So I bought a cheap mountain bike today

[Kompresshun]

Recently i've been interested in getting back into biking and mountain biking, since I am horribly out of shape and have put on a good bit of weight in the past 2-3 years. We left both of our bikes in GA when we moved, so it wasn't worth the drive to go pick them up. Plus my in-laws gave us a nearly new one, that they had bought for one of my sister in laws, so I just had to find a new one for myself. I had been hunting on Craigslist for 2-3 weeks, but had run across nothing but junk, unless I wanted to spend $300+ on one, which I felt like was a bit much until I see if i'm going to really stick with it. So I ran across this one in Walmart today, actually after purchasing a different one and getting it home, only to find out the tire wouldn't hold air and a wheel was bent, so I had to return it.



Now first of all, i'm very well aware that it is a cheap bike and there's a lot better choices out there, but this one only set me back $96 and I wasn't looking for a high quality bike. I actually rode a Huffy 21 speed last time I was into mountain biking and it did just fine compared to all of my Uncles Treks and Cannondales, aside from when it came to weight. This one is an 26" 18 speed with an aluminum frame, full suspension, and Shimano components. Right now i'm mainly wanting to get back into riding, then if I stick with it consistently, I plan on buying something a little nicer later down the road.

I'm going to order some toe clips for it, a phone mount(for GPS, music, and bike computer app for trip logging and speedometer), and some sort of water bottle mount. Other than that I probably won't spend anything extra on it. Any suggestions on other things I should look at getting? I've been out of this for quite some time, so I couldn't think of much else aside from some gloves.

[Razi]

Sweet!

Cycling is a lot of fun!

[naladude911]

dayumm that thing must be mad heavy. good beginners bike. I love my Trek tho

[Kompresshun]

Cycling is a lot of fun!

Yeah I used to really enjoy it, plus it's better than jogging/running, which I've never enjoyed at all.

dayumm that thing must be mad heavy. good beginners bike. I love my Trek tho

Believe it or not, it's actually really light. I can pick it up with one arm easily, so that's pretty light to me. I do love Treks though, still one of my favorite bike manufacturers.

[orangeNblue]

You could look into parts like disk brakes, upgraded front suspension, or a different handle bar. Those are just some of the options you have that might help improve the ride of your new bike. It looks like you got a really good deal on a good looking bike. I bought the entry level bike Cannondale Trail 6 but sadly it was much more than $96.

[carloslebaron]

Those cheap bikes are a great adventure, their gear gone very fast...a hard hill to drive thru and probably the pedal will crack with the effort made by your foot... their brakes are easy to replace and very cheap as well...tires do last long...I mostly look for free bikes on Craigslist, to take out parts and fix these cheap mountain bicycles...the best thing is that no one will steal them if you park on the street without a chain...unless the burglar is a child or a homeless...

[Otto.]

Tighten that rear shock all the way.

The only thing it will do for you is tire you out.

Glad to see another person get into cycling though.

When you think you're ready to move on to something better, look for hardtails. The way I see it, if you're not doing DH riding or anything like that, there's no need. Even the good ones waste some of your pedaling energy, especially uphill. Try to get some metal pedals too.

Generally, you get what you pay for in a bike. Check out the local bike shop if there is one, they'll know how to set you up properly. Take test rides.

What kind of riding are you going to be doing overall?

[Razi]

+1 on stiffening the rear shock.
I hate them with a passion.
Hardtails ftw.

[Kompresshun]

Tighten that rear shock all the way.

The only thing it will do for you is tire you out.

Glad to see another person get into cycling though.

When you think you're ready to move on to something better, look for hardtails. The way I see it, if you're not doing DH riding or anything like that, there's no need. Even the good ones waste some of your pedaling energy, especially uphill. Try to get some metal pedals too.

Generally, you get what you pay for in a bike. Check out the local bike shop if there is one, they'll know how to set you up properly. Take test rides.

What kind of riding are you going to be doing overall?

Thanks for the pointers, i'm going to be picking up some better pedals very soon for sure. I actually brought a hardtail home first, but it was garbage so I took it back. I nearly bought another hardtail, but this one was cheaper with the better components, although I was assuming the full suspension would be a better choice

I figure this is a good starter bike though, then if I really stay dedicated to it, i'll definitely do my research next time. I want to see what kind of riding I enjoy more too, so I can decide if a mountain bike or a hybrid is a better choice for me.

As far as what type of riding... at first i'm planning on just street riding, then maybe some light trails after a few weeks, i've been looking around to see if there are any trails locally today. I used to do quite a bit of mountain biking and really enjoyed it, which a 20-25 mile ride was about average for me, and I usually did that 2-3 times a week during the summer. I'm horribly out of shape now though, so i'm going to keep it pretty simple for a while, then work my way back up.

[Otto.]

As far as what type of riding... at first i'm planning on just street riding, then maybe some light trails after a few weeks, i've been looking around to see if there are any trails locally today. I used to do quite a bit of mountain biking and really enjoyed it, which a 20-25 mile ride was about average for me, and I usually did that 2-3 times a week during the summer. I'm horribly out of shape now though, so i'm going to keep it pretty simple for a while, then work my way back up.

We're sort of in the same boat. It's really hard to get motivated again after not riding for so long.

I do mostly road riding but trails are fun too. I recently got some "reverse tread" tires (Serfas Drifters). They make a big difference. They're my first pair of tires after the ones that came on the bike though.

See if there are any fire roads or double track paths around you. Those can be nice rides.

My personal goal is to have ridden at least 1000 miles before it gets too cold.

...I should get on that.

[GrilledCheese33]

Nice. I'm kinda in the same deal. I ride a dual suspension mongoose that I bought for $100 at a yard sale like 6 years ago. Over the years its gotten new wheels, metal pedals, awesome off road tires and much more. I have to lube it and tighten things up before each trail ride, but I keep up with my friends on their expensive bikes no problem. Only problem with mine is weight.

And I love my rear shock. I have it tightened all the way and i don't feel i lose too much power on hills. Plus it is really nice for the local trail because there are a ton of roots that you ride over...

edit:

My bike in the background

[C-Kwik]

You could look into parts like disk brakes, upgraded front suspension, or a different handle bar. Those are just some of the options you have that might help improve the ride of your new bike. It looks like you got a really good deal on a good looking bike. I bought the entry level bike Cannondale Trail 6 but sadly it was much more than $96.

Don't really know anything about this brand of bike, but cheaper bikes tend not to use component designs that make parts interchangable with the more higher end stuff you see out there. As such, he may not be able to get a better fork let alone a fork with post mounts.

[Red coupe]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaIvk1cS ... ata_player[/youtube]
If you belive in yourself, you will know how to ride a bike.
Thumbs up for rock and roll.

[Razi]

That kid is extremely awesome.

[Kompresshun]

Well I finally took it out for a short ride last night before dark, after adjusting the brakes, rear shock, and aligning the handlebars properly. I was pleased once I got the seat and handlebars set at a proper height for me, but I still need to adjust the gears a little I think, they seem like they need some minor adjustments.

I also found a short mountain bike trail about 10 miles from here, that I never realized was even there. It's only about 3 miles long, which is plenty for me until I get used to riding again. I was really shocked though that the closest ones that are longer and more purpose built, are anywhere from 50-100miles away. I guess people don't like biking in Kentucky?

[Red coupe]

I still say trying to get into biking on the road with a mountain bike is like trying to get into racing in an F250.

You can do it, it will work and may even be fun... but if everyone who ever thought about racing cars progressed first through trying to race big pickup trucks a lot less people would find it fun/stick with it.

Make sure you at least try out a decent road bike in your size. There only all bikes in the sense that a porsche and a camry are all cars. Nothing against mountain bikes, but I see so many people riding around mountain bikes for no reason. I know I would never have gotten into riding as much as I am if I never tried out a road bike. You can do a decent modern road bike for $300 if you hit up craigs list and shop smart.

Also, consider a cross bike... I wish I could have a second cross bike. Road style, designed for off road use. Can do pretty well on either surface with just a wheel/tire swap.

I am going to try and buy my roomates hardrock for cheap when he moves out. Its sat in the closet for years with flat tires so I am hoping to "save him from having to move it".

Not like I need something else to spend money on... I just bought a new 105 groupset for my road bike and have already been eying wheelsets in anticipation of the extra money I should make this summer.

[Razi]

Yesss.
I was one of those people that thought that mountain bikes were good enough, until I bought an old Schwinn road bike.
Now I looove road bikes!

[Kompresshun]

My intentions are to mountain bike, in case I didn't make that clear, but it will get used on the street at first until I get it tweaked the way I want and get used to riding again. I already find riding on the street rather boring though, so when i'm going by myself I think i'll be going to a trail somewhere.

I agree that it's pointless to own a mountain bike if it's going to be used on the street 90% of the time. Even if I do go off road a lot, I am planning on purchasing a hybrid next, but I have no interest in owning a full on road bike at all for sure. I really like the hybrids a lot though and I think that would be the logical next step, when I do decide to upgrade to something nicer.

[Razi]

Ahh yes.
Hybrids are awesome as well!

[Red coupe]

cross bike is like a hybrid that is not for mothers.

:P

[Kompresshun]

cross bike is like a hybrid that is not for mothers.

:P

Forgive my ignorance then, I assumed you were referring to a hybrid

[Red coupe]

cross bike is like a hybrid that is not for mothers.

:P

Forgive my ignorance then, I assumed you were referring to a hybrid

lol.

There are some quick hybrids out there, and I don't know if you know this about me... but I can be opinionated...

The way I see it hybrids are kinda an answer to all those people who ride mountain bikes on the street... Kinda a way to have a relaxed, upright familiar mountain bike feel with some changes made to make it work a little better on road.

Cross bike is basically a road bike, compromised to work off road (lol).
Frame will probably be a little more stout to take the extra abuse, wider tires (then road, narrower then a lot of mountain bikes) with tread patterns for the conditions, cantilever brakes for mud/dirt clearance.

You get the same aerodynamic positioning and weight distribution as a road bike, off road.


I am personally not a big fan of hybrid bikes. Basically mountain bikes that are not good offroad :P
Some of them get light, but the position is not really good for road riding. I am also not a huge fan of flat bars, since drop bars can basically give you the same hand positioning, with 3 or 4 more options.

They just kinda attack the issue of being in between road and dirt in opposite ways, with the cyclocross bike tending to be the more aggressive. (and really, who has time to be f*** around :P )

I would really like to get one at some point... but for now just the road bike is enough.
They really are awesome fun man, I dunno if your turned off by the whole image of them, which I admit I am not proud of but if you have never ridden one, seriously... give one a try. Surprisingly different to any mountain bike I have ridden. I think a LOT more people would ride if more people knew the difference between a nice road bike and the huffy they had as a kid.
/pushing road bikes on people

[carloslebaron]

For vacations sometimes I drive to Hiton Head Island, SC -for me is about 12 hours driving- and the mountain bikes are good for riding on the sand over there. I am not familiar with those "hybrid bikes" still, how many calories you save per mile when you drive one of those bikes?

[Red coupe]

I am not familiar with those "hybrid bikes" still, how many calories you save per mile when you drive one of those bikes?

none, you just go faster.

[Razi]

Fast = more fun

[jsturges18]

next bikes..........

next $90 plus $60 for a tune up from a bike shop because walmart people dont know how to put a bike together.
if you think about it $300 to $400 fro a good bike (specialized hardrock) isnt too bad considering thats how much an idiot box cost(xbox,ps3,tv)

[Kompresshun]

They really are awesome fun man, I dunno if your turned off by the whole image of them, which I admit I am not proud of but if you have never ridden one, seriously... give one a try. Surprisingly different to any mountain bike I have ridden. I think a LOT more people would ride if more people knew the difference between a nice road bike and the huffy they had as a kid.
/pushing road bikes on people

I'm very opinionated too man, no worries there

I'll have to give one a try, I know I never have really liked the drop handlebars, but I haven't been on a road bike in years, so that may have changed. I know the image of them is just kinda.... but i'll take a look at one. I'm going to be researching and testing out quite a few before I buy the next one, because I plan on buying one that will last for a long time.

next bikes..........

next $90 plus $60 for a tune up from a bike shop because walmart people dont know how to put a bike together.
if you think about it $300 to $400 fro a good bike (specialized hardrock) isnt too bad considering thats how much an idiot box cost(xbox,ps3,tv)

Well considering that I know how to tune up the bike myself, it's not that big of a deal. $300-400 for a good bike isn't that bad, but I wasn't setting out to purchase an excellent bike, I went out and purposely bought a cheap bike because that's what I was looking for. As I mentioned earlier, even when I used to mountain bike religiously, I rode a cheap $150 Huffy 21 speed and it never had any issues. In fact I only had to tune it up once during the entire 5 years I owned it, so I think this one will handle a year or so of use just fine. Now, it could turn out to be total garbage and everything break, but I bought a 1 year warranty on it too, so who really cares?

Now don't get me wrong, i'm not cheap either, but I just chose not to spend the extra money on something nice until I feel like I really need it.

[jsturges18]

completly understand man. i work at a bike shop and i CANNOT stand working on those bikes bc i feel so bad when it costs more to fix them then what theyre worth. now me.... i ride a niner air9 with sram 10speed and rockshox reba fork but its like $3000....... enjoy the bike! hopefully you'll like it and really get into it

[VQpwrdSE-R]

My intentions are to mountain bike

I bought a mongoose with full suspension like yours about 2 years ago. Paid $119 at walmart. Put 40 miles on it when someone riding behind me realized that the front and back tires were not in the same track.the frame was bent in a month. I didn't overly abuse it, took it over a small rock field (fist sized) It just didnt hold up well. In the end I had wished I bought a entry level trek for around $325 like my wifes bike. I know where your coming from though, 0ver $500 spent on a bike bought for exercise/recreation isnt reasonable. Currently I ride a Diamondback and am pleased now, liked the components on my K2 bike better but the rear hub went out within 200 miles of riding on that one. Definately follow the other guys' advice and tighten the rear suspension you lose alot of pedaling torque with it loose/soft.

Have fun riding, look for books on MTN bike trails in your state/area. I have one for Pennsylvania and have found some cool places to go.

[Looneybomber]

I am not familiar with those "hybrid bikes" still, how many calories you save per mile when you drive one of those bikes?

none, you just go faster.

That means you save energy/calories.