Feb 11, 2010
How To Improve My Mountain Bike?
Hi I’m new to biking. I’m starting to get more and more interested in mountain biking. I enjoy going to my local canyon in Aliso Viejo. I was just wondering what are some inexpensive and easy ways to make my bike well, better(faster, lighter, etc.). I have a specialized that i bought a few years ago. it has disk brakes, shocks, 24 gears, it was about 300 dollars. so how do i make it better?
Related posts:
- How Much Psi Should Be In The Front Shocks On My Mountain Bike? I have an older Jamis Dakota mountain bike. It’s a hardtail with front shocks. Not sure if the shocks are original (bought it from someone). Is there a general guideline regarding how much pressure should be in those shocks? They...
- How Do I Build A Mountain Bike Myself? I’m getting back into biking and bought an inexpensive mountain bike (ok ATB if you’re picky) from a local store. I decided that I’d like to try to build one since I used to be obsessed with these things. I’ve...
- How To Do Wheelie On A Normal Mountain Bike Which Has No Gears And Disk Brakes? Please someone help me to do wheelies on a normal mountain bike with no gears and disk brakes ...
- Why Don’t Bmx Street/dirt Bikes Utilize Some Mountain Bike Parts? For many years now, a lot of BMXers have demanded lighter bikes. For example, a way to make BMX street/dirt bikes lighter would be to use MTB bottom brackets, cranks, aluminum seat posts. These parts are still strong but also...
- What Can Be Done To Improve A Mountain Bike? Right, well I don’t know too much about mountain bikes, and was wondering what could be done to improve a mountain bike? I mean parts i can buy and fit myself? Any help would be greatful, any questions I will...
First look the price of a brand new bike that is a step up from yours. You maybe able to sell yours and invest a few hundred dollars and get a completely new bike with better components. Remember, that an older bike will require maintenance like a new chain, cog, chainrings, crank, etc quicker than a brand new one.
Not a good idea to spend more on the bike than you paid for it originally! You could easily spend $500 on a good set of wheels and make it lighter but that wont make you a better rider or even faster, and it will make your wallet lighter without making you faster too! Now you could also spend around $250 for an XT crank and shave a few ounces or more and then you have an old bike and a new crank and for what? You would be better served by saving all this money that you may or may not have and put it toward a current year model or and 08′ or earlier with several upgrades over what you presently have and it would likely be money better spent. None of this will make you faster not even going to 9 speed will make you faster….speed is all about your handling of the bike and your skill at pedaling!
If you don’t already have them, get some bar ends for your handlebars. They will allow you to switch hand positions so you are less likely to fatigue. Clipless pedals are nice. You can get them that recess into your shoes so you can walk with them on. They will make you more efficient in transferring energy from your legs to your bicycle. Lightening your bike can be nice. Anytime you can remove rotational weight, that is a plus. Getting lighter wheels would make more of a difference than taking the same amount of weight off the frame.
without gettin stupid spending $$ on a 300.0$ bike. source out parts price/gram. saddle, stem, seatpost, hdlbar, innertubes, tires foldable, swapout rimstrip for rimtape. if you know how to tru a wheel chg spoke nipples from steel to alloy. remove spacers & cut extra off the fork steerer tube. start thinkin bout spendin much might as well buy new liter bike with better components.
How much money are you willing to spend?