Low end mountain bikes.....

[southtxrider]

I just bought my first bike today (Trek Pilot 1.2) and love it, but while I was shopping I rode a mountain bike and loved that too - and made me want BOTH!

I'm pretty sure my primary biking will be road so I wanted to get a decent road starter bike (which I think I did with the pilot) BUT now I am thinking of getting a mountain bike just for fun - different kinds of rides - options - etc. But was wondering for something I will ride occasionally, would a low end bike be ok?

The MB at my LBS started around $400 (Trek) but I went to Target and saw their bikes - some as low as $50! I don't think I want to go that cheap, but they had an all alluminum Schwin for like $179 (the SX2000 AL) Do you think going "cheap" on that is oK? Will I be missing something I "need" vs. the other low end Trek (~$400)

Thanks!

[bike4ever]

What sort of service warranty will you get from the LBS that you are looking at the Trek Pilot? Definitely keep that in mind. You should be able to find LBS mountain bikes starting around $280 (Gary Fisher Tarpon for one example). The main thing to keep in mind with department store bikes is their lack of competence in properly putting the bike together.

[Kitsune06]

Not only do they lack in competance but they lack in quality. Schwinn made very nice bikes awhile ago, and still (like Mongoose) makes some pretty nice high-end bikes, but (also like Mongoose) has some really, really poor-quality, mass-produced bikes in dept. stores. I wouldn't reccomend these. Even if the bikes are put together well enough, they'd still be much heavier and less able to take abuse than a quality cycle from your LBS. Good bikes can start around $200-$250, you just have to hunt for 'em...

[annie]

Will I be missing something I "need" vs. the other low end Trek (~$400)

Thanks!

Welllllll, besides the compentency of the LBS staff in bike assembly, you will also be missing a trustworthy bike. When I worked at a bike shop, we called dept. store bikes "disposable bikes." Everything tends to be very low-end, frame materials and components. You might spend more getting it "fixed" at a bike shop than you spend on the bike. I really do not mean to sound like a bike snob! I've just seen the scenarios too often. Even the lower end bike shops MTB's will only take a certain amount of abuse. Are you thinking of doing much off-road, technical type ridings? Or just using it to goof around on and do gravel roads or trails? Possibly you could find a used MTB? As long it was from someone you trusted.
Okay - those are my thoughts. Anyone else? Agree? Disagree?

annie

[Trek420]

southtxrider,

congrats on the new bike, sounds like you made a good choice!

Yes yes, cycling is an expensive sport but worth it I think.

There are ways to save money even on bikes and stay tuned and read up as we TE gals show you how.

But friends don't let friends buy a box store bike.

Especially mountain and especially if you want to ride off road as in trails over stumps and cliffs and such.

Box store type mountain bikes mimic the look of a mountain bike, some even have shocks and suspension. Between their cheap parts, weak welds on frames, non professional set up, lack of after sale support, non standard parts mean no replacement/exchange/upgrade....they are inadequate to the pont of being dangerous off road.

Get your laundry detergent at Target but not your bike.

$50-179.00 for a mountain bike is not realistic. Let's see for perspective that's a little more than my handlebar tape costs, and a little less than my saddle I gotta find a cheaper sport or better job.

Good full suspension bikes trully up to the beating may cost low four figures and up. If you want one there are ways to save on cost with wise use of the used market.

I've seen people come into my favorite LBS and point at the mountain bikes there and ask "where are the $100-400.00 mountain bikes like THAT".

What Chris usually says is something like this. When you see full suspension with low price what mfr's do is to acheive the look and feel of FS and keep price low the money has to come out of something.

So you may get low end components, cheap frame, shoddy seat etc but hey it looks like FS right?

Well take the same dollar ammount and get a neat lil' hardtail.

Like this for example:
www.scottusa.com/category.php?UID=315

No suspension but up to the task of an unpaved trail or fireroad which may be the roughest you'll do at this point. Put knobbies on it and take it off road, slicks and it's your commuter even up to a metric century or too. And without suspension now you have quality components, good wheels etc.

[southtxrider]

I had a feeling that was going to be the answer! LOL But you guys make total sense.

"Are you thinking of doing much off-road, technical type ridings? Or just using it to goof around on and do gravel roads or trails?"

I am more of the second type - goof around, gravel roads and trails. I will often have two children in tow on the MB....

So would the low end Trek be sufficient? I saw this one:

http://bikecatalog.bikeworld.com/atb.php?id=83

And one that was around $349 or $369 (still Trek brand) That one may have been the 3700 WSD....

What other brands besides the Gary Fisher and the Scott?

[Kitsune06]

I've always been a huge fan of Specialized... but they can be a pain in the butt to find...

[emily_in_nc]

I bought a Novara Bonita hardtail WSD mountain bike at REI (previous year's model so got a clearance price). It's actually a pretty decent ride, and the components and suspension fork are adequate for gravel roads, fire roads, and easy trails. The only downside is it's as heavy as a tank (~32.5 lbs), which makes hills (and lifting it into the car) a bit of an ordeal, but at the lower price points (it retails for $569, but I paid $399), you just aren't going to get light weight. It's fine for a lot of rides, though, so long as you aren't trying to break any speed records. Our REI gives decent bike service and spent a lot of time going over the bike with me when I bought it, and it fits me very well. So yes, it can be done (less expensive mountain bike) so long as you aren't expecting it to be perfect in every way! There will be compromises - I'd rather have high weight but solid componentry than the alternative. And I definitely agree with the others who say do NOT buy a bike at Target, Wal-Mart, etc.

Good luck - let us know what you do!

Emily

[Trek420]

southtxrider "What other brands besides the Gary Fisher and the Scott?"

OMG, there are soooooooooo many bikes

That's one of the things that makes this sport fun! That and the food.

[Trek420]

Kitsune06 "I've always been a huge fan of Specialized... but they can be a pain in the butt to find..."

well these guys I think are local to our south texas gal and they have Specialized, also Giant, Felt ....

http://rideawaybicycles.com

[southtxrider]

I guess I meant which other brands besides Specialized and Gary Fisher should i take a look at seriously (on the lower end)

I am browsing a LBS website right now and seeing some Giant and Specialized under $500.....

[Trek420]

I would say start with what you can get locally.

Step 1) What shops are in your area. Most stores carry particular brands. Besides Trek and Cannondale and Speciallized there are lots of others builders to choose from and each has different makes and models...Oh it's mind boggeling .... but first find out what you can get locally.

If you get your heart set on oh...a Moots or a Surly or a Waterford it may be hard to get in your area so go with what's available.

Step 2) Obviously you are online check the mfr's website and see what their product line is. Ask questions of the TE gals of course.

Step 3) Go out and try bikes

Step 4) We want to hear all the test ride reports.

[KnottedYet]

I got my beloved Waterford from over 2,000 miles away.

But my beloved Kona Dew was right here at my LBS for $400.

I second what Trek said. "Buy" the bike shop before you buy a bike. I chose my LBS first. Then I chose a bike they carried. My relationship with my LBS has made all the difference in the world for my cycling.

Edit: SKnot just informed me that it is actually LESS than 2,000 miles (like 1,800) but that's as the crow flies. As the FedEx truck goes, it's more than 2,000.

[Trek420]

KnottedYet "I second what Trek said. "Buy" the bike shop before you buy a bike. I chose my LBS first. Then I chose a bike they carried. My relationship with my LBS has made all the difference in the world for my cycling."

I didn't say that, I should have thought of that but I didn't

I *heart* my LBS, both of them. One small shop that does all the work on my bkes but they carry very little in the way of "stuff" and nothing ever really goes on sale. Chris and Tims advice has saved me big bucks and time and they are great guys to hang around, more like a local pub than a bike shop, but without booze.

The other is closer to home, huge really. They stock everything and it's where I go if I need lights, tubes, energy drinks....

[DirtDiva]

So would the low end Trek be sufficient? I saw this one:

http://bikecatalog.bikeworld.com/atb.php?id=83

That would be an excelent starter mtb - well and truly able to take you on a pootle along some fire roads and family trails, but also capable of taking you onto more challenging terrain should you find yourself getting really keen on mountain biking. You would also be able to easily upgrade bits on a bike like this, should you wish/need to in the future.

It's already been mentioned that full suspension bikes in your price range will be rubbish. The other thing to stay away from on cheaper bikes is disc brakes. They're fabulous things, but likely to be crappy, unreliable, disappointing ones on an lower pricepoint bike - much better to go with a bike with v-brakes unless you decide you want to spend more. You can always upgrade later.

Of other brands mentioned here, Giant and Specialized both have a reputaion for speccing their bikes well at any given pricepoint, so could be well worth looking into. You've chosen the perfect time of year to go bike shopping. All the 2007 are hitting the shops and the 2006 models are going on sale.