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Hi! I am 56 yo and starting to bike! Finished 1 year of chemo 2 years ago and now feel better than I have for 20 years!
Have been researching fir weeks and now I am starting to test ride bikes. Today I rode a trek X-Caliber 6 and 8. They seemed a bit sluggish and kinda slow. Rode a cannondale Trail 29 sl3. It was lighter and it was faster. It felt like it wanted to play! Really liked it. Also liked the shop!Am off work tomorrow and will be riding a jamis , scott,felt,and specialized. Maybe others. Starting to get pretty excited now. Just a matter of time.
Any input into my decision making is appreciated! Trying to keep it around $1000.00.
Thanks!
Bill -
Welcome, Bill and congrats on feeling great!
There many of us here who started biking after the age of 40, so you’re not alone.
Good job test riding and researching all those bikes. I’m sure you’ll find a bike you really like.
What kind of trails do you ride?
Sent from my Z10 using Tapatalk 2
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By far the best way to pick out a bike that you will be absolutely happy with is to test ride many different bikes. If you can possibly test ride them at the trails where you will be doing most of your riding, then even better.
Caution! Plunking down some good hard earned cash for a high end bike right away when you are just starting out is not always the best way of doing things.
Another alternative approach to this is to get a descent and fairly inexpensive used bike (or a low spec entry level bike), and ride the hell out of it. Then latter on when you have more experience, better skills, and you know better what will fit your riding style, then you can go ahead and test ride a bunch of bikes. Once you have been riding for a while, test rides will be more meaningful to you.
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Hi folks,
Have found a bike I think I may buy. Test rode a 2013 trek Stache 7 and really liked it. The owner of the shop said $1200 out the door! msrp on this baby is $1800! Found it to be rather fast and very forgiving! I rode the owners personal bike right before the Stache and what a difference. The owners bike was a rockhound that he had set up for racing. I couldn’t buy the wheels for the $800 he wanted to get out of it. This bike was very very unforgiving and I landed on my a$$ twice 😢 . I was waiting for someone to come running "The old man fell down!!". talk about an ego killer! 😳. I am not ready for that thing yet! I also really liked the Specialized rockhopper, and the Cannondale Trail 29 sl2 and 3. The cannondale was fast and felt like it really wanted to play! Wish it was speced up a little bit more but it has a very nice kinda carefree attitude!! I was able to ride most of the bikes on at least some grass and through a ditch. Got to ride the Stache through the woods and around the power lines. It climbs really well. The rockhopper was another fast and playful bike. Just don’t like the low end equipment on it. Did see a 2003 rockhopper on cl but the guy thought it was gold. wanted $450 and it was a 26.I will be riding some singletrack and some xc. Also have a paved 25 mile trail about .5 miles away so will take the grandbabys there sometimes. I have found that I am getting more and more excited as I ride the different bikes. Finding that it is hard to not pull the trigger on some of these things!! 😼
Will keep you informed!Should know by the weekend
Bill -
$1200 for a Stache 7 is a very good price. That is probably because it is a 2013 model. I am curious what the differences are from the 2014 model.
The Stache 7 has a chainstay length of 17.5". In my opinion, this is very good if you are doing mostly XC and for light singletrack use. This makes it more stable on the climbs and on the higher speed level sections.
Where I usually ride, the trails are fairly tight singletrack with only a small amount of XC so I prefer chainstay lengths from 17.3" down to around 16.8" or less. This geometry make the bike more "playful" and maneuverable. For most 26ers and 27.5ers this is not a problem, but for 29ers this can become a problem for some bikes.
I have seen some 29ers that have chainstays of 17.8", 18.2", and sometimes even higher at 18.5". These are mostly for pure XC and racing only (very fast, and stable).
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Looks nice, and component speck is decent. Hope you enjoy! Make sure to post a picture when you get it 😃
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Went and rode a Scott scale 960 today. It was nice but not as nice as the stache 7. While the stache is sweet it didn’t seem to have the zip I am looking for. Told the lbs owner it feels like a tank. He shamelessly put me on a 2013 superfly als xt group and sent me out the door! 😮 What a SWEEET bike. Felt nothing like a tank! Fast,nimble and very playful! I think I am in LOVE! He then told me for a Meir $100 more It can be mine!!! $1300 out the door! Think it will be comming to live at my house!!! 😼 Riding a Stumpjumper tomorrow and will be making my decision. Stumpjumper will need to be priced real well to beat this thing! So that is where it stands now! I think the deal on the 2 treks will be unbeatable by the specialized guy but will give it a shot!
Any advice on these is appreciated!
Thanks
Bill -
You should try to throw a leg over a Giant Talon 29er 1. I know my LBS is blowing out the 2013s for less than a grand (I think $899 but don’t hold me to it). Giant also has one of the best warranties in the business.
No I don’t work for Giant, but I have bought 3 of them. I keep saying I’m gonna get something different (maybe an Airborne) but when it comes time to pony up my bucks, I just feel like they go a lot farther with the Giant. Maybe the good LBS has an impact on that, but I bought my first Giant used before I even moved to this place.
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I am 53 and started this caper about 2 yrs ago. Just bought a Giant Anthem 27.5 dual susp after riding a Merida 26" hardtail for too long. The difference is unbelievable in terms of control. If you have the $$ then get a Dually.
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"wozza" wrote
I am 53 and started this caper about 2 yrs ago. Just bought a Giant Anthem 27.5 dual susp after riding a Merida 26" hardtail for too long. The difference is unbelievable in terms of control. If you have the $$ then get a Dually.
Oh, yeah. I love my Lust Advanced 2!
Sent from my Z10 using Tapatalk 2
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"wozza" wrote
I am 53 and started this caper about 2 yrs ago. Just bought a Giant Anthem 27.5 dual susp after riding a Merida 26" hardtail for too long. The difference is unbelievable in terms of control. If you have the $$ then get a Dually.
I have test ridden the Giant Talon 29, Talon 27.5, and Anthem 27.5 (all awesome bikes).
I have been riding for many years now. I started off MTB with a rigid frame, and then many years later I rode mostly a hardtail. I hit the big 5 – 0 this past September. Now-a-days I ride a dual susp 26er and I love it. Hardtails are great for their simplicity and efficiency while climbing. Full suspension is better for additional control and being less harsh on my body and joints.
That being said, I am also looking at possibly expanding my stable with a light weight fast 29er hardtail that will not break my piggy bank to compliment my full squish 26er. Check out this carbon frame beauty from Norco for around $1600:
[url:1dxsggzd]http://www.norco.com/bikes/mountain/cross-country/nitro/nitro-9/[/url:1dxsggzd]
Unfortunately, there are no local dealers near me where I can test drive one. I’ll have to wait until Spring time to drive north up to Minneapolis, MN (approx 4hrs) for some test rides, and to ride some trails up in that area. -
Hi you guys!
That is a nice carbon! I rode a Cannondale F29 5 lefty today. Was a really sweet ride. It felt really stable and at the same time it had the I want to play attitude! It has a nice spec sheet to it.it is a 2013. It is priced at $1500 and that’s $1000 off. I just havent heard a lot about these leftys. I do know it hauled but! Also rode a trail 29 2. Also a sweet ride. $1250 and no leftovers on the sl series, but a very nice ride. I also like the Sl3. At $1029 it really is a nice bike. Would like to see it a little more specked up but the darn thing feels good! Still havent ruled out the superfly but a do like the Cannondales. Gonna ride the superfly again and the cannondales. Oh also rode a Gianf talon 29. Was A pretty nice ride. but I don’t think it is the one.Still haven’t rulled out the Superfly but Darn those cannondales are fast. Doesen’t help that can’t ride the cannondale on the dirt other than through a ditch or on the yard. Just a bit confused. I have a bud who says just buy a $700 bike and beat the hell out of it for a year or 2 and then buy the nice bike. Acually rode a couple of nice $700 bikes. Rode a scott yesterday for $830. Ijust don’t know for sure!
Could really use some advice for sure!Thanks
Bill -
Your bud offered good advice. A lot has changed in the last 10 years, so it pays to have alittle saddle time to get to know what you need out of a ride.
If money is at all a concern for you, getting a used $700 bike is prolly the best bet, as it will allow you to gain a lot of knowledge you lack right now, adn then you will know what it is you really want.
If on the other hand you are fairly comfortable financially just get a new bike, they come with warranties and after sale service form the LBS.Good luck, I was in the same boat a year or two ago getting back into the sport, bought a used hardrock, then a new Trance X29er. The time on the hardrock really opened my eyes to bike (and trail oddly enough) changes. Now I love my Trance and think its the perfect bike for me. If I would have bought a new bike to start off with, I would have bought a HT, and would not be as happy as I am today with the bike I ride.
Good luck, and post pics of your new wheels after you get it!
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I’d say that the $700 bike now idea is also a very good way to go. Your criteria for what you want from a bike will most likely change dramatically after riding for a year or 2 as your skills improve. Fast and stable is it right now. But in 1 year you might want an all around capable bike that can also handle tight turns at the singletrack very well and have good climbing ability at a sacrifice of being a bit slower and less stable, or maybe a rear suspension, or maybe a super light weight carbon/titanium framed bullet that is also ultra efficient at climbing.
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While I don’t disagree with the buy a cheap bike now approach, I just want to advise caution. For the past month, I have been helping a friend just getting into mt biking choose a bike. We looked at many around that price range. What I noticed was that so many of them have absolutely crap forks. And this isn’t just me being a bike snob. The stiction on many of these forks was absolutely unbelievable.
My advice to him, and I will pass it along to you, is to look for a left over that is marked down and has better components. Most come with Rockshox XC28TK or SR Suntour XCM low end forks. Yes these can be upgraded, but you are talking investing another couple hundred into a bike that already isn’t your ideal ride. I would personally rather go with the left over.
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Got it down to 2 bikes. The 2013 Superfly AL and the Cannondale SL2. Both are around $1300. The bikes are speced up and affordable! Will ride them both again when the snow melts and decide. Its time to get a darn bike and get started!
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Very cool! Personally, I like the spec on the Trek better (fork, Shimano drivetrain and brakes) than what the Cannondale offers. Enjoy whichever you choose!
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Was checkin out the Airborne Goblin for $1150 and It is really specked up well! You heard anything about em?
Bill -
I’ve ridden both versions of the Goblin, and it’s a great bike! Here’s my two-part review of the latest rendition:
http://www.singletracks.com/blog/mtb-ge … 29er-v2-0/
http://www.singletracks.com/blog/mtb-ge … 29er-v2-0/ -
"fishboy316" wrote
Was checkin out the Airborne Goblin for $1150 and It is really specked up well! You heard anything about em?
BillI have an Airborne, but not the Goblin. Love it! you can get quite the bike for the money, with the middle-man cut out. The only problem is, you don’t have that specific shop that sold you the bike for support. I personally have never had an issue with that.
Several people who frequent these boards have Airbornes and like them.
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Hey gar, have you had any warranty issues with the Airborne? They look really nice! The things are loaded up. Really had my mind set on the Superfly AL but these things are nice. I do like the idea of the lbs but man! I just don’t know enough about the bikes to do my own maint at this time. Did you have to do any adjustments when you got it?
Mtbgreg: thanks for the redirect to the review! This thing has really piqued my spidey senses!! I guess I need to decide how much I need to have the lbs! The superfly al was a sweet ride but this thing has better specs than the superfly! I mean this thing has all x7 components, Abetter fork and better brakes. Guess my concern is where do they cutback to put these things together? Are the frames nice? Would be nice to ride one. I had it dow to 2 bikes and they are the Cannondale SL3 and the superfly AL. Wonder if you could campare the goblin
to them if you have ridden the others? Which one does it feel closer to?Thanks you guys!
Bill -
I can’t speak to the warranty issue because I never needed to use it. When I got mine, all I had to do was put the bar on (taken off for shipping), which had your shifters and brakes installed and tuned. You just tighten the two bolts on the stem, and put the wheels on, which is not a big deal. I’ve had mine in to the shop for tuneup etc and get charged whatever they charge to do that. Youtube is always a good source to watch videos on how to make adjustments and learn how to do it.
I can’t speak on this model’s frame. Mine is an older one and it is great, no issues there either. I bought it for the exact reason you are thinking of. I wanted the best bike for my buck and found this was the way to do it. I bought a $2k bike that had a component spec of $3k+ bikes. They don’t even use cheap branded (Bontrager for Trek) parts you find on the namebrand bikes that are used to keep costs down, plus you aren’t paying the markup for a storefront and employees.
I appologize that I am biased, but I have had great success with mine…
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"fishboy316" wrote
Guess my concern is where do they cutback to put these things together?
They cut back on the overhead from brick-and-mortar bike shops, exorbitant marketing budgets of larger brands, and the massive overhead that these big companies carry. That way, they can offer more bike for less money.
Also, just because you don’t buy a bike at a shop doesn’t mean a shop won’t work on your bike. Shops make most of their money from repair work, not from sales: http://www.singletracks.com/blog/uncate … g-at-home/
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So, talked to Eric at Airborne and what a nice guy! he spent a little bit of time talking about the company and their business strategy. More bike for less money! I like the plan! I am still a bit sketchy on how I would take care of say a blown fork or cluster that is under warranty. Would I take it to a bike shop and get them to look at it? How does that all work? I guess if they are a dealer for the broken part they would kinda have to look at the part? I don’t understand how that all works. I guess if i can figure that all out I will get one of the Airbornes! Can’t beat the specs! Also like the fact that I can ride it for up to 30 days and return it if I don’t like it. Think I am gonna do it! Was talking to my buddy and he told me he has had his in to get tuned and had to readjust it both times, so why not learn from him and do it myself!Will still need to buy parts and gear from the local guy’s so almost a no brainer! I am curious though, It looks like this bike is a 20 speed,Is that true or am I reading it wrong? F derailleur SRAM X7 2X10. B derailleur SRAM X7 2X10 mid-cage. Don’t know all of this stuff yet!LOL.
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I have ridden and have a couple of friends that ride the Superfly- great bike!!!! You will love it. Best suggestion would be to ride them,you will know within an hour which bike you belong on.
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"fishboy316" wrote
So, talked to Eric at Airborne and what a nice guy! he spent a little bit of time talking about the company and their business strategy. More bike for less money! I like the plan! I am still a bit sketchy on how I would take care of say a blown fork or cluster that is under warranty. Would I take it to a bike shop and get them to look at it? How does that all work? I guess if they are a dealer for the broken part they would kinda have to look at the part? I don’t understand how that all works. I guess if i can figure that all out I will get one of the Airbornes! Can’t beat the specs! Also like the fact that I can ride it for up to 30 days and return it if I don’t like it. Think I am gonna do it! Was talking to my buddy and he told me he has had his in to get tuned and had to readjust it both times, so why not learn from him and do it myself!Will still need to buy parts and gear from the local guy’s so almost a no brainer! I am curious though, It looks like this bike is a 20 speed,Is that true or am I reading it wrong? F derailleur SRAM X7 2X10. B derailleur SRAM X7 2X10 mid-cage. Don’t know all of this stuff yet!LOL.
That’s a 2×10 drive train. 2 chain rings up front instead of 3. Maddslacker posted a good blog describing the differences between drive train setups http://www.singletracks.com/blog/mtb-ge … bout-2×10/
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Thanks for the link gar! I don’t know if the legs are up to the 2×10 or not. The bike is probably not much harder to pedal than a 3×10. I got a new wrinkle! Got a call from a lbs today and was told he had a Cannondale f29 1 he just put on sale for $1699 from $2700 😏 Just don’t know what I think about it yet! He also offered to throw in a $100 store credit! Real nice bike but man it’s a lefty and it’s a comp bike! I am new at this so may pass. Could be a lot of bike for a newbie!It’s all sram x9 and elixir 7. See what you guys think!
Thanks
Bill -
Yes we were Greg! Put this in A while back. Can kill it if you want. See I really want to pull the trigger on something and was looking for all the info possible. Want to make the best decision i can.
Check out what I put in the other one. -
Hey Bill!
Good to hear about you getting back into biking. If you haven’t bought a bike yet, check bikes direct.com only for price. No test ride or anything, but if you are familiar with components you can seriously get a great bike for a great price. The bike frames are no specialized, giant, cannondale, trek etc. but the components match up. I just bought a $1100 bike for $350 on this site. The bike is a gem. I recommend only if you don’t want to test ride or get fitted for one, because it online obviously…
good luck, and have fun on the trail!!
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