On this page I will teach you a method I am going to call my "How to Buy a Mountain Bike" technique. I have used this same system to buy all our automobiles over the years. I will tell you how I bought my bike to demonstrate the method, a method that requires quite a bit of research and a lot of patience. First a little background.

Why a New Bike?

I started out riding an old GT bike I'd bought for one of my daughters at the swap meet. It was kind of a cross between a mountain and road bike, a hybrid. It had skinny wheels, no suspension, and low-grade components. I had a lot of fun (and flat tires) on that bike.

A year or so later one of my fellow teachers let me try one of his mountain bikes. After that ride I was convinced I wanted to get a real mountain bike. So, I had to start thinking about how to buy a mountain bike. I did not run out to the local department store or bike shop and buy the first one I saw ... but instead decided to do some research. I wanted to get a really good bike but didn't want to pay the top retail price.

Buy an "Almost New" Bike.

The next step in "How to Buy a Mountain Bike" involves looking for a bike 1-3 years old, knowing that (just like with autos) the value of a bike drops sharply right after it is first purchased. (An owner of a two-day owned bike cannot sell it as "new.")

Type of Seller?

I have found that some people buy some things (bikes, cars, etc.) on impulse and eventually find they are not using them much. When faced with a need for cash they say to themselves, "Why not sell this bike I have seldom used?" If I can be the first one to make that person an offer, I can sometimes get a good deal. I knew the number of almost-new bikes for sale would be low, so I would probably have to ride my daughter's GT for quite a while longer while I searched. But I had work to do before I started checking advertisements.

Research.

Research is the following piece of the "How to Buy a Mountain Bike" approach. Before I began shopping for a bike I needed to determine which 1-3 year old bikes I would be happy with. I studied the components of the top-level bikes, and then looked to see which bikes in my price range had those components. I read dozens of reviews about many different brands. I went to several bike shops and test rode a range of bikes. I asked workers which brands and models they would buy and to explain why. I rode the most expensive first, and ended with bikes with a price I could actually afford. I figured the 1-3 year old models would feel very similar to the new ones.

Shopping (be patient).

Next I made a list of comparable bikes (of various brands) and started to look for my great deal. I combed Craig's List, e-bay, local ads, and internet searches ... looking for a striking deal on any of the bikes on my list.

I checked every day ... for weeks! I finally found a 2007 Specialized Stumpjumper Pro on e-bay ... less than a year old. I saw the exact same bike on Craig's list and realized the seller was in San Diego (where I live), so neither of us would pay shipping. I called him and sensed that he really needed the money soon. He was asking $2,800 and I made a ridiculous offer of $2,000. We settled on $2400. We met at my credit union. I could not believe the condition of the bike ... it looked brand new!

Conclusion.

I had not set out to spend quite this much on a bike but I could not turn down this deal. I'd paid $2,400 for a bike that sold for around $5,000 eight months before. Some of my friends and relatives could not believe I'd spent so much on a bicycle. My reply usually was something like, "what is the cost of a motorcycle, wave runner, or dune buggy? I have chosen a bicycle for my recreation."

My Great Deal

Three years, and roughly 3,000 riding miles later, I am soooooooo glad I used the "How to Buy a Mountain Bike" technique and purchased a good bike. I repeat, the most important component of mountain biking ... A Good Quality Mountain Bike.

*Editor's Note - Our good friend and mountain biking veteran said while on business trips he rented bikes ... so when it came down to buying one he had narrowed down his choices. This approach might offer valuable information to your research of how to buy a mountain bike..

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