Just got into a new hobby/sport

Z71GUY · May 12, 2004

Its bad enough I have my other hobbys and sports to eat my time up.. well my fiance and I decided it would be good for us to get invovled in some mountain biking (fun and health reasons). Anyone else into this and have some advice for a couple that is starting out?

I just picked up a 2004 TREK 4500... absolutely love this bike!

endo · May 12, 2004

Nice looking bike. Trek makes a pretty good piece, especially in the affordable (sub $800) market. Probably want to raise that seat up a few inches. If you're going to take it off road, make sure the brakes are hooking up well at least half way through the lever travel (and not contacting rim when released). I also like to readjust the brake levers so they're at about 45 degress, far more comfortable that way (but this is a personal preference).

Just bought a new '03 Cannondale Jekyll 1000 last month for $1500 (1k off sticker). Been MTB'ing seriously myself for 15+ years.

It's a lot of fun, but the climbs can seem a bit ridiculously difficult at first, but after a few rides they'll get much easier. If you're new to shifting a 24/27 speed, try keeping it in the middle ring up front most of the time at first. Also, you'll want to avoid getting into "big/big" and "small/small" sprockets...both of those are very inefficent as the chain will be running at a large angle. Generally stay out of the outer 2-3 gears in back when in the inner ring up front, and stay out of the inner 2-3 gears in back on the outer ring in front.

Also not a bad idea to pick up a book on maintenance, as mountain bikes turn into giant pieces of s--- that are no fun at all if they're not maintained (and taking them to the bike shop sucks). "Zinn and the Art of Mountain Biking" is a fairly good one that explains how most everything works.

Z71GUY · May 13, 2004

Thanks for the info!

Import Hater · May 13, 2004

Yeah...that seat needs to come up. You are most efficient the straighter your legs are. That's why it feels like you have so much more power when you stand up and hammer on the pedals. So... Raise the seat up to the point of you are totally straight legged at the bottom of a pedal stroke. OK? Now lower it about about 3-4 inches for a MTB. That'll give you some room to rise off the seat to absorb shock when you need to or when you need to.

Lightweight tires and tubes are the very best modification you can do to it. And while you're doing that, slip some Spin Skins in there (if they still even make those).

Z71GUY · May 13, 2004

LOL, I already moved the seat up.....it slid down after I got back from the shop... didnt have the latch tightened the whole way.

Import Hater · May 13, 2004

Bar ends might be nice too. They give you an alternate hand position for long rides. They also give you somewhere to put your hands when you want to shift foward to keep the front wheel down on steep climbs. I used them for years. Then I switched to motocross style riser bars, which are also an alternative.

Batgirl · May 13, 2004

I'm sure you know this but I can never stress it enough. DON'T FORGET THE HELMETS!!!! I was out on my bike one day and I had stopped to rest for a few minutes. When I started off again, my chain broke. I went head first over the handle bars and landed on the top of my head. I got a bit of road rash on my shoulder and banged up my feet real bad. If I had not had my helmet I would have had a pretty bad head injury. Oh...and always check you chain. I guess there was a bit of rust on my chain that's why it broke. So now everytime I ride I put my helmet on and check my chain.

I think you and your fiance will have a great time together. Tim and I do. My son is starting to get into it too so it's starting to be a real family thing.

endo · May 13, 2004

Speaking of helmets, the other must have safety item is a good set of gloves. I once took a big digger 10 miles from the trailhead on Saddleback mountain, and I didn't have my gloves on (forgot one glove at home and didn't want to look like Michael Jackson). Anyway, I tore the skin off both my palms on the impact (little gravel rocks on a fire road), and was unable to ride any home because of it. My buddy rode down the hill and fetched help. Got to ride in a 4wd F-350 fire truck though, which was pretty cool...but sitting alone on the top of Saddleback mountain alone waiting for help and bleeding as it got dark wasn't the greatest experience.

Oh, and if you ever need replacement/upgrade parts, check out the reviews on mtbr.com. They have user ratings for every product out there.

chevy4x4trucks · May 13, 2004

Nice bike, a friend of mine just bought a very similar Trek.

My bike stays in the back of the avalanche all summer. I go riding every night if the weather permits.

I've got a 4 year old cannondale mountain bike.

Mountain biking is the best and you'll love the new ride

General Lee 01 · May 14, 2004

Yeah...that seat needs to come up. You are most efficient the straighter your legs are. That's why it feels like you have so much more power when you stand up and hammer on the pedals. So... Raise the seat up to the point of you are totally straight legged at the bottom of a pedal stroke. OK? Now lower it about about 3-4 inches for a MTB. That'll give you some room to rise off the seat to absorb shock when you need to or when you need to.

I agree to a certain point, but then I disagree (and so do the experts).

You don't want your legs to fully extened to the standing point when you're constantly pedaling, it's not good for the joints in your kneecaps. At the bottom of your "pedal-stroke", you want a slight bend in your knees, but not too much.

Bicycling is fun, but you'll find yourself losing some money from time to time if you don't take care of it.

Z71GUY · May 14, 2004

Bicycling is fun, but you'll find yourself losing some money from time to time if you don't take care of it.

Trust me, I already lost a good chunk of change when I told the guy at the bike shop "I'll take it"

All of my stuff is well taken care of.

antig24 · May 14, 2004

I also try to bike ride whenever I can. I normally ride every night as long as it is not raining or snowing out. In my town we have quite a few paved bike trails around. I normally ride for about 40 minutes, or 10 miles. How long do some of you guys ride at a time?

chevy4x4trucks · May 14, 2004

I also try to bike ride whenever I can. I normally ride every night as long as it is not raining or snowing out. In my town we have quite a few paved bike trails around. I normally ride for about 40 minutes, or 10 miles. How long do some of you guys ride at a time?

I try to go every day when the weather permits. The average bike ride for me is about 15 miles (about an hour, hour and a half) and if I'm riding with one of my friends we'll normally do about 20 miles or more.

Import Hater · May 15, 2004

You don't want your legs to fully extened to the standing point when you're constantly pedaling, it's not good for the joints in your kneecaps. At the bottom of your "pedal-stroke", you want a slight bend in your knees, but not too much.

Oh I know. That's why I said to lower it a 3-4 inches from the point of being straight legged. And more like 1-2 inches lower from straight legged on a road bike. But yes, there is still some bend at the knee. I tried it long ago going totally straight legged, and d**n does it feel awkward.

The SPEEDY · May 15, 2004

Nice bike. My 2001 Treck 4900 has been real good to me so far. Like said above stay off the rear inner gear when on the outer gears up front. Thats how I bent 2 of the inner gears on mine. I replaced it and with a stronger set and haven't had any problems, but I learned that lesson.