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Just starting - what to buy


gleave's picture

By gleave - Posted on 15 November 2010

I am sure this is an old topic however, I am about to buy a bike. Will be riding around the Northern Beaches and enjoyed my one atempt at Manly Dam. Have borrowed a Giant Reign 1 and quite liked that.

What else should I be looking at in a similar range? Orbea? Sepcialized?... ?

What should be my main consideration?

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herzog's picture

How much are you looking to spend?

......'s picture

yep. It comes down to how much you want to spend, your level of fitness and skill, what type of riding do you want to do (ie, racer XC, cruisy trail riding, jumping stuff, smashing down long Down hill runs, riding to the shop for milk)

Give some of that info and you'll get all kinds of suggestions from mtber's. We all have an opinion.

gleave's picture

Many thanks.

Weekend warrior stuff around Manly Dam or similar. Getting fit again but need to build that up. Looking to spend around 2.5K to 3K mark. Riding with friends and all three of them on Giant Reign's. Would be easy to buy the same but want to know what else is out there..

ae93gti's picture

http://nobmob.com/node/18160

Might be too light for your purpose? Be good to go racing with when your fitness is up tho....... Smiling

VC's picture

Get the giant, put some maxxis tyres on it, hope its a fox fork,some good shimano drivetrain,a good helmet, and go and have a blast...too easy to get caught up in the great accessory sport mountain biking is.But remember to enjoy.

Trev's picture

I love my Reign and over the last 12 months we have covered over 3000ks inc. a few 100k events, lots of Red Hill and Terry Hills. Only replaced general wear and tear stuff ( 2 chains, 1 casset, 1 middle ring, rear pads) also had a suspention service. Good value I think and in your price range.

VTSS350's picture

The Giant Reign is a 6inch all mountain bike. It is a bit of overkill for Manly Dam. Its is in its element at redhill when it gets a bit rougher.

If I was buying a bike for Manly Dam type tracks I think the Giant Trance would be a great bike.
It would pedal better than the reign and climb better too. It has a bit less travel but would be spot on of MD.

I have owned both bikes and currently own a Reign and an Anthem. I allways take the Anthem around the dam. Have taken the reign a couple of times but it was alot slower on the climbs and single track than the Anthem and Trance.

maddo's picture

I have recently got into the sport aswell I went with a Merida hardtail and its a great bike so I would imagine their dual suspension bikes would be great aswell and as suggested before have fun Smiling

Noel's picture

I think a Reign is overkill for Manly and if your going to be riding more then you might want less travel as it makes life easier on the longer rides. Here, I did some browsing for you:

I have no idea of your size

http://nobmob.com/forum/139

http://www.rotorburn.com/forums/showthread.php?2...

http://www.rotorburn.com/forums/showthread.php?2...

http://www.rotorburn.com/forums/showthread.php?2...

http://www.rotorburn.com/forums/showthread.php?2...

http://www.bikeexchange.com.au

http://sport.shop.ebay.com.au/Mountain-Bikes-/98...

and your Local Bike Shop of course.

Get a compression bandage (carry a charged mobile) and learn how to treat snake bite.

Good luck

Jonathan's picture

6" would be nice to have but there is a price to pay, on xc and fire trail etc you will be wishing you didn't have the extra weight, especially when your reallly tired. As far as 5" of travel goes i love my trance!!!!! I run the suspension quite soft and ive done some 1m drops and it faired quite well. Dont think ull need anything more then that. Especially for regular xc riding 5"s is tones and still gives you some room for the big drops and jumps etc...

Hope this helps.

Jono

Pants's picture

Nah 6" isnt too much, i ride my 8" downhill bike around the dam and use up most of the travel of the fast downhill section at the back of Allambie Laughing out loud

hawkeye's picture

Yes, but you're a nutter Smiling

Who, despite being on flat pedals and a heavy DH bike, beat all but one of us XCers up that loose climb at the start of Centre Track?

...erm, it was you Sticking out tongue (hawkeye mumbles - embarassed - into his beard...)

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