Official Mountain Biking thread (MTB)

A quick 20 during my lunch break. I just love the smell off Autumn. Stayed mostly on the groomed trail system.

Enjoy the pics.

Sweet. I wish we had a groomed gravel trail like that. Our paved trail has a gravel section at the very end, but it's only a half mile or so long.

Lady Jane wrote

A quick 20 during my lunch break. I just love the smell off Autumn. Stayed mostly on the groomed trail system.

Enjoy the pics.

I see your beautiful trails and raise you, , , , , the Welsh Weather!

From our recent trip to Bike Park Wales



It usually looks like this

Hi y’all,

Is there a possibility of getting a ok mountain bike for under $800-$1000?

Mostly for just cruising local bike trails and exercise. Don’t need anything fancy. Or would y’all recommend opening the wallet little bit more?

TheRussski wrote

Hi y’all,

Is there a possibility of getting a ok mountain bike for under $800-$1000?

Mostly for just cruising local bike trails and exercise. Don’t need anything fancy. Or would y’all recommend opening the wallet little bit more?

Oh for sure.

First decision is, are you going to go Hard Tail or Full Suspension - after that trawl some websites.

I always point my friends to these two websites:

https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/buyers-guides/best-mountain-bikes-under-1000-2/
or
https://www.mbr.co.uk/buyers_guide/best-mountain-bikes-under-1000-394580

You could also look for some of those second hand or check the next tier up and do the same, see if you can get a bargain.

Chapperss wrote

Oh for sure.

First decision is, are you going to go Hard Tail or Full Suspension - after that trawl some websites.

I always point my friends to these two websites:

https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/buyers-guides/best-mountain-bikes-under-1000-2/
or
https://www.mbr.co.uk/buyers_guide/best-mountain-bikes-under-1000-394580

You could also look for some of those second hand or check the next tier up and do the same, see if you can get a bargain.

I definitely need to learn the basics between hard tail or full suspension. And second hand is a great idea! Thank you for the info!

Howzit, all.

Could use some input from everyone. About to pull the trigger on my first DS bike. Currently riding a 2020 Marlin 7 but am pushing that bike substantially out of it's element.

Ride mostly blue trails. Moderate climbs and decents. Very rocky and root filled terrain though. I am not a top athletic type guy, so I don't push it very hard and rarely get both wheels off the ground by more than a foot or so.

Trying to balance keeping my budget reasonable and also getting decent spec.

This is my top choice right now and plan is to pick it up Thursday if everything checks out.

Thoughts?

https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/bikes/mountain-bikes/trail-mountain-bikes/fuel-ex/fuel-ex-7/p/32884/

Run Silent wrote

Thoughts?

Definitely checks all the boxes at the pricepoint in my limited MTB knowledge, solid components and suspension. Go for it

dc503 wrote

Definitely checks all the boxes at the pricepoint in my limited MTB knowledge, solid components and suspension. Go for it

Run Silent - Second that. Lovely looking bike too. Are you going 29er? Also black Friday is either happening or happening soon so don`t buy before you are sure it`s not going on offer

There’s a comfort level in buying Trek because they’re one of the biggest bike companies around with arguably the most extensive dealer/distribution network in the USA. Components are pretty high-end for the money too.

The only thing you should look into, if you haven’t already, is whether it’s worth it to you to spend more money on a CF frame bike.

Recently moved to Phoenix from the PNW - that was a change of scenery to say the least. Making do here in Mars…

First bike is a Canyon Torque Carbon mullet setup
Second is a Polygon Siskiyou N9 29er

Both are highly modded and pretty well spec’d for me.

Chapperss wrote

Run Silent - Second that. Lovely looking bike too. Are you going 29er? Also black Friday is either happening or happening soon so don`t buy before you are sure it`s not going on offer

Thanks! I currently run 27.5" - I am a pretty short guy, so it helps get the standover height down for me. On the small frame, though, Trek offers both 27.5 and 29. Inventory is so insane right now, I will really just take either - which ever they can get. Wait right now to get what you want on order is mid 2023!

Due to the insane supply issue right now on bikes, black friday won't have any impact. It's hard enough to simply find a bike - no one is giving any discounts at all.

Darth One wrote

There’s a comfort level in buying Trek because they’re one of the biggest bike companies around with arguably the most extensive dealer/distribution network in the USA. Components are pretty high-end for the money too.

The only thing you should look into, if you haven’t already, is whether it’s worth it to you to spend more money on a CF frame bike.

Yeah - I've thought about it. Really though - main benefit of carbon is weight - and I am at least 20lbs overweight, so I can drop a few pounds off the rider for free vs paying for it on the bike, lol.

Yeah - I'm not opposed to other brands - but I like Trek and there is a Trek factory store in my local town that is awesome and where I bought my last bike and my daughter's bike - so I have a good relationship with them and want to stay with the brand.

Picked up my new bike today. Happy new bike day to me.

Run Silent wrote

Picked up my new bike today. Happy new bike day to me.

Sweet...!!!

Lady Jane wrote

Sweet...!!!

Right? Pretty stoked.

Of course, now the weather takes a turn and it's below freezing all the rest of the week.

Trying to determine if I should take it with me to Canada next month or not. Not sure if weather will be too cold. I ride down to about 0c, so long as it's sunny.

Curious if anyone here has changed their gear ratios themselves.

I have a 1x10 and looking to increase the tooth count on the crank side. I think 42t is the highest?

Is it just a matter of buying the right bits and putting them on? Would I need a new chain? It's a 29er so not too worried about bottoming out on rocks and roots.

Being winter time I don't want to tinker with the car so I need something to mess around with.

Edit: NM... I figured it out. Will report back if I fixed my useless short gearing.

Edit: Yeah, changing to a larger crank side ring is nice. Will have to watch for the police now with a much higher top speed

First time MTB-er here. The wife’s family is always going out on them, total of 8 or so, and it looks like good fun. Recently got injured on my dirt bike, so I’m selling that but don’t want to give up on 2 wheels.

Searched on marketplace, but can’t find anything decent that isn’t $1000. Visited my LBS and fell in love with a Cannondale Trail 8. They had black in stock, but I wanted the highlighter color, so I put a deposit on that for the transfer. Will be ready for pickup Tuesday at lunch. Going to pick up the bike and head straight to the trail near my house. Stoked!

Picked my Trail 8 up on Tuesday, and immediately hit my local trail. This was my 2nd time out there. Having a blast, planning on logging a LOT more miles.

freakystyly wrote

Curious if anyone here has changed their gear ratios themselves.

I have a 1x10 and looking to increase the tooth count on the crank side. I think 42t is the highest?

Is it just a matter of buying the right bits and putting them on? Would I need a new chain? It's a 29er so not too worried about bottoming out on rocks and roots.

Being winter time I don't want to tinker with the car so I need something to mess around with.

Edit: NM... I figured it out. Will report back if I fixed my useless short gearing.

Edit: Yeah, changing to a larger crank side ring is nice. Will have to watch for the police now with a much higher top speed

42t ring on a 29er? How fast do you want to go?

Chapperss wrote

It usually looks like this

No it bloody doesn't! Unless you're talking about a different Wales from the one I know? The first pic is much more accurate

Here's my Norco Storm 2. Lots of great trails here in the Austin/Central Texas area.

Someone grabbed this shot of me the other week. Thought it was pretty cool.