[Singletracksnob]

Live in Reno, NV now but spent 12 years in Lake Tahoe and ride there just about every weekend.  I echo previous comments in that the weather can be unpredictable.  So, unless your visit coincides with a storm, the weather should be perfect(highs in the mid 60’s and likely moist dirt from a recent storm).  I prefer riding in the S. Shore as there are larger climbs and descents.  Not to mention most of the new trail building has taken place in the S Shore area.  Other great options(this depends on your skill/endurance level of course) are Christmas Valley, Cold Creek to Star Lake Connector, Any segments of the Tahoe Rim Trail(multiple route options exist), Tahoe Tyrolean DH on the North East shore in Incline Village, Chimney Beach DH, all world class routes.  With some exceptions, I’ve found the North shore riding to have smaller climbs and smaller descents but there are still some great rides up there as well.  Summer crowds will have dissipated in Oct so should be perfect.  As far as staying, there are plenty of campgrounds that should have lots of vacancies if this is what you like or lots of hotels with discounted rates for offseason travelers.  Hotels can be modestly priced or uber expensive depending on your budget.

[Singletracksnob]

Without question bikes are incredibly expensive, more so now than in the past.  They are also far more capable, refined, lighter,  and better suspended, but these benefits come at a cost.

When retail on a quality, trail worthy, dual suspended, bike(read SRAM GX, Shimano SLX, with an alum or carbon frame, mid range fork and mid range wheels) is between $3-4k it’s getting a bit out of control.  I’m not suggesting you cannot have fun on a $1500 hardtail, but depending on the terrain and your riding style the hardtail may not hold up well.

Consumer direct(coming whether you like it, want it or not) will bring pricing down to more reasonable levels, but something has to give.

If the computer industry gives us Moore’s law with technology doubling every so often while largely staying the same price, why is it that the bike industry cannot model this?

[Singletracksnob]

Been a BIKE mag subscriber since day one. Great articles. I’m getting BC fatigue though with all the photos and\or riders from BC maybe they should pull up stakes in Socal and move to Canada. Mountain Flyer is expensive but a great read and photos. Dirtrag is pretty solid as well.

[Singletracksnob]

<p style=”text-align: left;”>You could rent a mini van, fold the seats down and transport the bikes that way. Or just research bike shops that rent bikes close to established trail networks. Location could be any of the front range towns or locations in the mountains. You’ll likely have too many choices of shops to choose from.</p>

[Singletracksnob]

There are literally a 100 or more bikes you’d be stoked to have as your new ride.  The technology, suspension and refined nature of the parts hanging off the frames these days is nothing short of amazing.  I work in the cycling industry and ride a lot of bikes(both medium and high end mtb’s) and am stunned with how well so many different bike models and brands ride!  First and foremost the bike needs to fit you well, this would be my top priority.  As for demo’s, go to the various brand websites and facebook pages.  There you’ll find information on upcoming demos.  You’re likely looking at Spring before you find one to participate in though.  Some brands partner with their dealers for test rides, while others are active in regional demo events where lots of brands demo all at once.

Sounds like you like the 29er platform and based on your other comments its a good fit for your local riding scene and style.  29ers are having a bit of resurgence in that they are being built to handle a wide range of terrain(shorter chainstays, slacker head angles, longer toptubes, longer travel, etc) and riding styles.  This is not an endorsement or recommendation, but personally I’m having a blast on the 27.5+ platform.  Ton’s of traction both up and downhill with the ability to run insanely low tire pressure makes a 135mm travel frame feel bottomless when set up correctly.  Yes, they wheels and tires are a bit more sluggish than a narrower or smaller profile 29er but the fun factor goes up exponentially for my riding style and local terrain(live in Reno, NV and ride Lake Tahoe/Downieville trail systems with big climbs and big descents).  I agree that the $3-4k MSRP price point is the sweet spot for the best frames with decent enough components to enjoy the trail(think carbon frame with SRAM GX or Shimano SLX)

I’d recommend combing Craigslist ads for a certain radius(say 200 miles around your home) and look for new or near new bikes.  This way you can physically inspect and ride the bike you’re potentially going to buy beforehand.  I’m always in the market to buy or sell bikes/frames and see some very good deals on high quality bikes that are new or nearly new for a fraction of the original MSRP.  Pinkbike and MTBR classifieds are also good resources.  People get hurt, have good intentions of riding, buy the wrong size, etc this can always lead to good deals on new equipment.  Dealers also post on Craigslist trying to unload previous year models which are usually the same or very similar to the current year. You could always buy that SC Hightower with the SRAM GX build and upgrade as parts wear.

Don’t over analyze and don’t second guess your purchase once completed, just ride and enjoy this fantastic sport!

Cheers!

 

 

 

 

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