Bike Recommendation

[L_Bow]

Hi Everyone!
I'm new to mountain biking - my husband and I are just getting started but we are really enjoying it. I'm not experienced at all, so I don't know much about bikes in general - right now I have an old Trek 6000 or something - it doesn't even have shocks. I'm looking for recommendations on which brands/types of mountain bikes would be good for a beginner like me - there's an overwhelming amount of options out there. I don't need anything fancy and definitely don't want to spend a ton of money on a bike until I have a really good idea of what I want and have some experience under my belt. I just want something that's pretty good quality and reliable, relatively easy to ride and one that will last me quite a while if I take good care of it. Any advice? Thanks!

[rsutton1223]

Hi Everyone!
I'm new to mountain biking - my husband and I are just getting started but we are really enjoying it. I'm not experienced at all, so I don't know much about bikes in general - right now I have an old Trek 6000 or something - it doesn't even have shocks. I'm looking for recommendations on which brands/types of mountain bikes would be good for a beginner like me - there's an overwhelming amount of options out there. I don't need anything fancy and definitely don't want to spend a ton of money on a bike until I have a really good idea of what I want and have some experience under my belt. I just want something that's pretty good quality and reliable, relatively easy to ride and one that will last me quite a while if I take good care of it. Any advice? Thanks!

Do you have a budget in mind? What kind of trails will you be riding?

[beginnercycling]

Hi L_Bow, Do you know what kind of riding you want to do? If you're starting out with fairly mild trails that old Trek 6000 might be fine to get started.

[L_Bow]

As far as a budget goes, I'm ok with spending around 500 on it, maybe a little more for a nicer one. Obviously the cheaper the better but I do want to make sure I get something that's good quality and not just going to start falling apart. The trails we are learning on right now aren't too rocky but they are pretty steep - they are pretty soft, mostly packed dirt and don't have a ton of roots, etc, but I've got my eye on some pretty rocky terrain that I'd like to work up to. The bike i have right now works fine for learning but it's pretty bumpy and all, not having any shocks. I'm also thinking of replacing the seat on that bike to make things a little more comfortable. I really like this bike but at some point I'm going to want to upgrade so I'm just starting to do some research.

[beginnercycling]

In that price range you're most likely looking at a decent hardtail mountain bike, as most decent full suspension bikes are a lot more. Here are some that I've seen (either regular price or on sale) in your price range:

A few bikes to consider if you are looking at bikes with 26" tires:
Scott Aspect 55
Trek 4300
GT Avalanche 2.0 [does have Women-Specific Design (WSD)]
Trek [Gary Fisher Collection] Advance

For 29ers, there aren't many decent ones in that price range, here are a few to consider:
Specialized Hardrock Disc 29er
Diamondback Overdrive Sport 29er
Trek [Gary Fisher Collection] Marlin
Fuji Nevada 29er 1.0

Hope this helps!

[rsutton1223]

A few bikes to consider if you are looking at bikes with 26" tires:
Scott Aspect 55
Trek 4300
GT Avalanche 2.0 [does have Women-Specific Design (WSD)]
Trek [Gary Fisher Collection] Advance

Great list. I would take these and see if there is a local bike shop you feel comfortable with that carries these brands. Trek shops are typically pretty easy to find. You might also want to look at the Specialized Myka (women's specific) or Hardrock if you have a Specialized dealer close by.

[hooter]

It sounds like your best bet is to find a good local bike shop that you like. The good shops will help you get the right size bike, within your budget, and they won't be pushy about trying to make a sale. Most of them also put together rides and welcome new riders.

[GiantBryan]

L_Bow, welcome! You are on your way to getting bit by the MTB bug in a bad way. I love that you have your eye on terrain that you want to tackle at a later date. The Bike198 site has some great technique articles to help you learn bike control, etc.
First, never get rid of that trek you are running now. It's great to keep around for friends, or if your main bike is in the shop, etc.
Second, take a look at the style bikes you see on the trail and talk to your LBS. Downhill bikes are heavier and more $$. All Mountain bikes are beefy versions of the XC and Trail bikes.
Third, you may be able to put a good fork (front shock) on your bike and really enjoy it till you find your dream ride. Check bike 198, there are several vendors that sponsor the site and run incredible sales on equipment.
Finally, I ride a men's 2007 Giant Rainier 26". It's been a great bike!
Check out the Giant web site...
The Rainier is now a women's model only. and it's a 29er they call it a XC bike. Rainier 29er (2011) - Bikes | Giant Bicycles | United States
it comes in at about $700

Or the Revel 1 W Revel 1 W (2011) - Bikes | Giant Bicycles | United States which comes in around $500 This is considered a "lifestyle bike" whatever that is

The list beginnercycling put together is a great list as well.

Go test ride some bikes in your pricerange. Don't buy the 1st one you ride. Finally check craig's list or your LBS may have a "for sale" board.

[Bigred15]

Although I am a big Specialized homer, I always recommend that beginners look at the Felt Nine Trail. It is a tad above your price range at $649, it is well worth the money. Plus it has something that many of the bikes in that price range don't. The frame that is used on the $649 Nine Trail is the same frame used on the $2199 Nine Race. Inorder to keep costs down, many companies will sell several different models to accomadate the different price ranges.

For instance; Specialized has the Hardrock, Rockhopper, Carve, and Stumpjumper. All are aluminum hardtails with 29 inch models available. The frames however are not made equal. The Hardrock frame is made from one type of aluminum while the Rockhopper and Carve are made from another type and the Stumpjumper is made from yet another type.

Not all companies go to this extreme, but most have different types of aluminum for different models. The Felt Nine frames are available in two materials, aluminum and carbon fiber. What does this mean for you and why you should look into the Felt Nine? Should you decide that you want to sink money into the bike, you can rest assured that the bike will be well worth the upgrades. You can only go so far with a Hardrock before the upgrades are just not worth it. Do you really want to put $1000 into a bike when the most expensive model sells for $700?

[Snelks]

I looked at trek,specialized,cannondale,giant and jamis, all hardtails and chose jamis as it gave more bang for the buck all were in the $600 - 700 range