Buying a pair of bikes conflicted on what to do



Dakota

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Mar 14, 2017
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hello everyone , first off great site! My girl friend and I have decided to take up biking. We will probably ride at state parks and different areas like that. We are searching for mountain bikes. We definitely have a budget and cheaper is better . But I also want something ok to use. That being said . How much different will a beginner like us notice between a Walmart mongoose or Schwinn vs something from a bike shop. Or should we go used ? We don't need all the fancy stuff like the locking suspension and all that'm. Just two somewhat simple reliable mountain bikes. Under $300 a piece would be good. Thank you guys.
 
How (and how much) are you planning to ride?

Will you ride hard enough to get sweaty?

Are you gonna ride standing regularly to cope with lumps and bumps on the track?

If yes, you're not going to get a reliable bike new from shop for $300.

Even at $500 its pretty much borderline.

Department store MTBs aren't MTBs, they're only dressed to look the part. If you check the fine print in the warranty it'll say "for casual use only."

It'll also say "warranty only valid If assembled by a professional".
If you buy boxed and assemble yourself, you lose what little warranty you ever had.

Department store bikes are put together from the cheapest parts by the lowest paid. Sloppy and inaccurate work is the norm.

If you still decide on that route, agree with a real shop beforehand to assemble and adjust the bikes. Bearing adjustment, spoke tension, brake and derailer tuning.

The bike industry is very homogenous.
Ignoring sales and special offers, Comparably priced bikes will have comparable quality and performance regardless of what logo the frame carries.

If you're not looking to get sweaty, forget about MTBs. Go for hybrids.
They'll hold up just fine and be generally more useful to you than MTBs.
But again, not for $300.

How much difference you'll notice is difficult to say.
Pootling around on flat ground, staying in the same gear - not much.
Trying a late shift during a climb, braking hard, doing a standing climb, popping a little wheelie to get over/onto a widewalk - then you'll notice considerable difference.

Buying used can offer great value for money - If you know what you're buying.
Sized wrong, all beat up can quickly turn the purchase sour.

If you can find them, shops selling trade-ins, returns or bikes never retrieved after repair can be a good middle way. Shop bikes at department prices.

Or If you have a friend who knows bikes and can help you pick used bikes for you.
 
Low cost mtb's with front suspension forks are the worst thing you could ever buy, these bikes are heavy and the front shock fork are clumsy, they don't work well off road at all, heavy, takes more energy to propel a suspension fork, and since you will only be on hard paths there's no reason for it.

My suggestion, based on the need to be inexpensive (which is good by the way for first time bikes) is to go to the used department, and if possible try to find either a mtb that does not have any suspension system (known as rigid), or go with a hybrid again without suspensions. You won't find a matching pair going used but that's not necessary.