I'm sure this has been asked before, so excuse what's probably a novice question. I'm a competent age group runner (2.53 marathon last year at 47) who for various reasons has decided to shift focus and is moving into X-terra this summer.

I'm obviously comfortable on my feet and my swimming is what it is (I'm working on it in the right way) but I barely know where to begin with finding an appropriate bike.

I have to say by nature I'm quite competitive so the plan is to push myself and while this summer I'll keep focussing on running (because I can compete there) while I "learn" Xterra and get my toes wet with a few trial races, by next summer I'd like to have made some strides. But as now, I'm still bumbling along the trails on my wife's ten year old unbranded mountain bike. What do I do? Right now, sorting out the bike question is my biggest problem.

I don't want to spend a fortune (well, I do, but I haven't got a fortune to spend) and where I'm lost is not so much brands and models (though I'm lost there, too) as do I get a hardtail or a full-suspension, downhill bike or an X-C, what components do I search out, or whatever. It's all double-dutch to me. In short, for Xterra, where do I begin?

If it changes anything I am _base_d in the UK and I really need to get this problem addressed without delay. Thanks for any help or advice you can give.

Obviously Melanie will have a more reliable answer but if you don't mind i would like to give my opinion as long as i come from road triathlon and i had the same doubts.
PS1: sorry for my terrible english... i'm from Brazil.
PS2: sorry Mel if i say something really stupid.
Well, first of all: if you can spend, in my opinion the best is get both, as long some courses are better for hard tail
( fast courses, with long and not so technical ascents ) and some courses are better for full suspension ( technical downhils, plane courses but with lots of holes, etc ). If you will have only one bike i'd chose a light full suspension ( 22 to 26.5 pounds ), with good components, for me: shimano XT or more, XTR group; suspension and fork with locks for the ascents ( or a intelligent one that you don't need to lock ), etc. Brands ? Well every brand has a top bike, a medium and a simpler one, the components are quite the same from brand to brand with the same price, what really change is the _frame_... well, Mel's BMC is beautifull and a hell of a bike, but there are lots of others. Another important thing: I think you should have a road bike for some specific workouts...don't need to be a competitive bike as long it's just for training. Don't want to talk so much... my advice ? talk with a friend of yours who has MTB experience, read MTBaction magazine and read as much as you can this forum and XTERRA's forum.
Bye, hope i helped and if you can, come to XTERRA Brazil, in August. It is a very tecnical course with all: technical ascents and descents, long ascents, singe tracks, etc. If you want to come here to train i'll be very pleased to show the couse. Bye. Congratulatios for entering XTERRA family. Luiz.

Post edited by: lfcgatti, at: 2007/05/08 23:09

Post edited by: lfcgatti, at: 2007/05/08 23:25

Thanks for the reply. There's a lot of good information in there, but can you be (a lot) more specific? What you've really said is buy two mountain bikes and while you're at it, throw in a road bike too. I appreciate that you've done a good job of qualifying and explaining why you've said that, but let's be honest it doesn't help answer a question about buying a bike on limited resources. The reality is you've given a clear example of why up to now I've focussed exclusively on running! The perception that I don't have enough money to do anything else has simply scared me (and no doubt others) away from multi-sport.

What I need to is the best possible one-size-fits-all bike for Xterra. I have three kids, a wife, and other things I have spent to money on!!!! As a good age group runner, if I lose something on the bike I'm quite confident I can make it up on foot, but I do have to compromise on wheels. So: one bike. Reasonable cost (i.e. not entry level but not pro-spec either). Recommendation?

Ok, here is my input.

Nearly all of the Xterra courses, particularly the courses in Europe, are not very technical. As a beginner, riding a dual suspension will be more forgiving when riding on rocks and roots but learning on a hardtail is fine as well. I think Hawaii is probably better on a dual suspension... but I have won three times on a hardtail. Go figure.

Pros to hardtail:

1. Usually a bit less expensive with comparable components
2. Lighter so better on long climbing courses (like Tahoe)
3. Very responsive; road feel for climbing (not really what you care about if you are just starting)
4. Teaches you to ride singletrack more smoothly; great technical riders usually ride hardtails better

Pros to dual suspension:

1. Allow mistakes in singletrack (you can bash into more stuff)
2. Saves your back on particularly bumpy courses for the run (like Hawaii)
3. Can save you from flats (and allows you to run lower tire pressure)
4. Great on flatter, power courses as you can pedal more through bumps etc

Really it comes down to what you want. You will do better on any bike than your wife's 10 year old whatever bike. Mostly because your new bike will probably fit better. I would definitely invest time and money into riding clipless pedals (like Shimano SPDs) because flat pedals are crap for climbing. Get your new bike fit properly, find some buddies and then go play. Mountain biking has a learning curve like skiing and snowboarding so my best advice is to just keep practicing. Your run fitness with transfer beautifully (I was a runner before I was a cyclist) but don't be alarmed when your legs start growing giant muscles. My advice is to also do your homework on your front shock. You can end up with a crap front fork that requires hours of maintenance... if you don't get a Fox

I am riding my BMC FS02 right now and LOVE it. Super fun bike (you have to go UP a size that your would normally ride). That said, the Team Elite 01 will be my bike for Temecula. Choice is great and it is hard to say what is the "right" answer. I would go try a bunch of bikes out and decide _base_d on your budget and what you have offered to you.

Sorry if i wasn't so specific. Well, if i had to choose one bike ? A light full suspension ( 22 to 26.5 pounds ), with shimano XT group( shifters, brakes, wheels, etc ), disc brakes, fox RL 100mm fork ( or Rock shox Reba or Manitou R7 ), SPD clipless pedals, a rear suspension with lock, and i would put stan's no tubes ( latex sealant ) on the tires instead of using tubes ( it saves weight and flats ). But, like Mel said the most important is to go riding. Well, i have a Scott Genius RC 20 that fits what you need and i love it. Bye, Luiz.

Post edited by: lfcgatti, at: 2007/05/12 01:37

Hey Trolley, I'm not sure where you are _base_d in the UK but if you are close to London have a look at the Gorrick series or the Southern XC series for good practice races.

I started this Xterra lark last year after 6 years of Ironman racing and got a full suspension bike (GT idrive 4) which is a definitely good choice to begin with. Which is confirmed everytime I go up to Afan to train. I also bought a hardtail to learn the skills that I didn't have to because the bike is so forgiving. That said I would do the dame again as it get you the fitness and _base_ skills specific to mtb racing to allow you to progress.

Welcome and good luck (unless you are in M40-44)