REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

Brand New I Need Your Help

766 Views 9 Replies 6 Participants Last post by nachomc, Jul 6, 2006

d19rye

Discussion Starter · Jul 5, 2006

Hey i am new to mountain biking, its something that i want to try it looks awesome, and it looks like i can have a lot of fun and get a good work out. But i need help. I need to know what to buy. What do i need. For me and my wife we are both getting into it so i cant spend a whole lot of money. We are getting 300 dollar bike to start with to make sure we like it first and then we will upgrade later. But what else what kind of helmet, gloves everything what do we need.

Save

1 - 10 of 10 Posts

WP Local

· #2 · Jul 5, 2006

Make sure that you are able to do basic repairs, fix a flat, tighten a cable....

You don't need gloves to start but a good fitting helmet is a must. Also a pair of bike shorts with a chamois liner will help keep you happy downstairs

I am challanged when it comes to buying a bike in the $300 range... If you live anywhere near a ski resort check out thier sale racks on last year's rental stock.. Buying used may get you a much better bike for the money.

The biggest thing is to get out there and ride, remember it's not the bike, its the engine that makes it go that's important!

Save

JM01

· #3 · Jul 5, 2006

depends on the terrain that you'll be riding...but an XC helmet and good full finger bike gloves (in case you fall) will be a good start.

I also carry a cell 'phone, spare tube, clamshell tool kit, and tire spoons in a tummy pack and a small pump mounted on water bottle cage

Save

nachomc

· #4 · Jul 5, 2006

My advice on buying the bike would be to wait until the end of the season and swoop in on some awesome end of year sales. My concern with a $300 bike is that it will likely be an big-box bike (IE: Target, Costco, Wal-Mart), will definitely suck if so and you may decide you hate biking because your bike sucks. One place you might look, especially during end of year type sales is REI - they have a brand called Novara. Frames are made by the some people that do the frames for Giant (so I've been told) and the rest of the components are brand name. Their prices are awesome for what you get. I personally ride one and have never had as a good a bike.

clothes - definitely get some good biking shorts. You can either buy shorts with a sewn in padded liner (which absorpbs sweat and pads the sensitive areas) or buy a liner that is basically an underwear with the pad sewn in and then you wear whatever you want over it. I would recommend gloves, they're cheap and will likely save you a lot of discomfort while riding (and if you fall they should give some skin protection), comfortable shoes - I rode in running shoes for about 6 months before upgrading to real biking shoes, helmet for sure, good sun glasses.

that should about do ya. Always ride with a spare tube and some kind of pump and make sure you can use them

See less See more

Save

d19rye

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jul 5, 2006

ok do they have a quick fix kit or something which one is a good one and what brand of shorts are good

Save

nachomc

· #6 · Jul 5, 2006

Just buy a simple toolkit (an allen set should do you well at first) from your local bike shop, a spare tube that fits the bike you have, definitely a set of tire levers - any should work, and a decent pump that can be mounted to the frame of the bike. I have a Topeak pump and it works great.

I also carry a small patch kit just in case I get more than one flat and I'm out of tubes. Your local bike shop or an REI carries all this stuff and the sales people will be more than happy to assist. The cool thing about bike shops is that they don't try to take new guys, they try to help and make sure you come back in the future to buy more goodies, get service and become a better rider.

Save

Lumbee1

· #7 · Jul 5, 2006

d19rye said:
ok do they have a quick fix kit or something which one is a good one and what brand of shorts are good

Hoss Ponderosa - $38
http://wheelworld.com/itemdetails.cfm?ID=3500

Save

WP Local

· #8 · Jul 6, 2006

I did something I never do... I actually discussed this thread with my wife!

She had a great suggestion. How about renting nice bikes for your first few rides out... See if you enjoy it. You may find (as many of us have) that you really have a passion for it.

If this turns out to be the case you might curse wasting $300 each on a bike that doesn't fit your long term needs... If it doesn't work out then you might only be out a smaller amount and won't be stuck with a couple of bikes taking up room in the garage

Save

jmax24

· #9 · Jul 6, 2006

When my wife and I bought our first bikes the lbs gave me a 10% discount for buying 2 at 1 time.He also gave me the same discount on all the acc(helmet,gloves,shoes,etc).Worth a try.

Save

nachomc

· #10 · Jul 6, 2006

WP Local said:
I did something I never do... I actually discussed this thread with my wife!

She had a great suggestion. How about renting nice bikes for your first few rides out... See if you enjoy it. You may find (as many of us have) that you really have a passion for it.

If this turns out to be the case you might curse wasting $300 each on a bike that doesn't fit your long term needs... If it doesn't work out then you might only be out a smaller amount and won't be stuck with a couple of bikes taking up room in the garage

Check you out, that's an awesome idea.

Save

1 - 10 of 10 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

Top Contributors this Month