New Bike advice....

[Trek420]

"I can't make a suggestion on a specific brand. I ride a 6 year old GT hardtail. I'm not up on the fs bikes at all. But I hope this gives you a direction"

Good news bad news department. The bad news is that I may have to change my user id here from TREK 420 to ...? because my much beloved bike has been stollen from our home. ^%$#!

Good news I suppose is that we're insured so I'll get some help with buying a new bike. I was planning on getting a new bike anyway although I was going to wait until after close of contract negotiations and more important I would have kept the TREK.

will keep you all up to date on bike shopping

[Irulan]

Do I go for a women's specific, full suspension or hardtail (I've heard many people say women don't really need full suspension and that it hurts your climbing...is that true?), etc. Can anyone help?? I'm 5' 8" (ok ok so it's 7.5" but I believe in rounding up ), 150 lbs, and 16 years old. I want to do some serious biking but I'm not a super crazy rider. I do however ride with some guys that like to do crazy stuff...but anyway, I think what I'm looking for is a full suspension (I could be persuaded to go for a hardtail though...I just want to know more about the pros and cons of each), with the lighest frame possible that could still take a medium amount of abuse, and something that climbs well.

I can relate, I had a low end Giant that I beat into the ground and just about went crazy looking for a replacement. I ride moutain bikes exclusively and have almost 700 singletrack miles under my belt for this season.

regarding women's specific, get it only if that style FITS. They didn't work for me. Fit is critical, probably the most important factor to getting a bike you will love. Who ever told you that women don't need FS is full of it. No one "needs" a FS, it's just a different way to go. FS will smooth out the ride, and some feel it's better in rocky rough terrrain. It's a little more forgiving of rider error. In general, hardtails will be lighter.

Re: weight. You have to spend a lot of $ to get a FS that is light. You might really want to look at a better HT than to buy a FS for an equivilant price.... IE a HT for $1500 will be lighter stronger and have much better componetry than a FS that is the same price, wchich will heavy and have crappy, er low end components.
So you have to figure your budget out.

As for climbing "bob"... that's an issue that is not so much of an issue now. The newer rear shock designs function much better than the older ones, and many have lockouts.

I'd take the reviews at mtbr.com with lots of grains of salt. Many of those folks write a review when they've had their bikes for three weeks, and they tend to be filled with vocabulary like "this rocks" or "this sucks". IMO, the only thing those reviews are good for is spotting trends like chainsuck in the treak fuels.

Custom, that is certainly a way to go if it's within your budget. I can highly recommend the hardtails bult by Mark HIckey of Habanero Cycles http://www.habanero.com and there are many other good builders out there.

Let's see... if you have more than one bike shop to choose from, I'd go talk to those guys and test a bunch of bikes. The folks at a good bike shop can be your friends for life.

FAQ Buying a new mountain bike

news:alt.mountain-bike is probably the best other place to talk about bikes

I ride a Kona King Kikapu FS that weights 25 pounds. I bought it lightly used for one season, in cherry condition, at an excellent price

Irulan

[aka_kim]

Trek420 or ???:

Having a bike stolen really sucks. Be VERY careful about making an insurance claim, however. A few years ago my Trek 7000 was stolen and I filed a claim on my homeowner's insurance for about $700, which was promptly paid. A month later the S*Bs cancelled our insurance because 21 months before we'd filed a $500 claim after a break-in. No other insurer would provide us standard homeowner's coverage either because we were suddenly "high-risk". So, and I've since read this elsewhere, think twice about filing small claims.

Good news, though, is that it's always fun to go bike shopping.

[Trek420]

"A few years ago my Trek 7000 was stolen and I filed a claim on my homeowner's insurance for about $700, which was promptly paid. A month later the S*Bs cancelled our insurance because 21 months before we'd filed a $500 claim after a break-in. No other insurer would provide us standard homeowner's coverage either because we were suddenly "high-risk". "

I don't think we'll have a problem with our agent (knock on wood). there hasn't been a claim here in years, even when a storm knocked the fence down we just lived with it and later replaced the fence ourselves. Who was your insurance with? they sound awful.

[aka_kim]

Trek420, our problem was with the Allstate underwriters; our agent wasn't involved in the cancellation. Apparently 2 non-weather-related claims, esp. thefts, within 2 years raises a red flag. I've read several newspaper articles saying to avoid making any small claims -- and to even avoiding calling your agent (apparently the fact you called gets logged in your history). I'm sure you'll be fine with this claim, but who knows what may happen if you make another one within the next 2 years. I dunno, just my 2 cents.

[christine]

I've been looking into switching insurance for our cars, and in checking companies (for auto and renter's insur.) I've seen some websites where people complain about their dealings with insurance (quick google search should link you). Gratned, a lot of the complaints do sound like the insured were at fault (eg, complaining that insurance was cancelled b/c they paid late -- tough, but not wholly unreasonable, company position).

On the other hand, there are lots of other stories where people report very small claims and suddenly have their rates increased or xcelled and then become an uninsurable risk to all companies. I've even heard this has happened when some have merely *inquired* about making a claim, even if they never file. Other complaints are about being treated like a criminal when making a claim, esp about something being stolen. These complaints weren't about just one company, but most of the major, national companies.

These may be exaggerations, as I've only read others' stories. Still, as paranoid as I am, I'd probably not make a claim if I could help it (probably what the insurers would hope we'd do). Just something to consider . . .

[Trek420]

"I'd probably not make a claim if I could help it (probably what the insurers would hope we'd do). Just something to consider . . . "

While this certainly was not intended and not the object at all but...since the bike was stolen from the home of my partner of 10 years, 10 months and 8 days who just uncerimoniosly and by complete surprise dumped me... if it effects her insurance so be it ;-)

If we were still together I would forget it and had planned to buy a new bike anyway but not till May when/if my job gets a good contract (any of you who have union jobs know about the uncertainty of a contract year and saving up for that).

Since I'm looking for a home to buy instead I can't afford to just pass off replacement cost of the bike. I really do not want it to increase her rates but the thought is amusing

[christine]

Wow, sounds like you had it rough with her. Sorry you had to go thru that. Well, I don't wish insurance hassles on anyone, but I'm glad at least that it wouldn't be affecting YOUR rates (or mine)!

[Irulan]

ABG- have yo looked at used yet? a friend of mine just SCORED an amazing bike, one of the original '96 Independent Fabication bikes, with the tag that has the frame builder's signatures on it, in total cherry condition, for $600! Unbleiveable...

good luck shopping and let us know how it goes.

Irulan

[Trek420]

"have yo looked at used yet? a friend of mine just SCORED an amazing bike, one of the original '96 Independent Fabication bikes, with the tag that has the frame builder's signatures on it, in total cherry condition, for $600! Unbleiveable..."

I'd looooove to find a steal (pun intended) on a used bike but at 5'1" it's hard to find what I want in my size. I am checking auctions (like yahoo and e-bay) for one thing to see if I see MY bike's for sale there. My mechanic says she's probably long gone tho and sold at the local flea market for $20.00. But I still check for cost comparisons, ideas plus you never know, I could find my size.

Related to both-those of you who've baught used online or off what do you go through to make sure the bike is not hot in the first place.

It's a karma thing, I'd want to make sure

I'll let you know how the shopping goes

[Irulan]

I wouldn't buy a used bike that I couldn't inspect hands on first.

Irulan

[aka_kim]

Craigslist is a good local resource for used bikes, among other things, here in the Bay Area. That's what I used to sell two bikes, but I don't know if or how the buyers checked to see that the bikes weren't hot. You could possibly check the serial number with the police dept?? I've also heard of people putting identifying info into seat tube, so if you find it you know the bike is stolen.

[Trek420]

"I wouldn't buy a used bike that I couldn't inspect hands on first. "

Irulan

My mechanic says "don't buy a bike from someone you can't kick in the shins later", of course he's lobbying for new ;-)

[missliz]

When I was sixteen I didn't give a rats *** about homeowners insurance- so about Alaskans questions- Don't listen to high school boys about sporting goods. At your height, you'll probably do great on a stock bike- the right stock bike. Woman specific bikes are largely for more petite women. I'm 5'6" and ride a standard 16"Zaskar hardtail. The big issue you're going to have is saddles, The stock saddles on bikes are for guys and you'll probably like a womans saddle better. When you buy the bike the dealer should trade out the seat for just a few bucks extra- unless you like it OK and keep it. Or want the hundred dollar Damselfly.
Frankly, I think you need to ride a few bikes to peices before bothering with custom work. You need to find a good shop, and test ride. It's like buying clothes, every brand fits differently. A good dealer will help you, and many of them handle good used bikes on comission. If you want to race, I'm assuming cross country? Buy a hardtail. Learn to ride before you start running downhills and need a high end full suspension beast- don't waste your money on a cheap dualie. (Irulan totally knows what she's talking about.) You need it for shorts and shoes and entry fees. Get good, get sponsered. Besides, there were skilled people riding all sorts of scary stuff before duallies. Good helmets are worth every cent. Wear it.
Magazines will give you some info, but they exist to sell advertising to the products they reveiw, so they never really dis anything.
Almost every Mt bike, even the good ones, has some cheap part that you will need to upgrade. On mine, it had a $5 headset on a $1600 bike. Just remember there will be some extras you'll need in the first six months.
I can't recomend any brands, I haven't bought a hardtail in years and there's been a lot of changes in the business. I've seen some really sweet Gary Fischers, but you'll have to shop. If you go to the races, look at what the women who ride hard are using and ask them about the bikes. So many great brands have gone under or gone to hell lately that a good shop is probably your best guide. Don't buy a bike you think is just butt ugly. You'll be unhappy. You should feel delight in your bike. A good shop will be excited about finding you the perfect race worthy ride, too.
And feel free to bug us with questions. Not all of us are so self absorbed as to hijack your exitement to whine about insurance.

Aunt Lizzy

[aka_kim]

AlaskaBikerGirl's post is nearly 2 years old, she's probably out racing in the Alaska wilds now, enjoying the last days of summer. Questions of bike theft and insurance, while off-topic (and self-absorbed??) are unfortunately something every cyclist should be aware of. So can we keep these forums fun and informative, and minimize the use of perjoratives?