Biking?

[crispygoat]

I've kind of lost interest in playing bass lately (with school and all I don't really have the time for a band, I had my fun playing alone for a few years now) and was looking for a new hobby.

I was thinking of biking, but don't actually know anything about it. I'm interested in Mountain / Trail biking and was looking to buy a bike. What should I look into? Disk breaks? Gears? I'm looking at around $500 CAD.

Tips and suggestions appreciated

[L-A]

Originally Posted by crispygoat

I've kind of lost interest in playing bass lately (with school and all I don't really have the time for a band, I had my fun playing alone for a few years now) and was looking for a new hobby.

I was thinking of biking, but don't actually know anything about it. I'm interested in Mountain / Trail biking and was looking to buy a bike. What should I look into? Disk breaks? Gears? I'm looking at around $500 CAD.

Tips and suggestions appreciated

You'll want a bike with a decent front suspension for that price. It can be a single-speed if you're okay with it (only one ratio, but less maintenance, and it allows you to spend more money on the frame/fork, etc.). You can look at used bikes if you're able to grab a bike-savvy friend to check them out with you.

Don't expect this budget to put you in a downhill/freeride course. While some crazies do it, it can compete with jumping off a three-story building, in terms of potential injuries. If the trails you're looking at are intense slopes full of vertical berms with roots and 1-ft rocks everywhere, you should save up three to four times what you have right now before thinking of buying a bike.

On the other hand, a decent SS bike on a nice singletrack will be tremendous fun.

[crispygoat]

As of now, I mostly plan on biking in dirt/rocky roads and trails with bumps and roots or whatsoever but not actual downhill crazy things haha

PS: There's not many used bikes for sale, but I have found this. At first, the lack of breaks and the "SS" turned me off.. But since you say I should look into a "SS" bike, does this one look worth it? What about the breaks? An easy fix?

[L-A]

This is a jump-specific bike. You can't ride trails with no brakes.

I don't know if jump/park can be appealing to you, but if it is, you're one rear brake away from lots of fun, and you're walking away from excuses why you can't backflip.

small edit: I've ridden a Shred (Scrap actually, but it's the same) frame for two-three years. You can install a disc or a rim brake easily, it's not a problem. The guy's bike is probably a small (14.5") frame, which has great standover clearance, and feels just long enough if you're on the tall side.

[crispygoat]

The guy is giving the disc/disk breaks with the bike... they're just not installed.

by the way, thank you for your time