Mountain biking is a passion for me, and I have been doing it for over 30 years. I just fell backwards into this SS thing, but I am loving it. Here, in this part of the forum I see, like you all do, the weekly long time lurker, first time poster, asking the same question as has been asked a million times. Something similar occurs on all MTB forums of course.

Here is the thing that gets me, that I would be curious to hear thoughts on. Here in the SS/Fixed Gear world you really can have a decent rideable bike for $400-500. Yet, in the MTB world that price of bike might not get me back to the trailhead on a difficult trail. Even with that, people post up asking about suggestions for a GOOD MTB for $200-300.

Huh???? Is it that newbie SS/Fixed Gear folks actually do a "little" more research??? Or, are they just a "little" less delusional???

Dear Mod, this is not meant to be mean to anyone, just some scratch my head wondering...

People want good stuff cheap? So weird.

"good" things are usually not cheap. Once people realize this, they will be better off. It shocks me how many people want a bomb proof bike with light wheels, high end components, oh, and they only want to spend $150. Most people spend more than that on their crankset.

Pure Fix frame is good. High Tensile steel means hard to brake the frame and the bad quality is easily fixed - in the LBS they straightened my dropouts and reamed the head tube easily. With the money saved you can by good clipless pedals or a bundle of staps.

I don't think that you will catch most of the people here on SS/FG on Pure Fix frames. Sorry.

I am really quite fond of my Langster!

However, you sound like a true expert. Any other wisdom you can provide would be great.

Strap a watermelon on your rear rack to practice balance.

Just for that, when I am done building my new commuter bike, I am going to ride around with a watermelon strapped to the rear rack!!!



By the way, doesn't sound difficult to get a watermelon strapped to a bike rack....that is, well enough that it will stay there....

Not exactly wisdom but some thoughts. You use the world "passion" and my humble experience is that this somehow prevents understanding - which is not a bad thing at all.
Back to your question - a MTB newbie sees a 89.99 price in Walmart and is shocked that a similar looking bike can cost 100 times more. FG/SS makes less confusion. Also, looks like for most people here in the US a (regular) bike is a MTB - why they have to spend so much money for something without engine?

what about single speed MTBs?

Sounds awesome and interesting. However, I do not expect to see these in Walmart.

#purefix

Shred the gnar dudebro!

I used to be able to talk like this but then I moved away from SoCal and people made fun of me and I can't do it anymore.

You never lose the gnar dude.

Totally, brah.

Idk. I think it only exists in mountain bike videos.