Hit the following link to ask Mountain Bike Action a question: mbaction@hi-torque.com


HARDTAIL OR SUSPENSION
I'm 14 years old, 5 feet, 5 inches tall, 120 pounds and growing. I've got $1200 dollars and narrowed my search to the Giant Talon, Specialized Rockhopper, Fezzari Wiki Peak, and Giant Yukon. Can you help point me in the right direction?
-Derek, who needs a second opinion
Mountain Bike Action: At your budget, your best bet is to go with a hardtail. You'll get more bang for your hard-earned bucks. Riding a hardtail will teach you to pick better lines and thus make you a faster rider when you transition to a full-suspension bike one day. We spent a lot of time on the Giant Talon 29er this past year and were blown away by it. That would be our recommendation hands down. We did a side-by-side comparison of the $1000 Giant Yukon FX (dual-suspension) and the $1000 Giant Talon 29er in our October 2011 issue (click here to red the shootout). Check it out if you still have doubts.


WAKE FROM A TRANCE
Ride a Giant Trance X3 for exploring logging roads and singletrack, and I do a lot of climbing. I’m 52 years old and have been thinking of an all-mountain bike with a better setup to attack the downhill portions of my rides, but I’m torn. I don’t want to give up the climbing efficiency that I have with my Trance. Is there truly an "all-mountain" bike that can climb as well as my Trance?
--Brett, who goes up and down
Mountain Bike Action: The quick answer is no. You climb a lot, and the majority of your riding is on less technical terrain. We also guess that you are experienced and know how to handle a bike. Why trade one calorie of climbing ability to go a little faster on the descents? As a rider gets older, it all comes down to climbing. It makes the whole ride better if you feel stronger on the climbs, because you will always spend more time climbing than you do descending--unless you get shuttled (but that’s another story). Let’s face it; every downhill is fun no matter how hard you ride it. Stick with your Trance; work the climbs and have fun on the descents.


LONGER TRAVEL?
Ride a Titus Racer X, and as I’ve grown older, I’ve experienced more back problems. I don’t want to stop riding. Would a longer-travel 29er help my back?
-Eddie Z with a stiff back
Mountain Bike Action: Go test ride a Trek “Fisher Signature” Superfly 100. It is technically a cross-country race bike, but it is also an ideal trailbike. Those 29-inch wheels matched with 3.9 inches of travel seem perfect, unless you ride in very technical terrain. You will find that a bike’s weight is the biggest issue as you get older. Every ounce you can take off the bike means a better experience. The Superfly 100 is plenty light enough. If the Superfly doesn’t feel right, try to grab a ride on a Niner R.I.P. 9. You can build this bike a lot of different ways. We just tested one in the September 2011 issue, and that bike is impressive.


HOLD THAT $2000
I am 5'6" and 145 pounds. I want a fast, efficient, light, and, most of all, inexpensive hardtail cross-country race bike for cross-country and endurance racing as my second bike (I already have a Yeti 575). What bikes would you suggest for $2000?  
-Gabriel, ready to race
Mountain Bike Action: Can we throw you a curve ball? We think you should take some of those 2000 dollars and fit your Yeti 575 with lightweight wheels and tires. The Yeti 575 is far from a porker of a frame, and even with almost 6 inches of travel, it would serve very well for endurance racing and sport-level cross-country racing. If your talents have elevated you above the sport level, the cold hard truth is that a $2000 hardtail is not going to cut it, because your competition is going to be competing on lighter and better-equipped hardtails or dual-suspension bikes. If you don’t like our first suggestion and are set on a $2000 hardtail just for cross-country racing, we’d recommend the Cannondale Flash 29'er 2. The thing is a little rocket, and the current generation Lefty fork is the best yet. Another cool feature (for racers) is the 2x10 drivetrain.


Mountain Bike Action Brain Trust: I’m a high school freshman and racing in the So Cal Mountain Bike Racing League. I am looking to buy a 29er full-suspension mountain bike that is light enough for cross-country racing, yet durable enough for more technical singletrack. My budget is between $2,500 and $3,000. Suggestions?
-Hunter, who wants to haul
Mountain Bike Action: At the top of the list is the Specialized Epic Comp 29er, although it breaks your budget limit by $100. This bike is ideal for Southern California terrain and plenty tough enough to be used as your do-it-all trailbike. Next up is the Trek Fisher Collection HiFi Deluxe, which is slightly less a cross-country racer and more of a trailbike. It sells for $2620 and will be more than competitive on the high school racing circuit.


Hey Mountain Men: Want a Trek Rumblefish. I’m 6'7" tall and 255 pounds at the moment. I am trying to lose weight before I buy the bike. What are your thoughts?
-Justin ready to get trim
Mountain Bike Action: You are making the correct decision with the Rumblefish. Its shock (Trek’s Dual Rate Control Valve technology) is good for a guy like you because you can pressure it up to support your weight, but it will still give you the travel as you move into its travel without becoming overly harsh near the end of its travel. Get the bike now and use it to help lose that weight. But trust us, you need to reduce calories. Riding alone won’t take off that much.


Dear Mountain Bike Action pumpers: Your article on how to build a pump track (MBA, August 2010) got me off the fence and so I've decided to build a pump track in the back yard for me and my kids! I'm renting a BobCat and even going to put lights out there for night riding. The only PT riding I've done thought has been on a 29er. No fun. I'm looking for a pure PT bike and have a few questions. What are the Pros and cons of geared and single-speed PT bikes. What wheel size should I consider with me being six feet tall. I know I'm going to dig it, so I want a bike that's going to last and make PT riding fun and easy. I'm pumped!
- Warren from Michigan.
Mountain Bike Action: Way to go, Warren. You will love having the track and the kids will love you more for putting it in. The lights are a great idea and don't forget a sound system (be sure to invite the neighbors to ride the track).

There is no such thing as a pump track bike. We have had everything from little kids on Strider bikes to 29'er hardtail cross-country race bikes to five-inch-travel trailbikes doing laps on the MBA pump track and none of those riders were complaining. Still, if you are building your own track, we can tell you what will get you around it with the biggest smile.

What works best are small-sized, aluminum-framed hardtails with beefy, yet short travel forks. There is not an advantage going with larger-sized frames even for a guy your height. The smallest you can fit on without feeling cramped is best. Remember, you are always pumping with your arms and legs and you are never sitting down. Twenty-six-inch wheels are the optimal size. There is no need to build a bike from scratch because what we have just described is a dirt jump bike.

The plus of having a geared dirt jump bike is its versatility. The kids can actually trail ride it especially in the mountain-less regions of Michigan. The negative is, on the pump track the derailleur is just one more thing to break and there is no need for it. So, if you are just going to use this bike for pumping, go single-speed.

We have done laps with a cruiser-class BMX bike equipped with 24-inch wheels and a rigid fork. It is the fastest way to get around our track, but it works you and it not as forgiving. Fastest? Yes. Most fun? No.

As far as a bike recommendation, that's easy. We have ridden the wheels off a Giant STP. On our pump track nights, our little STP doesn't get a rest. It goes from one rider to the next, get tossed on the ground from time to time and except for a little chain lube, we haven't touched the thing. Its geometry, bar, tires, pedals and fork are perfect for pumping.