How things have changed Need help
05-02-18, 01:43 PM
#1
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How things have changed Need help
Hello everyone I hope I have posted this in the right forum. . I am 53 yrs a little out of shape (25lbs) and would like to start up biking I haven't been on a bike in EONS, I remember when our bodies were the suspensions . Today's bikes makes it so confusing . So my question is I am torn between two bike styles a MTB or a Gravel bike with flat bar handles I have tried both flat bar and drop bar and the Flat bar is much better on my back. . So what I think I have learned so far is I should get a MTB and then put a rigid fork on it and order 700x40c extra wheelset then I would have the best of both worlds.
So my Question what do you think or recommend? my biking will be mostly paved trails but I want to be able to do some easy dirt trails mainly around Lake Tahoe area and we have Forestry logging roads
My budget is $700 Bikes I am looking at is
Motobecane Fantom29 trail
OR
Gravity29point 2
So my Question what do you think or recommend? my biking will be mostly paved trails but I want to be able to do some easy dirt trails mainly around Lake Tahoe area and we have Forestry logging roads
My budget is $700 Bikes I am looking at is
Motobecane Fantom29 trail
OR
Gravity29point 2
05-02-18, 05:11 PM
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I don't do off-road stuff, so I'm not much help on which to buy. However, I do know that one purpose of your first bike is to figure out what you need for your second. Also, the primary purpose of your first bike is to get you out there, regardless of what the bike is. Don't overthink the decision. Decide, buy, then ride it, over and over again. And don't stop.
05-02-18, 06:29 PM
#3
Newbie
I don't do off-road stuff, so I'm not much help on which to buy. However, I do know that one purpose of your first bike is to figure out what you need for your second. Also, the primary purpose of your first bike is to get you out there, regardless of what the bike is. Don't overthink the decision. Decide, buy, then ride it, over and over again. And don't stop.
05-03-18, 10:07 AM
#4
Recusant Iconoclast
Agree as well. The first few rides might be tough as your body adjusts so maybe take it easy, but as your cardio improve and your muscles get stronger, you'll start to drop the weight soon enough. Let us know which one you got, with pics!
05-03-18, 10:41 AM
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Either bike will do on trails and gravel. Forget about the extra wheelset and changing the fork.
Ride the bike for awhile and then you will know what to buy next.
Ride the bike for awhile and then you will know what to buy next.
05-03-18, 10:45 AM
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I advise against parts swapping & extra wheelset. Pretty much every set up is available off the shelf these days,
but with disc brakes & thru axles even wheel swapping is not simple. The one bike is cyclocross- maybe there's a flat bar option, but definitely don't bother swapping from drop bar to flat bar yourself.
I'd get the mountain bike. If you take to riding, you'll be ready to upgrade before too long, & if you gravitate to going faster then you can add a road or hybrid bike.
If you gravitate to off road, then you'll be wanting an upgraded mtn bike & the parts swapping $ will be better spent there.
but with disc brakes & thru axles even wheel swapping is not simple. The one bike is cyclocross- maybe there's a flat bar option, but definitely don't bother swapping from drop bar to flat bar yourself.
I'd get the mountain bike. If you take to riding, you'll be ready to upgrade before too long, & if you gravitate to going faster then you can add a road or hybrid bike.
If you gravitate to off road, then you'll be wanting an upgraded mtn bike & the parts swapping $ will be better spent there.
05-03-18, 10:58 AM
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First off ... if you are 53 years old and only weigh 25 pounds, you definitely want to do weight-lifting to build some muscle.
otherwise ... consider buying something cheap to start with just to try cycling.
Not that i don't want to to be buying you nearly new, very expensive, barley ridden bike from you fro a quarter of its value two seasons from now ... but you don't want to be the guy who ends up on the selling end of that deal.
otherwise ... consider buying something cheap to start with just to try cycling.
Not that i don't want to to be buying you nearly new, very expensive, barley ridden bike from you fro a quarter of its value two seasons from now ... but you don't want to be the guy who ends up on the selling end of that deal.
05-03-18, 12:50 PM
#8
Senior Member
Similar to you, I started at 60 . Got a entry level mtn bike .
Torker
Fiund out I liked to
Ride mostly roads but some trails.
1st upgrade was better tires for what I was doing.
Now have a flatbar disc hybrid with 700x 35
with a few thousand miles , 90% on pavement
+1
get what fits you now & the one you want
You'll evolve as a rider & be able to match a bike that fits your style
!!!! Have fun !!!
Torker
Fiund out I liked to
Ride mostly roads but some trails.
1st upgrade was better tires for what I was doing.
Now have a flatbar disc hybrid with 700x 35
with a few thousand miles , 90% on pavement
+1
get what fits you now & the one you want
You'll evolve as a rider & be able to match a bike that fits your style
!!!! Have fun !!!
Last edited by bogydave; 05-03-18 at 04:31 PM.
05-04-18, 12:56 PM
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I vote for a 29er with Compass brand allroad file-tread tires
05-09-18, 08:59 PM
#10
The Left Coast, USA
I'll just add, make the weight a determining factor. I'd ridden around Tahoe, the altitude and those hills can really challenge an MTB rider, and an extra 5 or 10 pounds on the bike will be damn noticeable. Keep it simple, keep it light.
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There is more to life than simply increasing its speed. - Gandhi
There is more to life than simply increasing its speed. - Gandhi
05-10-18, 09:59 AM
#11
Sr Member on Sr bikes
Just a suggestion...maybe you can do a rental or two of different styles of bikes to see which you prefer as your first bike.
Dan
05-10-18, 11:42 AM
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First bike in eons? I would use a bike shop, not an online dealer. You need a couple of test rides - minimum - to make an informed choice.
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