Mountain Bike???

[colockumelk]

From reading other posts this is what I have gathered.  In a mountain bike you want it to be as light as possible, have a hard-tail and disc brakes.  Is there any other suggestions on what I should look for in an elk hunting mountain bike.  I'm pretty much as green as it gets when it comes to mountain-biking.  So any additional info will be much appreciated.  Thank you for your time. 

[rasbo]

From reading other posts this is what I have gathered.  In a mountain bike you want it to be as light as possible, have a hard-tail and disc brakes.  Is there any other suggestions on what I should look for in an elk hunting mountain bike.  I'm pretty much as green as it gets when it comes to mountain-biking.  So any additional info will be much appreciated.  Thank you for your time. 

fenders...mud in the face and ass sucks...I have shocks,past the youth stage here.. rack on the back

[Curly]

I'm new to mountain biking so take this for what it's worth...........I don't have disc brakes on my bike and they seem fine to me.  So, I'm not convinced that you need disc brakes......  

I do plan on getting fenders though....and my bike is a hard tail which seems good to me as well.

[Cascader74]

I just got my Topeak Defender set today for fenders, I think I paid around $32 including shipping on Ebay.  I have a suspension mountain bike, I've tried the hard tail and they beat the hell out of me.  I know those guys arguement but I don't see any noticable difference pedalling.  Also have an Axiom Odyssee rack they make several variations under the Odyssee name but they have one for suspension/disc brake bikes the rear was only about $50 bucks much cheaper than the Surly rear racks that want $108.  I'll probably go with a Surly front rack though. 

[whacker1]

If you go full suspension, you want the ability to lock out the shock on the rear, so that you can ride as if it were a hardtail.  There are good brands and equipment, but it is amazing what quality equipment can do for making a more comfortable & confident ride into the middle of nowhere.  I bought a Kona Cinder Cone from 2008 used off of craigslist.  It had hardly been used. 

I have been towing the little man (2 year old) around in the bike buggy with my wife's older Trek 820, which is a nice bike.  And the thing I noticed is that the rim brakes started to get difficult to stop with the added weight inertia.  I don't think disk brakes are critical, unless you are a fat a$$ like me.  I weigh 250, plus bike and buggy - 40 lbs, and son at 30 lbs.  If that makes the brakes get squishy, I would hate to see what it would do with a steaper hill and quarter of an elk. 

I haven't towed him behind my Kona, because the disc brakes get in the way of the attachment for the particular buggy we have.  I am working on a different attachment, so that I can tow him, but haven't worked out the details just yet. 

What is your budget?  Do you know what size bike you should be on?  might want to go get fitted for a bike to see what size frame you should be looking at.

[Tim]

all you still need is a single wheeled yak trailer

[colockumelk]

I have no clue what size I am.  So I guess I'll go get fitted.  Thanks for that bit of info.  Like I said I'm as green as you can get when it comes to this info.  As for a budget I'd like to limit myself at $500.  Although if I found something for 550 and I really liked it I'd probably pull the trigger on it.  Also I didn't know that you could get a full suspension that you can lock out.  Thanks for that as well.

Thanks guys keep the info coming.  I need all the help I can get.   

[whacker1]

I paid $550 for the Kona i bought a month ago.

They actually manufacture the suspension, so it has a lock out feature.  My front forks have lockout feature on them, and it just makes the front forks stiff.  Some bikes are made with a rear suspension lockout as well.   You are looking for a

I rode about 4 other bikes before buying this one.  I was trying to save money and ultimately came back to the bike I wanted the most and spent the coin on the nicer bike. 

Here is a good web-site that will give you an idea of what to look at for reviews.

www.mtbr.com

You are looking for trail and cross country style (xc) bikes.

i am 5'8" tall with a short inseam and longer torso.  So I bought an 18" frame, but was looking at 17" and 18" frames.  The primary factors when researching frames that you look at are SO (Stand over),standing over the top tube of the bike and the length of the top tube without racking your gonads.  And the length of the top tube.  If you are too big of frame it will have you two stretched out, and too short and you will feel a little cramped. 

I looked at a Marin that was a 16" frame and I could tell it was too small for me.

I am by no means an expert, but I learned a lot in the last few months of research.  Go out and demo a few bikes at a bike shop or two and figure out what is comfortable and what is not. 

I would suggest buying used, because I think you can find more bike than what you can afford new at the same $500.   

I also found that lesser known brands like Kona, put higher end components on their bikes for the same amount of money as the more well known brands like Gary fisher or Trek.  Not knocking those brands.  I ended up getting hydraulic disc brakes, better rims, and LX rear derailer, and Deore front derailer, and shifters, which were all higher components than I found on the rest of the bikes I demoed.   

[whacker1]

one last thing for the time being.  I also, just by chance, ended up with a silent rear hub.  So there is no clicking as you freewheel like most mountain bikes have.  So for those that were asking in a prior thread.  You have to change the hub to a silent freewheel in order remove the noise.  probably not worth it for most folks based on cost.

[Little Fish]

I know this has been mentioned, but I would suggest buying a used bike off Craigslist for 1/2 the price of new (or more), then take the $$$ you saved and bolt on all the accessories that you want. The accessories I added to my bike in order of priority are:

1)  bow/gun rack mounted to handle bars
2)  Granny gear(s) for steep hill climbing (local bike shop switched out the low range sprocket on the crank and 2 or 3 or the low end gears on the back)
3)  Rear gear rack (to this I added a milk crate for carrying extra junk)
4)  Gel seat. This was pretty expensive as far as seats go, but is more that 2x as good as my old seat and makes a noticeable difference
5)  Front fender
6)  Set of water bottles
7)  Air pump
 Light



I may add a front gear rack in the future, but so far I like my current setup.

[Holg3107]

I am an avid mtn biker and use one of mine to hunt from as well. A few things to know. #1. disk brakes are a bit more efficient and have the ability to last but when they get dirty they get really loud, they will still work just fine but it will sound like a screech from the pits of hell. #2. If you are on a $500 budget (which is perfect for a hunting bike IMO) look for components, (rear derailer, brake levers, ect....) that if manufactured by shimano should say either "Deore", LX, or XT, if they don't say that they are a very low end model and will have a higher potential to brake. #3. Get a hard tail, front suspension is necessary but that rear suspension will cause more harm than good. If you see something you like and want a second opinion before you fork out some cash on it feel free to drop me a PM. #4. a heavy bike doesn't necessarily feel heavy pedaling, if the bike fits and the components are solid then don't be afraid of a 30-32 pound bike it may pull a trailer better. #5 make sure it has (3) chain rings on the front cranks, that extra set of granny gears will save you with your gear on the back and the extry weight. Good Luck.

[wapiti hunter2]

Some pics will help.  Here is my Trek 4200.  $550 new, I got it almost new with extra tires and rims for $200 on Craig's List.  I added the front fender and the rear rack/fender, I hate mud splashing and the  gun rack.  They cost me an additional $125.  It is a hard tail and has conventional brakes but I rode 120 miles during elk season and they are still fine.  I love my bike.

[funkster]

 I would add a kickstand also. Not every brand will work for hunting but this heavy duty one works great. It is called the stabilizer http://www.greenfieldny.com/chart_bicycle.htm

[dewandgin]

Definetly buy used. Personally have rode both and maybe it's the age but I have a Rocky Mtn Slayer that has full suspension and bought it used off CL for $650 and have rode it for three years and hauled elk , deer, and part of a bear on it and never had a problem and I ride it alot. Spend the money and get a good tune up on it and then read up on how to maintain it. Disc brakes can get noisey but either mechanical disc or hydraulic disc have never had a failure or a fade with them. Buy the most quality bike you can afford and you will not regret it. Just like any other piece of machinery though it is all about the maintenance.

[whacker1]

what brand/style of gun racks are you folks using or suggest?