Big Mountain AU

It's a frame wrapping party!

A few sample pics of the new Root Beer Kandy paint on my eOne Sixty SL. I'll post some photos of the entire bike once she's back together again.

First ride on the CUBE Bikes Nuroad & I have to say that for an entry level gravel bike it's actually super impressive!

***IMPORTANT NEWS REGARDING NINER BIKES***

Niner's parent company has "paused" operations while they work through a company restructuring.

Hopefully, the process is swift and we can all get back to enjoying their products again soon!

Niner Bikes faces layoffs, uncertain future after ‘pause’ Weeks after announcing new models, the Colorado-based 29" and gravel pioneer is in trouble.

Big Mountain is an official invisiFRAME fitter.

What are the benefits of using invisiFRAME?

> Non yellowing
> Self-healing
> Stain resistant
> Protects your bike from unsightly damage and maximises resale
> The bikers choice for a DIY protection solution but with a custom cut kit
> Millimetre perfect kits replace the old heli-tape and scissors
> Over 40,000 individual options available in custom fit

Pricing (excl. shipping):
> Frame Kit from $120
> Installation* $280

* A full frame wrap can take many, many hours. Therefore, to save you money, we charge a flat rate for the entire job rather than by the hour.

Please Note: Results can vary depending on the condition & cleanliness of the paint finish. For the best results, we recommend wrapping your (new) bike immediately after purchase & before riding it.

If you've recently purchased a bike online, or/interstate, then we can build it up for you.

This service includes assembly of the bike along with tuning of the gears & suspension (mountain bike), a basic bike fit, & a complete safety check, so that when you pick the bike up it will be safe and ready to ride!

We can also fit additional parts and accessories as a part of the bike build, or as a separate service (P.O.A).

> Basic Kids / BMX / Cruiser Bike $75
> Standard Mountain / Road / Commuter / e-Bike* $150
> Premium Mountain / Road / e-Bike* $300

* We only work on legal e-Bikes, no e-Motorbikes or e-Scooters please.

To book, please contact us directly or visit our website.

HOW TO BUY A 2ND HAND MTB

Once you’ve established your budget for a second-hand MTB, you'll need to ask yourself one question: can you repair it? In our experience most second-hand bikes require a service and/or repair before hitting the trails.

When you're ready to purchase, then, consider your needs; wheel size, travel, & geometry will all factor into your decision. Second-hand doesn’t have to mean old school e.g. 26ers. You should aim to buy a MTB with contemporary geometry & technologies e.g. Boost hub spacing, hydraulic disc brakes, a 1x drivetrain, & a dropper post. And, never buy a bike without giving it a proper look-over, & preferably taking it for a test ride. If buying out of state, have a friend or local bike shop look over the bike.

THE FRAME

The frame's condition is fundamental for a second-hand MTB. If it’s in good condition, it has likely been well looked after. When checking the frame, look for cracks & dents around the shock mounts, the bottom bracket, & the chainstays. Look for hairline cracks in the paint & on the welds. The same applies to carbon frames: if there’s no visible damage, it should be fine. If the bike has significant rock damage and/or chips in the paint or clear coat, presume it has been ridden hard. A hairline crack in the top coat does not always indicate a crack in the frame. You can always have a professional inspect the frame. Or better yet, skip purchasing the bike altogether & save yourself the heartache & expense of frame repair. Suspension linkage, bottom bracket, & headset bearings are all replaceable, but you’ll need to budget for that.

THE SUSPENSION

If purchasing a dual-suspension MTB, the condition of the shocks is very important. If you have to replace either the fork or the rear shock, the replacement cost might exceed the bike's purchase price. Find out when they were last serviced. Look for warning signs like visible wear & tear on the stanchions. Are the bushings or mounting hardware worn out? Look for any movement & listen for any clunks, creaks, or clatters. Note any sounds during compression. Do all of the dials & levers function properly? If you get as far as a test ride, pay attention to the suspension responsiveness & test the full travel a few times, front & back. Does the rebound still work, or is it like a pogo stick? Many people are unaware of or choose not to service their suspension. Therefore, you'll likely need to service the suspension, so you'll need to budget for this as well.

THE DROPPER POST

Even a second-hand MTB should have a dropper seatpost. However, don’t forget that just like suspension, they are prone to defects & require servicing. Check that it moves up & down faultlessly, doesn’t drop under load, shows no play in the stanchion, & has a good quality, undamaged cable & remote lever.

THE DRIVETRAIN

Again, through a lack of awareness, or indifference, the drivetrain on a second-hand MTB are often cooked! Use a chain wear tool to determine the chain's actual condition. This tool indicates how much the bike has been used. If the chain is significantly worn (greater than 75%), you can safely predict that the cassette & chainrings may also need replacement. Take a close look at the rear derailleur, hanger, & shifters for potential damage. Tip: Look for scarring on the body of the derailleur, pedals, handgrips, & levers. Shift through all the gears during the test ride & listen for noise in the bottom bracket (bearings).

THE BRAKES

On any bike, the brakes are the biggest victims of wear & tear. Brake pads & rotors are subject to intense pressure on any ride, & even more so in muddy conditions. A quick look at the calipers will show how much life is left in the pads. The rotors will show their age through discoloration & marks (scoring). When on the test ride, pull the brakes to see if they still have sufficient stopping power.

THE WHEELS

Whatever size wheels you’re riding, there’s still the risk of rim dents, worn hub bearings, loss of spoke tension, cracks in the rim & hub flanges, & bent or broken ni***es or spokes. Fortunately, these are the sorts of issues that you can spot before you dip into your pocket. Check if the wheel is running true by observing if the rim is even while the wheel spins. Tip: Sometimes, a wheel hop or wobble can result from an incorrectly installed tyre or a warped tyre casing. If you're planning to install tubeless tyres, check the rim for dents, as this can prevent an airtight seal from occurring.

THE COCKPIT

In the event of a crash, the cockpit and other contact points on the bike will bear the brunt of the impact. When giving a second-hand MTB the once-over, check that the bars, stem, grips, & saddle look okay. Even though you’ll ultimately change these to suit your preferences, it’s still good to know they’re in good condition. Plus, these contact points can also tell the full story regarding crashes & impacts.

THE TYRES

Riding satisfaction heavily depends on having the right tires for your riding style & preferred terrain. Often the seller will just put on any old tires to make a sale, and these are probably never going to be used anyway. In such a case, worn tires aren’t a deal-breaker, but you can use them as a negotiating tool, especially when considering the replacement cost of a good quality MTB tyre.

RANDOM STUFF

It’s worth asking the seller a few questions, like: How often & what type of riding did they do? How often was it ridden in bike parks? Did they race the bike? Are they the first owner? What upgrades have you made to it? When you check out & test ride the bike, the seller should have at least cleaned it. If, however, the bike is really dirty, this isn’t just a motive to negotiate hard on the price; it should also prompt concern that the dirt is potentially hiding some damage. Take a closer look!

EXTRA STUFF

Whatever your budget, ensure you have extra funds available, as after buying a bike, you’ll likely want to get new tires, handgrips, a saddle etc. Scratches, scuffs, & normal wear & tear aren’t serious issues; they're expected when buying a second-hand MTB. Plus, they can serve as leverage when negotiating the purchase price. If anything sets off a red flag, trust your intuition & walk away, the marketplace is flooded with quality second-hand MTBs after all. And, if budget permits, take advantage of our pre-purchase inspection service, and/or have us check over the bike before you send it!

The current fuel crisis is causing many to consider an alternate mode of transport. And for many, the bicycle/e-bike is most likely the best solution. Plus, living in Queensland we're blessed with fine weather almost year-round making the daily commute that much more enjoyable.

While some are buying new bicycles, others are dusting off their old ones or looking to the secondhand market for a cheaper option. The problem with a secondhand bike is that you often don't know what if any work is required to maintain the bike. Sometimes the cost to service and/or repair the bike could exceed its value.

Don't worry; we offer a pre-purchase inspection service to help you make a sound choice.

During a pre-purchase inspection, we will check over the bike and take it for a brief road test, to make sure that everything is working as it should be and that there are no apparent issues.

A written report is supplied including the cost of repairs (if required).

If purchasing an e-bike, we can connect the e-bike to our diagnostic tooling and provide you with a report (sorry, Bosch & Shimano equipped e-bikes only).

You can drop the bike into our workshop, or you can utilise our call-out service.

And, if you purchase the bicycle and move forward with the repairs as quoted, we’ll deduct the cost of the pre-purchase inspection from the invoice total.

Benefits of a Pre-Purchase Inspection:
• Know exactly what you’re buying & purchase with confidence
• Learn what repairs are needed and what the cost of those repairs are before purchasing
• Don’t overpay - negotiate the purchase price based on the inspection report
• Don’t be lumped with a lemon that is too expensive to repair
• Sellers - use the inspection report to aid in the sale of your bike

Pre-Purchase Inspection $70.

To book a pre-purchase inspection, please visit our website - www.bigmountain.bike

We now have greater availability moving forward. And as we grow, so too will our availability & service offerings. See our website for all of the details.