well ive been wanting to get back into mountain biking for a little while now. i dont want to do anything crazy, not really into jumping anything(done that once and ended up with a metal plate and screws in my arm).

just want something for fun. i def want front shocks and would like a rear shock but thats not mandatory.

i dont have much money to spend on one but want a decent bike, not a magna or a huffy or something. ive been keeping my eye out on craigslist for used bikes, but not sure whats good and whats not? I know trek is decent but dont know a lot about some of the other names.

also im about 6'2'' which size bikes do i need to be looking at? 24''?

how about this one?
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/bik/1641991856.html

i know its probably some cheap off brand bike, but i dont need some super nice bike either, just need something that will get the job done

If you are on a budget look into a nice hardtail. You definetly get what you pay for with mountain bikes. IMO There is no nice sub $300 mountain bike that will stand up to you actually trail riding it.

Also if you have never heard of it. You probably dont want that brand.
If it doesnt have atleast manual disc brakes (dont buy it)

1) go to a bikeshop and get sized for a bike, so you know what to look for.
2) find a bike on craigslist.
3) google reviews for said bike.
4) If bike reviews are good buy said bike.

www.Roswellbicycles.com is a good shop in the ATL area.

thanks man. ill keep an eye out. the one i posted up ended up being a 19" frame so i think it would be a little small for me. pretty sure i need something close to 21"

btw i used to go to auburn and still come down to visit friends once in a while. is there anywhere good to ride down there?

thanks man. ill keep an eye out. the one i posted up ended up being a 19" frame so i think it would be a little small for me. pretty sure i need something close to 21"

btw i used to go to auburn and still come down to visit friends once in a while. is there anywhere good to ride down there?

No problem, Yeah Auburn has a few places to ride. Tuskeegee National Forest right down the road has two good trails- Bartram Trail & Pleasant Hill Trail. They are both pretty good and there is even a short trail on campus. Hit me up if you are ever down this way and I will show you where all these are at.

Matt

thanks man. ill keep an eye out. the one i posted up ended up being a 19" frame so i think it would be a little small for me. pretty sure i need something close to 21"

btw i used to go to auburn and still come down to visit friends once in a while. is there anywhere good to ride down there?


I think you're right on with frame size. I'm 6'0" and I ride two different Cannondale's, one with their XL frame (21"? I believe?) and one with their L frame. Their L is slightly too small for me, but I'm working on compensating by picking up the handlebars with a stem that has more degrees of rise as well as stepped up handlebars.

I love both of my Cannondale's. My Silk Path (XL) isn't mountain, but it is the best all around/commuter/recreational bike I've been around. And it came straight from the factory as a brake tester for dirt cheap, thanks dad for selling your parts to them.

My F5 is a hardtail that I picked up on the cheap, ala $200 for a bike with only 150mi on it. So to there are some really good deals on decent bikes for cheap out there. It is low end and wasn't ideal size, but can easily be upgraded.

I vote for anything Cannondale, Trek, Gary Fisher, Kona, basically something you would find in an actual bike shop is your best bet. I picked my F5 up from a roady that tried mountain and hated it, but due to the small scratches on the frame and rashed pedal, I'd say he bit it good and decided to quit after. If you find a frame you like that fits you, you'll be able to upgrade it when necessary.

Specialized is good too, and there high end bikes use some good parts.

Specialized is good too, and there high end bikes use some good parts.

Another vote for Specialized.

I ride an 07 Pitch Pro, It is hands down awesome. I find their frames are sturdy and the components are well chosen.

well ive been wanting to get back into mountain biking for a little while now. i dont want to do anything crazy, not really into jumping anything(done that once and ended up with a metal plate and screws in my arm).

just want something for fun. i def want front shocks and would like a rear shock but thats not mandatory.

i dont have much money to spend on one but want a decent bike, not a magna or a huffy or something. ive been keeping my eye out on craigslist for used bikes, but not sure whats good and whats not? I know trek is decent but dont know a lot about some of the other names.

also im about 6'2'' which size bikes do i need to be looking at? 24''?


I just got back into biking last year so I know what you are going through. For sizing I recommend going to a bike shop and trying out some bikes. It will give you a chance to try different brands, hopefully. Some places I went to only had Specialized, which is ok but not the only brand out there. Trek, Giant are a couple other brands I have tried and like. I would avoid any bikes from the big box stores, they are getting pretty good a making components look like real stuff but from what I have seen they just don't hold up, and function poorly.

A used Trek (unless beat to death) is 10 times + better than a new Huffy (the huffies I have seen)

Bike fit isn't just height, it includes your arm reach, inseam and build so not all things are equal. I used this link, it has a height and inseam table to give bike size:
http://bicycling.about.com/od/howtoride/a/MTB_sizing.htm

This article goes into greater detail but it is a long read:
http://www.mountain-bike-world.com/mountain-bike-fitting.html

For myself I went out and got a Scott Aspect on craigslist for $300, new it is in the $500-$600 range. It has disc brakes and Aluminum frame, front shocks and hardtail (no rear suspension). It was in like new condition. Before that I had a old Trek 820 with Crome Moly Steel frame, no front shocks, hardtail. The trek was great but I just need to get something newer. The Scott was ok but it was heavy (beefy Aluminum frame sucks), disc brakes are great, but after trying other bikes they are really low end. I bent the seat and had to replace the seat a couple times, and finally bought a new seatpost(thompson, which is supposedly premium) and seat after bending both, no major jumps just rocky downhill in New England. It wasn't my riding but I think the low quality seat post. It was actually bending the seats.

By the end of the season I was building up my own bike off of a bare full suspension 7005 Al frame I got off craigslist.

The full suspension bikes are generally heavier but this one ended up being the same weight as the scott hardtail but a lot pleasanter to ride. Can go downhill faster and safer feeling than on the trek 820 no suspension I had.

cool thanks guys. looks like ill have to hold off on the bike a little while longer. my o2 sensors in the truck are going out so thats where my $300 is going for now. then another $400 is going towards books for school for the summer. yay:mad3:

when you are ready just check out any local "Bike shop"............ don't go to sports stores that sell Hockey equipment, bikes, baseball equipment, etc.

All of the mainline bike manufacturers (Specialized, kona, trek, giant, Norco, rocky mountain) make cheaper entry level bikes for riders like yourself with prices that are comparable to box store cheapie bikes. Any reputable "bike shop" will sell you a quality mountain bike and will correctly fit it for your body, they will also stand behind and service what they sell.

Sports stores are only trying to meet sales numbers and don't care about your needs or if the bike is correctly sized.