I'm looking to start getting into it and really don't know a whole lot about which brands are good, what to look for, etc. I do plan on going to a bike shop pretty soon, but I also wanted to see if anyone else had anything to add. Thanks.

My buddy has a specialized and he loves it! Not sure what exact model he has.. i just know he spent a ton of money on it.

A good quality/semi cheap intro bike is an Ironhorse brand. I bought a Diamond Back for around 400 bucks from Dicks and it does the job.

I've always loved the Cannondales, but I'd snatch up a Trek if I was in the market for the price difference. Don't forget to shop Craigslist for deals on used bikes. For the price of a new Huffy from Wal-Quaeda, you could pick up a slightly used premium bike. ;)

I've definitely been looking at Craigslist lately because I want to buy used first since I'm just starting off. I can already tell I'll be dumping hella money into this "little" hobby but that's true of any hobby. I've already dumped a crap load of money into the eclipse and snowboarding...I needed a spring and summer activity to keep me in shape. Not to mention I love the trails in Sonoma and Napa. Fer sho.

I know a full suspension set-up will cost more, but do you guys think I should consider it being that I'm starting off? I'm thinking yea.

i have a Specialized Rockhopper pro and love it.
ive had 2 specialized and never had any problems with them.

if your starting out:
make sure its has at least front shocks that are disc brake compatable, this will help with upgrades and the frame will be cheaper then a full suspension bike.

aluminium frames are just fine for the average rider, Carbon and Titanium are sweet but unless yoru getting a hell of a deal on the frame i wouldnt grab one as your first bike

as far as runnign gear goes, shimano is the most common out there.
however when your looking for a bike choose the frame first then the running gear. this is because you can always go up in quality in the shimano line as aftermarket parts that you can mix and match. (most of the time the XTR set can be found for less then if you bought it origionally with your bike)

once you have a stable frame and are used to riding it and abusing it. (plus joining the OTB-Club lol) then you can start your upgrade path, once you determine that you arent going to mess up the expensive stuff on your first time out.

Specialized Rockhopper FS (hardtail) here. Bought it in 1995, literally have thousands of miles on it, mostly difficult to severe trail riding, but lately I just use it to commute to work. Still on the original fork, gearset, wheels, and chain. It's been stolen and recovered twice, and it still works like new. I'll never buy another brand as long as I live unless they move manufacturing from the USA to china or something.

As far as specific model, spend at least $500 if you're a weekend or casual rider, and a minimum of $1000 if you think you're serious. The extra money spent at purchase will save you tons of headache and cash down the road. If cost is a problem you can try and find one used (craigslist), but you'll find nobody wants to sell their Specialized!

I have a Rocky Mountain trailhead and I love it. Its a Canadian made bike, hard tail, juicy (hydraulic brakes), and some other nice shit. I paid $650 for it but i think they run around $900.




Stay away from Giants, or anything else foreign made. Honestly a mid-level Cannondale would be perfect. Don't skimp on your bike or you're not going to want to ride it. If your out in Utah or something you're going to need a soft tale bike but for regular riding you don't need rear suspension.

Check out http://treefortbikes.com they have some of the best prices.

Add another to the Specialized Rockhopper club. Just started getting into it last year. Wanted to get a bike just to screw around on and stay in shape, but figured I'd get one that I could do some trail-riding on. Since then I've upgraded to SRAM x9 trigger shifters, rear derailleur, cassette, and whatever the sram chain is that comes apart real easy. Only regret is that I kinda wish I would have gotten the flat black rockhopper instead of the red.

edit: here's a picture before the mods (not that it looks any different now :P)

What about different gearing such as a 9 speed vs. a 21 speed? I will most likely be starting off on trailed runs with steep pitches and whatnot around Sonoma County and the occasional runs at ski resorts in Tahoe.

More gears generally help you ascend steeper grades.

I bought a Fuji when I was starting out. It's a great bike and not extraordinarily expensive. I don't remember all the specs, but it was a full suspension (Fox Shox, I think...) and all Shimano hardware with dual trigger shifters and front and rear linear-pull brakes with mounts for discs.

Don't neglect your other gear either... Good pedals with matching shoes actually make a huge difference. You really need good foot support for long trails. Clipping in and out has a steep learning curve (and it really sucks when you fall with both feet clipped in), but it helps in the long run. Decent shoes from Diadora run $50 or less.

Good helmets are $70+ and most trails require them. You definitely don't want to skimp here.

When you've been into the sport for a while, you can start looking into specialized shorts and shirts, and even mountain biking socks! I swear they make some of this stuff up to sell to new guys... Oh, and stay hydrated! CamelBaks are awesome but cage/bottle combos do the trick just as well.

I am looking to get into mountain biking myself, but have been on the road for a few years now. Just some general bike suggestions:

-Like anything else you get what you pay for. I would really recommend staying away from used unless you know the person or can figure out how hard the bike was used. A lot of people, especially on the mountain, put their bikes through hell. A good deal could mean you are buying someone else's beater.

-Clipping into pedals is a huge plus, but as ^^ said the learning curve can be painful. I don't know anyone that didn't eat it at least a few times in the beginning. Find an open field and practice for a few hours before descending anything huge. The price is worth the reward. Less fatigue in your feet and it is much more efficient when you can "work the circle."

-The specialty clothes aren't needed, but I would recommend padded shorts. Just trust me.

I just got into mtb this past nov... I got a single speed 29er and love it...

Originally posted by CarbonFiberRST
I got a single speed 29er and love it...

I was looking at those on Specialized's website, they have a rockhopper and a couple other models in 29". They look... strange... What's the point/advantage of 29" wheels? Seems like it'd be hard to find tires/tubes in a pinch.

Originally posted by thedawg

Originally posted by CarbonFiberRST I got a single speed 29er and love it...

I was looking at those on Specialized's website, they have a rockhopper and a couple other models in 29". They look... strange... What's the point/advantage of 29" wheels? Seems like it'd be hard to find tires/tubes in a pinch.

You know how when you hit a rock on a skateboard you bust ass? well the bigger wheel just makes a bit easier to roll over stuff... Supposedly it negatively effects acceleration but they maintain speed better or something... I don't know but I really like 29ers. It feels so much more stable to me than 26ers and they're kinda unique. The wheel size is the same as road bikes (700c)