I want to get back into mountain biking...

[Rontele]

It has been about four years since I was real into mountain biking. A very hard crash which left me unconscious with a serious concussion and biting through my tongue made me reevaluate everything. I used to have a sweet Ellsworth ISIS which I loved, but obviously sold when I stopped riding...

The point of this useless post is that I need a new bike. I don't want to shell out TONS of $$$ in case I decide this venture back to mountain biking is futile, nor do I just want to pick a bike off the rack and determine in a month that it sucks balls. I am thinking a stock Santa Cruz Heckler. I am big 6'3 220 and would want something with about 4-5 inches in travel, but not a Freeride bike. I am not jumping or doing tricks, just trail riding in Colorado. Any other suggestions are appreciated.

Also any online dealers or dealers in the Denver area that the mags can suggest is appreciated.

[homerjay]

Also any online dealers or dealers in the Denver area that the mags can suggest is appreciated.

http://www.redstonecyclery.com in Lyons. Tell him Jeff sent you.

I'm getting one of these: http://www.turnerbikes.com/CompleteFlux.html

[Rontele]

http://www.redstonecyclery.com in Lyons. Tell him Jeff sent you.

I'm getting one of these: http://www.turnerbikes.com/CompleteFlux.html

My dad has a real old Turner Burner sitting around. I remember long ago they did a trade in program for frames, I should inquire if they still do so...

I guess I should look at a four-bar too. Don't they track better and don't bob as much as a single pivot? You have to excuse my jongness but it has been A WHILE...

[homerjay]

My dad has a real old Turner Burner sitting around. I remember long ago they did a trade in program for frames, I should inquire if they still do so...

I guess I should look at a four-bar too. Don't they track better and don't bob as much as a single pivot? You have to excuse my jongness but it has been A WHILE...

It's my first FS bike ever...it was between that an a VPP suspension. Honestly, I don't know a fucking thing about suspension design.

Seriously, not to spam too much, but talk to Dave in Lyons...he's just starting out, he'll beat most any price on stuff.

[kidwoo]

My dad has a real old Turner Burner sitting around. I remember long ago they did a trade in program for frames, I should inquire if they still do so...

I guess I should look at a four-bar too. Don't they track better and don't bob as much as a single pivot? You have to excuse my jongness but it has been A WHILE...

Don't get caught up too much in suspension design marketing poo........especially the FSR stuff. Proper fit and what feels right underneath you is vastly more important. Most higher end/bigger companies make bikes that ride very well these days regardless of how they choose to make the rear wheel move.

I'm not a colorado local but I've bought stuff from mojowheels in the past when I've been in town and actually mail ordered a frame from them two years ago. Good peeps.


That said.........an old turner burner is really a good bike. Easily on par with today's standards. I've give that one a try first. Might save you some money.

[Rontele]

Don't get caught up too much in suspension design marketing poo........especially the FSR stuff. Proper fit and what feels right underneath you is vastly more important. Most higher end/bigger companies make bikes that ride very well these days regardless of how they choose to make the rear wheel move.

I'm not a colorado local but I've bought stuff from mojowheels in the past when I've been in town and actually mail ordered a frame from them two years ago. Good peeps.


That said.........an old turner burner is really a good bike. Easily on par with today's standards. I've give that one a try first. Might save you some money.

The only problem is that I insist on disc brakes and the rear triangle is not mounted for any...is there a kit that you can add onto it?

[cowdog]

http://www.redstonecyclery.com in Lyons. Tell him Jeff sent you.

I'm getting one of these: http://www.turnerbikes.com/CompleteFlux.html

I have a flux, and it is a great bike. I can't say enough about Dave Turner and his bikes.

I'll also second the recommendation to talk with Dave at www.restonecyclery.com. My wife knows him from old Schwinn days, and he's been very helpful, although I have not yet bought anything from him. He carries Intense now, and between Turner and Intense bikes, it would be hard to go wrong.

BTW, rontele, burner is a very good bike. If the frame has disc mounts on the rear triangle, you can add disc brakes. If not, nope.

[Rontele]

I have a flux, and it is a great bike. I can't say enough about Dave Turner and his bikes.

I'll also second the recommendation to talk with Dave at www.restonecyclery.com. My wife knows him from old Schwinn days, and he's been very helpful, although I have not yet bought anything from him. He carries Intense now, and between Turner and Intense bikes, it would be hard to go wrong.

BTW, rontele, burner is a very good bike. If the frame has disc mounts on the rear triangle, you can add disc brakes. If not, nope.

It doesn't have mounts It is from 1998 or 1999 or even earlier than that...

[kidwoo]

The only problem is that I insist on disc brakes and the rear triangle is not mounted for any...is there a kit that you can add onto it?

Oh it's THAT old of a burner.......


This guy makes some aftermarket mounts. Forgive him the website....it's awful but he does make some solid bits.

www.therapycomponents.com/conversion.htm

To be honest, turner's xc bikes haven't changed all that much.....don't take this as gospel but you MIGHT be able to stick a new seatstay on that frame from one of the newer models (called a Flux now for what it's worth). Turner is a great company and should work with you if it's doable. It might even be the same price as getting the conversion kit I linked to.

ebay and mtbr.com are also good souces for used completes.

[lph]

I doubt you are considering it, but be aware that a bike like the Flux is built for lighter riders and at your weight you would destroy it. ( i think the weight limit on the frame is like 165 lbs or was last year).

I wouldn't get too caught up in suspension design either, except to say, that having ridden hundreds of miles on Single pivot, VPP and four bar, I would stay away from single pivot. but, i know there are others on this site who can ride circles around me and would disagree.

[homerjay]

I doubt you are considering it, but be aware that a bike like the Flux is built for lighter riders and at your weight you would destroy it. ( i think the weight limit on the frame is like 165 lbs or was last year).

You're thinking of the Nitrous, the uber-light XC race bike. Flux has no weight limit.

[SKISC]

I just started riding again myself. Raced Bmx 15 years and had several bad falls, broke bones, and concussions. I bought a Giant Reign 1 and I like it OK. It is the first bike that I have bought of the shelf. My last mtb I built a Specialized S-Works hardtail and I loved that bike. The Giant is not as agressive as Specialized but right now I am not riding vey aggressive.

Got to Several shops and see if they have test ride bikes. I know Specialized has a program like that where you can take a bike to the trails for a day or two. If they don't just ride a few around the parking lot and start narroeing it down.

Sorry for rambling so much, I just like talking about bikes as much as I do skiing.

[kidwoo]

You're thinking of the Nitrous, the uber-light XC race bike. Flux has no weight limit.

yup yup

654

[cowdog]

Rontele, the Turner 5-spot could be a really great option for you. It is a more substantial bike than the flux but doesn't lose much at all for XC riding. Redstone is selling a demo large 5-spot (check the website) that might work for you.

Personally, I love my flux, but my next bike will have more travel (6+). I'm mostly an XC and aggressive trail rider, but with some of the bigger travel bikes I don't think I would lose anything for my needs. Lately I've been looking at the Intense 6.6, SC Nomad, or Turner 6-pack. The flux does a lot very, very well and is a rocket, but there is something appealing about the point and shoot approach to technical sections and drops versus the XC sqiggle/wiggle line choice is everything stye of riding on a more true XC bike.

[Rontele]

cowdog, thanks for the heads up on the 5-spot. That may be the perfect bike price and all...

email has been sent to Dave at Redstone.

Edit to add that the Large may be too small

[lph]

You're thinking of the Nitrous, the uber-light XC race bike. Flux has no weight limit.

D'oh! My bad.

Sorry for the misinformation.

[bagtagley]

I wouldn't get too caught up in suspension design either, except to say, that having ridden hundreds of miles on Single pivot, VPP and four bar, I would stay away from single pivot. but, i know there are others on this site who can ride circles around me and would disagree.

I can't ride circles around you, but I definitely disagree.

With "platform" shocks, bob really isn't an issue. Pretty much all rear suspension designs suffer from some level of brake jack/squat. SPs certainly more so than others, but you just adapt your style. On the plus side, they're simple, low maintenance and durable.

[CantDog]

Redstone is a great shop. I've got to throw another recommendation out there as well:

Check out Blue Sky Bicycles in Longmont. This past summer I did a ride from boulder to steamboat and stopped in the shop to get some water after leaving boulder. They folks working there were super friendly, helped me figure out some better roads to take, give my bike a quick tune up, and gave me a bunch of energy bars. All the asked in return is I stopped by on my ride home and say hello.

If I was still in colorado, I would either be working there, or giving them all my business. Probably one of my best bike shop experiences.

http://www.blueskycyclesonline.com/

The shop is in a little strip mall by the longmont airport/amgen, but its a neat little space, really condusive to sitting around and chatting with mechanics while they do work for you.

It probably will not get you anywhere, but if you stop by, tell them Zack, the kid who rode to steamboat and stopped in over july, says hello.

[Benny Profane]

Hey Cant, which roads did you take for that ride? Did you go through Rocky National Park?

[lph]

With "platform" shocks, bob really isn't an issue. Pretty much all rear suspension designs suffer from some level of brake jack/squat. SPs certainly more so than others, but you just adapt your style. On the plus side, they're simple, low maintenance and durable.

actually i never thought bob was a problem. i loved climbing on the single pivot. it was kind of cool how dynamic it made me on technical climbs. with VPP i just kind of sit there and it tracks over smaller features without me getting off the saddle.

the problem i had was some degree of brake jack/squat, but even that didn't bother me too much.

it was the tracking. I don't how to put it, but it felt like on the Single pivots i rode that there was sort of a 'bucking' sensation on the ride down. I don't think it was the shock as I tried numerous different settings. I actually thought it was just me until I talked to others who had the same feeling. maybe it stems from brake jack/squat. I really have no idea what I am talking about, and really it comes down to personal preference I guess.

I think alot of it has to do with the spring, and the shock settings, more so than the suspension.

[CantDog]

Hey Cant, which roads did you take for that ride? Did you go through Rocky National Park?

Actually going out I tried to avoid the huge mountain passes, the only cassette I had was an 11-21. not really ideal touring gearing.

I went north from boulder, up behind ft collins up stove praire road, and then up pooder canyon to Walden, and then across Rabbit Ears pass to Steamboat.

It was a fantastic ride, although next time I would not use a backpack, not use tubulars, use a 12-27, and hit steeper mountain roads.

[rideit]

Yet another, seriously check out wheatridge cycles in....wheatridge.
Anthony Sloan is the MAN there, they do Yeti, Specialized, Trek, Titus, many others.
Tell anthony 'rideit' sent ya!
http://ridewrc.com/index.cfm

[bagtagley]

actually i never thought bob was a problem.

sorry, that second paragraph was directed at RonTele's question about four-bar vs. single pivot...I should have qualified that.

[Rontele]

I think I am down to finding a used XL 5 spot or possibly going with a new Heckler....

I would look at the Nomad, but I think the rear travel is a little overkill.

[ColMan]

You can't go wrong with the 5-Spot. I demoed several bikes last season and ended up buying the Spot. Killer ride. Went through Dave at Redstone as well (another recommendation). I'm a big fan of supporting small shops with kick ass customer service.