It's amazing, I never have any trouble in buying anything usually, Car's, look at what I need (estate, 4x4, saloon etc.) read the reviews see a couple of YouTube videos search the internet and then go and find the one you want, easy. I also sail a dinghy, that’s a simple, what class of boats are sailed/raced local, does the daughter like it can we both handle it etc you know the sequence, it's easy.
As for the clubs, you get the gear envy and snobbery which can be painful at times but you can usually ignore the Hyacinths and Jones's (apologies if anyone reading this is a Jones or Hyacinth no offence intended). Most members are just down to earth nice people willing to help. The strength of the club or class come from its members.
However, taking up a new sport like mountain biking I am not finding this task as easy as I expected.
Not because I suffer from wanting the best although I do want to get the best I can afford as well as we all do, I have a set budget for everything, including the rack. It's just a longer process than expected with more variables in the mix than I had thought possible.
What to buy, New or not so New.
When I started my quest, I rode the Haibike hard seven first from Cycle Republic, it was in my price range and it looked cool, loved it to bits, smashing and promptly put my order in, I got over excited,
I then went and took a Moustache Samedi 27 Race 6 out a few days later (my mates’ bike) and loved that even more, bit more money, but I just won’t get the bike rack was my thoughts. Then I was spoken to by my lovely wife who made me ask the question is the Haibike the right decision.
I hit the internet for the answer to the question everyone asks, what is the best bike for me.
The type, a full suspension bike, because I love the buzz of the trail riding and going at speed downhill.
The make of bike don't really seem to matter at this stage, I have ridden a Cube, Haibike, Moustache, Trek, and Levo, each and every one made me smile, all were different of course, none were set up for me specifically they were here you go and ride. But the biggest smile was the Levo and I don't really know why, it might have been because it was a sunny day and it was a dam good ride.
My search lead to me finding this forum (Thank you Rob for having the vision and motivation to create it) and spoke to and went to meet a few people read the articles and listened, you are an amazing bunch of very knowledgeable and helpful people thank you.
However, you got me thinking, do I need a NEW bike, why should i buy a NEW bike, you read about people buying second hand with no issues, bike shops happy to trade in and send them back out again offering support in the form of a basic warranty. So, what's the problem.
So, you’re not getting the 2019 model but any glitches that the 2017/18 model had would have been ironed out by the previous owner, as long as it’s been serviced regularly, your good to go aren't you.
The question rattling around in my head is, what life the bike had before, was it abused, miss treated, got faults.
It's the same buying anything second hand, where and who you buy it from matters, it's a chance, you can reduce that a bit by using these forums to ask questions and reading posts other people have put up about their bike, doing as much research as possible and taking it for a ride, working on the fact if it feels ok then it probably is, if in doubt ask someone.
So, for me it's going to be second hand rather than new, I feel that I will get more for less, concerns about a particular bike manufacture or bike shop before I hand over my cash I can at least ask if anyone else has had any bad experience with them.
I have been watching eBay with interest, it's a good guide on second hand prices you can expect to pay, I've put the odd cheeky bid in with the view that if I got it for that price I could afford to change the motor and or forks if found to be faulty. You can guess I haven't won yet. Ha-ha.
Personally, I have concluded I would prefer to buy from a dealer, and buy one they have taken as a trade in they have looked after, it will improve my odds of getting something good, ok they have to make a bit themselves but that's the cost of reducing your risk.
As for the clubs, you get the gear envy and snobbery which can be painful at times but you can usually ignore the Hyacinths and Jones's (apologies if anyone reading this is a Jones or Hyacinth no offence intended). Most members are just down to earth nice people willing to help. The strength of the club or class come from its members.
However, taking up a new sport like mountain biking I am not finding this task as easy as I expected.
Not because I suffer from wanting the best although I do want to get the best I can afford as well as we all do, I have a set budget for everything, including the rack. It's just a longer process than expected with more variables in the mix than I had thought possible.
What to buy, New or not so New.
When I started my quest, I rode the Haibike hard seven first from Cycle Republic, it was in my price range and it looked cool, loved it to bits, smashing and promptly put my order in, I got over excited,
I then went and took a Moustache Samedi 27 Race 6 out a few days later (my mates’ bike) and loved that even more, bit more money, but I just won’t get the bike rack was my thoughts. Then I was spoken to by my lovely wife who made me ask the question is the Haibike the right decision.
I hit the internet for the answer to the question everyone asks, what is the best bike for me.
The type, a full suspension bike, because I love the buzz of the trail riding and going at speed downhill.
The make of bike don't really seem to matter at this stage, I have ridden a Cube, Haibike, Moustache, Trek, and Levo, each and every one made me smile, all were different of course, none were set up for me specifically they were here you go and ride. But the biggest smile was the Levo and I don't really know why, it might have been because it was a sunny day and it was a dam good ride.
My search lead to me finding this forum (Thank you Rob for having the vision and motivation to create it) and spoke to and went to meet a few people read the articles and listened, you are an amazing bunch of very knowledgeable and helpful people thank you.
However, you got me thinking, do I need a NEW bike, why should i buy a NEW bike, you read about people buying second hand with no issues, bike shops happy to trade in and send them back out again offering support in the form of a basic warranty. So, what's the problem.
So, you’re not getting the 2019 model but any glitches that the 2017/18 model had would have been ironed out by the previous owner, as long as it’s been serviced regularly, your good to go aren't you.
The question rattling around in my head is, what life the bike had before, was it abused, miss treated, got faults.
It's the same buying anything second hand, where and who you buy it from matters, it's a chance, you can reduce that a bit by using these forums to ask questions and reading posts other people have put up about their bike, doing as much research as possible and taking it for a ride, working on the fact if it feels ok then it probably is, if in doubt ask someone.
So, for me it's going to be second hand rather than new, I feel that I will get more for less, concerns about a particular bike manufacture or bike shop before I hand over my cash I can at least ask if anyone else has had any bad experience with them.
I have been watching eBay with interest, it's a good guide on second hand prices you can expect to pay, I've put the odd cheeky bid in with the view that if I got it for that price I could afford to change the motor and or forks if found to be faulty. You can guess I haven't won yet. Ha-ha.
Personally, I have concluded I would prefer to buy from a dealer, and buy one they have taken as a trade in they have looked after, it will improve my odds of getting something good, ok they have to make a bit themselves but that's the cost of reducing your risk.
