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I bought a Revved Gorilla Gravity Smash in April (2019). I decided to buy one based on the fact it was a fully-modern, good looking and well-made USA product from a small company in Colorado. I am proud of these folks making quality products and I want to continue to support their efforts. So far the bike has impressed and I know it will continue to serve me well for years to come. I don’t blame folks for buying bikes made overseas, but I like to support locally and what better way than with an awesome bike.
Agree with the prior ops. It makes no sense upgrading parts any more unless you just really love your current frame or you wear out/break something. “Standards” change so quickly now and even base models are superior to high-end bikes from 2-3 years prior. The only pro I see to upgrading is the experience of wrenching on your own bike and getting the parts that you really want. I upgraded my now 5 year old bike and had a blast doing it, but the cost of the parts caught up to the price of the bike rather quickly. Looking back, I should have saved up a bit more and purchased a model with higher end parts. That way I wouldn’t have gone off the edge with “upgrade-itis” In the end, you will save more money and feel more satisfied. My new bike has all the latest bells and whistles and no need to replace most of the parts (except the seat..it is VERY uncomfortable). My $.02
This was my first full squisher. It’s a 2015 Motobecane Fantom Pro 6by6. This pic is not the latest iteration, but mostly how it still looks. Since this pic, I added a Chromag Fubar 780mm with Ergon grips. I’m still rockin’ a wide geared 10spd cassette by Sunrace (11-40), Shimano SLX shifter and brakes. RS Revelation fork and Monarch shock. RS Reverb dropper with WTB Volt saddle and Wolftooth B-Rad dual bottle adaptor. I recently added a strap for spare tube/CO2 cartridge/tire lever, 203mm front rotor and a Maxxis Minion DHF. Great bike and it has handled EVERYTHING I threw at it.
Motobecane Outcast 29er….converted it to a 2×9. Best hardtail and I learned alot about choosing the right line. Rode the hell out of it for four years and did a lot of upgrades. Eventually sold it to a family friend after buying a dually. Miss that bike….I would have been happy to keep it, but my collection of two-wheeled sleds was getting a bit large.
Again, welcome to Atlanta Chris. Jake and Bull is a good ride, but I would consider Aska Trails near Blue Ridge. I rode Flat Creek (there are several other trails there) and it was a good climb on the backside if ridden clockwise. I think you would enjoy that one. The whole Dahlonega, Blue Ridge, and Ellijay area has some great trails. You can do a search on Singletracks home page and look up trails by city….good luck, hope you find a good one brother.
100% in the truck to the trails. Unfortunately, the closest trail is about 9 miles away and the route is extremely busy with interstate traffic???? with no bike-friendly alternative routes. I’m just used to it.
Nope..Blankets and Taylor Randhal trails are free, but there are donation boxes at each trailhead should you desire to pony up. I am sure SORBA Woodstock would appreciate it. I try to throw in a few bucks every time I go since the trails are nice to have and I appreciate the hard work that has gone into making what they are.
There are sooo many of these forums on the web. I guess choosing a “beginner” mountain bike used to be an easier process as I know there are ridiculous amounts of options available nowadays. For my $.02, a good hardtail is the way to go. You will learn to choose lines better and pedalling efficiency is way better than a cheap, springy full suspension. No full suspension rigs under 1500.00 and no hardtails below 6-700.00. There are exceptions, but as a general rule, these levels are pretty reliable. 29 or 27.5?? I don’t know. There are pros and cons to each. I bought my first “real” mountain bike online without any bike shop backing or support, but I am a fidget-er. I love tinkering and adjusting, so it wasn’t a big deal to me to do my own maintenance, this may be a deal breaker for some. I LOVED that bike and it grew my passion for riding and UPGRADING. If you are like the rest of us, you will get upgade-itis, and it can get bad. Anyway, I digress. Test drive any bike you are looking to buy for fit and comfort. I have told my many of my friends that wanted to get into riding to buy from a shop so that you can get properly fitted and have mechanical/technical support from them (also to support the economy of your local communities). It would be an easier start to a wonderful pastime with your riding skills and mechanical skills improving over time. It sounds like you have a model in mind. You have won half the battle already. Good luck with whatever you purchase, but more importantly enjoy riding, nature, and camaraderie of fellow riders. While bikes are great, the more you ride, those things become even more enjoyable. LOL, I eventually did sell my hardtail and bought a full suspension, but my time on the hardtail taught me how to be a better rider.
I only use hydro pack w/bladder when I take my trail dog with me (use the water bottle for her) and when weather is extremely hot and rides are over an hour. Whatever the case may be, I always have a water bottle on my bike. My hydro pack is a Camelback flashflo waistpack. I don’t like the ones sliding around on my back. I always wear it…for longer rides, it has the bladder, but shorter rides, I use my water bottle for hydration. The pack has spare tube, inflator, mini pump, tire levers, tube patches, presta to schrader valve adapter, spare chain link connector, and multitool. The drawbacks to the waist pack are limited water amount and the hose is awkwardly attached to your clothing.
05 Toyota Tundra double cab 2wd! I can carry a bunch of peeps and bikes (4+), PLUS use it for chores/towing/hauling around the house. Up until 2016, it was my primary ride. I now have a company car and the truck gets used a lot less, but its been paid off for years and will continue to be used until the wheels fall off (180k miles and counting).
I went wide range 1×10 from 2×10. The 24t small chainring was exceptionally low and good for climbing on the 2x crank, but I decided to shed a bit of weight on my bike and go 1x with the Raceface N/W 30t up front with my Sunrace wide range 11-40 out back. I do miss that 24t at times, but I believe I am a stronger rider for going 1x. I lost that super low granny, but most climbs I ride are manageable with the 1x. As far as tubeless goes, I didn’t see any noticeable improvement. It was the LAST upgrade I made.
Come on and Dance-Motley Crue
Kyrie-Mr. Mister
Got Your Six-FFDP
I bought a Moto single speed 29er in 2010 and loved it. The singletrack bug bit and I upgraded to a Motobecane Fantom 6by6 Pro dually about 3 years ago. I am still shredding on it. Some of the components have been upgraded to fit my style/preferences, but the bike has taken me on every local trail with nary a fuss! The value was unbeatable.
Marin Hawk Hill looks like a great buy with decent components for a double-squisher. I would definitely look into that one. Its also very up-gradable should you so desire. Price is 1400.00. NOT BAD!
