Any MTB enthusiasts here?

[riley989]

Some serious time and money spent building those tracks.

[David]

Evening all, it seems odd my first post on a photo forum should be about mountain bikes :P I was about to put up a couple of portraits but got distracted by this thread as mountain biking is my other hobby and one I am probably much better at !

What sort of budget are you working with Paul ? Bikes are matched by camera's with their ability to soak up cash so it's generally a case of matching budget to the type and location of riding you think you will do, as people have said you'll always be served well by a descent hard tail if starting out and not wanting to outlay too much cash.

Something with a descent serviceable air sprung fork, hydraulic brakes, at least Shimano SLX / Sram S7 componentry will all be clues you're looking at something pretty reasonable for a starting point. Of course upgrades need to be done so you can start dropping weight with some new tyres and wheelset when funds or enthusiasm allow as these will be typical items the manufactures skimp on at that level. Ideally get something fairly light to start if you end up with a few options as it does make a difference on the trails, 12-13kg would be ideal.

If you go straight to a full suspension you won't be disappointed as long as you again match the machine to your intended riding and a reasonable spec, sounds like you're in the general trail / cross country camp so you'll be spoilt for choice !! The 120mm travel trail bike really is ideal for places like Rotorua / Woodhill and 90% of everything else (sorry I don't know where you are). With modern geometries and design they climb so so well and have plenty of 'get out of jail' potential on the down hill sections as well. Give GT a look as well (yes I'm biased as i have one :P), its not a boutique brand but they do make some excellent bikes all the same.

I hope thats of some use, post 1 ... complete

[Paul.]

$1000 - $2000 is the price range

[Paul.]

I bought this >> http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bik...er/camberelite

[Jos]

Very pretty, now all you need to do is find the time to ride it...


I'm sure you will!

[rjd]

That looks great! Have fun, its addictive.

[riley989]

Looks nice, what are peoples thoughts on specialized? Our bike dealer in Dunedin that sold most brands of bikes is gone and we only have a Specialized store and an avanti store now.

[maxntrike]

Specialized are up there with the best in my opinion. I´ve had 2 and I would definately buy another. I took my 10 year old (5 years in storage) Rockhopper into Avantiplus to get some new tyres and a service and they loved it. I wouldn´t pay full retail price for any bike though...wait till they update the models and get a good price on the previous years. Avanti do Scott which are good too so probably whatever you can get the best deal on.

[Paul.]

WAS $3,500

Bought for $1,999

[maxntrike]

That´s how to do it. Awesome!

[rjd]

I want one now...

Paul if you find yourself going for more technical terrain its well worth booking in for a mtb skills clinic lesson.

I found it helped a lot made me a much safer faster and braver rider!

[Paul.]

I want one now...

Paul if you find yourself going for more technical terrain its well worth booking in for a mtb skills clinic lesson.

I found it helped a lot made me a much safer faster and braver rider!

Believe if or not, I used to have some skills when I rode back in the UK, enough to get across some of the black trails in D&G, however, I agree a refresher might be nice

[Wozza]

How did I miss this?

Love MTB, love shooting MTB. Have fun with your new bike, and feel free to swing by my bike photo thread in the sports forum. Also looking forward to pics you take on upcoming rides!

[rjd]

I hardly ever take a decent camera out with me riding though, way too risky!

Need to get back on my bike and start craking.

[Phillip W]

Just found this thread,Well its coming up 8months since i last brought a packet of smokes and after 32yrs smoking i'm feeling bloody good.But I wanted to do more than just going to the gym so i'm just getting into this MTB scene and really enjoying it.Wanting to get some people together and do the Queen Charlotte track this year before summer as they close half of it off.Had a Avanti montari 29er and traded it in on this yesterday,A 2013 Specialized Camber 29 a dam awesome bike to ride.Going to have to come down to chch as my eldest son is into MTB as well and lives behind Bottle lake forest.

[rjd]

I done the QS a few years ago (november I think) the climb out of ship cove is a pig but its a beautiful ride.

Bottle lake is quite tame then the hills are quite tough, theres little in between!

Plenty of great track up Nelson way.

[stic]

Only just seen this...

Brought a 2002 Specialized Rockhopper FSR in 2003 (wanted to get the gut down and maybe get fit...), same as this (including colour):





Paid $2600 for it brand new in 2003, and just made a lock for the rear suspension for up hill.

Also had a helmet (often not worn) that I painted matt black and a drink bottle that always contained rum and coke when we went for a wee ride...no coloured lycra to be seen....

Took it some real out of the way places (mostly in the ranges behind Waikanae and behind Levin (also trig)).

Fastest down hill was 132kph (while smoking ) on the roller coaster on trig, fell off a few times too...

[Jordan Moss]

I love my Mountain Biking. Have several bikes, and love riding all of them.

My current favourite is my 2012 Lapierre Zesty. Great all round bike that lets me pedal it up the hills, then throw it downhill again. Rides like my downhill bike too, only half the weight

Oh - and I am the current president of Mountain Bike NZ Also ex president of Wellington MTB Club.

[RPM]

Gee there's some interesting threads that get lost in the traffic here. Discovered mountainbiking about four years ago when I wanted something physical that I couyld do on days that it was too windy to go kayaking (which is a lot with HB westerly winds).
Started with a Diamondback hardtail as I didn't believe in suspension full stop for a pushbike back then. After that got taken in a Burg' I upgraded to a Trek Ex-7 120mm full suspension and never looked back. Ridden specialised at their demo days but really rate the suspension setup on the Trek, bearings in the linkages are bigger and less flex. One mate has a carbon stumpjumper hardtail, sweet up te mata peak rd but not much fun elsewhere to me. Glad I wasn't riding it when his carbon seatpost exploded... Another mate has remedy and a Scott Gambler downhill bike with about 230mm travel. Got to have a good play with that when I was house sitting for him, loved how you can just mow straight over huge rough stuff like its not there, had some big crashes when I got back on the trek after that.
Used to lock out the suspension on climbs but now i don't bother as its about the fitness when your climbing anyway. Highly recommend a dropper post as the best modification out there, not until you have one that you realise how much you can use it.
Done nearly 4000km on the trek and did Karapoti 50km a couple years ago, quite chuffed to have finished it even at a slow 5hr35mins that included a front brake pad change due to high wear from the mud.
If I win the lotto I'd like a carbon Remedy 9.9... and maybe a few others

[Phillip W]

One thing i thought when i started in to this MTB thing was it must be cheaper than buying guitars & amps...wrong lol.

[riley989]

Any recommendation on brake pads, still have the ones that came with my bike after nearly two years, they still have plenty on them but I've noticed a huge drop off in braking power. I don't do much full MTBing anymore, mostly trail and road commuting.

[RPM]

Any recommendation on brake pads, still have the ones that came with my bike after nearly two years, they still have plenty on them but I've noticed a huge drop off in braking power. I don't do much full MTBing anymore, mostly trail and road commuting.

Just go on Torpedo 7 and get something cheap and cheerfull that is the right size. Cant see what calipers you have but mine are basic Avid juicy threes and the pads are often on special for $8 (alligator) a pair.
Yours are likely contaminated with cleaning products. Put a 203mm disc on the front is a cheap upgrade too, just the disc and the spacer for the caliper is all it takes.

[riley989]

Cheers, think I've got 180mm's atm and Juicy Three's as well.

[Jordan Moss]

Just go on Torpedo 7 and get something cheap and cheerfull that is the right size. Cant see what calipers you have but mine are basic Avid juicy threes and the pads are often on special for $8 (alligator) a pair.
Yours are likely contaminated with cleaning products. Put a 203mm disc on the front is a cheap upgrade too, just the disc and the spacer for the caliper is all it takes.

Personally I would steer clear of Alligator pads. They are a much lower quality product, and wear out faster. I only buy genuine pads as the performance is night and day. Although if you are only taking it easy, they would probably suffice.

If there is plenty of material left on them, then as RPM suggested they are probably contaminated. A clean of the rotor and pads with IPA (Isopropyl Alcohol, not beer ) may give them a new lease on life.

[RPM]

Personally I would steer clear of Alligator pads. They are a much lower quality product, and wear out faster. I only buy genuine pads as the performance is night and day. Although if you are only taking it easy, they would probably suffice.

If there is plenty of material left on them, then as RPM suggested they are probably contaminated. A clean of the rotor and pads with IPA (Isopropyl Alcohol, not beer ) may give them a new lease on life.

I've used high end sintered metal and kevlar/carbon pads on motorcycles where repeatedly stopping from over 200km/h is a crucial aspect of the fun to injury ratio. But on the mtb I find the cheapo pads fine, have used fancy maguir? brakes on my mates stumpjumper and although its a nicer high quality feel the results are fine. With the 203mm disc the gator pads are still doing rolling stoppies and feel is good controlled chirping of the front tyre to lock up point. I'm usually more worried about front tyre traction long before the performance of the pads but thats all on advanced level cross country trails rather than full monty downhill stuff.
I hear what you are saying though, there is a difference at extreme levels but for the average joe the cheap gear does the job well.