Show off your Mountain Bike!!!

Thanks for that, I'm going to order that praxis bb adapter!
The bike is due for some major service, I've been beating the crap out of it!
Also need a new back tire, it's wore out!

 

I had about the same budget and ended up with a Norco Fluid 7.2, which I love, it's also my first FS bike. The price of the bike gave me room for pedals and a couple small upgrades. I came off a couple of online inexpensive 29'ers, one front suspension one rigid single speed that I still ride, but after riding a few 650b (27.5") bikes I was sold on that size. For reference I am 6'3".

No matter what you get, test ride as many bikes as you can and good luck!

 

I am not too familiar with terrain in eastern PA. I am guessing it is similar to northern VA, hilly with short punchy climbs and short descents, both smoothish and techy at times.

If I am close then I would look into the Trek fuel EX 29 and the Specialized camber 29. both are solid bikes with big sales going on right now. both have room to do some upgrades when stuff starts to break/wear out without feeling like it would be better to upgrade (although you might want to just cause haha).

the good thing about these bikes is that you wont feel like you have too much suspension when racing XC but can also go out in the mountains and take on long technical descents.

 

Stopped by the LBS today and they had a fuel ex7 29er in stock was a pretty sweet looking bike. I'm gonna try and get something to demo out here to get a feel for what I want. They told me a HT would do fine out here but if you wanna ride rough FS is the way to go.

 

I honestly love hardtail bikes. I have a singlespeed 29er that I used mostly to commute to class but also to ride at the trails in town. it is a beast considering it is full rigid. I would love a carbon 29er HT for my next bike but I also want my next bike to be able to handle everything I throw at it.

I love trek, my first HT, first FS and now my current bike are treks, and they are great bikes for the money. my next bike probably won't be a trek (I'm thinking Ibis, pivot or yeti) but it will most likely be in the same category, 110-130mm 29er. with a solid set of tires and solid brakes there isn't much you can't do and feel comfortable doing with those bikes

 

In case you folks are the type to have a large herd in the garage.


https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/bikepacking-touring-all-purpose-bike-builds-discussion.421767/

 

W/bags

 

Purchased a RockShox Recon air fork to replace my shit pogo suntour that came on my bike. Hoping the upgrade helps ride-ability like everyone says.

 

That was fast

 

I need to get one of these to replace my old busted fork on my beater bike. looks good bud!

 

You'll like that much better. I rented one in NM with a Suntour spring fork, it was terrible. Get the sag and rebound set where you like it and you are good to go. Typically more air pressure = more rebound damping, but everyone is unique. Don't listen to the folks that say that if you are not using all the travel you need to adjust it. Some trails you will use more, some less, but you really don't want it using all the travel on more tame stuff. You want it where it uses all the travel on the roughest stuff you can find and that should be your best setting for all trails. If you get it too soft it will handle funny and may bottom out when you least want it to.

 

sup

 

Crappy pic but it's a Trek Fuel EX7. After this was taken I switched to a 2x10 SRAM x9 crank with 22/36 gears and an X0 front derailleur and went tubeless. It's been a great bike. My wife also has one and loves it.

 

We got some dirt time in last weekend in St. George UTAH. Whe rode for 3 days. This was on the Margarita - Guacamole - Salt On The Rim, loop.
2013 Scott Spark 900 Premium (mine)
2013 Specialized Epic SWorks
2015 Santa Cruz Tallboy

 

How wide is everyones bars? Im 6'8" and wide shoulders and i run a 710. Just debating if i should go wider or not because of my wide stance.

 

I'm 5'11" and run 780mm since that's what my renthals come in and I love it. Also I'm fairly broad myself.

 

makes my 710 seem like childsplay lol

 

My first bike had 510mm haha!

 

It's really personal preference, but wider, to a point, is usually better. Since bar width will change your reach you have to consider your whole cockpit setup together, not only bar width. I'm 5'8" and riding 787mm bars with a 40mm stem.