What should I look for in a cheap mountain bike - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

08-27-2004, 06:45 PM

I would like to get into cycling, I dont intend to do any really
serious off roading or anything competative, I just want a basic
mountain bike for roads/parks etc.

The kind of bikes I have seen are advertised from £70 ($120) to about
£150 ($270), but I want to know if £70 is too good to be true? Will it
fall apart the first bump I ride over, or is a £70 bike fine so long
as I dont actually want to ride down a mountain on it?

...when making my decision what points should I look out for? - ie I
asume things like number/type of gears is important and weight? - how
heavy should a bike like this be, will it make a big difference to
normal riding if its a bit on the heavy side?

Is it worth paying for one with suspension, or is this only really
needed for cycling down Everest?

Is there a particular make of gears that is good/bad? Will it make a
difference?

I notice that a lot of expensive bikes have brake disks in the middle,
I assume this is so they dont get wet, does this make a great
difference?

Finally, any recommendations as to where to buy it (uk) - ie ive seen
some 'ok' looking bikes at Halfords...

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

...and some even cheaper ones at ToysRUs (yeah I know a bikes not
really a toy!)...

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

...any advice would be grately appreciated!

Thanks

David Bevan

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

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08-28-2004, 04:35 AM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (David) wrote in message news:<fb5d3f6d.0408271505.1d83b18f@posting.google. com>...
> I would like to get into cycling, I dont intend to do any really
> serious off roading or anything competative, I just want a basic
> mountain bike for roads/parks etc.
>
> The kind of bikes I have seen are advertised from £70 ($120) to about
> £150 ($270), but I want to know if £70 is too good to be true? Will it
> fall apart the first bump I ride over, or is a £70 bike fine so long
> as I dont actually want to ride down a mountain on it?
>
> ..when making my decision what points should I look out for? - ie I
> asume things like number/type of gears is important and weight? - how
> heavy should a bike like this be, will it make a big difference to
> normal riding if its a bit on the heavy side?
>
> Is it worth paying for one with suspension, or is this only really
> needed for cycling down Everest?
>
> Is there a particular make of gears that is good/bad? Will it make a
> difference?
>
> I notice that a lot of expensive bikes have brake disks in the middle,
> I assume this is so they dont get wet, does this make a great
> difference?
>
> Finally, any recommendations as to where to buy it (uk) - ie ive seen
> some 'ok' looking bikes at Halfords...
>
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> ..and some even cheaper ones at ToysRUs (yeah I know a bikes not
> really a toy!)...
>
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> ..any advice would be grately appreciated!
>
> Thanks
>
> David Bevan
>
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

First of all, I live in the USA, so prices may be a little different
over here. The ToysRus bikes are a bad idea. They most likely won't be
set up or adjusted correctly (brakes, derailleurs, etc.) and will
weigh a ton. You will definitely notice this on hills. In your price
range, you're better off with a hardtail as it's not possible to get
quality suspension at both ends for that price. In the drivetrain,
either Shimano or a Shimano/SRAM mix is fine, just depends on whether
or not you like SRAM's Grip Shift. If you could go up a bit in price
to the $400 level, there are many fine bikes from most of the major
manufacturers. What usually happens with cheap bikes is that you end
up upgrading the components and spend more than if you had purchased
better ones with the bike. I still have my first mountain bike, a $400
Gary Fisher Marlin. It's given me great service and was well worth the
money.

--
rec.bicycles.off-road is moderated by volunteers. To find help solving
posting problems, or contact the moderators, please see [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
Please read the charter before posting: [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

08-28-2004, 04:35 AM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (David) wrote in message news:<fb5d3f6d.0408271505.1d83b18f@posting.google. com>...
> I would like to get into cycling, I dont intend to do any really
> serious off roading or anything competative, I just want a basic
> mountain bike for roads/parks etc.
>
> The kind of bikes I have seen are advertised from £70 ($120) to about
> £150 ($270), but I want to know if £70 is too good to be true? Will it
> fall apart the first bump I ride over, or is a £70 bike fine so long
> as I dont actually want to ride down a mountain on it?
>
> ..when making my decision what points should I look out for? - ie I
> asume things like number/type of gears is important and weight? - how
> heavy should a bike like this be, will it make a big difference to
> normal riding if its a bit on the heavy side?
>
> Is it worth paying for one with suspension, or is this only really
> needed for cycling down Everest?
>
> Is there a particular make of gears that is good/bad? Will it make a
> difference?
>
> I notice that a lot of expensive bikes have brake disks in the middle,
> I assume this is so they dont get wet, does this make a great
> difference?
>
> Finally, any recommendations as to where to buy it (uk) - ie ive seen
> some 'ok' looking bikes at Halfords...
>
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> ..and some even cheaper ones at ToysRUs (yeah I know a bikes not
> really a toy!)...
>
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> ..any advice would be grately appreciated!
>
> Thanks
>
> David Bevan
>
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

First of all, I live in the USA, so prices may be a little different
over here. The ToysRus bikes are a bad idea. They most likely won't be
set up or adjusted correctly (brakes, derailleurs, etc.) and will
weigh a ton. You will definitely notice this on hills. In your price
range, you're better off with a hardtail as it's not possible to get
quality suspension at both ends for that price. In the drivetrain,
either Shimano or a Shimano/SRAM mix is fine, just depends on whether
or not you like SRAM's Grip Shift. If you could go up a bit in price
to the $400 level, there are many fine bikes from most of the major
manufacturers. What usually happens with cheap bikes is that you end
up upgrading the components and spend more than if you had purchased
better ones with the bike. I still have my first mountain bike, a $400
Gary Fisher Marlin. It's given me great service and was well worth the
money.

--
rec.bicycles.off-road is moderated by volunteers. To find help solving
posting problems, or contact the moderators, please see [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
Please read the charter before posting: [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

08-28-2004, 04:35 AM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (David) wrote in message news:<fb5d3f6d.0408271505.1d83b18f@posting.google. com>...
> I would like to get into cycling, I dont intend to do any really
> serious off roading or anything competative, I just want a basic
> mountain bike for roads/parks etc.
>
> The kind of bikes I have seen are advertised from £70 ($120) to about
> £150 ($270), but I want to know if £70 is too good to be true? Will it
> fall apart the first bump I ride over, or is a £70 bike fine so long
> as I dont actually want to ride down a mountain on it?
>
> ..when making my decision what points should I look out for? - ie I
> asume things like number/type of gears is important and weight? - how
> heavy should a bike like this be, will it make a big difference to
> normal riding if its a bit on the heavy side?
>
> Is it worth paying for one with suspension, or is this only really
> needed for cycling down Everest?
>
> Is there a particular make of gears that is good/bad? Will it make a
> difference?
>
> I notice that a lot of expensive bikes have brake disks in the middle,
> I assume this is so they dont get wet, does this make a great
> difference?
>
> Finally, any recommendations as to where to buy it (uk) - ie ive seen
> some 'ok' looking bikes at Halfords...
>
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> ..and some even cheaper ones at ToysRUs (yeah I know a bikes not
> really a toy!)...
>
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> ..any advice would be grately appreciated!
>
> Thanks
>
> David Bevan
>
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

First of all, I live in the USA, so prices may be a little different
over here. The ToysRus bikes are a bad idea. They most likely won't be
set up or adjusted correctly (brakes, derailleurs, etc.) and will
weigh a ton. You will definitely notice this on hills. In your price
range, you're better off with a hardtail as it's not possible to get
quality suspension at both ends for that price. In the drivetrain,
either Shimano or a Shimano/SRAM mix is fine, just depends on whether
or not you like SRAM's Grip Shift. If you could go up a bit in price
to the $400 level, there are many fine bikes from most of the major
manufacturers. What usually happens with cheap bikes is that you end
up upgrading the components and spend more than if you had purchased
better ones with the bike. I still have my first mountain bike, a $400
Gary Fisher Marlin. It's given me great service and was well worth the
money.

--
rec.bicycles.off-road is moderated by volunteers. To find help solving
posting problems, or contact the moderators, please see [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
Please read the charter before posting: [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

08-28-2004, 04:35 AM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (David) wrote in message news:<fb5d3f6d.0408271505.1d83b18f@posting.google. com>...
> I would like to get into cycling, I dont intend to do any really
> serious off roading or anything competative, I just want a basic
> mountain bike for roads/parks etc.
>
> The kind of bikes I have seen are advertised from £70 ($120) to about
> £150 ($270), but I want to know if £70 is too good to be true? Will it
> fall apart the first bump I ride over, or is a £70 bike fine so long
> as I dont actually want to ride down a mountain on it?
>
> ..when making my decision what points should I look out for? - ie I
> asume things like number/type of gears is important and weight? - how
> heavy should a bike like this be, will it make a big difference to
> normal riding if its a bit on the heavy side?
>
> Is it worth paying for one with suspension, or is this only really
> needed for cycling down Everest?
>
> Is there a particular make of gears that is good/bad? Will it make a
> difference?
>
> I notice that a lot of expensive bikes have brake disks in the middle,
> I assume this is so they dont get wet, does this make a great
> difference?
>
> Finally, any recommendations as to where to buy it (uk) - ie ive seen
> some 'ok' looking bikes at Halfords...
>
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> ..and some even cheaper ones at ToysRUs (yeah I know a bikes not
> really a toy!)...
>
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> ..any advice would be grately appreciated!
>
> Thanks
>
> David Bevan
>
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

First of all, I live in the USA, so prices may be a little different
over here. The ToysRus bikes are a bad idea. They most likely won't be
set up or adjusted correctly (brakes, derailleurs, etc.) and will
weigh a ton. You will definitely notice this on hills. In your price
range, you're better off with a hardtail as it's not possible to get
quality suspension at both ends for that price. In the drivetrain,
either Shimano or a Shimano/SRAM mix is fine, just depends on whether
or not you like SRAM's Grip Shift. If you could go up a bit in price
to the $400 level, there are many fine bikes from most of the major
manufacturers. What usually happens with cheap bikes is that you end
up upgrading the components and spend more than if you had purchased
better ones with the bike. I still have my first mountain bike, a $400
Gary Fisher Marlin. It's given me great service and was well worth the
money.

--
rec.bicycles.off-road is moderated by volunteers. To find help solving
posting problems, or contact the moderators, please see [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
Please read the charter before posting: [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

08-28-2004, 08:58 AM

A run in the stockings and too much mascara.

Bill "clean version" S.

--
rec.bicycles.off-road is moderated by volunteers. To find help solving
posting problems, or contact the moderators, please see [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
Please read the charter before posting: [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

08-28-2004, 08:58 AM

A run in the stockings and too much mascara.

Bill "clean version" S.

--
rec.bicycles.off-road is moderated by volunteers. To find help solving
posting problems, or contact the moderators, please see [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
Please read the charter before posting: [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

08-28-2004, 08:58 AM

A run in the stockings and too much mascara.

Bill "clean version" S.

--
rec.bicycles.off-road is moderated by volunteers. To find help solving
posting problems, or contact the moderators, please see [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
Please read the charter before posting: [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

08-28-2004, 08:58 AM

A run in the stockings and too much mascara.

Bill "clean version" S.

--
rec.bicycles.off-road is moderated by volunteers. To find help solving
posting problems, or contact the moderators, please see [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
Please read the charter before posting: [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

08-28-2004, 09:50 AM

On 28 Aug 2004 01:45:05 GMT, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (David) wrote:

>I would like to get into cycling, I dont intend to do any really
>serious off roading or anything competative, I just want a basic
>mountain bike for roads/parks etc.
>
In a cheap mountain bike you should look to get a broken frame and
possibly a serious injure. Get a good helmet.

--
rec.bicycles.off-road is moderated by volunteers. To find help solving
posting problems, or contact the moderators, please see [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
Please read the charter before posting: [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]