I like riding trails and I want it to be fun and exhausting without getting too rad or struggling too mightily. I don't need to send big gaps or set cross-country records. I want to be a powerful climber that cleans every technical section on the first try, and I want to descend effortlessly with a bit of style. For me, I want to go fast but be completely in control. We all have an image in our heads of the mountain biker we want to be. This is the bike for the biker I wish I was. I wanted to compare and contrast two obviously different bike categories, so I demoed a Hightower LT and a Bronson-here's how they stacked up. To narrow down my search for the bike I want, I stopped by Owenhouse and checked out their Santa Cruz line. It's the bike I have so it's the bike I use, but its not necessarily the bike I want. For about five years, I've been riding a Diamondback Mission 2, a perfectly fine bike that has been with me from Targhee's downhill trails to bikepacking trips across the Gallatins. If you aren't ready to buy, this is still a good way to get out on some super fun bikes.Ī few weeks back, I undertook such a demo day. If you do decide to make a purchase, the demo cost comes off the price of the bike. Most shops in town have demo fleets of their higher-end bikes, and for a reasonable daily fee, you can test-ride before buying. One way to guarantee you're getting your money's worth? Demo first. While committing to an expense of this size can be daunting, there are ways to hedge the bet in your favor. You'd have to replace them, and that would be more money out of your pocket. Think about it in terms of skiing: if you bought a pair of skis from a shop's rental fleet, you'd most likely destroy them early in the season. There are several reasons the investment is a good one, from having a bike that matches your skillset to cutting back on maintenance costs associated with a lower-end bike. This is the mountain biker's dilemma.įor dedicated bikers, folks that ride 4-5 times a week from the moment trails are dry in the spring until settled snow blankets trails in the fall, committing to a mid-range model feels about right. Unfortunately, mountain biking is also a really good time and riding Montana's singletrack is a highlight of the summer. Mid-range models cost between $3,000 and $5,000, and high-end bikes can be over $8,000. If there's one truth in this world, it's that mountain bikes are pricey.
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