Just like the Hell's Angels, without the noise!
03/02/2001
Post Home / Recreation Channel / Bullz-Eye Home
"I thought of that while riding my bike." - Albert Einstein on his Theory of Relativity
I'm a gambling man, and I'm willing to bet that there are a number of you who are teetering on the verge of an all-out, Jack Nicholson, axe-wielding, "heeeere's Johnny"-type cabin-fever wig out. If you reside here on the northern half of our rock, your patience with Mother Nature is starting to wear thin. There's a good chance you may have broken down and spent 400 clams on a Play Station 2, just so you could see some computer-generated grass and sunshine. I even know a guy who packs his PS2 in a duffel bag and takes it on road trips with him, just in case he's not completely thrilled with reality when he gets there.
But another thing I'm willing to bet the farm on is that spring is here (by my definition, anyway), and it's time to start formulating our excuses for neglecting yard work and staying out after the street lights come on. In case you've run out of creative ideas (remember the four golf leagues and Tuesday-night salsa dancing last year?) I'm here to help. With a little assistance from Brother Einstein, I'm going to convince you to regress to your childhood (shouldn't be too difficult) and get back on a bike.
There's no denying the fact that you have a lot of options. Just look at all the sports-related junk in your garage. But when it comes to getting maximum bang for your buck, you can't beat a mountain bike. Now, golf is a wonderful game. Fishing is a very relaxing pastime. And I enjoy camping as much as the next guy (especially when I get to make jokes about "pitching a tent"). But if you want to play golf, you need to buy $1,000 in equipment, make a tee time six months in advance, and pay anywhere from $30 to $200 in greens fees every single time you play. Fishing gear isn't cheap, either. And after driving 100 miles to find some water and enduring a day in the rain (it always rains when I fish), you're still not guaranteed any success. Camping comes with its own set of multi-legged hazards, not to mention the fact that you have to load up your car and drive to where the bears are. Ah, but the mountain bike. I can hop on my bike, ride out of my driveway and get away from it all. And there's no one standing at the end of my street trying to charge me $50 for having fun!
Admittedly, diving headfirst into the sport of mountain biking can be a little intimidating. Even a tad bit dangerous. But the off-road experience is highly addictive. And after all, it's still just a bicycle. You had one when you were a kid, which means you still know the basics. Where do you think the term "just like riding a bike" came from? So, before you buy those new golf clubs, let me share with you some mountain biking wisdom to get you started down the path to mud, blood and adventure!
It's All About the Bike
With apologies to the God of Cycling, Lance Armstrong, and his aptly titled bestseller, in our case it really is all about the bike. Selecting the right mountain bike and getting a good fit can mean the difference between a summer of healthy fun and another $1,000 piece of crap to hang your shirts on. This is also where it pays to do your homework before you shop. Bike shop guys are, by definition, the world's smoothest salesmen. Walk in with no clue, and they'll take you for a ride long before you ever put on your Spandex shorts.
The single most important piece of advice I can give you is that you will get what you pay for. You've been down to the local Mega-Lo Mart and have seen the racks of gnarly-looking "mountain bikes" for $99. Surely one of these will do just fine, right? After all, we're just starting out. And these look exactly like the high-dollar rides in that fancy bike shop. Do yourself a favor: If you already own one of these bargain-basement velos, please take it out to your driveway and run your car over it. Repeatedly. Do this until you have a pile of unrecognizable scrap metal. Then do it again, just for good measure. It is a crime against humanity and the sport of cycling that any company be allowed to produce these 45-pound, poorly built monstrosities. They're too heavy to pedal, the brakes and shifters will never work properly, and you will never have any fun riding one. Instant garage Muppet!
That's not to say that you need to sell a kidney to afford a good mountain bike. Generally, the bike you need will fall into the $300-$1,000 range. The harder you plan to ride, the more bike you're going to need. Follow these simple steps to determine which bike best fits your needs:
Step 1 - Decide Where You Want To Ride
Chances are, if you've read this far, you're probably thinking about trying something a little tougher than your local bike path. Don't get me wrong, rails-to-trails projects are a wonderful thing. I think this country needs more of them. But they're not really the best places to enjoy the mountain biking experience. They're crowded, dusty, and offer little in the way of challenging terrain. Oh, and you know those chubby women in supermarkets who will just swing their carts out in front of you without looking? Well, they go to the bike paths, where they push strollers. And they do the same thing! I have never been so terrified in my life as I was the time I had a baby shoved out in front of me by its own mother, and I was going at least 20 miles per hour. Great test of both my brakes and my bowels!
The type of riding you're really looking for is generally called "cross country" or single-track riding. It involves ungroomed dirt trails, some hills, and the occasional jump and obstacle. And no strollers. For most people, a basic "hardtail" bike is the best choice. Hardtails have a rigid frame with only a front suspension fork to absorb the bumps. Full-suspension bikes are better suited to downhill racing. The rear suspension will only add weight and cost to our trail bike.
Step 2 - Get A Fit
Buying a bike is a lot like buying a pair of pants. They come in every size imaginable, but most people fall in roughly the same range. The two dimensions you need to concern yourself with are stand-over height and frame size. Since one is a function of the other, we'll stick with stand-over height.
First, stand over the bike with your feet shoulder-width apart. Straddle the frame, just in front of the seat, and measure the distance between the long bar of the frame (called the top tube) and your boys. If you have more than about three fingers' width, you need a larger frame -- please use your own fingers to measure! If anything down there is touching cold metal, you might want to consider a smaller frame.
Once you've established the correct frame size, determine proper seat height by sitting on the bike with both feet on the pedals. When the seat is properly adjusted, your leg should be almost straight, with a slight bend in your knee, with the pedal in its furthest downward position. A common beginner's mistake is a low seat. This decreases your pedaling efficiency, and can cause some nasty cramps. Your shop should have a good technician who will adjust your seat and handlebars for a custom fit.
Step 3 - Accessorize
Once you've found your dream bike, you're only half way home. There are still a number of items you absolutely need to stay comfortable and safe out there. First, cycling shorts are a necessity. There's a reason all the serious riders you see are wearing cycling shorts, and it's not because they love the feel of Lycra any more than you do. Do not learn this by trial and error!
Second, consider your drivetrain. Just like the engine and transmission in your car, the parts of a mountain bike must come together to make it all go. Consider equipping your bike with "clipless" pedals. These work with special cycling shoes to lock your feet directly to the pedal. It feels a bit awkward at first, but it is the most efficient system available. And you'll still be able to bail out when the time comes. You'll be amazed what a little adrenaline and fear can do!
Third, consider a good quality bike rack. Most of the best rides don't start in your back yard, so you'll need a way to get your bike to the trails. Contrary to popular belief, a bike rack is not intended to carry your bike. Heck, you could just throw your bike on the roof and tie it down. No, a bike rack is intended to protect your car. And unless you went nuts with the accessories, or you drive a '74 Pinto, I'm guessing that your car is worth more than your bike, right? Besides, a good rack system will let chicks know that you do more with that sport-ute than run to the grocery store!
Finally, you need a helmet, and you need hydration. I know I preach about the helmet thing with almost every sport, but this time I really mean it. If I catch you riding without a helmet, I'll personally smack you in the head. And when you get caught 20 miles from civilization without any water, you're not getting any of mine!
Best of the Class of 2001
There are a bazillion different companies out there making excellent bikes, and no one bike is right for everyone. Therefore, I hesitate to pick just three bikes I consider total winners out of this year's excellent crop. But many of us grew up in the heyday of BMX. We wore checkered Vans, Jams, and used words like "rad" and "gnarly." And we rode Diamondbacks, Mongooses and GTs. Sure, there was the occasional rich kid with a P.K. Ripper, but that company is long gone and those kids are in rehab. So, for the sake of nostalgia, we're going old school. These three companies with a BMX heritage and a history of hatred have turned out some of this year's best all-around rides at great prices. If you're considering a test drive, you'd be smart to start with one of these:
Diamondback Apex - $800
The 2001 Apex is Diamondback's best-foot-forward entry in the sub-$1,000 hardtail category. It features a beefy 7005 aluminum frame, bolted to a race-proven Manitou SX-E fork. Diamondback's patented "snake stays" make this bike extremely rigid, responsive and fast. Shimano provides the shifting, with LX up front and XT in the rear. Shimano's Deore shift levers are a nice touch, as are the genuine WTB tires (a lot of companies use knock-offs, figuring we'll never know the difference). A suspension seatpost rounds out the ride, helping to smooth some of the bigger hits. This bike also comes equipped with Wellgo clipless pedals, so you can't ride without cycling shoes.
The Apex may not be the most forgiving bike on the market, but it won't bite too hard. It is extremely quick and responsive, perfect for tearing up tight singletrack trails. This is one bike that you will not outgrow. It comes in a cool muted blue color, which is great if you're really getting sick of the sight pollution caused by bright yellow mountain bikes. My overall rating for the Apex is 3 ½ (of a possible 5). It lost points only because I didn't like the grips, the two-tone Avenir saddle was more show than go, and I actually had to borrow the damn test bike from a shop because Diamondback (and their parent company, Derby Cycle) couldn't get a test bike to me in time for this article! (I know, it's petty... but I docked them ½ point for it anyway.) I would strongly recommend the Apex to any rider looking to hone his skills and take his riding to the next level. This would be a great bike at $1,000. For $800, it's a steal. For more information, check out: http://www.diamondback.com.
Mongoose Hard Luck - $800
The Hard Luck is part of Mongoose's "Black Diamond" series of mountain bikes. As far as I can tell, the Black Diamonds are the class of the Mongoose line, with the exception of the ultra-high-end Titanium offerings. This company's marketing strategy has been a real enigma over the past few years. A while back, Mongoose began to manufacture those $99 "bikes" for the Mega-Lo Marts, while still maintaining an excellent line of serious cycles. I don't know how the strategy has worked out business-wise, but I can tell you how it affected me. A year ago, I was resting at a local park after a loop of its technical (and somewhat illegal) singletrack, when a woman walked by with her young son. "Look honey," she said, "that boy has a Mongoose, just like yours. I bet he got his at Wal-Mart, too!" Ignoring the fact that she called me a "boy," I really felt like crap that anyone could mistake my ride for a blue-light special. But what the hell, they both have Mongoose stickers on them. Can't blame her! That being said, my first real bike was a Mongoose Californian, I'm loyal, and this company still turns out some kick-ass mountain bikes. The Hard Luck is no exception. At this price, you'd be hard pressed to find more attention to detail in any bike. Start with a 7005 aluminum frame. Add a RockShox Judy C suspension fork (for my money, there's no better fork on the market). Excellent Kore stem and handlebars. Wheel-biting Avid brakes and levers. Sweet Koski pedals. And the coup de grace is the shifting: Shimano Deore all the way around. This is a legitimate $1,000 bike, no doubt about it. If you're looking for a negative, the Mongoose grips kinda suck. But I've yet to see a bike that comes with good grips, so I'll spend the $20 to change them. Everything else on the Hard Luck is top-notch. With a bike like this, I could probably laugh off a few of those Wal-Mart comments! Let's give it a 4 (of a possible 5). Check out the Hard Luck at: http://www.mongoose.com.
GT Avalanche 2.0 - $850
The GT checks out for an extra $50 compared to the two bikes above, but remember that "get what you paid for" thing? If you're into bells and whistles, this is your bike. The Avalanche also features a light, strong aluminum frame, my favorite RockShox Judy C fork, and an outstanding component package. But a closer look reveals a few nice extras, like an Avid CPS disc brake up front, Syncros CNC rims, and a very nice SDG Comp saddle.
In terms of total performance, the Avalanche holds its own with the other bikes. It comes with ATB clip and strap pedals, which I find to be a terrible pain in the ass. Any bike with this level of sophistication should have clipless pedals as standard equipment. This is an outstanding bike, and would be an excellent purchase for the right price. I'm just having a hard time finding the extra $50 on this bike. I can personally do without the front disc brake. If you're looking ahead like you're supposed to be, you don't really need this extra leverage to launch yourself over the bars. Buy the Avalanche, but only if you can get the shop to throw in some freebies (like new grips -- these suck too). It gets a 3 (of a possible 5). Lose the disc brake and $50, and it's probably a 3½. Check out the entire GT lineup at: http://www.gtbicycles.com.
Ride to Live, Live to Ride
Unless they're complete snobs, your local bike shop guys should be able to point you to the nearest trail. Most good shops even have detailed trail maps and group-ride schedules available. In the event that you're still searching for some terrain, check out:
http://www.trails.com
http://www.gorp.com
Both sites feature excellent trail locators covering most areas of the country. I guarantee there's a decent trail network in your area!
Finally, a few unwritten rules of mountain biking: You're out there to have fun, so be safe and smart. Don't get yourself in over your head. A five-mile ride will provide you with a sufficient beating and a jones for more. Get caught on a 40-mile epic your first time out, and all you'll get is rescued. Stay to the right, pass on the left. When riding singletrack, the uphill rider always has right-of-way. If you see someone with a flat tire or a broken bike, stop and offer to help, even if you don't know what you're doing. Cyclists are the most friendly and helpful sportsmen in the world. But follow all the rules anyway... it could keep you from getting bitch-slapped by a guy in yellow Spandex with shaved legs!
Send your questions, comments, suggestions or personal cycling stories to: TheGearDude@hotmail.com.