Mountain / Trail Bike Questions

[kareneast]

Since some of you bike, I thought I would come here for some advice.

Sean(DS) is turning 20 on Monday. We want to get him a Trail/Mountain Bike for his birthday. He will be going with us to pick it out so that he can try different ones to make sure it is the right bike for him. We are looking to spend between $400-$500. I know in that price range it will be a hard-tail. We're looking for something that he can do some upgrades on as he progresses.

Any recommendations on brands? We have 2 LBS. One sells Treks & the other sells Specialized, GT Bicycles, & Rocky Mountain.

Is there anything we should make sure to get on the bike from the beginning?

Any & all advice/recommendations will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[MelRhoads]

Karen - both trek and specialized make really nice bikes. I don't know much about the other brands. I would make sure that you get an alluminum and not steel. Some of the very entry level frames are steel. I'm not sure what else I would look for. I think I would want to have the nicest derallier that i could get for the rear and pretty good for the front. If you don't get disk brakes, check to see if the frame is disk compatable. He can upgrade to mechanical disks pretty easily later. The little things like the stem, handlebars, seatpost can all be easily upgraded later. Good luck w/ your bike selection. Make them spend some time w/ you at the lbs. that is what they are there for!! What an awesome gift!!!! I'm sure that whatever you get, you can't go wrong!!! Who wouldn't love a birthday bike (Phil has gotten me bikes for my last 2 b-days!)

 

[kareneast]

Melissa - very much for the advice/recommendations on the bike. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. I really don't know much about bikes. Up until now we have only purchased department store bikes. I've been trying to do some research but there is just so many different brands for each part, it is hard to know what is good & what's not. I'd like to go into a LBS knowing at least a little. Don't want the salesman to see us coming a mile away & try to sell us everything but the kitchen sink.

Sean wants to try & do some races, probably won't be ready this year, but should be by next. There is a local Mountain Bike Race that has a category for beginner or casual riders that is 7.5 miles. There is also a Tri he wants to try. It is 14k Mtn Bike, 4k Canoe, 5k Run.

Any thoughts on deralliers to look for or ones to avoid? I will definately make the LBS spend some time with us. Thanks!

Very Cool that Phil has gotten you bikes for your last 2 birthdays. I agree, who wouldn't love a birthday bike. Actually anything that encourages an active lifestyle is good to me.

Again....Thank You Very Much!!!