WTB: Mountain bike, what do I look for?

[BLAIR]

i should start mt biking again.. I have an old gary ( fixed) haha fisher i paid over a grand for back in 2000 hahah

[Mike]

this thread has encouraged me to refresh my mountain bike. last season i got a shimano lx crank since the original had finally had enough. i had already updated to an xt front derailleur, but it may be time to do the rear... i'm getting some funky chain skipping at really odd times. i also hate my xt brakes with a passion so i've ordered some avid single digit 7s and some avid speed dial ti levers. in the near future i think i'm looking at new shifters, a fork as well, and a non-mismatched wheelset.

yay :burn: $$$

i've begun commuting on the bike, though, so the money isn't all wasted... money spent will also likely get me out on the trails more... funny how that works.

[John]

I too need to get back on my bike. There are lots of great trails out here, and since I've started getting back in shape with running, I actually have some endurance. Last step is to get back in the water since it's finally warming up....

[.RJ]

I just haven't seen anything out there in that price range that isn't going to be absolutely miserable yet. (And $300 isn't what it used to be.. especially given the Lance Effect in America.)

You're also faster and more fickle about your gear than most of us A beginner going slow isnt going to notice so much - I sure didnt. I'm just now starting to pay attention to that stuff more closely.

[ScottyB]

you guys that commute on a bike -- do you shower when you get to work or what? i've always wondered about that.

[Ginger]

Yeah - my office has a shower.

And as far as the bike: just because you don't notice, that doesn't make it not trash. I contend that you will get an exponential increase in enjoyment for less than double the initial suggestion. Yes, the more you go above that, the lower the dividends... but you get a really great increase that won't have you upgrading in less than a year.

Besides, you're not paying more attention, you're just burning your pocket book Your alu. frame was just fine!

*edit* And you're STILL not buying the good stuff!

[drivesideways46]

Thanks for the responses guys!

I guess I'm going to have to shift my budget upward a little bit, but I'm still trying to hold true to my original plan.

I ended up finding a bike locally that I wouldn't mind checking out, and I found another one on CL. What do you guys think of these two Trek 6500's I found?

Option 1:
2005 Trek 6500
LIKE NEW (ridden less than 10 times)! 21.5" aluminum hardtail frame w/ Shimano and Bontrager parts and components. $600 OBO
In Winchester, VA.

Comments:
I'm guessing this would be the better buy due to less wear and the pimpy disc brake setup, plus it hasn't been modified in any way. I'm not sure how the 21.5" frame would fit me though, so I guess it's just a case of me having to try it out and see how it fits.

Option 2:
1999 Trek 6500 18" frame for $400
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Comments:
This is far closer to what I originally wanted to spend, plus it has a bunch of extras with it. There seems to be a fair amount of useful mods done to the bike as well and it seems to be well-maintained, but I guess you guys would be better judges of that then I would. I'll send an email to the guy just to see what's up with it though.

I'm going first thing in the morning to the local bike shop in Winchester, VA to see the difference in-person in frame sizes.

[Ginger]

I like the second bike you posted. I think that it would work very well for you. But please, get rid of that heinous fender!

How tall are you? I think the 21" frame would be way too large unless you're some kind of manbeast.

[Maengelito]

i should start mt biking again.. I have an old cary fisher i paid over a grand for back in 2000 hahah

lol, cary fisher? wasnt she princess leia?

sorry, i've got nothing else to add to this thread because i don't know shit about mtn. bikes.

[Ginger]

i should start mt biking again.. I have an old cary fisher i paid over a grand for back in 2000 hahah

lol, cary fisher? wasnt she princess leia?

Metal bikini!

Seriously. Those movies needed more of that.

[.RJ]

And as far as the bike: just because you don't notice, that doesn't make it not trash

Your alu. frame was just fine!

haha, its trash... but its just fine! :lol:

And you're STILL not buying the good stuff!

Neener neener! I like it, its got pimpy carb0n fibar chit!

[Evan]

at 5'10", youre going to be between 17" and 18" frame size.
IIRC back in 99 I think the 6500 was around $600 new, so saving $200 isnt that much for a 9 year old bike.....

[Mike]

you guys that commute on a bike -- do you shower when you get to work or what? i've always wondered about that.

when i bike? no, but that's with a 3 mile commute (now 1). anything over 5 and i think i'd need a shower.

when i run? yes w/ the 3 mile commute, no with the 1 miler.

[Mike]

that '99 6500 is a rip for 400. if you can get him to maybe 275, you have a deal. and the 21" would be far too big for you.

[Ginger]

haha, its trash... but its just fine! :lol:

Bum! Those were two totally different unrelated statements! I hate you forever!

[.RJ]

:lol:

Never again will I buy an all alum road bike. It really was fine... but the carbon stuff is so much nicer

[mrbaggio]

Do any of you do any road riding in ARL or DC? I just got my road bike back in working order and I'm ready to get out there.

You can get a low end Trek for 350ish new. Go buy that and see if you like riding. As a new rider you will break parts off your first bike a lot. It's better to break cheap parts rather than expensive ones.

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[.RJ]

Do any of you do any road riding in ARL or DC?

Mostly W&OD trail.... I avoid riding on the road as much as possible around here.

[mrbaggio]

It's more fun to battle the cars and cabbies rather the three wide walkers on the W&OD

[.RJ]

Its more fun until you've been hit...