Mountain Biking, Blew Budget on Bike, So...

Hedge

Hedge

Hedge

Soldato
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Somewhere in the middle.
So now I need to pick up some more essentials to get me started when it arrives.

Currently Ive bought...

Specialized Pitch Pro - http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/pitch-pro-08-28147

and

Giro Hex Helmet - http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Giro_Hex_Helmet/5360032480/

So that leaves me with some other essentials for riding. But for these, I want best bang for buck. Can anyone recommend any specific..

Gloves
Glasses/Goggles/Lenses (whatever they are classed as)
Hydration backpack
Multitool
Puncture kit
Jacket
Pants/shorts.

Thanks guys :)
 
Yeah have a look around CRC, check out the reviews and pickup some bargains :)

You'll also need a pump at some point ;)
 
this is really expensive getting set up right.

I know i could probably do without a few things to start, but i like to do things properly.

Camel Back Mules are about 40 quid on Merlin cycles i think, which seemed a decent price. The one that has been linked looks pretty good too for 25.

Im getting pretty psyched up about all this :D
 
Gloves are a pretty personal thing, you really need to try a few pairs on to see what suits you. Specialised Body Geometry gloves might be a good place to start looking though, Fox make some good kit too.

For a really basic multitool (e.g. 4 allen keys and a couple of screwdrivers) you could keep an eye out on MTB magazines, they quite often have some as a freebie.
 
I've got a Camelbak Rogue, just right for me as it has enough space for 2L of water and a few odd supplies for a reasonable length ride (usually about 2 hours). If you plan on carrying lots of supplies or going out for longer I would suggest a larger Camelbak. In terms of clothing, I tried on loads of different brands at a very good local bike store. I was initially thinking about the Assos clothing, but after trying on the jerseys and finding them very uncomfortable I decided to keep on looking. I tried on a few Specialized jerseys and loved the fit and feel of them. Clothing is very difficult to recommend though so I would try on those things before buying. This is what I have in case you need it for reference:

Gloves - Specialized Body Geometry
Glasses/Goggles/Lenses - Endura Stingray (comes with 4 different lenses)
Multitool - Topeak
Jacket - Specialized Deflect
Shorts - Endura (can't remember what they are called but they are black shorts and are very comfy)
Shoes - Specialized Body Geometry Expert

P.s. good choice of helmet, best all-rounder I think in terms of price, comfort, and durability; and sounds like you have bought a very nice bike, how does it ride?
 
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Hedge said:
So that leaves me with some other essentials for riding. But for these, I want best bang for buck. Can anyone recommend any specific..

Gloves
Glasses/Goggles/Lenses (whatever they are classed as)
Hydration backpack
Multitool
Puncture kit
Jacket
Pants/shorts.

Thanks guys :)
Click to expand...

Quite a lot of this is really personal stuff, but here's my take.

Will you be winter riding? You can't skimp on gloves if you do, warm gloves are just a requirement for when the temperature gets down towards freezing. But other than that, there are millions out there and most of them work. I ride in motorbike gloves personally, the summer ones are armoured but also well vented, and the winter ones are very warm. My mates think I'm weird though. I might get a pair of proper bike mitts at some point. I tend not to ride in really hot weather though, it's horrible generally.

Goggles... Full on goggles are usually overkill, sunglasses should be sufficient for most use. Ones with different lenses help, there's a DHB pair from Wiggle at £35 with a clear, dark and yellow lens that always get good reviews. I don't actually wear glasses/goggles, I like moto-x style mudguards instead, but again, my mates think I'm weird.

Hydration pack- Cyclestore can do you a Camelback Chaos for £42, it's not cheap but it's very good and that's an excellent price. Love mine. You can go cheaper, my previous riding bag/hydration thing was a £5 rucksack with a bottle of water in it :D Camelbak is NOT a requirement, it's just convenient. Or you can get a platypus hydration pack for about £8 and add it to any rucksack.

Multitool- buy cheap, buy twice. Topeak Alien 2 is the multitool, for me, it's awesome. MBUK might still be giving away Specialized EMT Comps, they're good too. If you do decide to buy cheap, buy really cheap, no sense in going halfway. Tescos... They're awful tools but they're better than nothing, and then get a real one later.

Puncture kit- any decently strong levers, and Park Tools patches, for me. Not a big expense but good patches are worth it. Get some spare tubes, Tesco sell perfectly decent MTB tubes for about £2. I always carry at least one tube as well as patches, for those times when I just can't be bothered to mend a puncture.

Jacket- check your local LIDL, their riding shirt and winter jacket are spot on.

Shorts- any old shorts will do frankly, you don't sweat that much through your thighs :) I do have a nice pair of Alturas now but before that I was just wearing normal cargo shorts, they were fine. You don't need to be very choosy on shorts.
 
Thanks for that reply mate, comprehensive.

Ill look into everything youve mentioned.

Cheers :)
 
Hedge said:
this is really expensive getting set up right.

I know i could probably do without a few things to start, but i like to do things properly.

Camel Back Mules are about 40 quid on Merlin cycles i think, which seemed a decent price. The one that has been linked looks pretty good too for 25.

Im getting pretty psyched up about all this :D
Click to expand...

I know what you mean. I just bought a Specialized SJ FSR XC Elite '09, shades, helmet, lycra tights and other things and I think I've spent nearly £2500. I'm glad I did though, absolutely love riding again, I'm out everyday apart from when it's throwing it down like tonight. Hopefully it's dry tomorrow.
 
Bike arrived yesterday.

Been out a couple of times, but still need to get a few more items to enjoy it properly.

Compared to bikes ive ridden in the past its like a rolls royce!

Yesterday I went down some nice steep hills and stuff, but managed to ride through the biggest dog turd ive ever encountered. Stuck to my tyres like glue lol, so I had to ride through puddles for 10 mins :D

Plan on going for a nice ride on sunday , but ive got a few more essentials to buy :(

I knew I would need to spend on extras but it sure adds up.

Could easily spend 300 quid on top of the initial outlay.

Helmet and Pedals cost me 85 quid.

Ill need a Shock pump, gloves, chain lube, glasses, jackets, pants/shorts etc..

costs a bomb!
 
Did it not come with a shock pump? Poor show... You're right though, it's pricey. I think I've spent more on tools and gear since I got my bike than I did on the bike itself :rolleyes:
 
My bike has air shocks but it definitely didn't come with a pump. But I read that if the o-ring is three quarters down the shock or 75% after a ride then it's set correctly, which it is.

It's going in for a service start of February anyway, so any kinks can be worked out then.
 
Hedge said:
lol am i missing something? i thought the RP2 rear shock on the pitch was an air shock?

Ive not even done enough research or reading to know lol. Aint really worked my bike out yet
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Yeah it is, I believe the Pike front is spring though. I was just answering the question "Should they come with a shock pump? Mine didn't, are they necessary?" ;)

Jimi said:
My bike has air shocks but it definitely didn't come with a pump. But I read that if the o-ring is three quarters down the shock or 75% after a ride then it's set correctly, which it is.

It's going in for a service start of February anyway, so any kinks can be worked out then.
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Where did you buy it? Quite a few shops dont pass on all the items they should that come with new bikes...
 
Burned_Alive said:
Yeah it is, I believe the Pike front is spring though. I was just answering the question "Should they come with a shock pump? Mine didn't, are they necessary?" ;)



Where did you buy it? Quite a few shops dont pass on all the items they should that come with new bikes...
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I bought it from Evans Cycles, online. I got a sag meter with it which I haven't used yet. I got a multi tool so they can't be too stingy.
 
Burned_Alive said:
Where did you buy it? Quite a few shops dont pass on all the items they should that come with new bikes...
Click to expand...
Bikes don't come with shock pumps.

MTB'ing does get expensive - i've spent £4k on bikes and another £2k on gear since January 07.
Get out there though and enjoy the riding :)
 
A Pike can be air or coil, and the amount of air a front or rear shock requires depends on the sag and the type of riding you're doing. In general the shock should compress ~25% of it's stroke when you just sit on the bike geared up.
 
6thElement said:
A Pike can be air or coil, and the amount of air a front or rear shock requires depends on the sag and the type of riding you're doing. In general the shock should compress ~25% of it's stroke when you just sit on the bike geared up.
Click to expand...

Thats actually not far off what my rear moves.

I really wanna get out on a trail , was planning on getting out tomorrow but Ive agreed to do night shift tonight :(
 
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