Any Mountain Bikers out there?

[godale03]

Hey Guys,

I have always wanted to give mountain biking a try. So this past weekend while up in the PA mountains we stopped by a bike shop just to look. Well I ended up buying a Trek 3900. Now I am no expert at all, but from what the salesman told me it should be tough enough to take what I can throw at it. I know it just an entry level bike, so I hope it can actually take some off road abuse. We have a couple of lakes around here and a state park that offer some decent trails. Anybody know anything about this bike... I know it is a little late now... but is this a good bike? Thanks guys.

Tom

 

[Lessen]

I imagine it's a quality bike. I figure as long as you are purchasing something from a bike shop and not wally world you'll be in decent shape. Of course more $$ buys even higher quality stuff but just being a Trek is a huge step up from Kmart ride. I think my bike ran me like $650 or something like that. Not chump change but nowhere near over the top either. I'm been extremely pleased with it.

I went for a mountain bike ride a couple years ago and had a lot of fun ( minus getting lost in the hills of W.V. ). I'm pretty sure there are a number of cyclers here on the forum. I have a Gary Fisher Kaitai which I absolutely love but havn't done much riding at all in over a year since the latest addition to the family showed up. I'm hoping to do some riding this summer though for sure.

 

[godale03]

I am hoping it turns out to be a good bike. I took a leap and believed what the sales person had to say, and the fact he didn't try and sell me the $1500 bike, says alot about the shop. I enjoy the hell out of biking and am starting small... meaning I just hope to get around the farm and go from there. Free time is almost no existant with two kids so I hope to get to the couple of state parks that are close... but for now I will just try to get a couple of laps around the farm. Any "accessories" that are must haves even for the novice like myself? Right now I have a bike and that's it.

Tom

 

[robmob]

Does it have standard pedals or clips?

I personally prefer pedals with cages.

 

[godale03]

Does it have standard pedals or clips?

I personally prefer pedals with cages.

It just has standard pedals. Cages?

 

[robmob]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_pedal

Basically a cage that goes over the top of the pedal to hold you foot in place. Also known as toe clip pedals. You are able to use your leg muscles in a full circle on both the up and down stroke.

The other type you need special riding shoes to clip into special pedals. My bike came with these and I had to purchase the special shoes to ride the damn thing.

You put your foot into the pedal from the side which is how they come out as well.

I used them once on some trails and got into trouble. I tried to pull my foot off the pedal and it did not budge. The sideways motion is not natural to me so I went down hard. When I got home, the pedals came off and went into the trash along with the shoes. I have been using pedals with cages ever since.

It boils down to rider preference.

 

[neobart]

They used cages on racing bikes before clips were invented. If they are what are think they are.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bicycle_pedal,_quill_type,_early_1980s,_Campagnolo_SL_road.jpg

Damn beat me to it robmob.

 

[godale03]

Thanks my friends!

 

[qaart]

if you get serious you need to change out the front fork get disc brakes and lighter wheels and you will be set

 

[godale03]

if you get serious you need to change out the front fork get disc brakes and lighter wheels and you will be set

Can you do those sorts of things? Not to ask a dump question... You can really upgrade parts on these things like RC? Wow!... I do live under a rock. I am just used to the Huffy's I had as a kid.... they break, you buy another one.

 

[Rolex]

I've been very pleased with this one. Medicare covered the entire cost.

 

[qaart]

Can you do those sorts of things? Not to ask a dump question... You can really upgrade parts on these things like RC? Wow!... I do live under a rock. I am just used to the Huffy's I had as a kid.... they break, you buy another one.

yes you can the wheels is the major part. lighter is better just like a rc car.
I'm not sure if you can add disc brakes to your bike and any part you buy make sure it is good and strong cause it will break if it weak

 

[Lessen]

I've never used toe clips but I upgraded my bike with clipless pedals righy away and I love them. Tom, if you are budget concious the only things I would worry about is having two water bottles on board and an emergency pack... that is, tools in case you have mechanical issues. I have a very small "under seat " pack that will keep me rolling under the most common issues. I have a patch kit, a spare tube, a CO2 inflator, a tool kit which includes a veriety of tools much like a swiss army knife. You're tool kit should definitly include a chain tool. Matter of fact, I had to use my chain tool the very first time I hit the hills, on my cousins bike.

 

[Greyryder]

I do believe that disk brakes require not only hubs that will accept the disks, but also a frame and fork with disk brake mounts. A properly adjusted set of good long arm cantilever brakes (V-brakes) will give you gobs of stopping power, just remember to keep the shoes and rim sides clean. If you're not happy with the braking effort the current brakes are giving you, check out the Avid Single Digit 7 brakes. I'd like to get a set of them for my own bike. By all acounts they have great power, and they won't break the bank. Cool Stop brake shoes are also supposed to be pretty good.

I wouldn't worry about shaving weight off the thing, just yet. As long as it doesn't weight a ton, you're fine. First, you should make sure it's something you want to do, and spend money on.

As for pedals, I preffer platforms. Nothing to keep you from taking your foot off, if you get into a little bit of trouble. If you decide to go with a clipless mechanism, and the associated shoes to go with them, make sure you learn to fall, with them. You;ll need to train yourself so that unclipping in an emergency is a natural act, and you don't have to think about it.

 

[qaart]

really the brakes depend on what type of trails your riding. as far as pedals i would just use reg. pedals untill you get used to trail riding cause you fall you might not get your foot out in time

 

[alpinehyperlite]

I run the LSP bike team, and am lead instructor..... there is no reason to lighten a bike that you are just using on trails, and unless you are going up and down serious mountains, there is no need for disk brakes. I ride every day, on sometimes serious terrain, and i still use mechanical brakes. My cannondale i use for work came with disks, and i took them off. Toe-clips are a deffinate must. You will exert about 30% less energy while riding, utilizing the upstroke as well as the downstroke of your pedals. Wheels...... keep em stock. no reason to spend $1000 dollars on bike wheels, on a $350 bike. You arent trying to ride the tour-de-france........ just enjoy it...... So as far as upgrades go, all i would do is a set of toe-clips, and some handlebar risers..

 

[godale03]

Thanks for the replies guys. I appreciate the input. It helps to have some folks out there who know what the heck they are talking about. I knew I could count on you guys for some great advice thank you! It sounds like I will just stick with the stock stuff for now. I will take a look at the different pedel styles per your advice online and the bike shop next trip there. Thanks for the tool kit advice Lessen... I honestly wasn't thinking of that. The only things I am looking to do right away is get a helmet and a Camelbak... any suggestions there guys? The helmet prices range from $10 to $100 or more dollars.... Is there a difference there? How expensive does it need to be?

Tom

 

[alpinehyperlite]

i just use a basic trek helmet on and off duty..... it ran about $40.. and a camelback is a good choice for long rides, but for short rides, just get a waterbottle/cage for your frame.

 

[qaart]

if you use the co2 inflater make sure you dont freeze the inner tube

 

[Lessen]

if you use the co2 inflater make sure you dont freeze the inner tube

Why would anybody freeze an innertube anyways?

Here's my pack Tom. It's a Trek. I can't recall what size but I went as small as I could that could fit all the essentials. I actually do not have a spare innertube in my pack.

Clockwise...

1. Patch kit (Genuine Innovations)
2. Pressure gauge (Accu-Gage)
3. CO2 inflater (Genuine Innovations)
4. Tool Kit(Genuine Innovations, Alien II)
5. Tire removers (Park Tools)