Mountain Bike Recommendation? - Wild Texas Forums: Parks, Travel & Recreation

Shannon · 02-03-2004, 07:57 PM

Anyone here have a recommendation on a good mountain bike?

Justin and I are looking at spending in the $300 to $600 range (per bike) for mountain bikes for both of us.

We plan on buying them locally, since it'll be our first bikes since our adolescent years, and we want to get the proper sizing. But as with everything, we like to get recommendations and do research so we're informed consumers regardless of where and how we buy.

I know some of the brand names of the higher end equipment, but am not interested in spending much outside our per bike price range, so no Trek Ironman's for us!

02-07-2004, 12:00 AM

Any major brand will do. Go to a real bike shop, not a department store. If you get a cheap bike you will hate mountain biking. Go to the upper end of your range. Trek, Specialized and Giant have bikes in the $600 range. I had a $300 Sears bike and quickly realized I had wasted $300 once I got into riding trails. I decided to go full suspension and got a $1400 Jamis. There are some good full suspension bikes around $1000.

I have really enjoyed mountain biking. I got really into it around last April. I different experience than hiking. You will get some cuts and bruises as you learn though

ploddinTod · 02-07-2004, 09:10 AM

different experience than hiking.
Hey Jeff,
If you wouldn't mind give me your reasons for mountain biking. This is not a sarcastic comment or in any way intended to be disrespectful of the sport. I'm just trying to understand. I've really only tried it once and that was in Colorado on a service road that lead to the top of a ski slope. I was going so fast that I couldn't see anything around me except the road in front of me whizzing by. My hands were sore from the constant pressure applied to the brakes. I almost felt out of control. But I could see that if I had the need for speed, this would be the sport. However, that is not even on my radar screen when I'm in the backcountry. Just curious as to your thoughts. Thanks.

02-07-2004, 11:45 AM

I do have the need for speed

. If I was in a backcountry setting trying to take it all in, I would probably opt for hiking. For a fun day outside around Texas, I have really been enjoying mountain biking. My legs are rock hard and cardio fitness is way up. It's challenging to see if you can clear a difficult climb or make a scary downhill.

I still like hiking when I'm in the mood to go slow and look at all the birds and plants.

Shannon · 02-07-2004, 03:13 PM

Jeff, thanks for your recommendations. Do you know anything about Gary Fisher bikes? I had never heard of them, actually, until Justin read about them and showed me their stuff. My bike knowledge is pretty sad, however, since the only bike manufacturers I could name before we started looking around were Trek, Huffy and Schwinn.

(I was always the kid on the 10-speed or touring bike when I was growing up... never had a MTB.)

I'm leery of spending more money than we've budgeted for a bike, but we'll definitely be purchasing these in a store with guidance rather than online (the method we purchase most other items, such as technology, camera gear, etc.) Justin visited Bike World recently and came back with rave reviews of their staff, so that looks like a likely route.

Todd: Our reason for wanting to purchase mountain bikes is mostly for exercise and as an additional way to enjoy the outdoors and remain active. A little extra mobility provided by a bike would be nice on occasion, though I don't see us racing down a trail with our hair on fire, unless a cougar is chasing us.

It's the same reason I'd like to go horseback riding someday -- another way to see the outdoors. Horseback riders cover the terrain far faster than a hiker or backpacker can, but usually not as fast as a mountain biker would, so it's a happy medium... But a mountain bike's far cheaper and easier to maintain than a horse.

In regards to exercise, Jus and I are both in our 30's now and have finally realized we need to exercise more than we did as skinny twenty-somethings. That means more hiking and other activities. We have a wonderful rowing machine, but Justin and I both need variety in our exercise routine. Hiking's terrific, and our primary interest since it lets us observe wildlife, take photographs (another passion of ours) and be active outdoors. A mountain bike can offer the same opportunities -- even the wildlife and photography aspect, since mountain bikes stop occasionally, too.

02-07-2004, 06:02 PM

Gary Fishers are good bikes. Another choice in your budget is a Raleigh M80. That was what I was going to get before I decided to go full suspension. There have been some guided mountain bike tours of the new state park near San Antonio. Government Canyon? I can't remember the name, but it is a way to see the park before it's open to the general public.

ploddinTod · 02-09-2004, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shannon

Todd: Our reason for wanting to purchase mountain bikes is mostly for exercise and as an additional way to enjoy the outdoors and remain active.

In regards to exercise, Jus and I are both in our 30's now and have finally realized we need to exercise more than we did as skinny twenty-somethings.

That's a wonderful plan, especially in that part of SA which has some challenging hills. (My brother lives just south of 1604, barely in SA's northern city limits.)

kai · 02-10-2004, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeff parker

Gary Fishers are good bikes. Another choice in your budget is a Raleigh M80. That was what I was going to get before I decided to go full suspension. There have been some guided mountain bike tours of the new state park near San Antonio. Government Canyon? I can't remember the name, but it is a way to see the park before it's open to the general public.

Government Canyon State Natural Area - its off of Gaum or Gaulm road. - there were 3 dates in January [the 17th, 24th & 31st] I'm not sure what future dates for mtn biking clinics may be out there, or if there will be any at all. but the reservation number for the January dates was 210-688-9055- perhaps whomever answers the phone might have more info. I'll ask around about future dates next time I see the folks who gave me the info in the first place.

my 2 cents on mtn biking: I started out mtn biking up in New England. I liked the challenge of it. I liked technical single track trails, especially the thrill of finding out that I wasn't dead yet. I also enjoyed cruising around old fire roads, climbing up mountains on a bike on a dirt path- you can get a lot further into the woods a lot faster that way- quicker access to breath taking vistas. I liked the smell of the trees and the dust and mesmerizing sound of the flywheel spinning. Then I hurt my back (separate incident)- and am basically afraid now to hop the logs and the rocks and the streams I used to enjoy. Well, that, and I moved down here to Texas where its a lot hotter. I have gone since I moved down here, but I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as I used to.

After I hurt my back, I needed to rehab. I switched to road biking (after a period of non-activity, like walking), and because of the health benefits of that, I am in better shape now than I was while I mtn. biked. When I mtn biked, it seemed as though a little extra padding was sometime a bonus. now, its just extra weight. I think this year, I may try and shift back towards mtn biking, at least until it gets really hot. When I do, I'll focus more on taking my time, and leave the speed rush for the road

[I hit 43 MPH on my road bike in NJ 2 years ago

THAT was a rush] I think that I probably wont enjoy mtn biking as much down here- there aren't really any forests around that have babbling brooks running through them. For my [1st] honeymoon we packed up our camping gear and mountain bikes and drove up to Acadia NP in Maine (in October- BEAUTIFUL)- they have these "carriage roads" which are like glorified fire roads (actually part of roosevelts old estate?) that run up and down hills/mtns all over the island- a whole network that goes on and on for miles. That wasn't really Mtn biking- more like dirt road touring... but it was beautiful.

ok, ok, i'll shut up now

Shannon · 02-10-2004, 06:22 PM

Kai, it's a pleasure to read your posts -- I don't think I'm the only one who missed them while you were busy/away for a bit!

The mountain biking you describe does sound splendid. I think you might find a bit of that heaven in East Texas, if exploring the fire roads and forested streams are more to your liking. Unfortunately, it's easier for folks in Dallas and Houston to explore those areas without significant travel time. For Dallas residents, even Arkansas isn't terribly far out of reach, and offers tremendous public forest land to explore. Justin and I spent our honeymoon trip and fourth anniversary in and around Arkansas' Petit Jean State Park and the Ouachita National Forest. (Which, sadly, we mispronounced to a park ranger as "Wha-cheetah," thus making it clear we were visitors.

)

As for Government Canyon SNA, I missed an opportunity to reserve a slot for one of the guided hikes there several months ago. I still want to make a trip out there before the park officially opens to the public. With as many miles of trails as I've read it will have, it's going to be an amazing gem for San Antonio and South Texas area outdoors enthusiasts, naturalists and photographers. I think I posted here awhile ago about it (digging around... yep, here it is), after reading a terrific article by a Texas bike club that participated in developing some of the single track there.

kai · 02-10-2004, 08:00 PM

Shannon, i thought of another alternative to your price range issue- have you considered used? it'd take a lot of work to find one, or rather 2, but you might be able to get a better bike within your price range. its hard to do though. but for the money, you could make sure the frame is sound- and if you decided you really like it, you could upgrade the parts over time (as i'm sure they will wear out).

if you want to look into it, check out Craig's List -be sure to select Austin as the city, as san antonio isn't an option. they have all sorts of bikes on there usually. if you were going to go the used route, it would be helpful to have a friend who knows a lot about bikes to help guide you away from potential lemons.

I bought my first mountain bike used from a friend - who became my roomate- and I eventually married- I still have him and the bike

so while you might be hesitant to buy a used mtn bike, its not necessarily a bad idea.

kai · 02-11-2004, 06:38 PM

here's another resource: bike finding guide

04-21-2004, 07:44 PM

Did you ever get a bike Shannon? There has been some great riding weather in the last few weeks

Shannon · 04-21-2004, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeff parker

Did you ever get a bike Shannon? There has been some great riding weather in the last few weeks

Unfortunately, around the time we narrowed our choices down and were ready to make the purchases, our funds got allocated elsewhere. :rolleyes: We'll see what the tax man offers, otherwise it looks like it'll wait a little while longer.

It has been wonderful weather, and I've seen many of riders while I've been out taking photos or hiking. I even discovered a nice set of informal mountain bike trails near my parents' house, though it looks like portions of it impede on land owned by their homeowners association (they're marked as such, but not fenced, since fencing tends to get vandalized or flooded away in that location).

Shannon · 06-20-2005, 12:36 AM

WE FINALLY DID IT -- We've got bikes!

Excerpt of an email Justin sent out to some friends of ours:

Quote:

Originally Posted by OutdoorPhoto.com

Shannon and I visited BikeWorld today for the second time this weekend. We walked out of the store with two new bicycles, two helmets and some nice gloves. I ordered mounts for our GPS units tonight on Amazon.com (and saved a buncha $$$$'s).

Here's what we ended up with:
Gary Fisher Tassajara's

Shan got the Metallic Red & Black and I got the solid Black. I think I
might nickname my bike "Vader". ;-)

We're very excited about getting back into cycling for the fun and more
importantly, for the fitness.

Justin

I will say, pedalling around the school right behind the BikeWorld store was a blast. It'd been since Justin's late teens when he last rode a bike, but I had the benefit of 3 times a week stationary bike rides in PT after my February knee surgery. So that coupled with my gnawing desire to get active, moving and feel the wind on my face had me pedalling up and down some handicap-accessible ramps at the school, as well as a quick pedal across their lawn and off a little curb. The BikeWorld employee who worked with us today (who by the way is a 3 TIME veteran of knee surgeries, and thus got my instant respect and compassion) grinned as we pulled back up after our quick test ride -- (To Justin) "I see she's the more daring one... you were taking it easy in the parking lot, and she was up and down those ramps and across the grass before you knew it!"

Fun, fun, fun. Gonna do a little solo ride tomorrow once I know for sure how to get the front wheel off and properly back on. She illustrated how to do it in the store, but I have to learn by doing and I haven't done it yet.