trek makes some models in 25", but i can’t remember what and i’m failing at googling. it’d be easy to look up if i was at work.
and sol, youre not gonna find a decent mountainbike for under $1000. maybe you might luck out on a good deal used.
of course used. thats how the market seems to be. but id rather shoop deals atmo
How does one size mtbs? Do you go for the same TT as road bike? Im guessing the ST isnt the main issue since ample clearance is obviously desirable.
yeah no. rigids are fun. its fun taking more technical lines. depends on the person really. Sometimes I wish I had a suspension fork, but honestly, I can make due without.
yeah no. rigids are fun. its fun taking more technical lines. depends on the person really. Sometimes I wish I had a suspension fork, but honestly, I can make due without.[/quote]
Emphasis mine. This is exactly the problem. You sometimes wish you had a suspension fork. If you had a suspension fork, you would never wish you DIDN’T have it, because any decent modern suspension fork has lockout.
deeeerrp
SON I HAVE HAD U ON DISSAPPOINT WHOLE LIFE BUT GAVE U THE BENEFIT OF THE DERRP
lulz
I tend to like road bikes with top tubes around 51-52.5cm, depending on seat tube angle, head tube angle, etc. Mountain bikes that I have liked have had 56-57.5cm top tubes. I like slack head angles and short stems (70mm max) on my mtbs, so ymmv.
SON I HAVE HAD U ON DISSAPPOINT WHOLE LIFE BUT GAVE U THE BENEFIT OF THE DERRP
[/quote]
Awesome.
This “I only read threads I start” bullshit is fucking stupid, sol. You know helpful people who ride. You pretty much know you need as big as they make. Ask them general questions or about a specific bike you find or get over yourself and post in the DQ’s or “what’s this worth?” thread and you might actually get helpful responses. Emphasis on MIGHT.
Oh yeah, did you ever get cantis put on big biek? I really like the look of those.
Sol…
- Suspension.
Don’t get rigid, as was said, it’s just old man “purists”. As for a rear suspension, I disagree that hardtails are for beginners and full suspension is for advanced. BUT, rear suspension in THIS case, is largely unnecessary. You’ll just learn to ride your bike like its a horse and float your rear over the bumps. If you wanted to, you COULD look for a front fork that comes with a lockout, or inquire about an aftermarket one, but I don’t think its necessary or aligned with your budget. If you plan on going used, make sure you look at the travel on the front suspension. 80mm-100mm is what you want on a 29er. Some of the early models had less than that and thats really just total bullshit. This is one of the reasons why I’ve only really started drinking the 29er koolaid myself.
- Brakes.
While I wouldn’t recommend getting a bicycle that isn’t both frame and wheels disc compatible, you definitely don’t NEED hydraulics disc brakes, and you definitely don’t even NEED disc brakes. I’ve used and raced v-brakes for about 10 years now. Are there disadvantages? Yes, but do I often ride around saying “damn I wish I had discs”? No. All of that on the plate, I think hydro’s while certainly the best, are probably overkill for you, and for your budget, you’ll be hard pressed to find a bike that has hydros on it. PLUS, they’re complex for your abilities. (though they’re basically the same as a car brake system, so maybe you’ll know them better?). But a mech system will be just fine.
- Groupset.
If you like the single speed racket… you can definitely go that route. It’ll be sick light, and easy peasy maintenance wise on the trail and off, BUT… you only have one speed amirite? Imrite. If you wanted to get gears, you should try out srams newer systems vs shimanos systems. Shimano has their upshift and downshift triggers on opposite sides of the handlebar, so you shift one with your index and one with your thumb. Srams are both on your thumb side, so you can really only shift one way at a time. I’ve typically preferred the shimano setup, but thats also because srams shifting system has only recently begun to update itself to become logically competitive.
One other thing that is sort of all encompassing. Not that it will really matter, but for a heads up, MANY manufacturers that are making 29ers (especially the ones on the used market currently) are simply the exact same geometry as their 26 inch counterparts, but expanded for 29ers. Those bikes are fine, but you may notice some oddities in the way they fit or ride (or at least an experienced MTB brodude might). 29ers are really only now starting to come into their own, and are being designed as such.
thanks for all the great info! yeah, i really want to get into a 29er this year and your info is very valuable 
maby try trading yr mini velo for a 29er
herpa derrrrrrrrrp
yeah no. rigids are fun. its fun taking more technical lines. depends on the person really. Sometimes I wish I had a suspension fork, but honestly, I can make due without.[/quote]
Emphasis mine. This is exactly the problem. You sometimes wish you had a suspension fork. If you had a suspension fork, you would never wish you DIDN’T have it, because any decent modern suspension fork has lockout.[/quote]
Emphasis mine. Bullshit. Several times I have run a section with a sloppy line and survived because of suspension. Never once have I approached a technical section and said, “OK everyone, hold up. I’m going to lockout my suspension to force myself to take this section with finesse instead of bouncing over the tombstones.”
I got into open canoe over kayak for the same reason. Challenge increases skill. Skill increases fun.
^This. Have ridden 29ers with suspension forks, always come back to my rigid cos lighter, no maintenance, etc. Fat tires provide all teh suspension I need.
[quote=EivlEvo]2. Brakes.
While I wouldn’t recommend getting a bicycle that isn’t both frame and wheels disc compatible, you definitely don’t NEED hydraulics disc brakes, and you definitely don’t even NEED disc brakes. I’ve used and raced v-brakes for about 10 years now. Are there disadvantages? Yes, but do I often ride around saying “damn I wish I had discs”? No. All of that on the plate, I think hydro’s while certainly the best, are probably overkill for you, and for your budget, you’ll be hard pressed to find a bike that has hydros on it. PLUS, they’re complex for your abilities. (though they’re basically the same as a car brake system, so maybe you’ll know them better?). But a mech system will be just fine.
[/quote]
You don’t ride the kind of terrain that we do here. The longest descent within 8 miles of my house is 2200’ over 6 miles. When pushing 45+ down a fire road or double track I can overheat my disc brakes very easily, it would destroy a rim brake or force me to ride MUCH slower. The only maintenance I’ve ever needed to do on the two sets of hydros I’ve had is replace brake pads, which are very easy to do and probably easier than on BB5s.
HOLD UP.
what do you plan on doing? xc stuff? dh? all mountain?
I think rigid is more than enough in norcal (bay area), but if you decide to do more dh stuff, then maybe you will want a suspension fork.
I love taking technical routes. Sure, its’ a bit slower than suspension, but am I racing? NO>
i think you guys are over-thinking this a little. all he is looking for is a bike that he can ride over a bit of dirt and not get a flat.
Nah, BB7’s are damn awesome and worth considering on a budget.