Quick tips and resources for purchasing a used mountain bike
Here is a great post from our very own coach Brie. We call her the "Gear Guru" because she knows her stuff. If you are in the market for your first mountain bike, going the used bike route can be the best option to really learn what works for you without the expense of investing in a new bike with all the "bells and whistles".
It can be intimidating walking into a bike store, only be to shown $5000 bikes. Seriously....you could buy a car for that! Good news, you don't NEED to purchase a $5K bike to get a good bike and get out and enjoy some trails.
First off, I DO think it is a good idea to head into your local bike shop and test ride a couple bikes and get fitted to a frame. All bike shops will allow you to take the bike out for a quick test ride in the parking lot. If they won't, leave.
---> Once you have an idea of brand, model, frame size and options that you would like to see on your "new to you" bike, I suggest the following sites:
I have not used this site before, but I love how many options you have to look through! This is why having an idea of brand and options is important. Check out PinkBike. It's an online used bike store, plus a whole lot more.
Next is CraigsList, but as always, with Craigs List....buyer beware! Please take someone with you if you are going to check out a bike, just for safety reasons. But also a second set of eyes on the bike.
Here in Denver there is a FaceBook page that is pretty sweet for people looking to buy and sell bikes. They are 14K members strong. You can post what you are looking for or keep an eye out for someone selling. Check out Front Range Bike Swap on FaceBook.
There are a couple Used Bike Stores around town too that are worth checking out if you have the time.
Lucky Bikes Re-cyclery - I buy all my kids bikes here as they grow out of them every year it seems. You may have to check in often as their stock rotates quite a bit however I've seen some sweet mountain bikes in here!
Randy's Recycled Cycles - I haven't been to this store yet, but I think they would be worth checking out as well.
Here is a quick video on what to look for when looking at a used bike. It is very informational and will help you out when it comes to making your final decision!
Happy Hunting!!
View the original post and more resources on Brie's site here. ~ Learn more about Brie and women's coaching and trailblazing team HERE.
Hey ladies! Looking for new riding buddies to explore new trails with? Check out our women's mountain biking training group starting next month:
Join us for weekly group rides where we will explore beginner and intermediate friendly trails across the front range starting in mid September!
We will meet several times a week for guided/coached rides at the best places to view fall colors and culminate with some epic longer rides (with the option to join our Moab Adventure weekend!).
Learn more/register now HERE.