Choosing my Beginner Mountain Bike

I'll tell you, it wasn't easy finding all the information that I needed to make a decision. It took hours of searching the internet, visiting the local bike shops, and asking friends for their opinions. Some of the questions and comments that I ran across...

- Should I get a hard-tail or full suspension?
- Oh the frame, should it be aluminum or some type of composite carbon material?
- Do I need to worry about which derailer I get?
- Don't buy a bike from a chainsaw vendor!
- Should I get Linear-Pull Brakes or disc brakes?
- Everything is good on except the pedals
- Should I get clip-on shoes and pedals?
- You definately need a helmet!


Trust me, there were many more things to ponder, and price was important to me as well. I didn't want to spend $1,000.00 plus on my first bike. So I had a lot to learn and just wished there was a better, less time consuming way to figure out what to get. In any event, here is what I ended up getting...

REI Outlet had the Diamondback Response '09 model. - Rear hub - 32h alloy cassette with CNC disc mount - Tires - Kenda Klaw XT large casing 26x2.1 - Handlebar - DB SL318b oversize 31.8 mid rise - Stem - DB SL318s - Fork - Spinner Edge AL-1, 120mm travel - Seat post - DB SL309p Alloy Micro Adjust 30.9mm - Saddle - WTB Pure V Sport - Pedals - DB toe clip compatible platform - Headset Ahead - Crankset - TRU-VATIV ISO-FLOW 3.0 with replaceable rings, 42/32/22 - Bottom bracket - Sealed cartridge - Shifters - SRAM X-4 8-speed trigger - Front derailleur - Microshift M20 - Rear derailleur - SRAM X-4 - Rear cogs - SRAM PG-820 Cassette 11-32

I have taken the bike out a few times now and I really like it so far. So I'm planning to put some focus on getting some experience and then deciding on next steps (upgraded pedals, etc). Keep checking in and you can see where the trail leads.

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