Every once in a while I like to point people in the right direction for a more entry level mountain bike. What I mean by entry level..a real bike that wont crumble when you take it off road, wont rust in 3 days, and is actually fun to ride...making you want to ride it more, and maybe advance to a higher end bike down the road. What do look for? First off expect to pay around $500 for a bike. You never want the top of the line from a low end company..more so, the bottom of a high end company. Its the difference between buying a Honda Civic Si, and a BMW 3 series. In the price range look for disc brakes, if you are getting old style v-brakes or cantilever than you are getting old outdated tech. Look for a bolt on crank, yes this is simple to spot, does the crank (where you pedal) have a separate arm that bolts onto the cogs? If yes, than you are on the right road. Dont expect a good full suspension bike in this price..buy a hard tail. Yes a good hard tail is still better than a shit full suspension. In this price, you wont get RockShox or Fox, you will either get Suntour or RST suspension forks, both are decent. If it isnt one of those brands, than stay away. Ask for 8 speed. There are some bikes that are decent that have a 7 speed rear cassette (number of gears in the back), however you really want 8 speed, so you can upgrade your parts later, or if you can..9 or 10 speed. However 8 is fairly common in this price range..dont settle for 7, only low end bikes have 7. Look for a sturdy frame. A good bike frame is worth more than flashy parts. This is because the frame is what will make the difference on how it rides, how it fits, and how it feels. Below are some suggestions if the Sub $600 range, sometimes you can find them on sale, and get them in the $400 range, right now-through Febuary is generally a great time, as bike shops are getting the 2015s in, and clearancing out the 2014. My number one value surprisingly is the Kona Lanal at $529, and Marin Bolinas Ridge 29er (with 9speed, and hydrolic disc brakes, very nice for the price of around $470). I also recommend the Giant Revel 29er. Locally Marin can be bought at Breakaway Bicycles in Winter Park off Park Ave, and Kona, Giant can be purchased at Kyles Bike Shop across from TG Lee in the milk district.
Posted on: Tue, 02 Dec 2014 03:10:16 +0000
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