Need some help picking a bike...

**Gripen** · 03-26-2008, 04:55 PM

So I have been out of biking for over three years due to living abroad every summer for school/work. This is the first summer I will have in Canada since 2004 and am looking forward to getting some riding in.

I need some help picking out a bike. Last bike I rode was a 2003 Giant AC1. I loved that bike so much and am looking for something similar, i.e can be ridden up hill occasionally, can still do fun trail rides, decent for lift served stuff, full suspension (<-- not an absolute must, LOVE my little brothers Transition Vagrant). Also looking for around $1500 or so, used is also just fine.

Anyone got some suggestions where to start?

**shmoesmith** · 03-26-2008, 08:14 PM

what you want is covered by a HUGE range of bikes. Lift served means different things to different people..so does uphill ocassionally. Are you going to be going off drops larger than 2feet? rock gardens? mostly smooth stuff with techy sections? what percentage of the time are you going to be going uphill? how much pedaling do you actually plan on doing?

**Gripen** · 03-26-2008, 08:45 PM

Ok, so I guess I need to narrow things down a bit more. I will be riding maybe 30-40% here in Golden at Kicking Horse, but will be spending significant time in Calgary and would still like to be able to do some trail rides outside of town. Drops bigger then 2 feet? For sure, but nothing too huge. I am pretty hard on equipment as well, so I think I should take that into consideration.

So I guess if I had to break it down 35-40% lift served fun i.e built features and fast stuff (Kicking Horse and COP). The rest would be riding singletrack either for the ride or to fish. Something beefy that can take abuse but a good trail bike at times as well.
Sorry I am such a JONG about bike shit, been out of the loop for so long.

**shmoesmith** · 03-26-2008, 09:34 PM

sounds like a freeride bike would be right up your alley. I love my Yeti AS-X. I also like the Transition Dirtbag and the Santa Cruz Nomad. One of the maggots was offering some fucking killer deals on the Specialized S-works Enduro, which would also fit the ticket. Are you a big guy where you need a beefier frame, or will something lighter work for you?

**Gripen** · 03-26-2008, 10:46 PM

Like this one?
http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...d.php?t=115387

By the way, thanks for the help!!

**shmoesmith** · 03-27-2008, 12:12 AM

Originally Posted by Gripen

Like this one?
http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...d.php?t=115387

By the way, thanks for the help!!

the AS-X in the link ^^ is nice. absolutely LOVE mine...like FUCKING LOVE it. I really think that unless it is a really big uphill trail, the AS-X is perfect for slaying everything. I've done everything from big hucks, full on downhill racing to 30mile XC rides on mine. I think it is truly a do-all bike.