Im buying my first mountain bike!!! please help!!

[wither2000]

Trails all over the country - there is probably somewhere to ride within 20 miles of anywhere. Here in Bristol there is the timberland trail within 2 miles of the city centre. Further afield there are trails in south wales, the mendips, quantocks, black mountains etc. basically anywhere there are hills.

[Dorza]

Trails all over the country - there is probably somewhere to ride within 20 miles of anywhere. Here in Bristol there is the timberland trail within 2 miles of the city centre. Further afield there are trails in south wales, the mendips, quantocks, black mountains etc. basically anywhere there are hills.

Afan Argoed - Neath (nr Swansea). If your in South Wales or even Bristol it is worth a trip to AA.

[pauldarkside]

Bought myself a Marin Nail Trail a few years ago and it's a gem! Although I prefer off-road cycling I still have a need to use it on the road so the hard tail suits me fine. Low maintenance, reliable, not overly expensive and, most of important all, a pleasure to ride. It’s carried me around Cornwall and the New Forest and handles really well. If I ever have a need to replace it I'll definitely by another Marin.

[hitman67]

A good starting point would probably be something like our Stealth Corrado (Here) or the Muddyfox Meltdown (here). Both good starting bikes at very good prices. Recommened the Meltdown for extreme though.

[herulach]

Your best bet for local trails is to find a local club that runs a 'pootle', even if youre pretty fit you'll still want to take it steady at first, as you will fall off, a lot. You could probably have a lot of fun at one of the 7stanes, or one of the welsh places, i'd avoid the bigger stuff until youre pretty well practiced. I've been doing about 35 off road miles a week for the last 2.5 years and still can't get the hang of drop offs. (although i am uber jey)

[Optical668]

I got a Specilized FSR i agree with other posters why you wanna buy a bike so expensive i dunno, but serously man your be better off getting something like £300-400 like a Specialized Rockhopper or something.. Not to sound off or anything but when me and a buddy went to Wales at the red bull run we been riding all our lives and turned up with my 2000 FSR and his Marin Attack and we saw blokes with like £2000 bikes setting off and we destoryed them on the trails like for example we were doing like 35mph downhill and these dudes were going like 5mph and they just looked like clowns tbh..

So tbh dude your best bet is to get a bike alround £500, proberly start off with a hardtail as i already said specialized are really good easy to maintain and they offer a good range of bikes. But if you already made your purchase then oh well lol

[Dorza]

I got a Specilized FSR i agree with other posters why you wanna buy a bike so expensive i dunno, but serously man your be better off getting something like £300-400 like a Specialized Rockhopper or something.. Not to sound off or anything but when me and a buddy went to Wales at the red bull run we been riding all our lives and turned up with my 2000 FSR and his Marin Attack and we saw blokes with like £2000 bikes setting off and we destoryed them on the trails like for example we were doing like 35mph downhill and these dudes were going like 5mph and they just looked like clowns tbh..

You get them....A lot of people don't know what they're buying or can't be bothered to do enough research or get brainwashed by a group of hot heads on some biking forum when it comes to buying a bike, it does happen. I don't know what it is but there seems to be this elitism thing going on with some bikers.

So tbh dude your best bet is to get a bike alround £500, proberly start off with a hardtail as i already said specialized are really good easy to maintain and they offer a good range of bikes. But if you already made your purchase then oh well lol

Yeah.. I mean the kona Hoss Deluxe is £600 over at chain reaction. RRP is £850 which is a tad expensive imo (though I dunno, its kind of an ok price as things go) but for £600 its a mega bike, you can't go wrong and it's such an epic ride. I'm a bit gutted since I paid £30ish more for it about 3 weeks back with the same place, but thats how it goes I guess. I would have suggested it, but it was too late, OP already made the purchase.

[Matthew Batty]

Finally got my new specialised FSR stump jumper two days ago, and took it straight out up the local hills. Carried it half the way up though lol (coludnt get up the steep wet clay banks) so ended up clawing at the bracken to get to the top. But the bike is great! Its the first time I have ridden a bike that is the right size for me (XL) because im 6'4" and it makes such a diffrence.

Coming down was good too even though I ended up clearing the handle bars and landing on my back in a bush, scratched my new bike and the gears keep slipping now lol but loved every minute of it.
Just need to learn how to fix it now! but its all part of it i think.

Im so glad I spent the money though, dont know if a cheaper version would have done the same job but I wouldnt swap it for anything. I just keep thinking about going out on it and cant wait till I get a couple of days off.

Thanks again for the replies

[herulach]

If you enjoy it thats what matters. Youve likely clobbered the rear mech, line it up in the little ring at the front and the big ring at the back, it should sit straight down. If it doesnt you can either bend the mech hanger straight or buy a new hanger.

THats all pretty easy to do, but id still recommend you buy zinn & the art of mountain bike maintainence, awesome book.

[Clockwork_Killa]

The FSR is a really great bike, its a good all rounder too, sure it might not take the full on abuse of a DH run, but can still handle most things without much fuss.
Congrats on your new bike Matthew and welcome to the addictive world of mountain biking.
Also, Id agree with Herulach, youve more than liley damaged the rear mech, or possibly damaged the cassette, either way, shouldnt be too hard to fix.