I’m getting the itch to purchase a MTB to cross train and eventually race Xterra. Problem is, I don’t know much about MTBs other than the differences between XC, downhill, etc. I know nothing about the components, wheels, suspension, etc.
Do any of you have any links or sites that give a solid overall tutorial on MTBs (i’ve found a few)? It took me 2 years to fully immerse myself in road/tri bike and components and am hoping to speed up that process here.
Thanks in advance.
Drew
Pretty basic, but it’s a start.
http://www.camba.us/pn/index.php?name=Sections&req=viewarticle&artid=37&page=1
Maybe not tutorials but tons of info at mtbr.com. Lots of consumer reviews too.
Best thing is - go ride. Mountain Bikers tend to be a lot more open to chit chat and passing on the love than roadies.
Most shops will have shop rides of some sort and that is a great way to pick up pointers.
I also think because mountain bikers stop a lot more often, it is easier to mix abilities, you don’t have to worry as much
about losing the group because there is almost always a huddle at the top of a climb…people fall down, bikes break…
Another great store of knowledge is at Mountain Bike Action (http://www.mbaction.com/ME2/Default.asp ) who put
out a monthly column on both riding techniques (how to climb a switchback…) and maintenance tips (how to tune your suspension).
I think if you subscribe to the on-line version you get access to the back issues and can search on them.
If you can write a nicely worded note to Richard Cunningham at MBA (Ask RC) he might even help you narrow down your bike
selection to type and model.
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get a 29er hardtail.
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+2 and run your tires tubeless.
What are the advantages of a 29er vs. a standard 26? What do I gain by having bigger wheels? Any disadvantages?
Also, I should have mentioned that I’m in LA - any recos on shops here? I have a good relationship with Helen’s in the Marina and I plan to speak with them (just haven’t had a chance to go in lately).
Thanks for all of the responses.
Drew
x2 on the 29er hardtail. I just moved from a very nice full suspension 26" to the 29" and would not go back.
Care to expand on why? Thanks!
get a 29er hardtail.
I have been mountain biking for 10+ years and only last year started riding TT. I rode in XC races, on DH courses, and do mostly “all mountain” riding now. Mountain bikers are very friendly and are not seriously standoffish or entitled. Sorry, just calling it like Ive seen it. Most roadies sit around and talk about their equipment and how they would never be caught on anything but brand _____ bikes. Mountain riders, not so much.
Dont bother with a 29er. You can be a member of that “club” if you want but there really is no advantage to it. Sure they might roll over distances a little better but they are not as snappy in acceleration or handling. If you plan on racing XTerra, you are going to be encountering a lot of different terrain and there is no reason not to buy a full suspension bike. The designs are so spot on that you will feel no bob at all and will actually be faster in uphills and downhills. You will descend with complete confidence and you will be able to hammer uphills as the rear wheel will hold contact longer than on a hardtail. The only downside is going to be weight but even that is becoming negligible. Depending upon your budget, go out and ride a lot of different offerings. If I were to want to get back into enduro racing and had the budget, I would be all over a Yeti AS-R Carbon. 4" Rear travel and sub four pound frame…so very nice.
Oh, and Shimano runs the MTB world…sorry Campy folks 
Well, Viggen obviously has his opinions, but 29" hardtails are not a “club” anymore as many people are riding them and building them. Look at the velonews mtb site and read the articles on 26" vs. 29". His speed/wattage was always faster on a HT 29 vs. the FS 26. Seems to be some kind of belief system, but your 29er is not going to “steer slower” or “accelerate slower”. I think those were assumptions that people were making 5 years ago before riding them???
I’m not trying to convince you of anything, just my opinion. I’ve got both, but don’t see me using the FS 26 for any races now. Also, depending on your mechanical abilities, rear suspension takes some setting up and messing with to keep it working properly. I’ve done a bunch of Xterra’s, including World’s, and decided to get the HT 29 because of the courses I rode.
Bottom line: pick a mtb and enjoy it. Ride it a few years and get the other one:)
Pretty new to MTB here, but I enjoy my '06 yeti asr plan on racing enduro this summer.
The sram 1:1 shifters are pretty snappy.
I think I’ll go ride it right now!
I think 29er rolls over stuff a bit better and of all the complaints I have heard about 29ers, I have yet to experience any of them. I actually had a FS 26 bike, a trek, really nice bike, I thought that it would pair up well with my 29er and I would use them both. Not the case, I ended up selling the fs 26 bike, it jsut never went out. I do more endurance type riding/racing on the MTB and 29er seems to be the top choice at any of those events.
now, I have only one mtb, a 29er hardtail, it is steel (reynolds 853) with a fox fork and mavic c29ssmax wheels, it is the bomb, it is a 21 inch and weighs only 24.25 pounds. even though I use it less than my other bikes, it is probably my favorite bike I have.
Yeah, Ive got my opinions, as do all but, my personal experience, I would go FS 26. Never liked the feel of a 29er and have ridden both hardtail and suspension versions. Love my FS Trek Liquid with 26 inch wheels. That is why I suggested go and ride and decide what you like best. When I raced XC, I rode a hardtail with 26" wheels. Moved to all mountain riding and still ride 26 inch wheels. There are far more options in tires and, especially, bomb proof wheels.
Bottom line, decide for yourself after a few rides. Whats the budget like?
I definitely plan to test ride as many bikes as possible, but feel like test riding a mountain bike won’t be as easy as a road bike - I won’t be able to test a ton of different terrain (I assume).
Budget is as high as $2500 but I’d love to get a something cheaper if the quality is right. I’d like to avoid needing to upgrade in a year.
Thanks all for your replies.
Drew
go get a jamis dragon 29er.
http://www.jamisbikes.com/...gon/10_dragon29.html
Of course Viggen is using a fs 26 for all mountain riding…what else would you use? there is like one company that makes a true “all mountain” 29er (niner) and it is sort of pointless for that application, for super tight short track racing sure, MAYBE a hard tail 26 inch bike.
In my experience, almost 100% of the triathletes I know, get a MTB, use it for Xterra and endurance racing. I think a 29er is awesome because very few of these courses are truly super technical and lots of them take you on dirt roads and through sand, 29er is perfect for that, but I ride pretty technical stuff all the time on my 29er and have no problems. maybe its not the best bike for everybody but Viggen, coming from an “all mountain” rider, slander of the 29er is pretty meaningless.
I have never known anybody to get a 29er and go back to 26…regardless of height (another myth…that 29er is for tall people).
29er is where it is at. the 26 hardtail is a thing of the past.
I agree that you cant get as many tires for a 29er as a 26, but it is getting better, besides, you got the nevegal, small block 8, racing ralph, saguarro, mountain king, fast freddy, and a few maxxis tires to pick from, what else do you need??
I guess my point is this, free riding, all mountain downhill etc is what skiers and snowboarders do in the winter, not what the typical triathlete does as cross training. You have to ask yourself: since I am just going to have one MTB, do I want one I can use for actual training and endurance racing???..or am I trying to shred steep stuff and be at a loss when it comes to climbing and all day riding.
FWIW: if I had it my way…I would have a full suspension 29er, Niner Jet 9.
Don’t listen to any of these fools. Get a FS 29er. Chainlove.com They’re regularly posting a Titus FS 29er.
Not to really argue but Ill ride my AM bike all day long. Is it a tad bit heavy, of course, but the whole point of an AM bike is to be able to handle anything and everything well. Dont think its possible, go ride an Ibis Mojo. The DW Link is phenomenal, the weight can be taken down to 23 lbs fully built with disc brakes and 5.5 inches of travel. That is an amazing price. I dont think that cross training on a full suspension is something that is unbelievable. The suspension designs have gotten so good that the hardtail itself, is almost a thing of the past. Look at the entrants in cross country races and youll notice that the full suspension is rapidly replacing the hardtail. If youre going to be in the saddle for a good amount of time, buy full squish.
(My 6" travel Trek will go up just as well as it goes down. TALAS rear shock that winds down to 3.75" travel and Manitou Minute 3 with IT fork that will go between 3" and 6" of travel by pushing a tab on the bars. At a loss when the trails go upwards, I am not.)
while the DW link is badass, the Ibis Mojo is a noodle, the most flexy bike I have ever ridden (and it was sagged properly), might be good for a 24 hour race or something but as far as the DW link goes, Turner and Pivot are far better bikes. also, I broke 2 Ibis Mojos…at 180lbs, a bike shouldnt be breaking under me.
Ironwolf, I bought an '09 Specialized Rockhopper 29er comp in November. I bought it sort of on the spur of the moment and now it’s comming to light that the fork is not really good at all, it’s a RockShox Dart 3. I guess it’s the Ford Pinto of forks from what I’m hearing.
What 29er fork would you replace it with?