Summer is near, my wife and I are thinking to start biking this summer. But we both haven't biked since kids. So we got some questions.
1. Since this will be our first bike, we don't want to invest too much on it. Currently the budget is about $300~$400 per bike. I read some discussions on Mobile01, but most bikes that were discussed are highend bike, like $800~$1000+. And some brand seems not found in US. Can anyone help recommend some beginner's mountain bike in the $300~$400 range? high CP value. (currently my eyes are on the Fuji Nevada 4.0, not sure if it's a good for beginner and if it holds the value)
2. We live in Sunnyvale, we have gone to few bike shops in the area, but since we are not too familiar with bike tech, we can't really tell which one is better. So far the "Performance Bicycle" in MountainView seems to have the largest selection. But not sure if they are any good.
I appreciate it if anyone can give me some tips and point me to the right direction.
Thanks.
1. Make sure the frame is made of aluminum not steel. Most of the $300 bikes are
made of steel. $400 bike is just at the threshold into aluminum frame.
2. If possible, make sure components are all made by known brand names. They can be
entry level, but popular known brands would make your bike a much better bike.
Lastly, I think it would be much safer for you to get a good entry level bike around $500, if you are willing to pay a bit more. At $400, you are right at the gray area. So, unless you know
exactly what to choose, you may end up buying a fancy but not so good mountain bike.
Once you ping down a brand name and model, check mtbr.com for the reviews. If it is not there, then probably nobody in the real mountain biking world owns one like this. Maybe
you should reconsider. When checking review, don't be fooled by the scores only. Check the # of reviews too. Typically I don't trust the scores if there are less than 10 reviews. A good popular bike typically has tens of reviews and the average scores should be at least 3.8 or higher, in my opinion. Also a quick scan of the scores would also tell you which brands are more popular and which should be avoided.
Welcome to the mountain biking world!
Oh, one more thing, if you are not sure, feel the weight. It is generally the most direct indicator to a bike's overall quality. Compare 2 bikes side by side by feeling the weight.
I have another question on bike fitting. I know there are some calculations out there to measure bike size based on rider's hight and leg inseam. But seems like this measurement varies from brand to brand. So I guess I really need to try it out to know how it feels. While I try out the bike, what things should I check to make sure the bike is a good fit?
Inseam height is more important than body height. When trying out a bike, you shouldn't feel
stretched on the upper body. You always want to leave enough flex zone with arms and shoulders.
The chart is usually good for flat road riding only. If you intend to do some technical rides, maybe you want to have one size smaller for better control. If not sure, or if you are at the borderline, you'd rather get it small than large. Consult the shop. Usually they give good advices based on each bike's feature.
Fremont REI — Bike Maintenance Basics
* Date: 5/4/2010
* Event Location: Fremont REI
* Event Fee: Free
* Time: 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. (PDT)
* Leader: Master Technician Scott Carrillo
* Group Size: 30
http://www.rei.com/event/228/session/5658
Seats are limited. You may want to register early.
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