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| Cumberland, BC will get anyone hooked on riding - Kyle Hansen photo |
Let's start by reminding ourselves that purchasing a bike is more like making an investment than buying a commodity. This is about carving out some time for yourself, staying active, meeting new people, seeing new places, and of course having fun.
With so many amazing advances in technology, and an abundance of choice (and an avalanche in the realm of women's specific, I might add), purchasing a bike is a big decision, and I'm guessing it comes with a bigger price tag than what you were expecting. Every time I get asked this question, my answer is met with a jaw drop:
Two thousand dollars.
If you're buying a new bike, I recommend having at least $2,000 to play with. That's usually about twice what people expect so if you are set on $1,000, I would recommend checking out the used market on Craigslist, Kijiji or the classified of popular cycling sites like CanadianCyclist.com, PinkBike.com, or MTBR.com/RoadBikeReview.com. Have an experienced friend help you vet them, and be sure to inspect the bike before you buy, if possible.
If buying new, the jump in quality you experience from that first extra $1,000 is really substantial and could make the difference between you riding the bike for a few years, or quickly growing out of it and buying the $2,000 one anyway.
This is one woman's opinion, but here's my thinking:
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| Rocky Mountain Thunderbolt's geometry. All these angles and measurements combine to make a ride that's perfect for you! |
1) Frame
This is BY FAR the most important part of your bicycle purchase. Take the time to figure out which frame works best for you by visiting your would-be beauties in the shop, or better yet, at a demo day. Sit on it, ride it, get that experienced friend or someone from the shop to help make sure you've got a good fit. You'll need to decide if you want to go with a hard tail (more economical) or a full-suspension (more expensive) and that will depend on what kind of riding you plan to do. Once you have your frame figured out, most manufacturers offer a range of builds that will suit your budget. For example, since I am currently in bike-shopping mode, I know that for the BC Bike Race, I am stoked on Rocky Mountain's new Thunderbolt frame. The frame has the same basic geometry across all six models on offer (caveat: the MSL bikes in the top end have a few small geo tweaks thanks to the Ride-9 System), which range in price from $1,999 all the way to $10,999. So what's the difference? Read on ...
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| A high-end groupset by Campagnolo featuring carbon fiber details |
2) Components and Tech
Your $2,000 will put you on the low-end of most trail- or road-worthy bicycles. Not to say that you'll be unsafe on a bike that you got for $400 at Wal-Mart (well actually, you might be), but I can say with almost 100% certainty that as you quickly surf that learning curve into the sport, it won't take long before you become unsatisfied. The more money you invest in your bicycle, the better, lighter, and more durable the components that come with it. I'm talking about shifters, derailleurs, cassettes, chainrings, cranks, bottom bracket, hubs, brakes, wheels, suspension (if applicable), and even saddle. This is one of those areas in life where you do truly get what you pay for.
*Tip: Almost all components can be swapped out! Start with a basic build on a frame you know works for you, and extend the life and enjoyment of your bike by making upgrades as you go.
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| Carbon Fiber is LIGHT - from hiconsumption.com |
3) Materials
Carbon fibre is nice, but it's not mandatory. Anytime carbon is introduced into the mix -- frame, wheels, fork, stem, bar, seat post etc -- the price is going to go up. The weight will also come down which for many riders (especially women and racers) is worth the price you pay. But if you want to keep the price of your bike down, stick with aluminum, steel or titanium.
4) Must-have
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| Marin's Cortina T3 CX Pro, complete with Shimano Ultegra Di2 and disc brakes |
There is really only one thing I would insist is included on your bike and that's disc brakes. They're safer, stronger, and they'll bring you a ton more confidence in your riding. Most modern mountain bikes now come with disc brakes, but if you find the rare exception, I would advise you to steer clear. Now, even road bikes are coming over to disc brakes, so keep your eye out for those and bring the same braking confidence we've had on the trail out onto the road.
Best of luck to everyone thinking about making a bicycle purchase this fall -- the 2015s are out and hopefully these tips will help you bring one home to your stable that you can enjoy for years to come. Just remember to leave some room in your budget for the other stuff, like pedals, helmets, shoes, kits, and my personal favorite: A bike fit.
For a list of 12 affordable mountain bikes, check out MTBR's roundup here.
