Im gonna tell you what bike I bought and I want honesty. I am just starting to get into xc and some uphill/downhill stuff. At the time I thought I got a real nice bike until I went to a mountain bike park and felt like I had a generic compared to the other bikes out there. I bought a Trek 3700 hardtail. Its an Alpha Aluminum frame. V brakes that say TEKTRO on them. Wheels are Matrix. Bontrager stem and neck. Shimano SIS in the front and Shimano Acera in the rear. RST standard non adjustable front shock. Suntour SR cranks. The pedals are plastic platform that are going to go bye bye soon once I decide what I want. I dont know what kind of shifter system it is, but it shifts with a pull of a trigger like thing at the top and is very quick. OK give it to me, did I make a dumb uneducated purchase for around $310.00 ??:madman: If I upgrade, what should I look at upgrading and with what in its place?
Buyers remorse
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Woohoo Trek!!!!
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gotta start somewhere
Everyone has to start somewhere. It seems like for the $ you got a pretty good bike. I stated out on a $250.00 schwinn that didn't have any flair... then I upgraded all the components on the frame and I eventually sold it around 4 years after I got it. Now that I have a little expendable income to blow on bikes I do it. The frame will take you pretty far in the XC world. Its not about what your riding its about how much you want to ride it.
Everyone has to start somewhere. It seems like for the $ you got a pretty good bike. I stated out on a $250.00 schwinn that didn't have any flair... then I upgraded all the components on the frame and I eventually sold it around 4 years after I got it. Now that I have a little expendable income to blow on bikes I do it. The frame will take you pretty far in the XC world. Its not about what your riding its about how much you want to ride it.
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I don't think it's a bad purchase at all. Sure if you look hard enough there might be some other bikes out there with better components for the money, but consider this as a stepping stone to your next bike! Plus, if it turns out biking isn't your thing, you're only out $300. It's hard at the beginning to know if you want a hardtail xc, full suspension xc, all mountain bike, etc., so take notes of what you're looking for and what types of riding interests you so you'll make an educated purchase in a year or two when you're ready to blow $3k on a bike :thumbsup: .
Just ride it for a season or two and by then, you should know what to upgrade to. Just stick around here and you will become a Bike Snob in no time- like many of us have.
The bike is fine- a decent starter bike. However, don't sink too much into upgrades. Just ride it till the wheels fall off (hopefully not literally) and then it will be time for a nice $4K jobbie.
The bike is fine- a decent starter bike. However, don't sink too much into upgrades. Just ride it till the wheels fall off (hopefully not literally) and then it will be time for a nice $4K jobbie.
What flyer said ! When you are ready to upgrade buy a frame ,then get the componets you want.In the meantime have fun with what you have,and learn to work on it,IE,minor tuneups etc. within a year or so you will have a real good idea as to what type of riding you like to do, which will dictate what your next bike will be.
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no, it wasnt really a bad purchase. the 3700 is an okay bike. I rented a 05 3700or 3900 cant remember, but I was stupid on that thing, I was dirtjumping it and stupid crap, held up, nothing failed. but dont do that to your bike.
https://www2.trekbikes.com/images/bikes/large/3700_red.jpg is this the bike you ride ? or is it a 05 model ? that bike will do fine for XC and commuteing and stuff, componants arent really durable but they will work. keep it, get it out there on the trails and see if you like the sport. dont care abut what other people think of your bike. all that matters is that you're out there haveing fun.
https://www2.trekbikes.com/images/bikes/large/3700_red.jpg is this the bike you ride ? or is it a 05 model ? that bike will do fine for XC and commuteing and stuff, componants arent really durable but they will work. keep it, get it out there on the trails and see if you like the sport. dont care abut what other people think of your bike. all that matters is that you're out there haveing fun.
Right now you don't know what bike you really like, so ride your bike for a while until such time you familiarize yourself of the different brands, models, their frames, components etc...
Do not upgrade anything. You can spend $1,000 in upgrades, still it wont be on par with those Treks that have $1,310 msrp. Why? because those have different frames, forks, wheelsets, components, etc plus you'll be buying everything retail plus cost of installations.
When the time comes you want to upgrade, trade that in or sell it and buy the bike you like.
Do not upgrade anything. You can spend $1,000 in upgrades, still it wont be on par with those Treks that have $1,310 msrp. Why? because those have different frames, forks, wheelsets, components, etc plus you'll be buying everything retail plus cost of installations.
When the time comes you want to upgrade, trade that in or sell it and buy the bike you like.
Upgrading parts or bikes is not going to make you a better rider. If anything you should up grade yourself. Your bike is probably more capable than you are.v8shadow said:
Buy this book:
http://www.leelikesbikes.com/mastering-mountain-bike-skills/
Take a clinic from Joe or any of this instructors:
http://www.bikeskills.com/home.htm
Ride with advanced riders and follow their lines.
Don't go out and buy clipless pedals. Stick with flat pedals. Flat pedals teaches skills. For some reason riders seem to think that real mountain bikers ride clipless. I ride both but prefer flats because it keeps me from cheating and forces me to use good techniques. You can buy clipless once you become proficient with flats.
One of my buddies use to beat the crap out of guys with $4,000 plus downhill riggs. He raced a Giant Warp. This guy had skills. The only reason he had to upgrade to a real DH bike is because the frames couldn't handle (2 broken warp frames) the insane speeds he was running them.
Another buddy rides a Specialized Hardrock (low end bike). He regularly dirtjumps and and takes drops with it. It's built like a tank and is till in one piece. He recently bought a Demo Nine because he really going huge nowadays. He swears the Hardrock will take it but it safer to go huge on the Demo.
Mtbing is about the ride not the equipment.
Oh, if you are breaking stuff then it is time to upgrade!!!!!m
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I've been riding a Trek 800 Sport from 2000 or 2001, all stock. It's an extremely entry level bike and the tires are the same as the ones on the 3700. I've taken that stuff on some good singletrack and nothing has screwed up so terribly that I couldn't fix it (I work at my LBS).todd_freeride said:
So shadow, ride the hell out of that and learn how to fix what breaks. You'll be fine.
P.S.-just no dirt jumping or crap like that.
Have Fun!!
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You bought a bike for $300 that is a great begginer bike but if you are planing on DH/AM it is not made for that. If you are going to do shuttle runs or chair lift's you might want to consider a FS instead of a HT. Also you will have to poney up a few more duckets for a decent bike. Figure a good starting point about $1100.
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