Getting Into Mountain Biking

Jonny303

Hi,

Not sure if this is the correct thread or not, but looking to do a bit of mountian biking. Want to pick up a bike tomorrow. Any advise where to start and what to look for. Im 6'2 and budget is varriable, and would consider seccond hand.

TinyExplosions

Jonny303 wrote: »

Hi,

Not sure if this is the correct thread or not, but looking to do a bit of mountian biking. Want to pick up a bike tomorrow. Any advise where to start and what to look for. Im 6'2 and budget is varriable, and would consider seccond hand.

Would suggest posting your budget -that way folk who know about the mucky stuff can reccommend you something easier.. a variable budget is too vague -for some folk it'd be 100quid, for others 1000!

Gavin

Unless you've done it before, it might be an idea to rent a bike the first time, to give it a go before investing. You can rent bikes in Balinastoe, a publicly accessible marked out mountain bike trail for around 30 or 40 euro for the day.

From http://www.nationaltrailsday.ie/events_ww_mountainbikingintro.html
"Bike hire is available at bcbikeking@gmail.com and at brian@totalexperience.ie"

If you're sure you want to buy a bike, have a search through this forum for the same question, you'll find plenty of advice.

Jonny303

hmmmm probably between 3-500. Thinkn now, 2nd hand would probably be great, just as a start up.

seamus

Also let us know what type of mountain biking you're doing. The two primary disciplines are Downhill (drive/walk up the mountain, throw yourself off it on your bike) and Cross-country (cycle up and across the mountain and then back down again).

In reality, most people want to do a bit of both, but you may have had something specific in mind.

Stark

Jonny303 wrote: »

hmmmm probably between 3-500. Thinkn now, 2nd hand would probably be great, just as a start up.

You're better off with second hand if that's your budget I reckon. New bikes for that price would likely have poor quality suspension.

seamus

Pah. Suspension susmension. Back in '54 we rode bikes made of lead with wheels of steel, riding in our bare feet on pedals made of sharp rocks.

No really, front sus quality has improved a lot and you'll get a decent pair of front shocks on a new €500 bike. Any price lower than that and you're going to be sacrificing the components for the sake of suspension, so you're better off going for something fully rigid.

The problem with a newbie buying second-hand is that it's hard to tell if you're being ripped off. A quick blast with a pressure washer, a new pair of tyres and a bit of oil on the chain and the bike might look great but it could be screwed.

Jonny303

a bit of both probably really, probably more so less of throwing myself off the side of a mountain.

Morgan

If you're looking to find something second hand, check out the classifieds below, or post a specific request:

http://www.madmtb.com/wordpress/bbpress/forum.php?id=3
http://www.mtbireland.com/forum/viewforum.php?forum_id=6
http://www.epicmtb.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=6

At your height you'd probably need a 19" frame or thereabouts.

O-Ninio

This bike, its on sale. Chain reaction will send it to you within a day or two. They are based in Co. Down and give a great service.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=14969

And then here once you get the bike

www.epicmtb.com
www.imbrc.com
www.mtbireland.com