New Bike Advice Needed

[calicamper]

All great stuff. I really like the Marin offerings from what I have seen online. I hope to make it by a local shop sometime this week to check them out in person.

Nothing we ride locally is what I would consider super technical. I am worried that the 29" wheels are going to be very different from what I am used to but hopefully once used to them I can keep up with the boy.

I found the 29’s to be far superior and easier to ride at speed over the 27’s. Less effort etc.
the tires are more balloon like running lower psi 20-30psi and are super grippy. Softer smoother ride also. I don’t like full suspension I just feel way to disconnected from the ground on full suspension and still like to down hill single trail with good speed. The hard tail is just better feedback etc. lighter weight too.
I rode a bunch of brands. Ironically I liked the GT Zaskar not sold anymore and really liked it. Not a crazy expensive rig but I like it. Decent frame and gear but I’ve upgraded brakes and a few minor things. Funny enough in 87 the Zaskar was out of my price range when I was a kid and bought my other GT. Only took me 35 yrs to get one😆.
The Marin bikes I liked, I just couldn’t find a frame that felt right. The treks were a little better. Specialized was my second choice but something about the Zaskar frame layout it was like getting on a bike made for me felt awesome.

 

[Hnoroian]

frame layout it was like getting on a bike made for me felt awesome.

I’ve heard this advice a bunch of times, and best I could ever give too. Find a few that you like and try them out if you can. If you can only source a few of them to try, compare geometry of the others that you can’t.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I’ve heard this advice a bunch of times, and best I could ever give too. Find a few that you like and try them out if you can. If you can only source a few of them to try, compare geometry of the others that you can’t.

+1

I snagged an older Trek just to goof off with last summer and as kid it was always well you are so tall so now you get a 26" bike and you picked the one you liked the color of that is the end of it.

I have low standards, mainly want to ride on bike trails, around campgrounds etc.

Well while my "new" one is still a 26" it is shaped a lot differently than the one I had in middle school and is so much more comfortable and easy to pedal.

I need to drag my ol' Murray out of the barn and see how they actually compare side by side lol.

 

[rruff]

I’ve heard this advice a bunch of times, and best I could ever give too. Find a few that you like and try them out if you can. If you can only source a few of them to try, compare geometry of the others that you can’t.

Actually that is harder than many suspect... and also unnecessary. I'm not saying they will all feel the same, but rather any judgements you make on that basis won't be accurate.

Position makes a massive difference, and this is not an inherent property of the bike, rather it's something you dial in yourself. Many measurements that you must get right to a mm or 2 to make a fair comparison, that are not easy to measure! Saddles, stems, and bars need to be swapped out and adjusted precisely. Tires too, and inflation adjusted. And did you pick the right size? Has the fork been properly set up and adjusted? No way are you going to commandeer a bikeshop employee for the whole day while you make the attempt to figure this out. Plus what is the point of test riding a MTB in the parking lot? Consequently I never test ride a bike before buying, and I've had lots of them in ~200k miles of riding.

 

[rcintx]

I picked up a new Giant Talon 1 yesterday. It’s not top of the line but it is a huge step up from what I had been riding. I absolutely understand why 29era became so popular. Awesome riding experience. I think it is going to suit me great for now and can always be upgraded later.
Thanks again for all the advice and comments.

 

[Trail Talk]

Congratulations on your choice! Helpful discussion as I’m in the same boat, tired of rebuilding and repairing my 2004 FS MTB and ready for a replacement. Prices of new are still stupid so looking at slightly used.

 

[rcintx]

Congratulations on your choice! Helpful discussion as I’m in the same boat, tired of rebuilding and repairing my 2004 FS MTB and ready for a replacement. Prices of new are still stupid so looking at slightly used.

Absolutely! I looked for used until I just gave up. My advice would be to hit the local bike shops, tell them what you are looking for and ride a few. The bike I went to look at is not the one that I came home with. It just didn't fit as well as the Giant. They also had a decent sale going on that helped.

I absolutely love riding this bike and have put several hundred miles on it already.