range

any other takers?

Definitely don't worry about crashing. Mountain bikes are made to take abuse, & if anything does break it will likely be components (& not the frame), when can be replaced as they break relatively cheaply.

As far as which bike you get, I'd go to a local bike shop & at least test ride a few to get an idea of what size/style bike would best suit you. If you find one there you like, go ahead & buy it. Buying from the shops has many perks if it's a good bike shop--setting it up for your height (& weight if it has an air-adjustable fork) is common courtesy, & you may even get the first tune up free or all free for the first year, etc.

If you don't find a bike you really like at the shop, then at least you've gained some knowledge about what you did & didn't like about the bikes you tried out & you can apply that to whatever else you may be looking at. And for gear, you'll need a helmet. You'll likely want gloves & a pair of riding shorts with a chamois, & possible a moisture-wicking jersey for hot days. Helmets range anywhere from $20 at box stores to several hundred for really nice carbon fiber helmets. They're all roughly the same as far as protection, it's really a matter of comfort, weight, & aerodynamics for the more expensive ones. Gloves will be ~$20, jerseys start at ~$50 in my shop but can be had cheaper online, & shorts are pretty dang expensive--I never pay attention to the lycra ones because I don't like them, but the baggy style biking shorts start at ~$80 at my shop.

The only note I have to add is that I'm not encouraging you to go into a bike shop & test out all their bikes with the sole intention of buying cheaper online. If you test them & don't like them, that's one thing, but finding one you really like there & then buying the same model cheaper online is generally frowned upon around here.

buy used!!

I bought a 3 year old Giant Trance X2 for $1000 in late February this year - I've put on lots of miles with no problems so far - a lot cheaper than buying new

Five years ago I bought a used Carbon Fiber road bike from an estate - they let me test ride it for an hour. It was one year old and they sold it for 1/2 list price. It has been a great bike for the last 10,000 miles!

I've sold several high end mountain and road bikes that I had ridden for several years. The people that bought them got great deals on well cared for bikes. For example - a custom Serrotta road bike - all Camagnola Chorus groupo - perfect condition 6 years old and I sold it for 20% of what it cost me to build it.

As for crashing and damaging the bike - remember to always get your body between the ground/rocks/hard stuff and the bike - that will cushion the bike and prevent damage to the expensive components - it has worked well for me for the last 40 years. Hardly any broken bike parts but many broken fingers, wrists, collar bones, shoulders, legs, arms. But I have medical insurance and no bike insurance

PRIORITIES!

hahahah im a little less tough than you so i think ill let the bike take the damage but man thats funny. thanks for all the help

IMO, the KHS Aguila is just the perfect entry level 29er MTB!

My philosophy when it comes to bikes is, spend the most you can afford, but stay within your budget, and remain practical. Therefore, if you can afford the Felt Niner Sport, then get it!

PS.

If theft is a problem on your college campus, only buy that which you can afford to lose...Get a really good lock!

http://www.leelikesbikes.com/practicing-crashing.html

However, honestly, I take a good many newbies out riding. Maybe it's because trails here are cross-country in nature, not downhillish, but crashing just isn't much in the equation. We stumble and fall sometimes -- mostly at low speeds. We aren't flying off the trails and randomly splattering onto trees and rocks.