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Making your first mountain bike purchase
Recently, a girlfriend asked for some advice on buying a new bike, something she wanted so she could come out and ride with “The Girls” — an interesting group of riders who all have a lack of techno-jargon in common. When I started thinking about the type of bike that would work for my friend, I was reminded of my own first mountain bike purchase:
First steps: catching the ‘biking bug’
After finding myself bitten by the ‘biking bug’ but without my own ride, my quest for a new bike began and I wandered aimlessly in and out of bike shops armed with my immense knowledge of… well… nothing bike-related. That, and not knowing what I wanted didn’t help the “shop guys” point me in the right direction either. One guy suggested that I bring my husband with me next time.
Point: If you don’t know what you want in a bike, get advice from people who know you and the type of riding that you’ll be doing.
Shopping around: getting the bike you want
Instead of ‘my husband’, I enlisted the help of a friend’s husband and, after convincing him that I actually wanted a bike and talking with him a bit, he sent me to a local bike shop. The shop he chose was clearing out its inventory and, since I knew my budget I was able to narrow my decision down to two bikes. I went from bike “A” to bike “B”, trying to imagine myself and my new hardtail ripping over the trails. Unfortunately, I was still stuck — which one was going to fit me the best? Eventually, I decided to get a bike fit, and that made my decision easy. I was very happy with my first major bike purchase decision and, having made a few more since then, have found that it gets easier with experience.
Point: Know your budget and ask for more help if you need it before you make your purchase.
Back to my friend
I started my friend off with her wishlist and her budget and sent her out to look at bikes. Her budget quickly eliminated plenty of options but, armed with a new, more “affordable” wishlist she headed out to look again. After visiting about eight bike shops and seeing almost every brand of mountain bike, she went back home and started checking out specific bike specs in detail on the ‘net before going out for some more shopping. This time, she took another friend with her to the bike shops, something that allowed her to get the bike outside for a test ride.
My friend quickly learned a whole new language, how to negotiate, and, with confidence, was soon able to ask and answer questions. Although it took her a little while, she got a bike she really likes — when you ask her about it she just says it feels right.
Summary
Buying a new bike doesn’t have to be a painful experience if you remember to do a few key things:
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions. If you’re unsure, ask some friends to get you pointed in the right direction.
- Know your budget and know what you’re looking for. It’s easier to answer questions and get a good fitting bike if you know things about the type of riding you’re going to do.
- Ask more questions and do your research on your computer. Ask shop employees questions and read bike reviews on the Internet to learn more about your options.
- Stick to your budget and be happy with the bike you buy.
Although my friend and I didn’t follow the same path before making our bike purchases — she spent much more time researching than I did — we did use the same basic ideas to get the bike we wanted. And the best part is that there are always at least two smiling riders on “The Girls” ride.
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