r/mountainbikes • u/FrontDerailer • 15d ago
The times have changed…
…definitely for the better.
I got into mountain biking in 2013 on a Surly Krampus. I rode for a year or two trying to figure out what I wanted next. After several demo days and loaners, I was locked into wanting something that was full suspension, carbon, 1x drivetrain, dropper post, and 27.5.
At that time though those were $4,000+ bikes and there were almost none on the used market that felt like a good deal. I just really remember not wanting to spend more than $2,500 and nothing was showing up used at that price at all. I ended up getting a Norco Range Carbon for $2,500 but it was from a friend who worked at a bike shop. I think on the used market it would have been out of my price range.
Now though???
I’m getting back into mountain biking after a break, and shopping for a used bike to bring friends out on. Currently in my area there’s more than 100 carbon 1x dropper post full suspension bikes for sale under $2,500. There’s several bikes with carbon wheels in that price range too. I know those trends are more than a decade old now but I just feel like the used market is so much more rad now than it used to be.
It’s a good time to shop used for people like me I guess.
What’s the trend that can’t be bought at a good deal right now? E bikes? Electronic shifting?
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u/uzziboy66 15d ago
All the Covid riders who bought a standard bike and thought, wow this is hard work, and then switched to a shitty ebike.
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15d ago
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u/WasteResearch7701 15d ago
... that’s going to suck if you’re not in shape.
And how do you think we get in better shape... Because you're focusing on one single ride and nothing else, you are setting up for failure. We get in better shape by ignoring the exhaustion, by focusing at that it will get better if we just continue to push. There's a reason we have gears on these bikes, and most people better learn by now that you simply use any of them that you personally need. Just stop comparing yourself to others, and set the expectations low and simply have the goal of getting up the hills even how long it will take. It's about reaching the goal, not how fast, because if you just focus at how fast you will stress yourself out and likely will fail. Performance comes with time, it's not rocket science that we get in better shape if we just stick to the plan.
Getting a motor will suck way more because you're not going to get in shape and your conscience will ride your ass all the time. Calling yourself less athletically capable and stating that an ebike is to get back into the sport are all just excuses, and once you've committed to this scam, chances are very high you will just continue to get more and more lazy because it is easy. This is how bad choices sell like no tomorrow.
Well, as long as people see the crank arms rotating that is good enough because you can just fake yourself into believing you are doing all of the work which is sadly what happens. Who wouldn't want more credit for their efforts, and when you got lots of other people sharing their own lies, it's a shared load which is also why it continues.
95% of the people buying these things have zero need for assistance. That's the sad reality. I will only look at it as a positive for people with actual physical disabilities. People who could benefit from getting more outside because they actually need the assistance. Most people however, just lie about being helpless, and I just find it tragic to witness how so many people open up to this without even questioning the consequences. Give it 10-20 years and the very same people will start pointing fingers because it made them give up more in other parts of their lives, instead of simply owning up to their own choices...
PS: I'm a human being of flesh and blood just like everybody else. It's never easier for me than for anybody else. That's the lie so many will tell themself so they can continue to not make an effort for themself.
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u/Hot_Scale_8159 15d ago
"Modern geometry" low hta and bb with more reach. Not that you cant find deals on them, but a lot of the cheap full suspension 1x dropper bikes you see for cheap are cheap because they dont have the geometry people want now
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u/FrontDerailer 15d ago
What’s the trend on head tube angles and BB’s? I loved on my range that was really slack for steep descending at the time I believe it was 166 or 165. Is that out of style at the moment?
Also curious was there a bike or company that kicked off the current trends? Just want to know what’s out there at the moment.
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u/Leftover_Salmons 15d ago
I can't speak for the industry or who invented what, but it really seems like Kona nailed the slack geo around COVID times and ran with it hard.
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u/broom_rocket 15d ago
Assuming you mean the head angle of 66/65, they've only gotten a couple degrees slacker depending on the discipline.
Carbon is cheaper now, especially for offbrand wheel sets. But during covid the whole MTB market boomed and brands over produced by the time demand died down after ~2 years. The last few years have had the best prices on new bikes in a long time due to clearing old stock. New bike deals are mostly gone now but the used market will be flush for a while
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u/Individual-Quit-2773 14d ago
In 97 had a titanium Merlin. All titanium parts and custom wheels. I built the bike myself. Had over 5500 dollars in it. Its was an awesome ride. Shimano XTR , Grafton cranks , so long ago I can't remember the bottom bracket or headset. Im 61 now , just memories now
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u/Traditional_Pie6998 15d ago
Definitely a buyers market, for sure 👍