Brand new to the forum and to biking

[bikerdad]

Hello everyone, My name is Craig, I am new to the forum, and also new to biking. I have always wanted to get into biking, and now I have the time. I am hoping someone can kinda lead me in the right direction. If I am new, but am very interested in getting involved in cross country biking trails, the biking hilly hundred competitions, etc.. what type of bike would you recommend to me? Also what type of gear should I look to purchase? Any ideas would be very much appreciated. I hope to help out others as well in this forum. Thanks.

[chrisx]

I think buying an old rusty bike and rebuilding it is the best place to start.  Many parts can be rebuilt, cleaned, etc.  After rebuilding it a person should be more qualified to choose an expensive bike to fit their needs.  To many salesmen try to sell you what they have, not what you need.  Also, If you can't fix it, you have to carry it.  

[sherpaxc]

I'm gonna have to disagree.  You want to enjoy your time from the get go right?  Find a bike that suits your purpose and buy it either new or a used but in good condition.  Do you want to ride more on dirt roads or dirt singletrack trails?

Welcome to the boards...

[Done]

Since you are new to biking, I'd suggest that you start by checking to see if there are any cycling groups in your area.  Just ask at few local bike shops. It's always easier to learn something new if you have people willing to share their knowledge in person--and it's always fun to have someone to ride with. Be honest and tell them that you're a newbie, and beg for some advice.

You might even look into renting different bikes for a few days so that you can get a first-hand feeling for what makes them different. Don't spend too much money on your first bike, once you decide to buy something. Somewhere around $600-1000 should get you something decent (at a REAL bike shop, not a department store), but not so good that you'll regret it when/if you decide that you want something different/better in the future. Things like suspension, weight, clipless pedals, etc. will really depend on the kind of riding that you intend to do, so take some time to think about it before plunking down the cash.

Books are a good idea too. Buy a local guidebook if there's one. There are also lots of good "how to" books out there. Buy a couple of maintenance books, since riding your bike always results in needing to fix your bike! Learn how to fix simple things first, and take your bike to a shop for the bigger things--at least until you get some experience and the proper tools.

Wear a helmet and gloves. You will crash, and both will save your skin and/or life. Cycling shorts are nice too. Otherwise, wear whatever seem comfortable. Long sleeves are a good idea for riding trails--and reduce the time it takes to clean scrapes.

If you have specific questions, please post them.

Have fun!

Cheers,
Toby