I need a Mountain Bike

[Canada 02]

I use to mountain bike a fair amount when I lived in Calgary, but always had crappy bikes. Got away from it when I moved overseas and then to the mid-west, but would like to get back into it during summer road trips to even some local trails.

What's the latest in biking components and bike frames? I don't want or need anything high-end, but would like a good quality intermediate-level cross-country or all-round bike as opposed to a down-hill bike. If it is inadequate as I ride more and more then the components can be upgraded later on

Full suspension vs hard-tail? how much travel?
V-brakes vs disc brakes?
Grip shifters vs trigger shifters?
Frame materials?
What are good stem, headset and hub components?
anything else

Also, where should i go on these road trips (USA)? Moab, Appalachian's, Grand Teton's?

[pylon]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

I use to mountain bike a fair amount when I lived in Calgary, but always had crappy bikes. Got away from it when I moved overseas and then to the mid-west, but would like to get back into it during summer road trips to even some local trails.

What's the latest in biking components and bike frames? I don't want or need anything high-end, but would like a good quality intermediate-level cross-country or all-round bike as opposed to a down-hill bike. If it is inadequate as I ride more and more then the components can be upgraded later on

Full suspension vs hard-tail? how much travel?
V-brakes vs disc brakes?
Grip shifters vs trigger shifters?
Frame materials?
What are good stem, headset and hub components?
anything else

Also, where should i go on these road trips (USA)? Moab, Appalachian's, Grand Teton's?

if you are planning on doing a lot of city riding I would definitely reccomend a hardtail.

V-brakes are pretty much only on dept store stuff, and the lowest end bike shop stuff. The bike I bought last year was the first I've had with discs, and I will never go back.

Grips versus triggers... almost everything is trigger now, its more the orientation of them. Some like s-ram (my preference) are all under bar with thumb only actuation, where as shimano tends to be ratchet shift under bar for thumb, and trigger above bar for pointer finger. Its more of a preference thing.

Most intermediate quality frames are going to be aluminum. I think the nicest welded frames in the affordable bracket are Cannondale, and they look really beefy.

Most off the shelf bikes have pretty decent stem/bar set-ups, much of it will boil down to preference.

All that being said, I looked at all this stuff after being out of it for years when I bought my new bike last year and went for the Trek 6000 alpha black.



The bike was 869 + tax, and I spent another couple hundred on accessories and upgrades and couldn't be happier with it. I would however recommend stepping up to the 6500 if you are going more hardcore offroad. The 6500 I think is $1200-1300 and goes one step up in componentry and a couple in the front suspension dept. I am more of a path/light dirt guy so I didn't need the hardcore front shocks. Bottom line is around a thousand bucks today gets you what would have cost at least a couple thousand 5 years ago. Plus i was sold on the fact the 6000 has a lockout on the front shock which is nice for when I put my slicks on it for road riding.

Others to look at I would recommend

Specialized Rockhopper disc
Cannondale F5


Hope this helps.

[kermitology]

I want this: http://www.santacruzbicycles.com/superlight/

But I have decided that buying it on credit is a bad idea, and I should save some money to buy it later.

[DFO]

Originally Posted by kermitology

I want this: http://www.santacruzbicycles.com/superlight/

But I have decided that buying it on credit is a bad idea, and I should save some money to buy it later.

Santa Cruz is a safe bet. The Nomad is a solid selection for an 'all around' rig - light enough to climb & really solid on the downs. I've got a Heckler built up to the 32lb range and it does everything well.

[You Need a Thneed]

I've always thought that going a step or two up in component quality + saving a couple of pounds would be worth more to me than a full suspension frame. Rear suspension isn't really needed for the majority of riders. Anytime I'm going over anything that's too rough, I'm usually standing anyway.

Don't underestimate the difference even a bike that's two pounds lighter will make. Unless you are doing mostly downhill biking of course, then weight doesn't matter much.

[4X4]

My cousin recently spent $7000 on a bike. I guess his $5000 bike wasn't cutting it anymore. He's the Jay Leno of bike owners.

[pylon]

LOL, after I harped about value in this thread, I started looking at bikes and components online. And now my 1000 dollar trek is a 1600 trek with a new set of Fox Shox off of ebay. Damn. So much for keeping it on the cheap.

[DFO]

Originally Posted by 4X4

My cousin recently spent $7000 on a bike. I guess his $5000 bike wasn't cutting it anymore. He's the Jay Leno of bike owners.

It can be a dangerous addiction when you start dumping serious amounts of cash for carbon fiber or titanium frames just to shave off that additional pound off the rig. My 3 bikes (with just aluminum frames) have a combined value of around 13k. Ah, the days when I had disposable income...

[twotoner]

Here's mine for sale. Was an insurance replacement long after my hard-core riding days were over:
2007 Santa Cruz VP Free - all custom components.
http://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/473712/

[millhouse11]

suspension depends on the type of riding you're going to do. If you do all day rides, a hardtail can be tough on your back. Depends on you. Hardtails will climb better and will be lighter. New technology in rear suspension has bridged the gap quite a bit. You do pay more though for a decent full suspension bike obviously. And there are different kinds of full suspension. I'm a santa cruz fan, and love the ride of the vpp. Not a fan of specialized and the Brain. It's a good bike, but It's just not my preference.

I'd stick with Disc brakes. More powerful, better modulation/feel. You can get mechanical avids, which aren't that bad. I prefer hydraulic, but of course, more $$$.

Trigger shifters, I have both xtr on one bike and sram x0 on another...love them both, and honestly don't have a preference.

Frame...hmm, my mountain bikes are aluminum. It's light and strong. If you go hardtail, aluminum is more rigid, and will have more vibration, but with full suspension, your bike takes care of that. Most steel bikes are low end, unless you go with a good quality steel, which can be light, and has a nice ride too it. Rocky Mountain makes a nice steel bike called the hammer. Comes in both a 26 and 29 frame. Carbon is light, and rigid, and is expensive...I have dreams of the new santa cruz carbon blur, but am not allowed to buy it.

As far as components go, it comes down to price again. Do you need xtr? not at all...most people could lose the 10 lbs first before worrying about the 100 grams in weight savings on a bike. Me included.
I personally wouldn't go below deore lx...Just shifts better, and requires less maintenance.
As far as hubs and headsets go, it depends on what you're looking to spend again. I like chris king. My headset has lasted years without issue, and i just got the new chris king bottom bracket. It has a 5 year warranty. my xtr bb lasted 2.5 years.

Also, you forgot about 29er's. I have a couple of friends who love them. A 29er can make up for a hardtail to some degree. The bigger wheels will smooth out the trail somewhat, and roll over rocks, roots and logs easier than a 26 inch wheel.

I love riding in Moab and Fruita (1.5 hrs from Moab). Bend Oregon, and Sun Valley Idaho are also good places to go for a road trip. Within 3.5 hours, Fernie is awesome. Lots of good riding there.