Advice needed plse-bike for newbie

[dlgh]

hi ladies, hope you can help. After a few years of road & tri i want to go play in the dirt, nothing scary, just ride around the tracks a bit & have some fun. I have about a $1000 to spend, have been looking at second hand but getting impatient now, just want to go buy it and get out there. Am hoping for a few general suggestions for what to look out for and what to avoid. :confused: Also if there's anyone out there close to my size (167cm, 65kg) who can recommend something specific, that would be awesome. Many thanks! :D

[Bethany]

hey

i ride a giant thermo, comes in just under your budget and goes well.

Hit up the Giant website and it tells all the specifics.

For dirt trails and a bit of fun, i think its ace

[Lizardskin]

Howdy

ok so first things first:
are you after a hard tail or duallie? I would suggest that if you are looking around the $1000 mark you will be better off getting a hard tail.

I think you will be better off getting something new. 2nd hand is good if you know who the last owner was, but bikes are getting pretty cheap now with decent parts so go new! :)

I would go have a look at some brands like Trek, Kona, Mongoose, Scott, Avanti, Norco that do the whole range of top, middle and basic quality/price. Then see what tickles your fancy. :p Oh yeah and Giant like Bethany said.

You can probably pick something up fairly cheap at this time of year that is an 06 model as they would be clearing them out to make way for the 07 stock.

Good luck!:) :)

Trek (http://www.trekbikes.com.au/)

Kona (http://www.konaworld.com/index.cfm)

Mongoose (http://www.mongoosebikes.com.au/)

Scott (http://www.scottusa.com/global/bike/)

Avanti (http://www.avantibikes.com/home/home.aspx)

Norco (http://www.norco.com/index2.php)

[dlgh]

for ur replies. yeah i was thinking new hardtail, duallies are just out of my price range & i know so little that used would be a disaster.:o
do u think a women's frame is worth chasing? a few people have said i should but there seem to be very few out there so it limits choice. cheers

[yakinAway]

I have a womens specific trek 6700wsd picked it up cheaper than chips in the UK and reckon it was worth the hunt... the top tube is shorter feels better than the standard one... does not get ridden much now as I have a dualie and a DH bike too but reckon going womens specific in my hardtail was a great investment

a lot of the girls here in Dunedin NZ ride the giants n rate them.. never had a ride so cant really comment but it's best to try them out first n then decide

all he best with the bike hunt

[Bethany]

oh yeah my Giant is a Womans specific one...

[giles666]

Beth's thermo is a sweet little bike if you can stand all the pink.

Giant are pretty much un-beatable in the value stakes. Their buying power means you get better kit that you would on a similarly priced bike from another brand.

Go the giant.

Cheers

G.

[Bethany]

Hey!!!! At least its not purple!

[Dozer]

Sorry to intrude girls (pretend I'm using my girly voice for now), I highly recommend this little number http://www2.giant-bicycles.com/en-AU/bikes/mountain/169/22639/ I use one as my commuter and my XC bike. It is awesome value for $1000, it has a lockout fork, hydraulic disc brakes, Sram X7....great value! For what it is worth, AMB magazine gave it ten out of ten in a recent issue.
The bike is great and it is bloody cheap!:D

[dlgh]

for all your suggestions. seems like you're a mob of giant lovers????;)

dozer thanx for your thoughts-wondering what you're doing lurking in the girls forum......................

i have to admit i'm very torn as i have a friend (whose advice i value) who's been into mtb for 15+ years and he's nudging me towards a small used duallie like a santa cruz bullit or norco fluid, saying they're better quality frames & better spec'd. as a girl shopper and a newbie to mtb my leaning is towards safe, new & under warranty. ho hum. buying frocks is much easier.:p

[Drizz]

i have to admit i'm very torn as i have a friend (whose advice i value) who's been into mtb for 15+ years and he's nudging me towards a small used duallie like a santa cruz bullit or norco fluid, saying they're better quality frames & better spec'd. as a girl shopper and a newbie to mtb my leaning is towards safe, new & under warranty. ho hum. buying frocks is much easier.:p

Your friend is right, top end bikes tended to shred alot of value once they are "ridden", but as a rule of thumb used bike are best value in hands of riders that are experience at fixing bikes. Some of those used Duallies might needed a services on their bearings and pivot service and might not be in the best of shape if their owners skim on services.

IMO for a SC bullit or norco fluid to be drop to $1000 its not going to be "mint", you might be buying someone else's problems.

Get a giant and upgrade would be my suggestion, and as new parts wear-die-upgraded, you learn more about bikes before you know it you will be sinking $5000 into a Giant Glory.:p ;)

My 2 cents. And I will get out of the ladies forum now.

[dlgh]

yeah i think that's about where i'm at. makes the most sense to me. plus i can go to the shop tomoro and ride out on it. yee hah!:D

[Bethany]

haha tell us how it goes!

[yakinAway]

yeah a hardtail is the go for the first bike I reckon....


I started out on an NZ $700 bike and now have a stable of 3 bikes, a DH rig, a santa cruz bullit (as suggested by your mate) and a hardtail...

I love having a dualie such as the bullit but know that starting on a hardtail was a good move as you learn how to ride and use your legs rather than the suspession. Also for aust $1000 you'd be lucky to find a bullit or simular without a major rebuild being necessary....

anywyas let us know what you get... the giant thermo's look mint one of the girls race one at the weekend