I'm helping my nephew buy a mountain bike. Bascially, he's picking the bike and I'm picking up the tab. He told me tonight that he's picked out a Trek 3900. He rides a lot in southern Michigan, at a place called Fort Custer. From talking to him and looking at a few pictures, I think we're talking here about hard-packed single-track with a few technical obstacles here and there. For example, there's this maybe three-foot high pile of logs on one of the trails. There are some steep hills, but we aren't talking true mountains by any means.
I just know that it sucks to be out on the trail with a bike that won't shift when you want it to, with brakes that won't stay adjusted, etc. I want to be sure I get him a good enough bike that he avoids that sort of grief.
Trek has a 4300 and a 4500. I'd love it if someone with experience on these bikes could comment on how they would compare to a 3900. Trek's site lists the component differences, but their site doesn't do a good job in explaining what those component differences translate into in terms of day-to-day riding.
Any advice or comments on these models would be much appreciated.
I just know that it sucks to be out on the trail with a bike that won't shift when you want it to, with brakes that won't stay adjusted, etc. I want to be sure I get him a good enough bike that he avoids that sort of grief.
Trek has a 4300 and a 4500. I'd love it if someone with experience on these bikes could comment on how they would compare to a 3900. Trek's site lists the component differences, but their site doesn't do a good job in explaining what those component differences translate into in terms of day-to-day riding.
Any advice or comments on these models would be much appreciated.