Who Mountain Bikes?

[FMA4ME]

Hello; I think you can get different sizes in pretty much any style bicycle now days so there should be no restrictions on the type of bike. Does USA made make a difference to you? If so there are some USA makers of bikes.

Mountain bikes can be pretty from basic to ones with complex suspensions both front and rear. I do not race down dirt trails so the suspensions are not so much of interest. I have come to like a suspension seat post and front fork suspension.

Light weight and nice components will equal more cost which will make such a bike a target for thieves which can mean the need for a very heavy bike lock which makes the bike heavy again.

May I also suggest getting a decent helmet, a reflective vest, some lights, two water bottle racks and a small set of tools you can carry. I also carry two tubes and a CO2 inflator with a few co2 cartridges. I also put a rack on the rear of my bikes. Might ask for some of this stuff when haggling over the price of the bike once all the bike price discounts are used up.

Hey Jeff,
Right now USA made isn't important to me. I want to go out and do a few trails and decide I like it, and commit. I know myself, I could very well be over it fairly quickly, So I don't want to dump heaps of money. However, racing down dirt trails is exactly what is appealing to me so I will invest in a good helmet first, and find out how much suspension I want. I suspect I'll start with a good seat lol. I'm also starting to wonder about how to equipment to bring with me. I hadn't really considered tools, or a CO2 inflater. Between that food, and water it sounds like a lot. The park I'm interested in trying first has an 11 mile trail, so I'm guessing I'll need it all at some point. On top of it all, the bike will be strapped to the back of a Camry, so I'll have to figure that out too.

 

[FMA4ME]

I do a little mountain biking, nothing hardcore. IME, go with a cheap bike with wideish rims and a STEEL frame. $50 for a used bike will take you on trails if it's a good steel bike. Make sure the chain is not stretched and the bearings are good. Steel is heavy, but durable. A too small frame is okay, a too big one is not. Water is important, so is some way of fixing tires on the road (a must for any serious biking really.) Helmets are a must for those wishing to remain fully functioning humans. I don't care much for suspensions.

I've done mountain biking on a beach cruiser. The smooth tires suck, and the 1 spd forces you to go much faster than you'd be able to go with more gears, but it works. I had a rusty and battered '60s beach cruiser for a bit, build quality was horrible and it was heavy, but took beating better than a mountain bike; modern ones might be a little different.

Lol mountain biking on a beach cruiser!?? I couldn't imagine, not on my cruiser anyway. The gearing is soo crappy, I don't think I could even attempt an uphill trail, downhill maybe. I am looking forward to some air though lol .

 

[FMA4ME]

You have to have a good place to bike that'll provide a challenge though so do you have a trail you use or something else?

Not sure how I missed your post fh. There are plenty of parks here in southern California and there are dedicated mountain bike trail 10 minutes down the freeway from me. I don't really like riding much in my neighborhood, there are soo many cars I don't feel safe.
What really interested me most are the trails I see at ski resorts during off season, dang that looks fun!!!

 

[fishhead0103666]

I can imagine riding a bike up one of those hills that are normally covered with snow, sounds like it would be fun if you're the type of person that likes a challenge.

 

[J. H.]

Lol mountain biking on a beach cruiser!?? I couldn't imagine, not on my cruiser anyway. The gearing is soo crappy, I don't think I could even attempt an uphill trail, downhill maybe. I am looking forward to some air though lol .

It's a horror. You can't let the speed fall too low or you have to get off and walk, the coaster brake slips and overheats, the smooth tire skid even more then regular ones, the awkward handlebars get in your way, and the seat is just wrong, but I had a blast with that bike on walking trails, esp. at night, with a flashlight in my mouth

I can imagine riding a bike up one of those hills that are normally covered with snow, sounds like it would be fun if you're the type of person that likes a challenge.

Snow is your enemy. The bike turns into an awkward sled, your clothes soak through, and on long trips, the cold can work some real damage.

Also, if you intend to bike in winter, gloves are a must. Your hands can freeze so bad you'll struggle to pull the break levers, the pain will be incredible, you'll have to run your hands under cold water to uncurl your fingers - and I'm talking about a 30 min ride in 25F and rain! Take my warning, wear gloves.

 

[skjl47]

On top of it all, the bike will be strapped to the back of a Camry, so I'll have to figure that out too.

I have a bike carrier that fits on a Nissan Sentra but is adjustable to fit many other cars. been a while since I bought it so have no real ideal what they may cost now.

I hadn't really considered tools, or a CO2 inflater. Between that food, and water it sounds like a lot.

Hello; At the very least I carry enough stuff to change a tube. I use to try to patch flats but have discovered a new tube or two is so much simpler. I also got tired of the frame mounted air pumps and went to the co2 inflators.
I have a small handlebar pack in front and a small pack that mounts under and behind the seat. There are ready made small tool kits but over time I made up my own with the alan wrenches and the other small multi tools.
Most of the time it is a flat to deal with. One thing I like to do with the tires of around 1.75 to 2.0 x 26 size is to get a liner that goes inside the tire between the tube and the inside of the tire. Cuts down on the number of flats. Went on a long ride years ago with all my extra stuff. On a ridge many miles from anywhere one of the guys I was with had multiple punctures in one tube. Of course he had no spare anything ( an optimist is like that). I had at least two new tubes with me and the levers to take the tire off the rim.
I do carry water but not usually food. 11 miles does not sound like a lot but much depends on the terrain.

 

[FMA4ME]

I have a bike carrier that fits on a Nissan Sentra but is adjustable to fit many other cars. been a while since I bought it so have no real ideal what they may cost now.


Hello; At the very least I carry enough stuff to change a tube. I use to try to patch flats but have discovered a new tube or two is so much simpler. I also got tired of the frame mounted air pumps and went to the co2 inflators.
I have a small handlebar pack in front and a small pack that mounts under and behind the seat. There are ready made small tool kits but over time I made up my own with the alan wrenches and the other small multi tools.
Most of the time it is a flat to deal with. One thing I like to do with the tires of around 1.75 to 2.0 x 26 size is to get a liner that goes inside the tire between the tube and the inside of the tire. Cuts down on the number of flats. Went on a long ride years ago with all my extra stuff. On a ridge many miles from anywhere one of the guys I was with had multiple punctures in one tube. Of course he had no spare anything ( an optimist is like that). I had at least two new tubes with me and the levers to take the tire off the rim.
I do carry water but not usually food. 11 miles does not sound like a lot but much depends on the terrain.

Yes, I figured on a bike carrier. How is it easier carrying and changing an entire tube vs just patching it?

 

[skjl47]

Yes, I figured on a bike carrier. How is it easier carrying and changing an entire tube vs just patching it?

Hello; Worlds easier on the side of the road. You can be wet and muddy. Take the punctured tube home do the patch later at your leasure.
On a scale of 1 to 10 using a new tube is a 1 while patching a tube is at least a 6 on a good day and impossible on some days.

 

[J. H.]

bike carriers can run $500+, but are cheap on craigslist, especially at this time of year. I got one that can hold 4 bikes, and is reasonably well made for $15.
If you are dropping a lump of cash on your bike, get disk brakes. They don't overheat and work just as well in the rain, are more durable, and are easier to fix/maintain.

 

[FMA4ME]

bike carriers can run $500+, but are cheap on craigslist, especially at this time of year. I got one that can hold 4 bikes, and is reasonably well made for $15.
If you are dropping a lump of cash on your bike, get disk brakes. They don't overheat and work just as well in the rain, are more durable, and are easier to fix/maintain.

Wow $500!? I definitely will go Craigslist for that. I was actually in cl and Offer up last night. Lots of bikes!!! From like $50 on up. Hopefully lots of carriers too. Since there is so many reasonably priced, I'm going to look for a little more bike. Disc brakes sound like a good idea, and some suspension would be nice. I think I probably should keep an eye out for cracks on something that's been jumped.
I also looked into new bikes, I saw one for 10000! I think it was called a Firebird, I have a real Pontiac Firebird I'd rather put 10Gs into lol! Thanks for the tip guys!