 By gitCHu ONe on 7/17/2008 Hi. Why doesn't anyone ever come to these boards? All the posts are like '30 weeks ago' and so on. Is there another "better" set of boards that I haven't found? oh well... Obviously I don't expect anyone to respond in any timely manner... I am filled with an overwhelming urge to get into mountain biking. I live in Northern Nevada and I know there are some bitchin' trails around here, but I am yet to have even hiked any. :-/ I got rid of my car a couple of months ago and have been mostly walking to and from work everyday. Occassionally I will ride my skateboard, but the roads aren't great and it's more of a pain than just leisurely walking. I really don't mind the walk. I put my iPod on and just go for it. It has given me a new appreciation of myself and the town. However, I would rather be riding this trip. From there I really want to hit some dirt trails and see some nice sights. There are a few bikes shops in town, but I'm not looking to buy an expensive bike. I am trying to be more practicle, and get something cheap that won't fall apart if and when I do take it to some trails. Like I said, I am a beginner and would probably be one step below weekend warrior, as I have no car and no real way to get to trails other than to ride, which will add 20 something miles to my ride. If anyone has any suggestions. I prefer to not be pushed toward Wal-Mart bikes. I am all over Craigslist and am just hoping to find a good deal. That's where another issue for me arises. As a beginner I will probably not want to go for a full-suspension bike (or so I have gathered), therefore I will probably have some more options as to what to get. But what to get? If someone can tell me the type of bike that may be good, as well as any brands to look for deals on, and/or any brands that I just might be able to afford new or slightly used. I'm male. 5'6" about 135lbs. Thank you. |
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Good, cheap (<$200) bikes for beginner |
NVMtBiker says:
hey gitchu! glad to see a newbie in northern nevada. i'm going to start by giving you my standard speech -- mt biking is not cheap. the more you are willing to spend on a good bike (to a limit) the more enjoyment you'll get out of it. i'm not being elitist. Here's the reasons: good bikes are not cheap. the better your bike, the better it runs and the better it will hold up to abuse. the better your bike runs, the more you enjoy riding and the more likely you are to stick with it. now, getting off my soap box, here's my advice for your situation: craigslist is your best bet. DO NOT go get a box store bike. you'll do much better getting used. if you can afford another 100 or two, you'll have much better options, but here's what to look for nonetheless. get a rigid frame, probably around 15 to 16 inches (just a guess based on your height). suspension forks are great, but in the $200 price range, you're going to be getting a fairly old bike, and the fork as likely as not will be toast. Rigid is probably a better option. look for name brands like specialized, trek, jamis, giant. these are mass produced and cheaper, but they're good quality and besides the paint, should be solid frames. aluminum is lighter, but steel is springier and holds up to abuse longer. i would opt for the steel if there's a choice. don't rule out a single speed. they're light, simple, relatively cheap and fun, even off-road. i often see 1-speeds on cl. they're often conversions of older bikes and can be had for a good price. the other advantage here is that because it's likely a conversion, it has been worked on and is not covered in rust from sitting in a barn for the last decade. a few other bits and niggles to keep an eye out for: a 1 1/8 inch headset is preferable to the old 1 inch style. ( if the stem that holds the handle bars has bolts at the back near the rider, this is most likely the 1 1/8 inch style). V brakes over cantilevers -- V brakes are straight and roughly parallel to each other. they have much better power than cantilevers, which curve over the top of the tire. good luck! |
richclydesdale says:
 I have a Wal-Mart bike. I have to work on it all the time. I have to tighten the bottom bracket about every 20 miles. I can't go much further than that unless I want to carry an 18" pipe wrench. |
JasonPuett says:
Is it a one piece crank, or does it have a crank that separates from the bottom bracket? If it will separate from the bottom bracket, you can replace it with a sealed bottom bracket, thus elimination your headaches. |
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