Doooo iiiiit! And then sell me your RIP9 pictured at the top of the last page!

[Edited on June 19, 2013 at 4:13 PM. Reason : .]

6/19/2013 4:12:57 PM

Haha, I was actually gonna suggest you buy it, but I don't think it'll fit. It's an XL size frame, which Niner recommends for 6'3-6'7. It would be perfect for up there. The frame is just collecting dust in my living room currently, as I initially pulled a lot of the parts to build the JET9 RDO. The RDO has a bunch of carbon parts on it now, and I almost have enough spare parts, including a fork and wheels, to build up another frame...

6/19/2013 7:34:14 PM

*sad panda*

6/21/2013 3:33:03 PM

So I rode Niner's carbon hardtail, and I've decided it's not for me. Full squish is where it's at. Not sure how people manage to keep their taint in one piece with all of the roots around here. I really wonder if people that ride HTs just haven't experienced the wonders of full suspension yet. Just for shits I also rode their carbon RIP 9 RDO trail bike. It had XX1 and a dropper post. The XX1 was sweet, but the SRAM trigger shifters are a little weird to me in general. The dropper seat post seemed pretty pointless for any kind of riding around here, though I see where it would be nice on some real DH. The bike also had a wide ass bar, probably 780mm, on it. It felt like I was driving a school bus with air-ride suspension. In all, it reaffirmed that I made the right decision when I picked the JET 9 RDO.

6/22/2013 11:49:07 PM

Cyclist Michal Marosi Pulls Off Stunning Wall Ride to Win Race

Wow:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1729554-cyclist-michal-marosi-pulls-off-stunning-wall-ride-to-win-race?utm_source=cnn.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=editorial&hpt=hp_t3

8/7/2013 3:16:50 PM

^^just seeing your old post. I am a hard tail rider and you said it in your post--you like the squish. I like the feeling of every bit of power I put to the pedals get transferred to the ground. Can't stand the squishy feeling of a full suspension plus they are heavy as heck too. I would go totally rigid if my arms and hands could take it on the bumps because I hate climbing and feeling all the energy going into my fork. I think you get used to taking just enough weight off the saddle when you hit bumps to not have ass soreness. Different strokes I guess.

^ I have never seen that type of racing before. Like a mix between bmx and downhill. Pretty cool.

8/7/2013 9:50:00 PM

I consider myself an enthusiast. I'm not in the top of shape and don;t have the riding skill a lot of guys do, making a rigid a bit hard for me to handle. For this, I like a hardtail. The front fork is forgiving in rough terrain (ie: when i'm hauling downhill). I never acquired a skill level to be able to handle the same track with a rigid. That said, I loved riding a hardtail for the same reasons as mentioned above. I loved having a hardtail and drifting in tight corners. A hardtail is lighter, thus easier to toss around, and more predictable imo.

[Edited on August 7, 2013 at 10:43 PM. Reason : .]

8/7/2013 10:42:36 PM

suggestions on some basic maintenance after a week at the beach?

admittedly, i don't even really know basic care, as i only just recently dusted off my bike and decided to begin riding again...but i figured it especially needed some TLC after being ridden on sandy roads (not the beach itself) and sitting out on the porch every night (there wasn't anywhere else to store it, unfortunately)

oh, our bikes also rode on the back of the car in almost non-stop rain for 3 hours

[Edited on August 17, 2013 at 9:55 PM. Reason : there's definitely more rust on the lines and various components than there was a week ago]

8/17/2013 9:55:15 PM

Whenever I have seen surface rust on my components, I personally take the thing apart and use some degreaser and steel wool to get it off. Then I re-oil and re-grease everything thoroughly. I do have access to a shop where I can do the work and I probably wouldn't mess with all that if I didn't, but that's the best option.

At minimum, I would spray it down and take a light brush with some dish soap to get the sand off of it, then rinse and dry. Oil the chain and any other moving parts (derailer, brakes, etc.)

8/18/2013 5:00:48 PM

how essential are front shocks? I mean there are so many garbage bikes that have them now

8/21/2013 3:52:08 PM

^ very, if you're gonna be on trails and aren't nearing expert status on them imo

8/22/2013 3:41:23 PM

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/bik/4072955630.html

guy doesnt know make/model...is it a scam?

if not, could someone identify this bike and tell me if its worth $200?

9/17/2013 3:44:32 PM

Department store hunk of shit.

Probably wasnt more than $250 when new....and it was garbage even when it was new.

9/18/2013 8:21:04 AM

thanks

any advice for mountain biking n00b getting my first bike? Budget under $500 for bike plus gear
what are some good beginner bikes?

9/18/2013 10:01:40 AM

^^++ At least some of the parts are Shimano Tourney, which is not-quite-bottom of Shimano's line. Here's a similar (probably better, note front & rear disc brakes) bike from Jeep, listing at $300.
http://www.allthingsjeep.com/ken-jeep-cherokee-full-suspension-mountain-bike-02678.html

I would not suggest purchasing a bike in that price range at near MSRP unless you bought it at a brick-and-mortar store that built it well was going to fit it to you and do at least one tuneup. Note: this rules out Walmart. You would be far better served buying a used bike from a local bike shop

^ Ahh, I see your reply now. Best suggestion, get a used hard-tail from a local shop, a place that can fit the bike to you, might give you a discount on helmet, lock & stuff, and can do repair/maintenance later on. Don't get a full suspension bike. You might upgrade later, but for under 500, you'll have a hard time getting something worth getting dirty. Bonus: if you buy a bike from a local shop and don't abuse it, you might be able to trade it in when you want to upgrade.

In new bikes, you'll find a variety of options around $400, All-Star Bikes lists several varieties of the Giant Revel priced between 350 and 460. They are spec'd with SRAMX3 or X4 and Shimano Tourney or unnamed Shimano (maybe 2200?) drivetrains. While not bad deals, I'd rather have lightly used Shimano Alivio (two grades higher than the Tourney) or LX (3 better) which you might be able to find around town.

That said, you need to like the bike and the bike needs to fit you. If it's rusty and nasty and you feel embarrassed to ride it, you won't ride. If it feels like you are sitting on razor blades after half a mile, or you left pinky gets numb and tingly after 10 minutes, you won't ride. And the whole point of buying a bike is to ride.

Go to a local shop that will work with you and that you can come back to with problems. Buy something you like. Have the shop fit the bike to you. Then Ride!

9/18/2013 10:33:09 AM

Thanks for the advice. I am going to local bike shop tomorrow to understand the sizing etc and see if they have any used bikes in my budget else i plan to buy something off craigslist and take it to the shop.

9/18/2013 10:57:11 AM

Talk to the shop about buying something on craigslist and bringing it to them before you show up with it. If you bring a bike in that you bought elsewhere, expect to pay for their work in fitting/tuning. I wouldn't be suprised if it was around $100 for a full once-over and fitting, more if they encounter a problem or need to replace something. It's good to have friends in the shop, and showing up unannounced with a new bike you didn't buy from them is a good way to not make friends.

9/18/2013 11:03:41 AM

Thanks i will keep that in mind

what do you think of this bike?

http://baltimore.craigslist.org/bik/4061664249.html

9/18/2013 11:07:23 AM

That is a _way_ better deal than the other one. It's a small, somewhere around 5'8" is probably the limit of who could fit on it. (yeah, yeah, fitting is way more technical than height). The bike is a decent frame from a known maker, spec'd with okay/decent entry-level parts. It would be quite rideable now, and would be worth doing some upgrades on in the future.

You can look up the bike on bikepedia to see the complete specs. The paint job looks a bit different, but what I could see of the components it looks like an accurate match for a 2008 F5. Note, original retail was $629. End-of-season sale would easily have put the purchase price of the original at $550-580. The asking price of $500 is probably a bit high unless he's done other upgrades, but I can understand why he might try starting there.

If you can bring a friend who knows something about bikes, do so. However, there aren't many tricky things going on in this bike. The hubs appear to have sealed bearings, which means even if they are shot, replacing them is easy. For everything else, if it works, shifts through gears appropriately, stops, goes, things that should be tight are, things that should be loose are, then it's probably in good shape. If it doesn't shift right, or the brake pads drag, or there's dirt/grime in places indicating a sloppy cleaning job, then I start to doubt the maintenance skills of the seller. I wouldn't buy an out-of-tune or sloppily prepped bike from someone without doing a very thorough mechanical check.

9/18/2013 11:45:54 AM

so finally got a used GT Avalanche 3.0 last night. Pretty excited!!

10/8/2013 9:21:35 AM

So, now that the sun goes down at an ungodly time I think I'd like to find someone to ride with in the mornings, probably 3-4 times a week. Intermediate skill level and pace. 12-14 miles in Umstead I need a reason to drag my ass out there early in the morning, but once I'm out there I'm good to go.

10/13/2013 2:31:52 PM

Anyone have a 54-56" cyclocross bike they wanna get rid of?

10/14/2013 1:39:12 PM

remind me why these things are so slow on the road compared to a road bike?

10/15/2013 8:20:12 AM

rolling friction from wider knobby tires, gearing for off-road, and more importantly the geometry of a mountain bike will make your body sit more upright and thus more wind resistance.

10/15/2013 10:14:27 AM

Thoughts on this guy for a beginner?
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/bik/4145231116.html

11/2/2013 4:40:39 PM

Solid bike for that price assuming everything is functional. Do it!

11/2/2013 10:13:36 PM

^^ how tall are you? i'm wondering if the frame is too big for you...

11/3/2013 2:42:51 AM

At that price, it's a nice bike and nice set of components. I'm pretty sure it's a 2005, not a 2006, but that shouldn't change anything significant. http://www.bikepedia.com/quickbike/BikeSpecs.aspx?Year=2005&Brand=Jamis&Model=Dakar%20Sport&Type=bike

A large in those is probably the 19" size, they have a 21" also, which should, logically, be a XL, but logic and craigslist bike sizes often go separate ways. 19" is too big for me for trail riding, I'm 5'8" and can ride a 17", but prefer a 15" when I can get things set up right.

If it were me in the market for a squishy bike, I'd try for 300 to 350, and I'd inspect it carefully to see if I can find anything that would let me negotiate a lower price, but I'd take with at 375 with some wear but no significant defects. I sold a 2001ish Mano e Mano three years ago for 350, similar specs, moderately well-loved.

11/3/2013 10:22:20 AM

I'm 6'
That one actually already sold, so I'm back to the drawing board. I also kind of think I might want a 29er now.

11/3/2013 10:58:56 AM

I figured it would go quick...that was a good price.

Most of my MTB buddies have moved onto 29ers...fwiw

11/3/2013 11:15:50 AM

29er will be harder to find a good deal on, like buying a fixie, they're somewhat overpriced because everyone wants one. For a beginner/first bike, I wouldn't worry about wheel size much. Once you have a bike, have some miles under you, and have an idea of what people mean when they talk about pros and cons of wheel size, then choose what size you want (and other features) for your next bike.

11/3/2013 11:55:02 AM

I like that strategy.

11/3/2013 2:36:28 PM

I really want a 27.5 (650b) with decent components. This fits in my pricepoint (up to $700), but the components seem a little under par based on mtbr reviews.

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/gravity/650b-27.5-bikes-g275-g2.htm

Can I do better or is this a bargain?

I've seen a lot of $2k-$4k 650b mtbs, but I nothing less than that. Any suggestions I could compare against?

[Edited on February 10, 2014 at 3:00 AM. Reason : .]

2/10/2014 2:59:58 AM

What do you currently ride? See my previous comment on faddish tire sizes. (Not to demean them, just to imply they are a current trend, and joining that trend will cost you extra dollars)

I don't recommend buying from the internet unless you are already proficient at assembling, adjusting, and maintaining your bikes. You will need a relationship with a good shop, and those don't get off on the right foot when you bring in a bike you bought off the internet.

My general advice for bikes towards the beginning of your herd is to buy used from a reputable location. There are likely to be a bajillion hardtail MTBs available on the secondary market, and a local shop that sells used bikes will probably have several to choose from. If you want a project hardtail and are okay with a non-disc rear, there are many wonderful 90's frames that you can build up with new(er) stuff.

Does your price point include assembly, fitting, sizing, maintenance? A good shop will not only fit you to the bike, but do an adjustment after a few months to take up cable stretch and other normal things that need to be adjusted after riding for a bit. Some shops will throw in more periodic maintenance if you buy the bike from them.

Back to your question. Alivio/deore drivetrain with Tektro hydraulic disks and Suntour fork. The Scott Aspect is a $700 27.5 with Altus/Acera and Shimano hydraulic disks and a Suntour shock. The Diamondback Axis is a $700 27.5 with Acera/SRAM X4 drivetrain, Avid Hydraulic brakes, and Suntour shock. (REI gave me prices and specs for these). I'm sure most lines have bikes similar to these price points.

I imagine most lines have sub-$1000 27.5 bikes. You should decide if you have an opinion on components, like tektro vs. Shimano vs. Avid brakes, or see important distinctions in the component group. Something important to look at is the forks, especially since these are all suntour, which is not inherently bad, but does have an incredibly opaque identification scheme. Once you have an opinion about these trade-offs, then go find the bikes in your price range (with appropriate allowance for building/maintenance) and get a list to choose between. One consideration is the likelihood of upgrading components. If you are likely to upgrade things, or something in particular, then you could get a little less quality there knowing you'll change it.

2/10/2014 11:17:02 AM

^ All good info. 27.5 is fairly new (in the MTB world), so options in any price range are going to be limited.

I personally would never buy anything that didn't have an air-spring suspension fork, and I highly doubt any Suntour forks in this price range are anything but crappy, heavy coil springs. I think any ride quality or performance element that one could use as an argument for going to 27.5/29er will be greatly diminished by a shitty fork, but that's just my personal opinion.

If you do go with an Internet purchase and can't assemble it yourself I suggest taking it to the Cary Cycle Surgeon. He doesn't sell bikes and does good work.

2/10/2014 11:54:29 AM

I've been out of mtn biking for several years and want to get back into it.

Right now the bike in my garage is a 2002 gary fisher hardtail. it needs new tires and a tuneup. I'm not sure it's worth it to put money into a 12 year old bike.

Trolling local craigslist, i found this, which looks like a pretty damn good deal. thoughts?

http://richmond.craigslist.org/bik/4503070096.html

6/4/2014 11:05:46 AM

Looks nice to me, especially at that price. Full suspension, good brands on the shocks, above-average components. Probably wanna jump on that sooner rather than later.

6/4/2014 11:09:09 AM

My girls and I are going to Warrior Creek this weekend. Any experiences with it?

6/4/2014 11:59:09 AM

^^

upon closer inspection, the bike is a medium, and is too small for me. too bad, i would have bought it otherwise.

6/4/2014 3:02:59 PM

Yeah I was gonna bring up the size thing, but I was thinking you weren't too too tall. How tall are you?

6/4/2014 3:04:47 PM

6'1"

6/4/2014 3:08:01 PM

Yeah looks like a larger frame size would be better for you, around a 19" I'd imagine.

http://www.ebicycles.com/custom/content_files/ebicycles-bicycle-sizing-chart-mountain-bikes.pdf

6/4/2014 3:18:08 PM

Bought a bike a couple months ago online, looks like it came from a department store (yeah, yeah, I know..). Anyway, the price was right and since I'm a beginner, I figured I could at least get my feet wet with it and then upgrade a couple years down the road.

Here's the link to some of the specs:
http://www.amazon.com/Schwinn-Firewire-Hardtail-Mountain-18-Inch/dp/B00F4AULBE

Anyway, whoever tried to put the bike together at the store didn't know what they were doing and I don't know enough about bikes to attempt to fix it myself. What's the best place to go to get an initial set-up and tune and how much is it going to run me to get it done?

6/4/2014 7:57:04 PM

Quote :

"Most of my MTB buddies have moved onto 29ers...fwiw"

Go buy a fat tire bike and then tell them to stop being amateurs.

6/4/2014 8:05:00 PM

Quote :

"My girls and I are going to Warrior Creek this weekend. Any experiences with it?"

I was out there a couples of weeks ago. Very fun trail. I think it's like a 11-12 mile loop. There's a $1 daily-use fee you'll have to pay at the gate. You can either park in the lot to the right or you can try to get a spot near the trail head over on the left, right in front of the campground gate.

If you all are relatively technical, then drive over to the dam and do Dark Mountain, a ~7 mile loop there, assuming you have the energy. It's got a bit of climbing and is where the BURN 24 hour endurance race used to be. If you're not too technical then instead of Dark Mountain do Over-mountain Victory Trail (OVT) instead, which is a 5.7 out-and-back (~12 mi total).

Saturday is National Trails Day, and, although Warrior Creek isn't really a hiking trail, it might be a good idea to check with the Brushy Mountain Cyclist club (http://brushymtncyclists.com/mountain-biking/) to see if they're doing any kind of event like a trail workday out there. There could be increased trail traffic and/or delays. I know there will be a large group of people working on the trails at Lake Crabtree.

[Edited on June 4, 2014 at 11:49 PM. Reason : link]

6/4/2014 11:46:48 PM

Quote :

"Anyway, whoever tried to put the bike together at the store didn't know what they were doing and I don't know enough about bikes to attempt to fix it myself. What's the best place to go to get an initial set-up and tune and how much is it going to run me to get it done?"

I suggest the Cary Cycle Surgeon (http://carycyclesurgeon.com) Matt's a good guy, and all he does is fix bikes. He won't try to sell you any crap. I can't say for sure, but I wouldn't think it could cost any more than $40 at most to straighten a few things out. He's appointment only, so he can probably give you a better rough estimate before you bring it by.

What exactly doesn't seem to be right? It might be a relatively simple fix.

6/4/2014 11:55:01 PM

Brake line wasn't set up right, ends up grinding against the tire based on current placement. I worked to get it out of the way, now the cable is too long and brake won't work as well.

Brake pad is also a little too close, getting some tire rub when I spin the wheel.

Chain is off the gear, gearing likely needs to be adjusted anyway to make sure everything shifts properly.

Seat didn't come with the accessory to actually hold the saddle in place.

So yeah, just a few things that need adjusting.

6/5/2014 1:18:35 AM

Quote :

"My girls and I are going to Warrior Creek this weekend. Any experiences with it?"

My favorite trail in NC. Fast and flowy. Alot of hills, but planned very well so it doesn't feel like you are climbing all that much.

6/5/2014 7:34:12 AM

Quote :

"What's the best place to go to get an initial set-up and tune and how much is it going to run me to get it done"

I've had good luck at Performance Bicycle, specifically Eric at Performance on Falls.

Quote :

"If you all are relatively technical, then drive over to the dam and do Dark Mountain, a ~7 mile loop there, assuming you have the energy"

Dark Mountain is pretty fun. There's a pretty steep downhill section that's a lot of fun.

6/5/2014 9:22:13 AM

Warrior Creek was super fun! Well set up, I was even able to do some drops off the rock formations without imminent fear of dying. We did Headwaters on Sunday, that's what we get for assuming we can do an advanced trail. I think we walked about 40% of it, did the overlook ride.

We plan on going back and doing Dark Mountain/OVT next month. What other trails are in that area? Does Bandits Roost have any?

6/9/2014 11:24:07 AM