Specalised Epic Disc

If you are in to mountain biking or thinking about getting into it, then you will need to get yourself a decent mountain bike. Now there is decent and decent, and most newbies start of thinking the former, and end up realising they should have gone for the latter. One of the real problems when you are first starting out in off road mountain biking is that you need a mountain bike. You don't know for sure if you are going to like it, and you don't want to spend too much money. All of these things take you down the path of buying something cheap, but cheap wont do for off road - you need to spend the money.

My advice to anyone starting out, is see if you can borrow someone else's bike for a few weeks to see if you like it. Once you have decided you are in, shop around for the best dual suspension bike you can afford. I think you need to spend at least $2,500. You could consider buying a second hand bike if you are a bit short of cash, but be careful because older bikes sometimes can need more servicing and it may end up costing you just as much.

Specialized Web Site

Why I like it

It's got The Brain! An inertia valve on the rear shock absorber that locks the rear shock when you are travelling on flat ground. As soon as you hit a bump, the brain 'senses' the rough terrain and the rear shock kicks in. It means you get more power when you are peddling on the flat, and plenty of comfort over the bumps. Click here to read about the brain
It's got hydraulic disk breaks. Yes it does make a difference if they are hydraulic. The breaks are much more reponsive and they self adjust over time. With cable brakes, the cables stretch giving a 'squishy' feel. Cables also need to be replaced every 6 months or so.

How to get the most from it

Get out and ride it. If you want details on rides around the Sydney area, have a look at my mountain bike website. You will need to get your bike serviced every 3-6 months, depending on how much you ride it off road. Top end bikes are quite complex and I don't do any service work (apart from chain lube) myself. You can expect to pay around $100 per service, and more if you need parts replaced. You will wear out a chain in about 1 year, and they can set you back $80 or so.

What to tell your wife

You need to get out and excercise to stay fit and healthy. Wouldn't she rather this than you die young of a heart attach?
My bike shop will write you out a second 'wife invoice' when you buy your bike. You get to say the total amount written on the wife invoice so you can soften the blow for her. Ask your bike shop if they will do this for you.
A $5,000 bike that you ride every week will depreciate in value by half over 2 years. If you go out most weekends, that works out to be only $25 per ride. This is less money than green fees and no more than gym membership. (Don't tell her that you need to get it serviced - you can worry about that later).