How much money should I invest in mountain biking?

[kayanat]

I want to start mountain biking and don't know too much about it. Should I buy and expensive bike from a bike shop or go to a retail store and buy what looks okay to ride?

[Phil]

if your just starting out id advise you get a semi decent hard tail, if your looking to do cross country stuff then go for something like a spezialized rockhopper or the kona hard tails are pretty good, just make sure they have hydrolic disk breaks. in the long run this will make you a better rider. forces you to think about what your doing on the down hills then you can progress to a full sus xc bike or an all mountian bike once you know what it is you want to do

[RJD]

Dont go to a retail store.

Go to a LBS (local bike shop).

Buy a hardtail thats the right fit/size, aly frame, disk brakes if you can stretch to it , decent front fork , 350ish quid should see it done.

Look at specialised,kona, GT, giant, trek (I has a trek) etc.

All the bike makers use the same 3rd party parts ( shimano or sram etc) but differ in level of kit etc, usualy the forks and wheels get overlooked on cheaper bikes.

I'd try to get one with ok hydraulic brakes too if you plan on riding in wet/muddy conditions or any decent downhill stuff.

Dont consider a fully unless you have 1000gbp+ to spend

[RJD]

Uh 1st post?

You do realise this is a surfing forum???

[esonscar]

Buy a surfboard - its better than mountain biking, much better !

[RJD]

Haha except for when its flat, mountains dont often go flat!!

[esonscar]

I want to start mountain biking and don't know too much about it. Should I buy and expensive bike from a bike shop or go to a retail store and buy what looks okay to ride?

Get the best bike you can't afford - the rest will break.

Seen a vid on a media site where a kid just lands a small drop off of about four feet and his headtube just left the bike causing him to stove his poor little head into the pavement !

Now that won't happen surfing because .........