Yes....kinda, It's been years since I was in College and Working at a Shop but I still ride and I have a friend who owns a shop. The high end bike world can be confusing. let me provide a little information. $500 or there about will get you into a entry level high end bike. I know that sounds like a contradiction but it's true. At that price point you get a Great Frame, often it's the same frame as used on a given companies' bikes retailing for $1000 to $1200. The difference comes in the level of the parts used to build the bike out. I.E. The Headset, Stem, Handlebar, Brakes, Brake levers, Shifter set, Derailleurs, Bottom Bracket, Crankset, Pedals, Seat Post, Seat, Hubs, Spokes, Wheels, Tires, Tubes ... ect. All of these Items come in a multitude of types and Price points. With many available in Exotic Metals to reduce weight and In the bike world Lighter means More Money! Ti is used extensively for many parts and Ti is big bucks. It can get really silly, I have to confess that I have a wheelset built out with Titanium Spokes. I digress, Anyway the big Part providers are Shimano and Sram and they have Part groups that are used to build these bikes. If I remember correctly there were 3 or 4 price/performance tiers with Shimano they fell as follows - Deore, LX, XT and XTR. $500 used to get you a Great frame and a mix of the Deore and LX components. I started like this and as I wore out group parts I would upgrade. Gee.... kinda sounds familiar don't it
dont tell our significant others
....Anyway long story short, $500 is a good starting point. It will get you good equipment and onto the trails, Ride Several in the parking lot at the shop and choose what feels best to you. Then its off to aftermarket world and figuring out what to replace first to shave a pound off the bike so it's easier to climb a hill. Just my .02 cents worth
BTW: I did finally figure out that the easiest way to climb the hill in was in my H2 with a Corona in the beverage holder. Wisdom does come with age
