The Beginner Budget Brain

[popcorn_skollie]

Let me start by saying that personally. I would never make peace with the cost that comes with riding a bicycle. Whether you’re buying a bike, parts, protection or apparel. Everything just seems absurdly overpriced. I’ve resorted to scouring the classifieds regularly. Keeping an eye out for retailer sales and doing basic bicycle maintenance myself to save a few bucks. It’s worth mentioning though. That my sights are focussed squarely on value rather than price. Best bang for my buck as opposed to the cheapest working solution. Because as most of us here know. Goed koop. Is duur koop.

But this thread isn’t aimed at most of us. It’s for those who are keen on getting their first bike. People who are interested in cycling. But struggle to wrap their head around forking out that much cash on a bicycle.
Off the bat. This isn’t about trying to establish what it is the next person can afford. But rather trying to tackle the headspace potential buyers are in when buying that first bike.

 

Here’s a short story. Let’s see who here can relate.

Some of your friends are into mountain biking. You know nothing about it. It looks fun. It sounds like fun. You could lose a few pounds. So you reckon you’ll give it a go. You decide right away that you won’t spend more than ‘x amount’ on your first bike. I mean. Anything more than that is just ridiculous. I mean. These guys that spend so much more are probably more of an enthusiast than I’ll ever be right? Or maybe they just rolling in it.

 

So you get your first sled. A budget banger and you’re quite chuffed that you got something for such a good price. You have your first ride. Then your second, then your third and before you know it. The bug has bitten. You’re addicted. You’ve also acquired a bit of a palate since riding. If only the fork was a little plusher. Or you had a little more grip in corners. You start looking at upgrade options… and suddenly your initial budget has expanded somewhat. You start to realize that perhaps there’s something to paying a little more for something better. So you get the fork. Upped the travel from the old 100mm Suntour xct to a 120mm Rockshox Reba. Nice. It was more than what you wanted to pay but your buddies said it was a good deal and it would be worth the upgrade.

 

Then you did your tubeless. Jeez that was a small fortune wasn’t it. Get a grippier front tyre they said. Also worth it. Then the initial stoke of new parts has you happy as a hornet buzzing down the trails. But you’re still progressing. Skills are starting to develop. You’re a little fitter. A little sharper. A little faster. And you’re getting better at this. You’re loving this mtb ****. Before you know it. As reluctant as you are to admit it. The frame is letting you down. It can’t keep up anymore. It’s not as slack as you wished it were. In the end you either stubbornly upgrade a frame that simply isn’t worth the trouble. Or you sell your starter bike for chips and set your eyes on something better. Something more suited to you. Something which is going to cost much more than the budget you initially intended. Remember how vehement you were before all this? There was no way you were gonna spend more that whatever? Now ‘whatever’ is suddenly double that. If only you knew then what you know now.

It won’t ring true for everyone. The bug doesn’t always bite. But let me offer a little overly generalized advice to try and tackle that head space you’re in. How hard it is for you to come to terms with the cost of this cycling business.

The Makro special

Just don’t. I know what you’re thinking. It’s just for casual riding once or twice a month. Just so you have something. It’s cheap. Its 650b or 29er sized wheels. Comes with a warranty. You don’t intend hitting the trails regularly. It should be good enough for occasional recreational use right? And if this cycling business isn’t for you, at least you haven’t spent that much money to begin with.  NO. DON’T. JUST DON’T. As many before me have pointed out. Those bikes are pretty much almost always simply rubbish. Perhaps buying a better bike to begin with. Something which could offer a better quality ride. Would have been the tipping point to getting you addicted. A *** bike will put you off this cycling business very quickly. More importantly though. Since we’re on the topic of the beginner budget brain. If the bug doesn’t bite and you decide to sell the bike anyways. Believe it or not. A 2011 Giant XTC will be easier to sell than a 2017 Totem Saturn. If this riding business isn’t for you. Then you lose less of your initial investment if you have a better bike that's easier to sell. Nobody wants a Makro special. Least of all a used one. Moving on.

 

Accessories

 

You need a helmet. There’s no ifs or buts about this. I rode bmx as a laaitie and most of high school. Got my first mtb in 1998 and I never wore a helmet then so why do I need one now? NO. You need one. They’re expensive and you need to factor that into your budget. You could always buy used but don’t get a makro helmet for pete’s sake. Because after your next haircut it won’t fit anymore. The rest you can think about when your’re actually starting to realize that you might like this riding business after all. Gloves? Hydration? Pedals? You can think about that later.

 

26 inch wheels

 

No matter what the guy behind the counter at your local bike shop will have you believe. 26 inch wheeled bikes are not inherently inferior to other wheel sizes. There are still some 26 inch bikes that I would personally pay north of 20k for. But that’s besides the point. There is no better wheel size. It’s true that 26 inch wheels have been somewhat phased out. 650b is admittedly the new standard.
But I would buy another 26er in a heartbeat if it were the right bike at the right price. I have no concerns regarding future proofing. It’s a little harder to find tyres, hoops, forks, etc. But they’re still pretty much out there. Stans. One of the industry leaders in bicycle wheels released some brand spanking new 26er hoops for 2017. Maxxis have resurrected old 26er classic tyres with new tech. And if push comes to shove a 650b fork on a 26er frame is not the end of the world. 26er stuff are often found in bikeshop bargain bins. The classifieds are still peppered with used 26er parts. Many of them in good nick and at good prices. So you might have to be a little more resourceful but the truth is you really don’t have to worry about it.

 

XT schmeXT

 

Let me let you in on a little trade secret. A bicycles rear derailleur. Is in no way a fair indication of the overall quality of the bike its fitted to. Beginner brains love googling. They’ve learned a little something about drive train part hierarchy. So they see an XT rear derailleur and assume that the bike means business. Sigh. Trust me. Many bike companies are guilty of this. Bikes with shitty wheels and shitty suspension are often fitted with mid to high end drive train components. They’re aimed to sell. Aimed at you. You smart little googler you. Especially entry level bikes.

And if we’re talking about mountain biking. You will experience a far better quality ride if you have a bike with good wheels and good suspension (but a shitty drive train) than the other way around. You could always upgrade your drive train. Bit by bit. Its cheaper and easier. Upgrading wheels and suspension though…not so much.

There are a few other things I want to touch on but I’m tired of all this typing now. I guess we could always add more tips for the beginner budget brain in the rest of the thread. Stay tuned for my second installment which includes topics like. ‘Carbon is not gold’ and ‘Why do you want a bike anyways?’ Mmh. Maybe I should have started with that.

[Kalahari Vegmot]

.

Edited October 19, 2017 by Kalahari Vegmot

[CASSIE1975]

Waiting for the next "episode" 

[Mr lee]

Regarding the "XT" part.....it could be the 10 year old model so not really that special or should not be a deciding factor!

 

I always see this in the classifieds or gumtree/olx...."full XT" oh wow it must be good then, bonus, I'll buy it  .

 

Models change over the years and with trickle down technology the Alivio and Deore etc. of today is the same or very similar to the XT of a few years back.....but this should form part of your budget brain research....     

[AlanD]

Makro special - Guilty????.

[Butterbean]

Some of my personal lessons:

 

Most expensive doesn't always mean best, especially with kit/gloves/shoes/helmets.

 

Carbon really isn't everything

 

Competing with kit is pointless; let your legs do the talking.

 

Second hand is a great and fairly safe market, but he sure you know what you're looking for, and be aware of new and used general pricing.

 

Dont blow loads of cash till you're certain you want that specific thing.

[wildwindfr]

I like this. Awaiting the next installment

[Pikey]

Makro special - Guilty????.

Dude you didn't ????

[Pikey]

It is so easy to get wrapped up in upgrade after upgrade . Whether it be bikes,apparel or anything.

 

Once the bug bites it can take you by surprise the amount you are willing to spend on anything bicycle related.

[Sparky and the Warden]

Guilty as charged! Slacker carbon frame, 650b wheels, 170mm upfront but man does she make me smile!

[Boerklong]

It is so easy to get wrapped up in upgrade after upgrade . Whether it be bikes,apparel or anything.

 

Once the bug bites it can take you by surprise the amount you are willing to spend on anything bicycle related.

+1

[Shebeen]

Excellent!

 

For me helmet must be from a reputable company and have the right stickers from testing. That is all. An entry level bell is 10% the price of a fancy fancy one they use at the TdF, but probably safer

[Shebeen]

I also don't know how the fudge I became a bit of a bike snob. 2001 me wants to kick current men's ass!

[henningvr]

Lekker Skollie. I should never have donated my 26" Diamond Back.  

[Pikey]

I also don't know how the fudge I became a bit of a bike snob!

Ha ha you are not alone ????

[LeoKnight]

Dude you didn't

 

Me too    But foist it off very quickly and did not loose to much