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Novara Ponderosa Bike - 2010

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Burly construction, SRAM drivetrain and aggressive geometry make our Novara Ponderosa® hardtail mountain bike an excellent choice for no-holds-barred XC performance!

Kinesis 6061 aluminum frame offers up a lightweight, responsive platform for fast-paced fun on the trails
RockShox Dart 2 fork meets changing needs; run it plush (100mm travel) to buffer unyielding single track or lock it out for a stiff, efficient ride
SRAM drivetrain is all performance, featuring the snappy X-7 shifters, front and rear derailleurs
27 speeds let you handle any terrain as you want, whether you're romping hills, cruising easy or speeding across the flats
Avid BB5 mechanical disc brakes and FR-5 levers provide sure stopping power and controlled deceleration no matter the terrain or weather conditions
WTB SX-24 rims are laced onto Shimano M475 hubs for tough, smooth-rolling performance; Kenda Nevagal tires provide tenacious traction
Anatomically designed, the lightweight WTB Pure V Race saddle offers exceptional comfort and support from a streamlined platform
Just get on and ride, no fancy shoes required—aluminum platform pedals accommodate a variety of casual shoes
Specs are subject to change

After its initial break-in period you might notice your bicycle performing less responsively than the day you brought it home. Not to worry, this is typical of all new bicycles and simply reflects that cables have stretched or their housings have seated themselves into final position. To keep running at peak performance, all REI bicycles come with a FREE warranty tune-up, which should be accomplished between the first 100-200 miles of riding or after the first two months if you're accumulating miles less quickly. Contact your nearest REI bike shop for details and an appointment for this important service.

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Item 791128

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Novara Ponderosa Bike - 2010 Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

Novara Ponderosa Bike - 2010

5.0

(based on 5 reviews)

100%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

Great components (5)
Handles well (5)
Rugged (4)
Versatile (3)

Cons

Best Uses

Casual trails (5)
Cross country (4)

- Reviewer Profile:
- Casual/ recreational (3)

Reviews

Reviewed by 5 customers

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Displaying reviews 1-5

Apr

2010

(2 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Great Bike

By davidwaynemorrisjr

from Winder, GA

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Great Components
Handles Well
Rugged

Cons

Best Uses

Casual Trails
Cross Country
Free Riding

Comments about Novara Ponderosa Bike - 2010:

I have the 2009 model and it is the same as far as I can tell. I has Great tires. I ride in an area where sand is around every other corner and it handles really well. I love that you can lock out and adjust the shocks. The ONLY thing I dont like about this bike is that the chain hits the frame when you travel over rough terrain. Spend a few extra bucks on a chainstay and there is no problem.

Aug

2010

5.0

Best bike I've ever owned!

By GoBeavs!

from Beverly, MA

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Great Components
Handles Well
Rugged
Smooth Ride
Versatile

Cons

Best Uses

Casual Trails
Cross Country
Single Track

Comments about Novara Ponderosa Bike - 2010:

I love this bike! My last bike I bought in college 19 years ago - it was a Specialized. Loved it. But with cash from the family earmarked for a new bike for my birthday, I decided to move up a notch and the Ponderosa was perfect.

Typically I love trails - and tricky trails with rocky terrain and the occasional log to roll across, or 3' drop. I'm not hardcore, and I'm not a pro. I would say my riding is between pulling the kids in the bike trailer on a paved path in New England, to slightly dangerous terrain where I fly off the handlebars without serious injury (something I achieved my first day of owning my Ponderosa).

I had always wanted a Cannondale, but as I rode a few I discovered the shifting felt clunky, which was very disappointing but somewhat understandable since it was a more entry level set of components for the price range. Not even considering Novara at first, because for some reason I assumed it was some knockoff brand, the sales associate suggested I get a feel for the range of bikes at REI and throw a few Novaras into the mix. I tried the top end figuring if that didn't distinguish itself against the mid-range I was looking at, Novara was off the table.

The Ponderosa surprised me. In fact, it was the best thing I rode in the store within $200 of its price tag. It had better components than anything in its class. It was responsive, agile, rugged, and just darn fun to ride. I don't know how I lived without the disc brakes - they are excellent for trail riding. The Ponderosa takes off like a shot and stops on a dime, and it is totally worth having the 27 speed over the 24 - a really nice luxury when deciding to tackle an especially steep, challenging grade with loose rocks and mud.

The tight shifting throughout all the gear range is what sold me. Because I was spending a little more on a bike, I wanted it to feel like something I would be happy with for 20 more years. It needed to be versatile - and I felt comfortable with the strength of its frame construction and quality components to tackle anything I would be up for. Any of the other models I would risk breaking or needing a second bike, or spending allot more than the Ponderosa. The economics of the Ponderosa made sense to spend a little more and have one good bike instead of buying something and then having to trade later for what I really wanted.

Everything about this bike, in my opinion, is superb. I mean, yeah, if you spend over $1,500 you may find something materially different, but for the class this bike is - it is tops. For the price range you really do get better components - that is the real payoff.

The negatives on this bike are minimal. I wanted the 2009 for the color scheme and the numbers on the shifters, but they had run out of the 2009 model. It turns out the silver and black 2010 matches my Outback, and seriously: who really has the time to look down to see what gear your in when you are navigating between a rock and sheer drop-off. The other minor thing is that the bike is maybe half a pound heavier than I would have liked. I know the Dart2 RockShox add the weight. Everything else about the bike easily compensates for the two aforementioned negatives.

This is the best bike I have ever owned, and enthusiastically recommend it to anyone who loves casual riding, single track riding, and the occasional off the beaten path craziness from time to time.

Jun

2010

5.0

Awesome set-up!

By originalee

from Boise, ID

See all my reviews

Pros

Great Components
Handles Well

Cons

A little heavy

Best Uses

Casual Trails
Cross Country

Comments about Novara Ponderosa Bike - 2010:

I've had this bike for a little over a year (2009 model - same component configuration) and it has torn up the trails around here. The components are awesome; the SRAM x-7 derailleurs are extremely quick and snappy and the lock-out on the fork is a nice feature. I took it on a week-long trip in the Sawtooths of central Idaho and took some nasty spills. Although my dignity was shot, the Ponderosa just kept on goin'. I picked it up for the clearance price, but even for the regular price tag, you would be hard-pressed to find a better bike.

I take it up to the local trails nearly each weekend and it handles EVERYTHING I manage to throw at it - drops, hairy single trail, rolling jumps. I change the tires out during the week and just use it as a commuter bike on campus (Kenda nevegal tires are too aggressive for lots of road) - so to sum up I have put HUNDREDS of miles on this puppy and it fells like it's just getting better. Like a fine wine, I guess. Only one down side - it's a tad heavy, but that's comparing it to bikes several hundred dollars more expensive. I LOVE THIS BIKE!!

May

2010

5.0

The (lack of) suspension was killing me!

By Joel in NM

from Albuquerque

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Great Components
Handles Well
Rugged
Versatile

Cons

Heavy

Best Uses

Casual Trails

Comments about Novara Ponderosa Bike - 2010:

5 Stars for a great ENTRY LEVEL BIKE.Woo-Hoo! combined the 20% member discount coupon with my $72 REI dividend for a real savings on this bike.Been riding an un-sprung bike-swap DiamondBack Voyager II for about 5 years, and it has been great fun, but now that I have this bike (2010 model!) I realize what an improvement it is to have the front suspension. A beautiful entry-level bike, with disc brakes, RockShox Dart 2 suspension, and everything pretty well laid out.Before delivery to my REI store I went over to purchase accessories[...] I got a rack, toe clips (see below), better grips, U-Lock, mirror, and chain stay protector (thanks for the suggestion!)I had them replace the presta valve tubes with Extra Thick Slime tubes with Schrader valves ($10 each); they drilled out the valve stem hole on the wheels to accomodate. We get "goat heads" (really nasty thorns) here in New Mexico, and since putting extra thick Slime tubes on my DiamondBack I have had NO flats, so this is well worth the $20 to upgrade (and the added weight). Quibble: Regarding ""Just get on and ride, no fancy shoes required-aluminum platform pedals accomodate a variety of casual shoes": The add-on toe-clips, which are the only toe clips at REI that fit these pedals, will not accomodate any shoes larger than a ballet slipper. I used the recent 15% member discount coupon for a new pair of Shimano bike shoes (my old Nike bike shoes are 21 years old!)I had to purchase a new set of pedals ($20, installed) to accomodate the larger toe clips from my DiamondBack.I put my review of the RockShox Dart 2 front suspension (that come on this bike) at the REI site at that product location. Short version: impossible to find instructions about the three adjustments; not in the Users' Guide or the RockShox web site.And also reviewed the Minoura BH-95X clamp-on Bottle Cage Holder at that product location at REI. Short version: Don't bother.Well, I may have more to say after more experience on the bike. After all, I have had it only 2 weeks. This Saturday taking it up to Cruise the Caldera Mountain Bike Ride at Valles Caldera National Preserve See at: [@]Actually, I bought this bike for these Valles Caldera rides. My DiamondBack was fun, but this is going to be AWESOME!

Apr

2010

(0 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

WOooHOoo! what a machine!

By hoswey

from north austin

About Me Avid Cyclist

See all my reviews

Pros

Great Components
Handles Well
Rugged
Smooth Ride
Versatile

Cons

Best Uses

ANYTHING
Casual Trails
Cross Country
Downhill
Free Riding
Single Track

Comments about Novara Ponderosa Bike - 2010:

ok so this is my first serious mountain bike so i dont have a lot to compare it to, except the others i test rode from REI. but man this is one great machine. The shifters on it are my favorite part, dumping several gears is no problem. awesome front shocks make any terrain tolerable. the weight is a bit more i guess but not bad at all. for the price this is a beautiful beast.