Mountain Bikes

[Adamanitum13]

I would check local shops for demo bikes which they usually unload for pretty good prices. Also check out pink bike.com

I agree with doing the test rides at your local bike shop. Only I would buy the bike used. Much like buying a new car you eat a lot of the depreciation. Buying used also will help you get more bang for you buck. Depending on your budget that could be the difference between a hardtail and a full suspension. Or better components, fork, and stuff like. Pink Bike is one of the best places to look you can also check out this site.

http://www.ridemonkey.com/

With being out of riding for so long you are really going to want to try a lot of different bikes. Like mjbrox said there have been a ton of innovations in the last few years that change the feel and response of newer bikes.

 

[bigred]

I agree with doing the test rides at your local bike shop. Only I would buy the bike used. Much like buying a new car you eat a lot of the depreciation. Buying used also will help you get more bang for you buck. Depending on your budget that could be the difference between a hardtail and a full suspension. Or better components, fork, and stuff like. Pink Bike is one of the best places to look you can also check out this site.

http://www.ridemonkey.com/

With being out of riding for so long you are really going to want to try a lot of different bikes. Like mjbrox said there have been a ton of innovations in the last few years that change the feel and response of newer bikes.

That makes sense. I've demo'd two different bikes for a day each. (Specialized Stumpjumper FSR 29er and Giant XTC Carbon 29er). I really liked one of them, and hated the other. I hate to go waste the time of a shop and buy the bike somewhere else though..

 

[mjbrox]

That makes sense. I've demo'd two different bikes for a day each. (Specialized Stumpjumper FSR 29er and Giant XTC Carbon 29er). I really liked one of them, and hated the other. I hate to go waste the time of a shop and buy the bike somewhere else though..

So much of the bikes feel has to do with Head Tube angle. Freeride guys like a "slack" head-tube angle for more stability, while racerboys like the steep head-tube for for quick turning.

The stump jumper will have a more slack head tube compared to the more Race centered XTC. My guess is that you liked the Stumpjumper more.

BTW, basic fit stuff can dramatically affect the feel as well.

 

[bigred]

So much of the bikes feel has to do with Head Tube angle. Freeride guys like a "slack" head-tube angle for more stability, while racerboys like the steep head-tube for for quick turning.

The stump jumper will have a more slack head tube compared to the more Race centered XTC. My guess is that you liked the Stumpjumper more.

BTW, basic fit stuff can dramatically affect the feel as well.

Actually, I liked the XTC much more. With the Stumpjumper, I felt like I was on a wobbly bar stool. I was wide through every single track corner. The XTC felt much more responsive and tossable.

 

[Corprin]

29ers!!! - Wheels are no longer 26 inches. They are 29 inches and if you think it is hype, then you have not rode a 29er

I am going to disagree emphatically. I REALLY wanted to love 29" wheels, tried everything in the breed for tw years... ended up returning to 26" and haven't looked back. I blame this on my size, 5'6" 170. If you are a clidesdale then 29" no doubt, but if you are smaller you are going to fight those big ass gyroscopes more than the terrain.

Demo bikes of both types, wheel size ht vs fs, etc... Then buy what you feel the best on.

Ymmv

 

[Adamanitum13]

29"er? you might as well just buy a cycle cross.
Everybody knows, real mountain bikes roll 26"

 

[pschuler]

29"er? you might as well just buy a cycle cross.
Everybody knows, real mountain bikes roll 26"

29er's are great but I heard by 2014 its all going to be about 650b.

 

[Tugela]

Personally. I'd try to find s decent Klein and upgrade what you want to. But I am an old fuck and stuck in my ways. No suspension bikes for me.

Yeah! I have 2 Kleins and would never ride anything else.

My mountain bike is a Rascal I bought new in 1993, so whoever says aluminum frames aren't durable is off the mark. I've ridden it on 3 continents and it still rides great. No suspension, it weighs 23 pounds and is lightning quick.

My road bike is a 1999 Quantum, full Ultegra. So. Damn. Fast.

Love the handmade frames from Chehalis, Washington!

 

[Jake]

Yeah! I have 2 Kleins and would never ride anything else.

My mountain bike is a Rascal I bought new in 1993, so whoever says aluminum frames aren't durable is off the mark. I've ridden it on 3 continents and it still rides great. No suspension, it weighs 23 pounds and is lightning quick.

My road bike is a 1999 Quantum, full Ultegra. So. Damn. Fast.

Love the handmade frames from Chehalis, Washington!

THIS my Pinnacle is still being ridden and occasionally raced.

 

[Adamanitum13]

29er's are great but I heard by 2014 its all going to be about 650b.

ya that is the talk, I don't know why. I have been riding mountain bikes since 1990 and it took up in till the last eight years or so to get everything pretty universal. Now they keep trying to change things up the 29"ers, 14mm axles, 2x10, and now the 650b

 

[mjbrox]

ya that is the talk, I don't know why. I have been riding mountain bikes since 1990 and it took up in till the last eight years or so to get everything pretty universal. Now they keep trying to change things up the 29"ers, 14mm axles, 2x10, and now the 650b

yea, that part is frustrating, but the new shit is so damn nice.

I built my niner RIP9 in 2008 for $4k. Now it is way behind the time.

650b might be the way to go, but at 6'4" i love my 29er

 

[mjbrox]

All you old fucks riding around on on 20 year old technology have no idea what you are missing

 

[bigred]

Kleins were awesome back in the 90's. So was my GTI. I fully believe that both bikes and cars have come a long way in the past 20 years.

 

[mulisha00]

Thanks! Did you ever unload your Niner?

Yes sir. It went to CA. Then it was stolen about two weeks after the guy got it. Sucks for him big time.

 

[mulisha00]

Here is my latest build.

China carbon fiber. Did my own sharpie art.

Rigid Single Speed.

 

[Corprin]

ya that is the talk, I don't know why. I have been riding mountain bikes since 1990 and it took up in till the last eight years or so to get everything pretty universal. Now they keep trying to change things up the 29"ers, 14mm axles, 2x10, and now the 650b

Some things are done to change it up, and for those to remain on the cutting edge of the sport. 29, 650b, and 26 are all here to stay, and each has it's place.... To annoy those who think their way is the only way. Some of those fads will fail and be mocked by those who remember, Biopace anyone, and some stick.

In '08 and '09 people swore up and down that the 15qr was a fad thought up in a marketing boardroom to sell people on parts that they already had on the bike. It was touted as a direct attack on the holy scanty of the 20mm throug axles. A google search nets thread after threading various forums bashing the 15qr, mostly because it went against convention. Here it is 5 or so yars later, and the option has been adopted by many riders, including myself.

I converted to 15mm QR when I needed a shorter fork on my FSR, simply because I found a hell of a deal on a takeoff F120 RLC in the "new" offering. My Hope hub was easily convertible so I gave it a try, and haven't looked back. The next spring I converted my wife's Julianna without her knowing, and she noticed a difference the first ride. This was the same report from a lot of riders on the trail, yet still met opposition from both sides. It will never be as strong as the 20mm, nor as light as the 9mm, but it's a happy middle ground for riders that sit somewhere between DH/FR and XC, coined AM by someone. Revolutions and renovations to the sport will always be faddish, ride what you feel comfortable and confident on, and fuck the hipster mentality that plagues the biking world.

All you old fucks riding around on on 20 year old technology have no idea what you are missing

...and young pups that never learned to ride a rigid bike fast and smooth through the single track, have no idea how sloppy their technique is.

 

[jymmiejamz]

650b is where its at! I actually have a 29er Cannondale hard tail MTB, but my Surly Pacer (commuter) is 650b and I love it. I think my next MTB will be 650b.

 

[Jake]

"...and young pups that never learned to ride a rigid bike fast and smooth through the single track, have no idea how sloppy their technique is."


:applause:

 

[Tugela]

All you old fucks riding around on on 20 year old technology have no idea what you are missing

Says a man driving around in 40-year old technology. You sing the praises of cutting edge mountain bikes but you drive a ladder chassis, solid axle, coil-sprung, unreliable piece of shit truck (under)powered by a freaking Buick engine. And you're telling me I have no idea what I'm missing? By that logic you should be driving an Evoque.

I'll ride my 20-year old Klein for another 20 years, or at least until I can no longer find replacement Suntour XC Pro components on eBay. Then I'll rebuild.

And you have no idea how much attention my bike draws on the trail. Especially from chicks. They say they love the paint job, but I can tell they are really staring at my chiseled calves and ripped quads. I may look like I rode out of a time machine, but I sure have fun.

 

[Jake]

Says a man driving around in 40-year old technology. You sing the praises of cutting edge mountain bikes but you drive a ladder chassis, solid axle, coil-sprung, unreliable piece of shit truck (under)powered by a freaking Buick engine. And you're telling me I have no idea what I'm missing? By that logic you should be driving an Evoque.

I'll ride my 20-year old Klein for another 20 years, or at least until I can no longer find replacement Suntour XC Pro components on eBay. Then I'll rebuild.

And you have no idea how much attention my bike draws on the trail. Especially from chicks. They say they love the paint job, but I can tell they are really staring at my chiseled calves and ripped quads. I may look like I rode out of a time machine, but I sure have fun.

:applause: farking A......