Who Knows Mountain Bikes???

[bl1tzw1ng]

Another vote(s) for Specialized or Trek. I started with a Trek and I loved it. Got a great deal on a Specialized Rockhopper last year so I bought it. 2 wheels disc brakes, 24 speed, and the worst seat ever but I love the bike overall.

[JohnUlaszek]

I worked in a bike shop for a few years.

The cheapest bike you get in a real bike shop will be better than the most expensive you get in a Wal Mart.

Trek/Gary Fisher are fantastic bang for the buck.

[Patrick]

Go to the best local bike shop you can find and see if they sponsor any teams.... Team members will get bikes very cheap or free and they sell them the same way.

I ride a Specialized Stump Jumper FSR ... with Holy Rollers and love it!!

[MonzaRacer]

Heck I have a Roadmaster 18 speed with new tires/tubes I never ride. It would really need a new chain bit it is rideable as it but I live inIndiana and not sure how to ship but I would let it go reasonable(heck I paid over $200 for it new back in ,what 99 or so.)
It would be a cheap one and it has a decent gel tech seat too.

[Nessumsar]

I would say Giant or Specialized. I work at a shop where we sell Giant, and that's because the Giants tend to be little cheaper compared to equally spec'd competition. Also, Giant builds 90% of Trek's frames so the price on the Treks are a little higher, and they also have the "nike syndrome".
Giant has the Rincon:
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/...in/1260/29302/
At 430ish, its a little out of your price range, but it's money well spent.

And Specialized has the Hardrock Sport at 420ish:
http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=32576

But your best bet is to check your local Craigslist or recycler.

[s4dustin]

I ride alot. Road and Mountain.

Here is the real deal:

Find a used bike. Many people go out and think if they spend $3000 on a bike they will be Lance Armstrong and that they will ride because they spent the cash.....in todays economy, you can pick up a great used bike. Check the recycler, craigslist.

I would start by going to a bike shop and having them fit you and test ride a few bikes. That will show you what size you need. Knowing that, shop used. I have bought 6 month old mtn bikes that retailed for $4k for $1700.00. Most bikes are never ridden to their potential. They can take a ton of abuse, most bikes sit.

You MUST buy a helmet. Buy the most expensive helmet you can afford. It will save your life and keep you cool The cooler you stay, the better you ride. Specialized is great, tremendous bang for the buck. I have had 4 Specialized Mtn bikes. You cannot go wrong. If you are overweight, dont worry about how heavy the bike is, the lighter YOU get, the faster you will go. If you find that you are passionate about cycling, you will end up getting a better bike. Also, those funny shorts we wear, make it a lot more comfortable. The more comfortable you are, the more you ride, the fitter and healthier you get. Look into local cycling clubs and sites like Mtbreview.com and roadbikereview.com. Lots of good info. If you like driving, all the lines going down the hills are the same....you can go FAST!

Dont buy new, buy used...better bang for the buck. Buy a helmet, shorts and go ride.

[s4dustin]

repost

[NOT A TA]

Paulk68 : I've owned a large bike shop in Shelton CT for almost 25 years. Since you're in CT. Stop in or call and I'll help ya out with whatever I can.

You can test ride mountain bikes, comfort bikes and hybrids to see what kind of bike you'd like and learn about sizing, gear and brake systems etc. Then you can make a more informed decision about what type of bike, sizing, equipment, and accessories you want and whether to look for used or new.

RAD ROB'S
90 Bridgeport Ave
Shelton Ct
203 924 2317

John

[paulk68]

Thank you all so much you have given me some great info to get started i will report back after i pick something up.

John: thank you very much and i will defanitley stop down after the 4th. i really appreciate it and look forward to meeting you

[paulk68]

WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK ABOUT THIS??? IS IT A GOOD DEAL OR NOT SO GOOD.

Mongoose D60R - Excel. Cond. - Ride to work. Save on Gas. Awesome deal - $275 (Groton)

Reply to: [email protected]
Date: 2008-07-30, 3:43PM EDT



Very nice bike. Absolute best bang for the buck!

Don't pay $695 for lower end Chines model in store. Awesome deal for $275 - this the highest quality bike, made by Mongoose in Taiwan ISO certified factory. Mongoose D60R Racing - compare to similar models from Treck, Giant, Specialized, this bike features all high-end components, excelent quality, fit and finish.
Maintained in top condition by the original owner, will last forever!

Gets compliments all the time. Ride to work, ride on the streets, ride on the trail - dual suspension and slick/knobby Kenda tires go anywhere, smooth on pavement, loose sand/gravel or need to jump curbs - no problem and no flats. Excellent commuter bike for 10-15miles and ride trailes on weekend.
Over $1K in highest quality components. With this bike you get:

• Rock Shox Jett Front Fork with adj. dampening/rebound
• ToughShock rear shock absorber with adj. spring
• Aheadset Alchemy Headset (DiaCompe)
• Shimano V-Brakes
• Shimano Index Shifters
• Shimano Front (SI-R511A) and Rear (SI-F511A) Drives Shimano Rear Derailleur with MegaRange Gear
• Mongoose Aluminum Dual Suspension Frame
• Quick release front/rear wheels and seat post
• Riserbars
• Kenda Krisp 26" dual purpose knobby/slick on/off road tires
• Sumo Wheels 26"

Original owner - have all the paperwork, instructions and manuals. You get:

• Rock Shox Owner's Manual
• Suspension Frame Manual
• Mongoose Bicycle Owner's Manual
• AheadSet DiaCompe Instructions
• Shimano SI-F511A Front Drive System Instructions
• Shimano SI-R511A Read Drive System Instructions

Looks and rides great, very fast - don't wait, start riding today.


Check out more pictures of the bike here:
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v24/djenyc/Mongoose/ Click on reply link to email me with any questions, or to set up an appointment and check out the bike. Or call my cell 860-334-7396. Thanks. Ross

[twosaturns]

it's not 'high end' at all, like he claims. straight up dept store POS tank.

[bigvegan]

It's a terrible deal. You're paying about full MSRP price for a used bike that originally sold at Wal-Mart.

(As much as I hate to be a brand snob, you do want to go to a bike shop to begin your shopping, as there's a HUGE difference in quality when you jump from the $200-400 range to the $500-$750 range.)

Here's some info about that bike - http://www.mtbr.com/cat/older-catego...041_91crx.aspx .

One question I'd ask is if you really want a dual suspension bike?

If you're going to be doing a lot of downhill off-road riding, then you probably do.

If you're going to be doing mostly road and bikepath riding, you'll probably want a hardtail, as you lose a TON of efficiency with a rear suspension, which you'll really notice going uphill or on the road.

You can buy a solid new hardtail mtb for $500-750, especially if you're fairly new to the hobby, and you can find some great stuff used for less than that.

With the current popularity of biking, buying new may be a better bet, as it seems like people are asking ridiculous amounts for used bikes (at least here in L.A. on craigslist), and most people don't realize that bikes need regular maintenance, which means that your sweet deal can require a fair bit of tuning before it's really roadworthy.

Good Luck!

[scogin918]

I've ridden Cannondales for Time Trial/Tri-bikes as well as mountain and they handle like nobody's business.

[paulk68]

thanks fellas i will continue to look

[WS6]

I have to laugh at the don't buy Chinese junk get this Taiwanese built one.

Anyway, I found a Trek 4500 locally a couple weeks ago for $100. It's 6 years old I think the owner said. I now have another $70 into it. I felt like I got a good deal considering the area(college town with a huge bike following). I am bummed though that the front shock seems to be leaking.(Anyone got a slightly used take off that'll work for cheap?) I figure as long as it holds together and offers some movement/dampening it will be fine for me.

Good luck on your search.

[twosaturns]

I have to laugh at the don't buy Chinese junk get this Taiwanese built one.

although Taiwan IS technically Chinese, there is a HUGE difference between products, at least in bicycles. Taiwanese bikes may be hard to find anymore though, as China has taken over everything.
the Taiwan/China comparison is what Japan/Taiwan used to be in the '90's. Taiwan took over the market from the Japanese and now the same has happened to them.
as for Trek, too many of their bikes are now Chinese-sourced. most Cannondales are still made in Pennsylvania, but they have some Chinese models now as well.
unfortunately, there isn't any way to make a budget priced bike in the US.

[novanutcase]

I have a Cannondale F5 which is probably one of the most popular mountain bikes sold! I bought it because it was a good quality bike that has great resale value if I ever decided to sell it!



My buddies downhill bike!



John

P.S. My F5 was made in the U.S.A.

[paulk68]

well i found a used gary fisher wahoo the guy said he only rode it a few times for 200 dollars.

Or i can get a Trek 3700 for 300 brand new

what do you guys think ??

[mongoose]

i'd go for the fisher...

[NOT A TA]

I'm closing my store at the end of Nov. We're having a going out of biz sale till then. We're in Shelton CT. There's a bunch of mountain bikes still. Here's a newspaper story about it. http://www.connpost.com/ci_10986569?...w.connpost.com