so im in need of a new hobby, and im pretty sure its going to be mountain biking. i used to be into BMX, i had one kick ass bike that lasted a long time, but once the license came around i got over bikes. now i want another..
-i dont have much to spend-
now, shopping around ive gotten really confused on the sizing, dont even know where to begin. fwit, i am 6' 220 lbs
ive been looking at both new and used bikes.
the bike i would consider new is the specialized rockhopper comp disc, i can get one for $499 on closeout. half-off... appealing! the size is 13" (again im 6' 220 lbs)h
PLEASE LOOK AT THE FOLLOWING ADDS FOR ME!!! ALL OPINIONS NEEDED!
ive also found a few full suspension bikes on craigslist.
finally something i know about. at your size u need a large frame or 20" frame. be careful about buying bikes used of internet sites, often a place for stolen bikes to hawked. i have heard a lot of horror stories about people finding thier stolen bikes on e bay. performance bikes in laguna hills is a good place to pick up starter bikes and they have good deals going on riht now. there are also a lot of inter dealers like wheelworld.com that buy out manfacturers overstock and have good prices. ride a bike before you buy.
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13" is WAY too small. I'm 6'0" 185lbs myself. You should probably look at an 18 or 19 inch frame (Specialized, Trek, Fisher). If you are looking at Cannondales, a large would be good. I ride a Titus MotoLite size medium as they tend to be a bit bigger than most medium frames.
I have a big place in my heart for special ed.... I mean specialized bikes. Mine was stolen a few years back, and I have not been able to afford to replace it. My friend might have one for sale, but I'd have to check the frame size (he is about 6'1" and the bike is next to new, he is getting married) PM me if you want me to check for you.
This is great, one more MTBer/FJer!!
I can help in this area, I have quite a bit of info and experience to contribute.
First, you will need to tell us how you intend to use your mountain bike. Are you going to ride hard, ride a few days a week, or only the occasional weekend? Do you have a penchant for single track trails, or for fast downhilling/slalom? Do you intend to race or do you want to do challenging but organized fun rides?
The answers to the above questions are the ONLY way to determine the right bike for you. Each manufacturer has different styles of bikes for different uses. I noticed for example that you are looking at hardtails along the full suspension, and it may not seem like a big difference to you now, but these are two different types of bikes suited for quite different uses. You can ride either for any trail really, but the amount of enjoyment you will out of each bike type is very different.
Once you decide on the type of bike, then you can narrow your search by price. My recommendation is that you try bikes that are near 20" in size. I am 5'10", 245 lbs (of pure muscle of course ), ride an 18" specialized that fits me like a glove; it wasn't always like that, the previous bike I had was 16" and that was much too small, uncomfortable, and annoying at best.
The size of the bike offers you some flexibility too, sort of like ski sizes: smaller sizes are more twitchy, but easier to flick around on the trails; larger sizes are more comfortable on long rides and steadier at high dowhill speeds. I hope this is not confusing, but you really have another choice to make here depending on how you intend to use the mountain bike.
You can post a response here or PM me if you wish for more info, I will be pleased to help. I can share my phone number with you so we can talk live if you prefer.
Kal.
i know of a bunch of trails around here. i dont think full suspension is at all necessary for what i plan on doing, but, a deal is a deal..
now ive never ridden a full suspension before, so i cant say much. but i know i like hardtails because i like that i feel more connected to ground. i used to be into bmxing a lot so i think i could hit it off with a hardtail.
i know of a bunch of trails around here. i dont think full suspension is at all necessary for what i plan on doing, but, a deal is a deal..
now ive never ridden a full suspension before, so i cant say much. but i know i like hardtails because i like that i feel more connected to ground. i used to be into bmxing a lot so i think i could hit it off with a hardtail.
with your height etc... you should seriously consider buying a 29r MTB.
By a 29r I mean buy a bike with 29" diameter wheels as opposed to the older 26" dia wheels.
I advise you to post your question here and see what comes of it:
Yeah, like everyone else said, 13" frame will be WAY too small for you. You'll likely be into a 19"-20" frame or Large. Look around and try to find a Santa Cruz Blur. Great bike, lightweight, can be purchased with an entry level package of components including either mechanical or hydraulic disc brakes.
Great bike, it's what I race for sprint and ultraendurance races.
Specialized makes good bikes, Santa Cruz, Giant, Trek, etc. If I were you, I would go with a full suspension rig that is designed to incur less pedal bob from the rear suspension. In the long run, considering the fact you can get a bike that is nearly the same weight as a hardtail, you'll be much happier and not have to change up and spring for another bike in a year or so. Considering your background of BMX, you'll be airing it out before long. I know, I came from motocross and if there ain't airtime, even in ultradistance rides, it just wasn't fun enough.
You can really find some sweet deals but stay away from the low end sleds. Do some research on the different bike companies before you buy. I ended up having to do that too. If at all possible, spend just a little extra cash and get into a sled that will last and has received really good reviews on MTBR.com
Good luck Dominic!
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Last edited by breauxtus : 12-15-2007 at 10:20 AM.
Reason: Add some stuff
Also, IMHO, I'd stay away from anything mongoose. They're a walmart quality sled and won't hold up. Specialized makes good bikes, Santa Cruz, Giant, Trek, etc. If I were you, I would go with a full suspension rig that is designed to incur less pedal bob from the rear suspension. In the long run, considering the fact you can get a bike that is nearly the same weight as a hardtail, you'll be much happier and not have to change up and spring for another bike in a year or so. Considering your background of BMX, you'll be airing it out before long. I know, I came from motocross and if there ain't airtime, even in ultradistance rides, it just wasn't fun enough.
You can really find some sweet deals but stay away from the mongoose, etc trash. If at all possible, spend just a little extra cash and get into a sled that will last and has received really good reviews on MTBR.com
Good luck Dominic!
FYI, Mongoose makes some very nice high end trail bikes... not just WalMart crap. High end Mongoose bikes cost thousands of dollars and are well spec'd.
), ride an 18" specialized that fits me like a glove; it wasn't always like that, the previous bike I had was 16" and that was much too small, uncomfortable, and annoying at best.
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