Mountain Bike Feedback

[caseymcq]

I am looking at buying a mountain bike. I have been researching several brands and various components. I have narrowed it down to bikes under $900 and available in Duluth (I live in Silver Bay and work in Duluth so I would like to have customer service / support close by). I am going with a hard tail to keep the cost within my price range and still get a good frame and quality components.

The manufacturers I am looking at are

• Cannondale
• Gary Fisher
• Giant
• Scott
• Specialized
• Trek

How about shocks?

• RST
• Suntour
• RockShox
• Etc?

Wheels?

• Maddux
• Bontrager
• WTB
• Alex
• Rigida
• Araya
• Etc?

I have read a little on 29"er's. Anyone have any feedback on those?

Any thing else?

Thanks!

[so haaad]

I've always been a fan of Trek and Specialized, but Gary Fisher has put out some great bikes too. Right now I have a Trek with Bontrager wheels. In my opinion it really comes down to feel. You really need to get on a few bikes and see how they handle. If you are in Duluth then you should stop by the Hut.

The 29ers are the latest rage, although there's a lot of people in the biking world that aren't convinced that they are a better bike. But if you talk to those that have one, they'll tell you the 29ers are a smoother and easier ride. If this is your only bike then you might want to stick with a standard 26. Let your second bike be a 29.

[SkunkedAgain]

I bought a Bontrager mountain bike with RockShox in 1999. For the first five years, I did some heavy off-road biking, hopping logs, launching off rocks, switchbacks, etc. Now I'm mainly a road biker with that bike, and it's still going strong. Even the shocks still work well and the only semi-major replacement was the drive train.

I think that you'll be happy with just about any of those setups. Just find the one that feel most comfortable with and pull the trigger.

My one bit of advice, is to ask them to upgrade the derailers and brakes as a condition of the sale. Most shops that I've dealt with, are willing to pull off the stock derailers/brakes, give you a full credit, and then charge you for the upgrade. In the end, you'll spend an extra $50 but it will be well worth it in the long run.

[caseymcq]

Thanks for the feedback.

so haaad - thanks for the feed back on the 29's. I think taking that into consideration I will probably stick with a 26'er. I am not a huge guy but I am 6' and 215 - 220. Would that make any difference on your thoughts on a 26 vs 29? I am still leaning strongly towards the 26 but I am still open to suggestions.

Skunked - is there anything I should be looking for specifically with the derailers or brakes? All of the bikes I am looking at right now have disc brakes, should I still be trying to work on an upgrade for those?

Thanks again, the advice/help is much appreciated.

[SkunkedAgain]

To be honest, I'm not up to speed on disc brakes. If there is a bike that you're interested in, learn what brand/model of derailers and brakes are installed and then read up on them. I just found that most of the bikes I looked at (10 years ago) had medium-quality derailers and brakes. Only the highest end bikes had the high-end components as well. Since I was buying a bike that wasn't high end, I asked them to swap the components and they did. Granted I was at a bike co-op in the Cities (Freewheel) but they were very nice. I think that I got a $30 credit for the brakes and a $40 credit for the derailers, and then paid a little over a $100 (so net about $30-40) to upgrade those components before the bike left the shop.

I'm sure that you can learn about the derailers and brakes in a few online bike forums. I'm sure that not all disc brakes are made alike.

[so haaad]

Thanks for the feedback.

so haaad - thanks for the feed back on the 29's. I think taking that into consideration I will probably stick with a 26'er. I am not a huge guy but I am 6' and 215 - 220. Would that make any difference on your thoughts on a 26 vs 29? I am still leaning strongly towards the 26 but I am still open to suggestions.

The 29ers are easier to handle for taller riders and harder for shorter riders (5'5", etc) because of the increased size of the bike and shape. If you are 6' then you wouldn't have any issues. My brother is 6'1" and has not issues with his 29er.

[DT08]

I throw in my 2 cents too. I agree with the other posts overall. I'd say don't worry too much about which brand as long as the bike feels comfortable to you. All the brands you have listed are quality. When I got my first mountain bike -- specialized rockhopper -- it felt right and a similar trek felt too stretched out. My buddy thought my bike felt too cramped. So ride 'em and see what seems best to you.

I would definitely consider a 29'er. You are the right size person for one. It will definitely be a smoother ride. Little slower accelerating and maybe tougher to make tight corners, but for the trails in Duluth and Grand Marais and the fire/forest roads around Silver Bay and Beaver Bay I think a 29er would work great. I am about your height and ride a full suspension, but if didn't have that would ride a 29'er. With all the rocks and the roots in the area it is nice to smooth out the ride. But ride and compare -- you may like the feel of 26 better. Make sure to go over plenty of bumps, curbs and such when test riding.

I like th idea of upgrading components if they will. Make sure the disc brakes are hydraulic. I have ridden a few with mechanical discs -- I don't think they offer much more performance than rim brakes except staying out of the mud. Hydraulic disc brakes let you feather the brakes with one finger which allows you to keep the rest of the hand on the grips -- very nice in bumpy downhill sections. Can be more maintenance intensive, but mine have given me no problems 3 years running and any of the bikes shops in Duluth can service them. Magura, Avid, Shimano, Hayes all make quality hydraulic brakes.

[caseymcq]

Thanks again for the feedback.

I am going to hit two of the bike shops in Duluth on Friday to check out a few of the bikes.

[PGE-Hound]

Bought a Cannondale F4 w/WTB tires 2years ago. I have had no problems with it. What I like about it is the Super Fatty headshock instead of the front supension being the entire front fork; also less components just incase it does break. Also you should look into being able to lock or ajust the spring in the shock; good for quick switching from hardtop to trail riding. DTO8 is right on the hydraulic disc breaks... I think is a must. Also the weight of the bike, you never know when you might have to pick the thing up and hike over a stream or boulder field???

I also bought my wife a Trek the same year.. the only difference was the front supension and it was quite abit heavier even being a smaller bike. It too works great.

What I have researched is that Trek are made in, if I remember right, Michigan so it is made for similar trails as what is seen in northern MN. Compared to Gary Fisher bikes which are made in Cali so the seats are placed farther back on the bike for more of a mountain trail. Just something to think about. Good luck!

[Ralph Wiggum]

What I have researched is that Trek are made in, if I remember right, Michigan so it is made for similar trails as what is seen in northern MN.

My Trek has a "Made in China" sticker on it!

[PGE-Hound]

Ha...I stand corrected..

[Ralph Wiggum]

Ha...I stand corrected..

They're probably designed in the US, but built elsewhere

[caseymcq]

I bought a Gary Fisher Advance Disc. I really like it. Light weight, disc brakes and the price was pretty good IMO. I have had it out twice so far and I have really enjoyed riding it.

Now I am looking forward to my biking shorts to get here so I have a little padding

[yoppdk]

Casey:

Now that you've had some time to ride, any feedback on your choice? I've also been looking at a Gary Fisher 29er ... likely the Mamba model as it fits my price range. Did you learn anything from your purchase? I'll assume you purchased in Duluth? I was wondering if there is a better time to buy a bike ... so they ever go on "sale"?

thanks in advance for any feedback you have on your bike ...

Kevin

[SaintPaulPaul]

Trek were originally made in Wisconsin...Racine perhaps. Cannondale is no longer going to produce bikes in the US from what I've heard...And we wonder why there are so many unemployed in the country. Look at any label of any product, it's all made in China. Time to start rethinking trade tariffs...Look at the no-holds-barred rape and pollution of the planet in China, and think about your purchase. If you have to, buy a used bike that was made in the US! It can always be refurbished/serviced by somebody here that has to provide for their family...

[so haaad]

Has anyone been out lately?

[caseymcq]

Sorry it took so long for me to get back to this one.

So far I really like my bike. I would like to ride something with a full suspension to see what, if anything, I am missing. I would also like to ride a 29 to see what the difference is. I am glad I went with a front shock that locks. I can tell the difference when I am pedaling on a hard surface that the shock isn't absorbing the effort when it is locked vs. unlocked. I also like the disc brakes. I have been riding on trails around Silver Bay and they have been... well... messy. The disc brakes seem to shed the mud pretty easily. The shifter and derailers shift a tad bit harder than I would like but they aren't too bad.

I did buy the bike in Duluth. The shop I bought from had a lower price than the listed MSRP online. They also had a few '09s that were $100's cheaper because they were a model year older. The shop I bought my bike from had a Tasajara for $350 off list because it was an '09. It was tempting but I wasn't ready to spend $800 quite yet.

I got mechanical disc brakes with my bike. A really nice upgrade would have been hydraulic brakes. They are a lot nicer to squeeze.

An upgrade I am seriously considering is clip on pedals / shoes. I have talked to a few people that say they are the way to go because the shoes have a more rigid sole, which puts more of your "push" into the pedals, and that you also are pedaling pusing down and pulling up.

[so haaad]

Clip in pedals are great, although they do require a little time to get used to. Expect a couple of clumsy and borderline embarassing crashes at first, but they are great once you get used to them.

[shizzy]

cliples spedals are a must have as far as Im concerned. I find I dont have to focus so much on where my feet are on the pedals and can concentrate on the rest of the activity.

and yes you will fall a few times.

[Rick G]

Quote:

and yes you will fall a few times.

Only at the worst times possiable

[caseymcq]

I got shoes for X-mas and I have ordered clipless pedals. I am getting antsy to get out and ride.

[so haaad]

Still pretty muddy out there. I'm hoping to start trailrunning again next week. It might be a couple more weeks before I can take out the mountain bike.

[caseymcq]

... It might be a couple more weeks before I can take out the mountain bike.

I was trying to start a positive vibe here, then you had to go and burst my bubble...

There is still some snow here and definitely mud. It will be a while before I get out too. I knew it, and the pedals were a bit of retail therapy.

[so haaad]

I was trying to start a positive vibe here, then you had to go and burst my bubble...

There is still some snow here and definitely mud. It will be a while before I get out too. I knew it, and the pedals were a bit of retail therapy.

Yeah, sorry! There was a bike race on the dirt roads near Red Wing over the weekend, so there's definitely some options out there for the die hards. I've got a trail running race coming up in a couple of weeks, so that's also a reason that I'm focusing on two feet instead of two wheels.

[caseymcq]

It is probably my fault for buying new pedals...

That is the beautiful weather we are having that is so conducive to riding.