Hi there. I moved to Los Alamos about six months ago and am looking for some advice. I've been into road biking for a few years, and am now interested in hitting the trails. I've been out hiking quite a bit recently and love the area. I'm looking for a new (or new to me) bike that would be good for the area. I know there are a load of different types of mountain bikes and I don't know what would be good. If anyone with any knowledge of the trails around here could give me some suggestions on type or model or bike I would appreciate it. Like, full suspension, hard tail, 29, 26, 27.5, dropper seat, etc.
Thanks!
Full suspension is definitely the best route around here. Every person you talk to will give you suggestions on the brand/model you ought to buy, but everyone has their own personal bias, including reviewers.
I would suggest taking your time in purchasing your first mountain bike; test-ride lots of different bikes. Getting the right fit is the key to getting a bike that will work for you and that you will enjoy through the long term. Try a lot of different brands. You eventually will find one that will seem to just "click" with you. Once you've found one like that, note the brand, model, size and year, and go ride several more. If you keep going back to that bike, it's probably the one for you.
With all of that said, I would not recommend purchasing a brand that has proprietary service requirements and/or proprietary parts. It can also be very nice to purchase a bike that has a lifetime frame warranty, too.
Send a PM if you'd like some insight on some of the local trails. Los Alamos trails can be difficult, and more than likely there will be blood at some point in your early riding career. But there are some awesome routes that can be strung together that are novice friendly, fun and scenic. My wife and I have lots of experience showing people around the area in such a way that you probably won't feel overwhelmed or pressured.
The local riding club is pretty accommodating for that stuff, too!
Good luck, have fun and keep riding!