Appropriate bike for North Jersey Trails

J

JTK37

Member
If you had to "build" a bike for North Jersey trails what would you want and why? Not the actual brand or model, but how much suspension travel, brake size/type etc? Trail, XC, AM, Freeride, whatever it may be. For use on typical trails around North Jersey, Ramapo, Cannonball, Ringwood etc.

Thanks, Joe
 
Well i would want a good freeride bike with at least 120mm of travel... I am fond of my avid ultimates 203mm up front and 185mm in the rear...GFood brakes are important for rocky downhill rides...
 
but some people ride "rigid" bikes too, so it all depends on your style of riding!
 
If I was limited on budget, I would get the best hardtail I could find...imho, a great hardtail beats a mediocre full-suspension bike. If budget was less of a consideration, I could see going FS, although personally I'd probably still go hardtail (although I would get a titanium frame).
 
if you intend on racing XC, build an XC bike...
if you intend on riding AM, build an AM bike...
don't build a freeride bike if you actually want to ride any place other than diablo 🙄

whatever you build, get nice brakes. i like nice brakes.
 
I'm 155# my ultimate ride for anything would be 5.5" with xc build and adjustable travel up front and burly wheels and a shock that can take a hit. Enough for anything up to light freeride. A dw 5spot or Ventana El Bastardo would be money.
 
I ride a rigid ss29er with mechanical brakes everywhere. If I were looking for a new ride I would go with a hardtail with 100mm of travel up front. Personally I like 29ers, but that's me.
 
Some depends on how cushy of a ride you want. If you don't mind getting bounced around, then avoid the dualie. But if you want something that's going to absorb a lot of the pounding you're going to take, get the the dualie.
 
The original post need more info. Specifically, "I currently ride..." Plus and current impressions.

What I would choose doesn't much help you.
 
best jersey bike i've ridden yet.
29er, super short wheelbase and steam head angle, super light front end, burly.
bike kicks major ass for the slow speed rock gardens, log hops, and techy climbs.

724792341_KfJvb-O.jpg
 
Most of us have gone through a bunch of bikes to get where we are now. I went from a full suspension 26" trek to a rigid single speed 29er Mary to where I am now, a Niner SIR9 SS with a Reba. For me it's the best option for all the parks I ride from Lewis Morris to alamuchy.
 
i'm with jake. i've been all over the place with bikes. i've gone from fully rigid bikes to full suspension, singlespeed to geared. as long as you have a solid frame, anything will get the job done here.
 
i currently ride a trance 3 and i would get the same bike (except newer). I like the plush ride...
 
I have just got back into this sport, and learned a lot about bike shopping.
You get what you pay for, and my advice is to get a good bike. Go to the local shops like, J at Haulter and Rone at High Gear Cycle. IMO a good bike is worth every penny you put into it.

I went from a 26 hard tail GT. To a Gary Fisher 29 HIFI FS. And its night and day. There are a lot of people on the forum with a lot of time on the saddle. Get as much advice as you possible can and do not buy on impulse.

IMO😉
 
JTK37 said:
If you had to "build" a bike for North Jersey trails what would you want and why? Not the actual brand or model, but how much suspension travel, brake size/type etc? Trail, XC, AM, Freeride, whatever it may be. For use on typical trails around North Jersey, Ramapo, Cannonball, Ringwood etc.
Click to expand...

I have ridden many of these trails on my 29er front suspension bikes. No sweat.

If I lived up that way I would buy one of these just for the hell of it.

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or


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If you're in alamuchy you've got three shops within striking distance: cycle works in byram, and Marty's in hackettstown and Randolph. All that to say I bought my Niner from Jay. Anyway, each carries different brands but all will let you demo.
 
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