Good choice for a first mountain bike?

[radacrider]

Not sure where they are getting the 24". Searching on specs for an approx 2009 Scott Contessa 40 indicates only 26" tires; there is no "Junior" version of a Contessa.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/...TATES#features

[Pip]

Yep, it's a 15 inch frame with 26 inch wheels. Methinks the seller doesn't know too much about bikes! The auction closes in half an hour and someone outbid me a while back, but the highest bid is still lower than I'm prepared to go so I'm going to wait a bit longer than stick my hand up again! Strategy ...

[Pip]

And .... I didn't get the bike. I bid over what I was comfortable bidding and someone went higher than me. I sat there watching the seconds tick down with my hand on my mouse ready to put another bid in but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I think the person who bought it paid too much, but that's their choice! I guess I'll just have to keep looking ...

[Catrin]

And .... I didn't get the bike. I bid over what I was comfortable bidding and someone went higher than me. I sat there watching the seconds tick down with my hand on my mouse ready to put another bid in but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I think the person who bought it paid too much, but that's their choice! I guess I'll just have to keep looking ...

Your bike is out there, it just wasn't time. You don't want to regret your timing, for sure. Good luck with your search!

[Pip]

Well, it took a little time but I finally got a bike! I bought a four year old bike by Avanti. It only cost me $150NZ, an absolute steal. It's in great condition, well looked after. I figure it'll give me a year to decide whether I like riding offroad enough to upgrade, and by that time the next year's sales will be starting. Right now I have a bike which will enable me to get my husband to drag out his bike from storage and tackle a few easy trails with me. I'm a very happy Pip!

[tealtreak]

Well, it took a little time but I finally got a bike! I bought a four year old bike by Avanti. It only cost me $150NZ, an absolute steal. It's in great condition, well looked after. I figure it'll give me a year to decide whether I like riding offroad enough to upgrade, and by that time the next year's sales will be starting. Right now I have a bike which will enable me to get my husband to drag out his bike from storage and tackle a few easy trails with me. I'm a very happy Pip!

Congrats! Enjoy! One tip (you may already know) with Mt biking- some obstacles, jumps, log piles etc..... are way easier on a bike with more travel or really good shocks (might be using the wrong vernacular) I have a hard tail Trek that I love, but one day I rode my son's Kona and discovered the difference...WOW I upgraded my front shocks the next day....and realized some of the tuff stuff wasn't ME but the limits of my bike.............

[Artista]

I totally agree with tealtreak about the quality of shocks contributing to skills. I have never upgraded a shock on a bike but I have upgraded bikes twice. Each new bike fit me better and came with better shocks than the previous one. My riding significantly improved with each upgrade.