Who Mountain Bikes for exercise?

[Island750]

im so glad this thread is here. i randomly just started biking again with such great weather we're having. i ride mostly freeride trails up/down on an old specialized mountain bike. nothing too fancy...i think i paid like $600 on it, decent.

well i've been wanting to get on a downhill full suspension bike. tried my buddy's trek session and loved it. personally i've been looking into Iron Horse bikes as a entry bike. what do you guys think? their mid level bikes have 6-7" travel ($1000+) and lower lines have like 5-6" travel ($500-$800) granted lower end bikes are like 35lbs.

any suggestions? deals out there? used bikes?:biggthumpup:

It shouldn't matter how heavy it is it's a "downhill bike":cool2:

 

[Dubs chops]

what is each one best for? hardtail softail?

 

[wydopen]

It shouldn't matter how heavy it is it's a "downhill bike":cool2:

yea right...my first dh bike was in the 50lb range...my race bike from last year is right arouud 40lbs and there is a huge difference

 

[2002zxi]

The shock on my cannondale XC bike is wasted :banghead:

I've been riding my roadie though :biggthumpup:

 

[R Hudson]

I started with an old Gary Fisher solid years ago, not even a sus fork. I rode it for 5 years. Then I bought a Gary Fisher Level Betty full-sus. It was the y frame so it bobbed a lot but it tackled some serious terrain. I really liked it for the heavy-duty stuff, but it was a heavy bike. Now I've got a Kona Kickapu Deluxe. It was a nice upgrade. Hayes hydraulics front and rear, Marzocchi fork, and nice Fox rear air. It's a lot lighter anf faster than my Gary was. It's a lot more nimble. I ride a good mix of single track and road. Usually road just to get to the next trail. Trying to get out regularly, but usually 14-16 miles of pavement/trail 2-3 times per week. I love single track. The more technical, the better. It just doesn't feel right if my shoulders aren't sore from bouncing off of trees for balance

 

[MADMAT]

That video is insane!

x2! Awesome.

 

[750rider]

Santa Cruz Blur :woot: :woot:

 

[Big Kahuna]

Santa Cruz Blur :woot: :woot:

you suck Sir!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[special fx]

Ellsworth ID w/Maverick fork

 

[Big Kahuna]

Fisher Sugar 3 for my regular ride

Kona KU for my exotic!!!!!!!!!! 20lbs

 

[flip]

Titus Racer X-100

 

[Corbearofskiing]

Giant Faith 2 w/ jr T, and a Giant ATX-1 with a White brothers dh2,


I work at whiteface mountain bike park, most verticle on the east coast, great riding up here, check out www.downhillmike.com for more info.

 

[duvers]

Any of you guys have wives/girlfriends that ride? I have a 10 year old Gary Fisher that I've pretty much just ridden on the local (paved) bike trail and some mild offroad for fitness.

On a whim, I signed up for a local MTB racing series...cross country. I got top 3 in my first 3 races, so they're making me move up from Beginner to Sport. It would be nice to get a better bike since I'll have to go more miles per race and might actually start training for MTB racing (rather than my one race/week being my only on bike time ).

Anyway, looking for recommendations for a good XC MTB with women's geometry, durable and reliable. Will pay money for components that are worth it for significant performance improvements or added reliability, but not worried about every little ounce and every little nuance of performance. I'd pay up to around $2k, but it would really have to be worth it and not be obsolete immediately (don't know much about how quickly MTB stuff goes obsolete...).

 

[Corbearofskiing]

www.ridemonkey.com
www.hcor.net
www.pinkbike.com
www.bustedspoke.com

all of those have a for sale section and you should be able to find a reasonably prices xc bike

are you looking for a hard tail or full suspension? I will keep my eye out for you seeing as I work in this sport.

 

[duvers]

Full suspension, I think...unless there are advantages to hardtail. My Gary Fisher is a hardtail and I actually really like the bike, but I know there are advantages to better equipment. As for the websites, thanks for the links, but I am looking for recommendations as to makes and models that might meet my needs. Once I decide on a few possible makes and models, I can start looking at the classifieds, etc. BTW, if you keep an eye out for used bikes, I'm just shy of 5'4" and pretty much average build.

 

[Big Kahuna]

Hey Duv, check with Gary Fisher, Trek, and Giant, I believe they all make Womens Specific Full Suspenion (Womens Geometry).

 

[Corbearofskiing]

duvers, let me check with my boss, i think he might have a really nice xc bike for sale, i'll have to check this weekend with him cause we're doing trail work so i will see him, i'll let you know though


and i think hes maybe a little bit taller than you so i woud have to check on the bike size also, but keep your eyes on those forums, lots of good shape used bikes go for fairly cheap

 

[Aquaholic]

Ohh Hell yes!! MTB's are the schit! I wish that I had picked it up back when I was competing in Freestyle.

 

[JensNonsens]

mtb'ing sucks!

 

[SMP]

MTB'ing rules. I haven't had a ski for a few years now and I was starting to go nuts so last year I bought a Giant STP. I've set it up to be, basically a big man's BMX. I ride dirtjumps, skateparks and urban freeride. I also usually ride about 10 miles a day (5 mi to and from work) on my freeride bike, but this week I've only been doing about half that. Here's a very unglamorous shot of my ride:

Giant STP
Pike SL U-Turn
Shadow Conspiracy stem, seat, chain
Azonic bars
Odyssey MDS
single speed rear hub laced to Sun Mammoth rim
XPedo platform pedals
single rear caliper brake
etc.

The bike is pictured with Maxxis Hookworms, although I'm currently running DMR Motos.