I bought something that will help me get into shape ...

[undertow999]

I have been running and doing everything else on this forum that has been recomended to be prepaired for the Academy. But recently, I bought a mountain bike to mix up my routine. man this thing is so much fun, and it sure gives me one hell of a work out.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c209/undertow999/Trek6500.jpg

I have already put about 20 miles on the bike and I love it. This is no my substitute for running, but just something additional to built up my cardio. OH, its a 2006 Trek 6500

[MicahJames]

"Sweet bike, you ever take it off any jumps"

ok just kidding, but that's a nice bike. How much did it set you back, if you don't mind my asking?

Have you been doing hills or streets or both? How long do you ride for? The details :smile:

I sold my bike last year, definitely regret it now.

[uoplax13]

Nice. I just bought a new bike (not really because of training for the Academy, that will just be a byproduct of riding..) and will have to get a picture up when it's all together and I pick it up. I was going to get a Kona Jake the Snake, but the only frame they had left was too big, but since the owner wanted the larger frame he upgraded me to a Merckx frame with the Kona parts for free.....so I'm ending up with a pretty sweet cross bike for about 15 hundred that's worth about 3k. ...and yes, working up in the mountains is so boring that I really am this excited about my new bike!

[mremmaye]

undertow sweet bike! I wish I could afford something like that to train on. Right now im just training with my nice pair of sneakers.

[undertow999]

I didnt really buy the bike just to train on, but it helped me convince myself to buy it:shock: . I have always wanted a MB but never really knew what to look for. SO I just went to a local bike shop and test rode 3 or 4 different bikes and liked this one the most. Anyways, I love it. I stay mostly on dirt trails and hills, I very rairly ride it on the street. Their is a local bike loop that is close to me that I do and its 11.5 miles, so thats my usual route. Riding moutain trails is so much fun, and the dirt is more forgiving when you eat it. The bike is your basic aluminum frame hardtail. If you want to see more info about it check out: http://www2.trekbikes.com/bikes/bike.php?bikeid=1037600&f=19 The bike itself set me back $550, which isnt too bad considering it retails for $770.

uoplax13: I understand your obsession. Eventhough I have only had my bike for a week or so, I am already thinkin about upgrading some of the components.

The bike is more of a fun factor in my work out. I sitll run the same amount as I did before I bought it, but I bike every day in between.

If anyone is in SoCal and wants to ride, let me know.

Oh, and I have gone off a couple jumps but nothing too exciting.

[TheForceCHP]

I traded something for a bike, but still need to pick it up. I'll let you know when I get it

[undertow999]

Let me know man. It would be cool to go riding sometime.

[pupdog]

May I make a suggestion? Change the pedals. Get the kind of pedal that clips to a special shoe. The pedals & shoes must be purchased seperately. The shoe; just buy a bike shoe fits, the pedal comes with a cleat that attaches to the shoe.I was VERY reluctant to do this, as I found the idea of being tied to the bike scary. I was scared of not getting my foot when stopping, then falling, then having a car (also stopping for the light) running me over! Even though I wasn't clipped in, I got in the habit of always taking my foot off the pedal heel first.

I was aware (from my coaches explainaings trying to talk me into it) that you can easily go faster when clipped in...the pedal stroke is more efficient because you can push AND pull rather than just push.

Then one day on a ride, me (as usual) being the one on my team at the back, I was struggling up a hill. One of my teammates (not realising that I was in running shoes on plain pedals) hollered at me to 'pull, lift your knees, like when you run!' WOW, the light went off over my head. All these years, and everybody on the team was running faster, but I was stuck with the same run times. Everybody else was getting this other workout I wasn't! I soon got the pedals & shoes, and fell in love with it instantly! I feel so much more secure; at one with the bike, if you will. And yes, my running times FINALLY improved!

This is DEFINITLY something you want to get on ebay. They're pricey unless you can find a good deal (mine were free...dusty old pair my coach had lying around combined with his wanting to get me clipped in before I chickened again). As for falling...you're stopped, so there's no road rash. As long as you hold onto the handlebars and FIGHT THE INSTINCT TO PUT YOUR HAND OUT, you're fine. What's REALLY funny is when I'm waiting there, one foot on the ground, the other clipped in, waiting for green light/teammates, coach to say go, and I start to fall to the side that's clipped in! I'm not the most coordinated rider!

[mremmaye]

You guys are really making me contemplate on buying a bike to train on! I really have no prior knowledge on what to look for in decent MB to train on. Could you guys educate me a little bit on what to look for? Maybe include a list on what to look for and what to stay away from. Just by reading your posts I think Trek is one of quality bikes out there. By the way, I'm the type of guy that likes to purchase the best of the best... so maybe you guys can suggest a previous, year top of the line bike I could start off on.

[Dipmo]

May I make a suggestion? Change the pedals. Get the kind of pedal that clips to a special shoe. The pedals & shoes must be purchased seperately. The shoe; just buy a bike shoe fits, the pedal comes with a cleat that attaches to the shoe.I was VERY reluctant to do this, as I found the idea of being tied to the bike scary. I was scared of not getting my foot when stopping, then falling, then having a car (also stopping for the light) running me over! Even though I wasn't clipped in, I got in the habit of always taking my foot off the pedal heel first.

I was aware (from my coaches explainaings trying to talk me into it) that you can easily go faster when clipped in...the pedal stroke is more efficient because you can push AND pull rather than just push.

Then one day on a ride, me (as usual) being the one on my team at the back, I was struggling up a hill. One of my teammates (not realising that I was in running shoes on plain pedals) hollered at me to 'pull, lift your knees, like when you run!' WOW, the light went off over my head. All these years, and everybody on the team was running faster, but I was stuck with the same run times. Everybody else was getting this other workout I wasn't! I soon got the pedals & shoes, and fell in love with it instantly! I feel so much more secure; at one with the bike, if you will. And yes, my running times FINALLY improved!

This is DEFINITLY something you want to get on ebay. They're pricey unless you can find a good deal (mine were free...dusty old pair my coach had lying around combined with his wanting to get me clipped in before I chickened again). As for falling...you're stopped, so there's no road rash. As long as you hold onto the handlebars and FIGHT THE INSTINCT TO PUT YOUR HAND OUT, you're fine. What's REALLY funny is when I'm waiting there, one foot on the ground, the other clipped in, waiting for green light/teammates, coach to say go, and I start to fall to the side that's clipped in! I'm not the most coordinated rider!

I got my SPD pedals and shoes (I'm a road weenie) for under $100.00 early in the spring this year. The pedal stroke is much more efficient especially on hills.

[Dipmo]

You guys are really making me contemplate on buying a bike to train on! I really have no prior knowledge on what to look for in decent MB to train on. Could you guys educate me a little bit on what to look for? Maybe include a list on what to look for and what to stay away from. Just by reading your posts I think Trek is one of quality bikes out there. By the way, I'm the type of guy that likes to purchase the best of the best... so maybe you guys can suggest a previous, year top of the line bike I could start off on.

Man you guys are missing the fun of the road. Darn MB knuckle draggers!!:biggrin:

[undertow999]

Yeah, the clip in pedals kinda scared me at first, but now that you mention the benefit of themI may go take alook at some. There is this local bike shop, where I got my bike and other stuff, where I can get 10% off everything I buy so I will go take a look. I went out again tonight and had a blast, but man my legs are soooooo tired, and I had a close call with an overhung tree branch:shock: .

Dipmo: I contemplated the idea of getting a road bike, but thought I would have more fun in the hills getting dirty. But I must say, road bikes are fun as well, and I may pick one up in the near future.

mremmaye: Before I bought my bike I didnt know anything about MB or the sport so I will share what limited info I have. My bike is considered a Hardtail (front suspension only). They usually run anywhere from $300-$1000. If you want to do something with full suspension youre lookin at anywhere from $1000-$3500+. If you are just getting started, as I was, a hard tail would be a good bike to jump on. Some of the top brans that I can think of are Trek, Gary Fisher, Cannondale, Kona and Specialized. If you have a bike shop close to you the best thing to do is just go in a ride a bunch of different bikes. That is what I did and ended up pickin up the Trek. If you are in SoCal I can send you to a really good bike shop with people who know their stuff. Also, http://www.bikeforums.net/ is a good site for alot of information on biking. If you have anymore questions feel free to ask.

[uoplax13]

...or do a search on cyclocross- "cross bikes". They are more or less a combination of a road bike and mountain bike.....er, more like a beefed up road bike with larger tires. Do a google search on it. Regardless of which way you go, make sure the bike fits you and is really what you want before you buy it. As for suggestions on brands, etc... find a local bike shop that has some wierdo that is really into bikes working in it, and you'll probably get some good advice. I'm hoping to pickup my new cross bike tomorrow....which is a "cross" (hardy har) between a Merckx and Kona. Biking certainly isn't the same as running, but like others have said, it should be good on days when you're not running or to just mix it up and for a cardio workout.

[mremmaye]

I think I will stop by my local bicyle store. It'll be good to change up my cardio routine.

[TheForceCHP]

I got the bike that I was talking about :cry: Yah, well it wasn't exactly what they guy had told my dad, but I guess I can't complain that much as it didn't cost me anything. I am trying to decide whether I want to spend any money on the bike or not

[undertow999]

What kind of bike did you get?

[TheForceCHP]

It was a GT front suspension. He told my dad that it was a few years old, had been stored upside down so fork oil had poured out, and that it was a $800+ bike when he bought it.

Well it is definitely a few years old, fork's have no rebound, and I highly doubt that this was that expensive of a bike. I can honestly say that my dad's bike, probably an early 90's Schwinn, looks in better shape then this one. I am thinking of getting the fork's checked out and swapping some of it over to my dad's old bike. In the end I wouldn't surprise myself if I just do nothing and just kept to running and riding my motorcycle:badgrin:

[undertow999]

Well, if the frame is in good condition and is a decent frame, then not all is lost. You can always upgrade the components on the bikes. Sure you could end up spending some cash, but if you pieced it togther, you could have one badass bike for alot less then buying a new one like i did. As long as the frame is the right size for you then you can make something happen with it. Im a big guy (6'4") so finding a used XL frame wasnt easy, so I just got a new bike.

[TheForceCHP]

Yah, my dad's bike has a BIG frame. It is nice to ride on, but for mountain biking a 23 inch frame is a little too much

[undertow999]

Yeah 23 is pretty big. My Trek is a 21.5" which is perfect for me.

[Mac]

Specialized makes a pretty decent line of low/middle-end bikes that won't break the bank, but still have decent components. A true hardcore mountain biker would scoff at them, but for most mere mortals who want to do some training, they're great. I haven't looked at Jamis bicycles recently, but a couple of years ago they offered a real sweet price point for what you got.

[Tiredmotor]

My buddys race team is sponsered by Jamis. There bikes are sweet but pricey....that was for top of the line not sure about middle of the road. Real nice bikes though.