Getting started mountain biking??

Hey Im hoping to get riding soon. I pulled my old wal mart special out of storage and aired it up and took off. Its crap lol. The gears wont change and the brakes...well nonexistent. I'd take it to the bike shop and fix it but hell it'd cost more than a new Next Bike would cost im sure. What do I need to look for and what should I know? I will be riding trails and also some on the road.

 

Go to a good bike shop. They should be able to measure you for the right size frame. Depending on the trails go either full suspension or hard tail. I got my bike for 300 at Dick's with a 3 yr warranty. Still rides good even though I have had to replace somethings over the three years I have had it. I know fox and Rock Shocks are good. Shimano makes some decent shifters.

 

go for a quality hard tail. Like a specialized/trek/giant/etc.

 

Yes, Bike shop! Not wally mart!
$600 at the local bike shop. free tuneups, No hassle about problems.
Most decent bike shops have something for everyone.


Now i know a few shops that flat out refuse to work on wally mart specials.

 

Oh believe me I didn't buy it. It was a christmas gift from when I was like 14. I plan on spending between 300-400. Will that get me a decent bike to start with. There arent many trails here in W Tenn.

 

You could also check out craigs list for a used bike. You could get a decent one in that price range.

 

Good?
http://memphis.craigslist.org/bik/1887299153.html

 

And another
http://memphis.craigslist.org/bik/1887751704.html

 

First post was deleted.
this bike is a little older. For $300 used, you should be able to find something with front suspension.

 

id go 29er with a decent front suspension on kendas no real use for rear susp unless you ride it really hard when im in colorado i still prefer hard tail on certain trails

 

i got a 2009 Specialized Hardrock mountain bike ($350)this past February and put 260 miles on it since. it was between a Cannondale, Trek or Specialized. imo Dont ever go with a box store bike and if you research correctly you will see most people on craigslist sell their bike for pretty close to the price of a new bike. the bike store where i got mine will service my bike for the full first year and i get a discount on any thing i buy from here on out. you sould be able to get a good bike for the amount you are looking to spend

 

Yeah, box store is a no no. No dicks, no sports authority. Bike shops all the way!
Before I bought that trek 4 series, i did but (against my better judgment) a K2 bike from sports authority.. I returned it a week later. the disk brakes did not work at all! It was on sale for half the price it normally sells for.

Just go check out a local bike store, you might be surprised what they carry.

 

I agree with the decent front fork idea, but I would never recommend somebody either a 26" mountain bike or 29" bike that is all personal preference and something he needs to decide for himself. Tires greatly depend on the terrain what works well for you in Colorado may not work well for him in Tennessee.