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New to MTB

1434 Views 10 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  repo_man
Hi everyone! Just getting into this awesome sport and I’m here to learn more. I’ve been riding an old Schwinn Impact Hydroform FS (will post a pic later) and it’s been a lot of fun. Looking to find a few a used FS bike that fits me better and others to ride with. I’m in NOVA and there are a lot of nice local trails. I have another post in the 'what bike to buy' thread about a bike I'm currently eyeballing. Right now, I'm shying away from a hardtail as I'm in my early 40's and want my ride to be a bit cushier but am open to getting a used hardtail later on when I get more experience. I grew up on dirt (moto) bikes, 3, and 4 wheelers. Riding in the woods and dirt tracks and everything in between and have been riding off and on ever since. I currently have a utility 4 wheeler that pulls 'around the house' duty. Also, I used to be a mechanic (just for myself now) so I am no stranger to (and enjoy) wrenching.
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You can look for used good quality bikes at Pinkbike Buy/Sell. BikeFlight ships for $75. A free box is usually something the seller can get from his local shop. . . .Heres a listing search for a XL size Trek Fuel EX. . https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/list/?region=3&q=trek fuel ex&framesize=32,37,38,39,40,48,49
Welcome! I actually went the other way around. I went from mountain bikes to dirt bikes. I have an 03 KTM 450 EXC.

It could be challenging to find a used FS bike but it's mostly based on your budget. I would expect to spend $2k or more on a used FS bike. You can find them cheaper than $2k but it's hard to say what condition they are in. I recommend that if you do find an older FS bike for under $2k, give it a good inspection and ask questions. You can use the Pink Bike Buy/Sell website as a good starting point to find a bike in your area. Make sure it fits properly! That's the most important part!
Welcome! I actually went the other way around. I went from mountain bikes to dirt bikes. I have an 03 KTM 450 EXC.

It could be challenging to find a used FS bike but it's mostly based on your budget. I would expect to spend $2k or more on a used FS bike. You can find them cheaper than $2k but it's hard to say what condition they are in. I recommend that if you do find an older FS bike for under $2k, give it a good inspection and ask questions. You can use the Pink Bike Buy/Sell website as a good starting point to find a bike in your area. Make sure it fits properly! That's the most important part!
Right on. I actually ended up with a 2020 Giant Stance 29 2 that I feel I got for a good price. Dropper post and grips are on order.... And so it begins. haha.
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Welcome! If you’re a competent mechanic, then you should be able to do most of the work on your bike. Some things to look out for is there are a couple parts that are reverse threaded. Left pedal and right bottom bracket cup. Generally most of the torques are pretty low, but you should have a good feel for that by the size of fasteners. Bleeding bike hydros can be a bit more fiddly than cars, they often harder to get bubbles out.
Right on. I actually ended up with a 2020 Giant Stance 29 2 that I feel I got for a good price. Dropper post and grips are on order.... And so it begins. haha.
Nice find! I love PNW Components stuff. They have great grips and the best dropper posts. The dropper has a lifetime warranty if I recall. Their dropper remotes are great too!
Welcome! If you’re a competent mechanic, then you should be able to do most of the work on your bike. Some things to look out for is there are a couple parts that are reverse threaded. Left pedal and right bottom bracket cup. Generally most of the torques are pretty low, but you should have a good feel for that by the size of fasteners. Bleeding bike hydros can be a bit more fiddly than cars, they often harder to get bubbles out.
Awesome. I already figured that out about the pedals (hahaha!) but I'll keep the rest in mind. Thank you.
Nice find! I love PNW Components stuff. They have great grips and the best dropper posts. The dropper has a lifetime warranty if I recall. Their dropper remotes are great too!
Awesome I'll keep that in mind. Thanks!
Right on. I actually ended up with a 2020 Giant Stance 29 2 that I feel I got for a good price. Dropper post and grips are on order.... And so it begins. haha.
Awesome, I'm on a Stance 29 as well, just got it this month! Look forward to hearing about your progress!
Thanks! Already took the on its maiden voyage, had first crash, and loved every minute of it. The crash wasn't bad at all as I slowed down enough before I ate dirt. I created a YouTube channel and posted a some videos as well. They're not super exciting because I'm new to the mtb riding and the bike but I can see the videos getting better and having a lot more fun the better I get.
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Forgot to post a link to my channel. Haha. Check it out and let me know what you think.
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