returning after 12 years.. not sure what to get.

Chamelion

Chamelion

Likes Dirt
Hi all,


Back in 2008 I bought a Giant Alias, it had rockshox dart 2, hayes sole and x7s... upgraded the forks and brakes along the way, but the rest stayed the same and was fantastic. Did everything I asked of it.

Last time I rode was the kooralbyn 12 hour in around 2010, which I stupidly did on a chest infection. It really ruined me and took a long time to recover, which by that time I'd lost the passion for riding and put on a bunch of weight.

Fast forward to now and I'm recovering from testicular cancer and a round of chemo... I'm over being unhealthy and unfit, I want to get fit and healthy again, so I've been looking at bikes and what I've found is at that same price point where I purchased back in the day you now get noname forks, acera rear ders, only one or two chainrings as opposed to the 3 that I remember.... it's confusing as to why the componentry seems to have gotten worse for the same price point. Granted I see that the current SRAM X4 rear mechs look about identical to the X7s I had back in the day.

Anyway, I digress... onto the real point of this post.

I'll be using my bike commuting to the train, then the train to work, which is only about 2km in total, though I may ride to further train stations to increase my fitness. I'll be doing casual footpath rides with my wife too.... but my son and I have been talking and we are both keen to hit the trails too. So I'm just not so certain what I should be looking at.
I don't mind buying second hand to get a better bike for my money, which sits at a maxmimum of $1500.


I'm 178cm, 108kg (not for long!). I have slightly shorter than normal legs for my height and due to having 6E width feet I cannot, unfortunately, consider clipless pedals because none of the shoes will fit me. :(

Should I go for another hard tail? Should I go dual suspension? Is it OK to go with a 10 year old bike thats been well looked after so I can get something that might be nicer? Whats with the current fad of single chain rings and huuuge cassettes? Should I go a 29er or a 27.5? I'm really confused, to be honest.

Thanks in advance.

Matt.
 
fjohn860

fjohn860

Alice in diaperland
In the years since you last rode bikes (and parts) have generally gotten more expensive. In recent times mostly due to freight costs and inventory shortages.

The 1x front chain ring "fad" isn't going to fade away, the huge cassettes allow for really wide range ratios and a simpler and lighter drive train.

Frame geometry has come a long way too, steeper seat tubes (and dropper seatposts) for better climbing characteristics and slacker headtube angles for better descending, with even XC bikes rocking previously unheard-of headtube angles.

$1500 will get you an entry level hardtail these days, but would definitely get you something second hand (a few years old) with higher end components.

A modern hardtail would be a good start and definitely trail worthy for those few excursions to the trails with your son.

Although, there are some much more knowledgeable folks on here that will probably be able to help you better than I.
 
H

Halo1

Likes Bikes and Dirt
Welcome back. Hit the casino with your bike budget and if you are in luck you can go straight to an e bike :)
if you want to play it safer then normal bikes are still fun.
Wheel size really comes down to personal preference. My 29er feels like it is faster then my 26er but it is really not. I still prefer the 29er wheel size.

Bike prices went stupid in covid times. Value for money can still be had with Shimano 10 speed.
1 x (Single ring) drive trains are the normal now and has pushed up the prices of cassettes due to bigger rings. They pretty much do the same job with less bits on the bars.

Dropper post are a must now and you will want one once you have ridden wit one.

I would go for a 29er HT with 130 to 140mm fork as a bit of an all rounder bike. A Duel suspension is more fun on dirt however it will push the budget up.
I still ride a 10’year old steel Hard tail to work and on the trails as a second bike.
 
The Duckmeister

The Duckmeister

Has a juicy midrange
Ride what you have. The trend toward single front rings (1x) is primarily mucketing-driven because a certain American component brand could never quite sort out front shifting.... That same brand's X4 rear derailleurs may look similar to the higher-grade X7, but they are considerably worse in build quality. Avoid at all cost!
 
Dales Cannon

Dales Cannon

lightbrain about 4pm
Staff member
Ditto above. Hardtail in any of 26, 27.5 or 29er. Age is not important if the gear is in good condition. 3x9, 2x10, 1x11 will all do what you want. Cannot see a dropper being much use yet. I don't have a dropper on the hardtail I use to ride basic stuff, absolutely no need but I do have them on the fatbike and dually.

Watch older first generation 29ers in my opinion because frame geometry wasn't well thought out and to me the head angle was steep to try and make them playful and responsive and the front may wash out. That was my experience anyway.

Main thing is get as good running gear as you can even if the frame is a bit sad, talking aluminium rather than carbon or titanium.

Keep us posted.
 
Chamelion

Chamelion

Likes Dirt
Cheers lads.. bit of a shame prices went through the roof but oh well.

Here are a couple I have my eye on

www.gumtree.com.au

NS Bikes Surge EVO | Men's Bicycles | Gumtree Australia Brisbane South West - Annerley | 1300669001

For sale is my current model NS Bikes Surge Evo Frame is claimed as being a large, but is actually a medium as per geo and specs ..., 1300669001
www.gumtree.com.au www.gumtree.com.au

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2017 Norco Sight a7.2

Had this bike for a couple years now and has never let me down. Everything works as it should, even still has the factory clear protectant stickers 2017 Norco Sight a7.2 medium frame - Rockshox...
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Giant Trance 2

2016 Trance 2 27.5 Some mods from original XT front 1x11 34 x 11-46 Renthal Fat Bar Dropper post Perfect condition still on original tyres Medium frame size I’m 171cm fits perfectly. Not used enough
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2020 Specilized Rockhopper Elite 27.5

Great condition Specialized rockhopper elite Components Rockshox Judy silver tk, fully serviced Shimano deore 1x10 group set Shimano br-mt 200 2 piston hydraulic brakes ks rage 150mm dropper...
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pink poodle

pink poodle

気が狂っている男
Well done on beating off the big C. Good luck with the rest of the journey.





Ride what you have for commuting. Ride it til it dies. No point riding a nice new bike for some arsehole to steal it from you. Then save up a little more and get yourself something sexy for trail riding that gives you a raging bike boner.
 
nzhumpy

nzhumpy

Googlemeister who likes bikes and scandal
Chamelion said:
Hi all,




I'll be using my bike commuting to the train, then the train to work, which is only about 2km in total, though I may ride to further train stations to increase my fitness. I'll be doing casual footpath rides with my wife too.... but my son and I have been talking and we are both keen to hit the trails too. So I'm just not so certain what I should be looking at.
I don't mind buying second hand to get a better bike for my money, which sits at a maxmimum of $1500.
Click to expand...
Are you leaving your bike at the train station? if yes, reduce your budget to $100 and buy a beater...it'll suck to ride but will suck less than returning to the station after work and finding you're walking home because some deadbeat has decided he needs your bike more than you do, plus you'll still have $1400 to buy a sweet hardtail to ride with the Mrs and Jr.
 
Chamelion

Chamelion

Likes Dirt
Nah bike will be stored at work in the 'bike shed'... im a postie. :)

I've been reading that a full suspension bike might be better for people with less than fantastic knees.. which is most certainly a consideration.

I don't have any bikes at the moment. My old giant was donated away long ago.
 
B

BurnieM

Likes Dirt
A HT sounds like a good option in either 29 or 27.5.
1x10, 1x11 or 1x12 are pretty standard. Hydraulic brakes with 160mm+ rotors are standard and even 4 pot calipers are becoming reasonably priced.
At $1500 you are not going to get the best of anything but should still be able to buy something reasonable.

Regardless, after a year you are either going to get rid of it or know what you really want and buy something else.
I suspect that this second bike will be full sus and nowhere near $1500 (new or second hand).
 
Last edited:
Labcanary

Labcanary

One potato, two potato, click
Reflecting what others have said, something a little older will get you more bang for buck if you're happy to buy second hand.

In the time it took for me to slowly type that it looks like you fell down the rabbit hole.
Screenshot_20220904-233040.png


You've found some good options there. If you are able to check any of those bikes out and go for a test ride, that would be the best way to determine fit and comfort.
You can always upgrade things later. Or sooner. It'll probably be sooner.

Best of luck with the recovery.
 
Calvin27

Calvin27

Eats Squid
Halo1 said:
Hell yeah. One thing to note is that I have never needed to service the office chair dropper. The bike industry just makes stuff to break for big profits.
Click to expand...
I think the same thing about suspension. When did we ever have to pull apart car suspension every 50 hours!?

As for droppers, somehow my brand x cheapie has outlasted some of the branded stuff by a long margin!
 
Squidfayce

Squidfayce

Eats Squid
Calvin27 said:
I think the same thing about suspension. When did we ever have to pull apart car suspension every 50 hours!?
Click to expand...
This is exactly why there two schools of thought. "Follow the manufacturers recommendation" & "if it aint broke, don't fix it". Similar to the whole single use master link debate. I think the answer lies somewhere in the middle for most people. I reckon the 50hr recommendation is like those yellow speed signs.
 
Rorschach

Rorschach

Didnt pay $250 for this custom title
Chamelion said:
Cheers lads.. bit of a shame prices went through the roof but oh well.

Here are a couple I have my eye on

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I started on one of these. Same frame as the Roscoe from this era, so can be overforked a bit. I ran mine with a 120mm fork and upgraded some gear. Also routed for a dropper if you want to go that way.
Of all of these, this is probably where I'd start
 
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