With spring just around the corner, we're getting all the bike questions!
I've got an old bike in the garage. How do I consign or sell my mountain bike? In Reno, you have several options for selling your mountain bike! To get the best bang for your buck, doing a personal sale is always the best (via FB groups, marketplace or At Gear Hut, we don't tale craigslist), but can quickly become a hassle of no shows and obnoxious bartering. At Gear Hut, we work off consignment, which means we sell your bike for you in exchange for a portion of the sale... removing the nonsense of attempting personal sales. Once your mountain or gravel bike sells at Gear Hut, 50-70% of the selling price is added to your consignor account (based on the selling price of the bike... see our consignment splits here).
If you have a road or kids bike, you can always donate your bike to Kiwanis or Reno Bike Project as well. RBP is also a great community driven shop where you can learn how to fix and tune your bikes!
Where to buy used bikes in Reno? Gear Hut sells gently used mountain bikes, gravel bikes, E bikes (mountain bikes only) and strider bikes. We also sell bike packing gear and equipment, bike racks, bike trailers and youth mountain bikes. Traveling? Gear Hut often gets bike travel bags in as well. We always point road bikers to shop at Reno Bike Project, a non profit community bike shop! What kind of bike should I buy? Our recommendation for the best beginner mountain bike is usually a hardtail. They are versatile bikes that work well for the stellar cross country and gravel riding in Reno, but can transition to the downhill options at Sky Tavern. Look for front suspension lock out options. When you are just starting out, it's worth shopping "used" for your first mountain bike as you figure out 100% what style of riding suites you rather than blowing your budget on a bike that might only work for a year or two.
If downhill riding is your primary focus, look for a full suspension bike. Popular brands often ridden in Reno include Santa Cruz, Specialized, Giant, Liv, Kona, GT, Cannondale, Scott, Pivot, Pyga and Marin.
E-bikes are becoming more commonplace in Reno, both on the roads and on the trail. It's a great way to access a ton more ground. If you're looking to explore more, have past injuries or have a little extra cash to make the uphill easier, an eMTB might be a good option!
Where to mountain bike in Reno? Some of our favorite Reno mountain biking trails include exploring all the miles the Peavine Trail System has to offer. The Hoge Road trailhead, Keystone Trailhead and Sports Complex Trailhead are great places to park for access. Other great mountain biking trails in Reno include: the mild Steamboat Ditch Trail, Sky Tavern and Golden Eagle Regional Park. Sierra Vista Bike Park off of Robb drive is a great place for the whole family to practice skills, from a kids pump track and beginner friendly ramps, to progressive jumps and flow trails.
If you're looking to head up the mountain, the Truckee Bike Park is top notch for riders of all skill levels, Tamarack Lake Trail has perfect flow, or the classic Tyrolian DH or Flume Trail is one of the most beautiful rides over Lake Tahoe.
How to train for mountain biking?
Reno is a great town for mountain biking, because you can *usually, get on dirt year round. (Always be respectful of wet trail!). One of our favorite sites is "Is Peavine Dry?" And if it's a wet year, we often carry bike trainers at Gear Hut for working out in the living room.
North Valley's Regional Park has amazing progressive trails, working their way up the hill in difficulty as you gain confidence! This is always where we start out the season to get the legs working!
Sky Tavern is an AMAZING community resource for Reno. Just 20 minutes from downtown Reno, it's a great place to hone downhill mountain biking skills. They often host biking skills clinics as well!
And when its between seasons, you can get in miles on Tahoe Pyramid Bike Path and Veterans Parkway Bike Path which are both mostly paved in the Reno area.
Happy Riding!