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Hi All, i am after some advice, i am looking at getting back into mountain biking after a good 4 years away.
I haven't kept up with bikes for ages, and i don't know where to start its all changed so much.
My last mountain bike was a Marin mount vision 5.8, i want an all mountain bike, the only thing i have found out is 27.5 is the new best wheel size to get.
I am also shocked at the cost of bikes, WTF happened.
i usually prefer to build my own, my last bike , the frame was second hand, but mint.
Cheers ,, looking forward to the replies.
Mark.
Prepare to be bamboozled, there is another wheel size also.... 29er, tyre sizes have gone from full fat to semi fat to slim fat, rims have gotten wider, bottom brackets & headsets & axles now need a PhD to figure which you need. Enjoy.
4 years is nothing...I had a 15 year break and when I was looking to buy the guy in the shop asked what sort of gearing I said "I'd like Suntour XC Pro" 🙂
Bikes do seem to have got expensive but there's plenty of very good quality at lower prices too. These get very good reviews: https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/calibre-bossnut-v2-mountain-bike-p403001
Best thing to do is go and try some. You can still pick up great bargains if you want to build yourself and, as there's so much choice, I think it's a good way to do it (if you know what you like/want)
When you think that they were using 29ers in the Red Bull Hardline event, it suggests that is the 'go to' wheel size currently. I ride mostly XC and find my (no names mentioned) 100mm front and rear travel 29er very adept at most situations. I don't do big jumps or even little ones these days and it copes with everything I throw at it.
I haven’t ridden much in the last four or five years, but when I do, my 2004 model 26in wheel fs bike with 120mm fork and 5in travel rear suspension still does the trick. I’m sure my 2002 26er hardtail will also do the trick.
Friend of mine recently picked up a 26er Stumpy fs for well under £500 s/h
just goes to show you don’t have to have all mod cons