Need a starter mountain bike

Triathlon Forum
1

Just went mountain biking for about the third time in my life. It was THE BOMB! I could not wipe the grin off my race. Next year I’d like to try out some short mountain bike duathlons or Xterra races.

Just did a search on this forum and did find some info on how to buy a mountain bike. It looks like it depends on goals, terrain and budget. I got a little confused so I’ll post my own situation. Here’s what I’m seeking:

A used bike under $800 or so, and ideally under $500. Plenty on Craigslist. I’d rather get a ‘starter’ bike used, and then if I really like mountain biking I can buy a nice new one two years from now, with more experience about what I like or don’t like.

Priority is comfort, not speed/racing.

I guess one of the decisions is the hardtail versus suspension debate. The bike I tried this past weekend was a suspension bike. I found it extremely comfortable. But it’s been a while since I’ve tried a hardtail, so maybe the hardtail is just as comfy. With the suspension, it seemed like I just bounced right over any obstacles without hurting my butt. Sweet.

Terrain: I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and everything here is hills. Often steep hills. I’ll need some low gears, but help me out with some language to know what I should be looking for in order to get those “low gears.” Oh, and one month from now there will be mud too, in case that has an impact on the bike type or components I should get.

Shoes/pedals. My road bike (also bought used) came with mountain bike type SPD pedals and very comfy mountain bike SPD shoes. So I have the shoes taken care of. This means I need the mountain bike to have SPD pedals. How common is it that a mountain bike will come with SPD pedals? Or, if a bike I like doesn’t come with SPD pedals, then how much would it cost me to get a set of those pedals?

Maintenance. Let’s be honest, I don’t like spending hours cleaning my bike. Are there any high maintenance parts or components I should avoid?

Sizing. My road bike fit is 52-53 cm, I’m 5’6". Is mountain bike sizing the same as road bike sizing? Is there a special women’s sizing (I do have very small hands and don’t like massive brakes, for instance) or is that not really an issue?

If I visit someone selling a used bike, what do I look for besides whether I like the feel of the ride? For instance, is there a way to do a quick exam of the frame, and also, if the seller doesn’t know what components are on the bike, what should I be looking for? I do have a very trusted bike shop that can make any upgrades for me.

Lots of questions…any insight into any of these topics is greatly appreciated!

2

Mountain Biking is the BOMB ! and glad to hear you’re giving it more thought.

Here’s my 2 cents. Rode a hardtail for a few years and really enjoyed it, no races with it, but more for cross training when I got sick of my tri bike. A few months ago got my first FS bike w/ all the new SRAM X9 stuff and a mid level front shock. Its super comfy over everything. I love it ! But, I’m still going to keep my hardtail . There’s something different about riding a hardtail, can’t quite explain it, but I’m glad to have both in the garage.

Bang for the buck right now are the Ibex full suspension rigs that come w/ Shimano XT stuff.

I know of some Giant FS rigs that are under 900.00 online if you don’t mind regular brakes instead of discs. Whatever you do , don’t get one thats too cheap as climbing in SF will bite with bad shifting.

The 2 things I love looking at and riding are my Cervelo P3C and my K2 Mtb .

3

I have a '99 Cannondale F700 (dark blue w/ yellow decal), 52cm for sale, PM me if you are interested I can send you a picture of it. I have the dual pedals on it, shimano PD-MX30 (red).

4 
 SPD is the most common clipless pedal type on mtbs, at least as the factory pedal.  If your roadie came with 2 sided SPD pedals, you cauld also buy a pedal wrench and move them back and forth between bikes.  MTB sizing is in inches, at your height you'll be in the 15"ish range, providing normal proportions, but again one manufacturers 15 is another's 14.  There is also women's geometry to consider if you have the classic long leg short torso thing going on.    FS is great, but it's tough to get anything at all light, even used, at <800 bucks, and a somewhat light bike will be much more  pleasurable to ride in the hills.  Most all MTBs have a triple up front and at least 8 gears in back, so gearing for climbing is taken care of. 
 Really I'd start with your LBS and ask these same questions.  There's lots to consider when getting on a new type of bike, and not being pretty sure of what you want and need is a big strike against being able to buy used.  Good luck...post pics when the new baby arrives, preferably with mud and smiles.
5

OMG! You just missed Velo Swap on Saturday. I got a Specialized Enduro FSR cheap!!!

6

I know! A friend mentioned Velo Swap and I was like, Why should I go? Then I went mountain biking the next day and now I am obsessed.

OMG! You just missed Velo Swap on Saturday. I got a Specialized Enduro FSR cheap!!!

7

I have an old Specialized which would fit you and would let it go pretty cheap. I doubt if it has 100 miles on it. I much prefer the tri bike, the road bike and the cross bike. Plus, you can come test it out in person first.

clm

8

Did you catch that hog KEJ got for cheap?

9

Its a good thing for me she didn’t go mountain biking until yesterday. She may have gotten the deal while I was running around to the bank.

10

Disc brakes weigh a ton and add $200 to $300 to the cost of a MTB. For some reason these types of brakes are the “must have” item on mountain bikes these days. If you do find a particular model you like ask if the manufacturer offers a similar bike with standard sidepulls. If the mud you’ll be riding in is sandy, traditional brakes will work just fine. I’m sure they are much less maintenance too.

Like you stated, full suspension is great for downhill but lacks stiffness for uphill climbs. I’ve heard full suspension bikes also give one a false sense of confidence – that is, you feel like you can race down the mountain at 35mph even though it is crazy to do so.

Just my two bits.