Newb, need my hand holding and plenty of help

diggidydog

Hi,

I want to get really in to mountain biking and eventually freeride. Partly to do with fitness but mainly for fun and social reasons. I go to the gym and it bores the crap out a me!
I don't really know where to start. I live in Leeds but have a van so can travel wherever.
I was going to nick my dads old GT Zaskar that is in mint condition and then see how it goes from there.
Eventually i want a decent bike but that will be when i am up an running and i know people who i can get out with on a regular basis.
I do need advice on everything. Maintenance, parts, clothing, helmet etc etc the list goes on.

So if there is anyone out there willing to kinda take me under there wing that would be great!

Or and i am 29, very laid back, don't do serious. lifes too short for being serious,and pretty much act like a child

Get in touch and take me on.

Thanks!!!

supersonic

The bike is a great piece of kit to start on, though is a little racy. Make sure it fits and is comfortable - you might want to get a shorter, steeper stem to bring the bars higher and closer to you. Also a slightly wider bar may help control. But give it a go, see how it feels!

diggidydog

supersonic wrote:

The bike is a great piece of kit to start on, though is a little racy. Make sure it fits and is comfortable - you might want to get a shorter, steeper stem to bring the bars higher and closer to you. Also a slightly wider bar may help control. But give it a go, see how it feels!

Thanks for the advice. I take it at this stage i shouldnt worry too much about it not being full susspension?

andrewjoseph

Decide if you like riding normal XC type stuff before you take on 'Freeride'. You will need to build up skill to a very high level before you take on freeriding.

A helmet is a must, good shoes, gloves, possibly armour (when you start 'going big').

mattrixdesign2

diggidydog wrote:

supersonic wrote:

The bike is a great piece of kit to start on, though is a little racy. Make sure it fits and is comfortable - you might want to get a shorter, steeper stem to bring the bars higher and closer to you. Also a slightly wider bar may help control. But give it a go, see how it feels!

Thanks for the advice. I take it at this stage i shouldnt worry too much about it not being full susspension?

Ignore full susspension... for anything decent you will need to pay big money. Stick to the GT (nice retro bike BTW!) for now, get used to it. For what you plan to do I can not see you needing full suss, but if you do get to that point you should have some ideas on exactly what you want.

diggidydog

mattrixdesign2 wrote:

diggidydog wrote:

supersonic wrote:

The bike is a great piece of kit to start on, though is a little racy. Make sure it fits and is comfortable - you might want to get a shorter, steeper stem to bring the bars higher and closer to you. Also a slightly wider bar may help control. But give it a go, see how it feels!

Thanks for the advice. I take it at this stage i shouldnt worry too much about it not being full susspension?

Ignore full susspension... for anything decent you will need to pay big money. Stick to the GT (nice retro bike BTW!) for now, get used to it. For what you plan to do I can not see you needing full suss, but if you do get to that point you should have some ideas on exactly what you want.

great, appreciate the help!

jediblade

My suggestion is get out and ride with a group of people or with a shop- I started riding with my local shop (http://www.psychlosport.co.uk/) on a wednesday in Harrogate and I've improved a hell of a lot-not far for you to travel to give it a go-meet at the shop at 6:15 on a Wednesday night- first Wednesday of the month being an away ride sotry and get there a little earlier to arrange cars etc.

ThePriory1978

diggidydog wrote:

I was going to nick my dads old GT Zaskar that is in mint condition and then see how it goes from there.

Thats a really nice bike to start on. Jealous.

diggidydog wrote:

I do need advice on everything. Maintenance, parts, clothing, helmet etc etc the list goes on.

Get one asap. Don't do anything serious without head protection. You will die*

* Death is not guaranteed but mtbing without a helmet is classed as being a dumbass

diggidydog

ThePriory1978 wrote:

diggidydog wrote:

I was going to nick my dads old GT Zaskar that is in mint condition and then see how it goes from there.

Thats a really nice bike to start on. Jealous.

diggidydog wrote:

I do need advice on everything. Maintenance, parts, clothing, helmet etc etc the list goes on.

Get one asap. Don't do anything serious without head protection. You will die*

* Death is not guaranteed but mtbing without a helmet is classed as being a dumbass

Must admit, i am surprised about the appreciation for the GT. its nice but old. Maybe i should just upgrade it rather than get a new bike, Disc brakes, new susspension etc

supersonic

You might not need disc brakes, Vs work fine for many. And the Bomber is a good fork.

diggidydog

supersonic wrote:

You might not need disc brakes, Vs work fine for many. And the Bomber is a good fork.

Girlfriend will be pleased people are talking me out of spending money on the bike!
Will look in to the stem and bars though

finnj6

I'm not too sure that frame or fork will take disk breaks, from that photo it doesn't look like it has mounts. For starting out tho v-brakes are fine, I started mountain biking about a year ago on a bike with Vs the only reason I changed to disks was that the bike I had was an XL which was too big, and hard for me to control so I needed to get a new bike. I ended up buying a medium size bike

walkingbootweather

Agree with others, this is a very nice retro bike.. My first proper bike was a lower spec GT Tequesta and I still miss it. Used it for some pretty extreme off roading, for touring, commuting and trips to the pub.

Just get out are ride it. After a few trips out you will start to get an idea of the sort of riding you enjoy, and can consider adapting what you have or getting something else.

5pudgun

Why not have a word with your dad?

diggidydog

jediblade wrote:

My suggestion is get out and ride with a group of people or with a shop- I started riding with my local shop (http://www.psychlosport.co.uk/) on a wednesday in Harrogate and I've improved a hell of a lot-not far for you to travel to give it a go-meet at the shop at 6:15 on a Wednesday night- first Wednesday of the month being an away ride sotry and get there a little earlier to arrange cars etc.

Hi,

I have just been on the phone to psychlosport. Going to nip down next week and get the bike serviced. Consider looking at shorter stems and wider bars as advised.
Can also have a chat with the guy about the shop rides out. Should be good! Can't wait to be honest, be nice to get back out again. Just ned to look in to clothing, helmet etc now!

hucking_fell

Nice bike / frame. I'm sure someone would pay quite a bit for it. Maybe sell it and buy a modern one if that's what you want ?

kaiser83 has already offered to buy it from you.

The large pic of it in your sig is a bit repetitive and annoying though. Sorry.

diggidydog

Hucking Fell wrote:

Nice bike / frame. I'm sure someone would pay quite a bit for it. Maybe sell it and buy a modern one if that's what you want ?

kaiser83 has already offered to buy it from you.

The large pic of it in your sig is a bit repetitive and annoying though. Sorry.

to be honest with ya i dont really know how i managed to get it on there or how to get it, or at least change the settings :?

cooldad

Hucking Fell wrote:

The large pic of it in your sig is a bit repetitive and annoying though. Sorry.

+1 big yellow potato

Shaggy_Dog

That Zaskar has given me a semi. I need to build my LTS

Rich Hcp

You're starting the right way, stick with the Yellow Peril and see what type of rides you like to do best.

I wouldn't upgrade you're dads bike, not worth the bother IMHO

If you're sticking to fairly normal trails, you won't need a full susser, get a decent hardtail, eventually...

tsenior

nice bike, hang onto it, ride it.

as for upgrades: those forks look the same as a set i have, they will take a disk brake

they are good forks and also dead easy to service yourself.

if after a year you need something different i'll buy it.