Who rides Mountain bikes in here???

mantis

I'm buying a Mountain bike today and I think I have found the one. It's a Specialized Rock Hopper. I have my choice of Silver or Yellow.Here is a link to this bike, I road it and loved it.

http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=9339

I also looked at many bikes and I also like this Trek 4500 series. I'm looking to spend under 600.00 for my first mountain bike. Down the road if I get into it like I'm already feeling, I will consider a better bike.

Now I come from a BMX back ground. I have owned many GT's and a Kowahara. I used to work for a local bike shop when I was a kid and loved free style. I always wanted a Skyway and a Hutch.

Today I understand the brands I used to love are outclassed by these other brands. This Specialized company is suppost to be one of the very best for Mountian bikes. Trek which I remember being a high end road bike company also has earned a lot of respect in the Mountain bike ring.

Is there any other brands I should look at before I buy? I also hear Fuji is really good.

Dan

bobman1235

I'm a big Gary Fisher fan. Mine has treated me well for about 4 years. But Specialized are great - my cousin has one and has no complaints. The things are bulletproof. Klein also makes some awesome bikes, but they tend to cost a bit more.

My recommendation? Go to a GOOD bike shop, have the thing fit to you. Road bikes fit differently than mountain bikes (which obviously fit differently than BMX....).

And don't forget to invest in a helmet.... you WILL go down. Also... you'll get annoyed with the toe clips REAL fast ( I did), you may want to invest in some "clipless" pedals and shoes. It makes a world of difference.

Enjoy man, it's a fun hobby.

Dennis Gardner

I agree "go clipless" mine actually caused wrecks in the beginning.

Look into: Trek, Specialized, Peugeot, Cannondae, Giant, GT, Gary Fisher just to name a few.

I currently ride a older Ross and like it alot. Look into full suspension, that feature adds another dimension in control and comfort. Gripshift and Shimano controls are pretty much a given on most of todays offerings. I think you will find that the budget you set out can get you quite a bit of bike to begin with.

Then there is always the upgrade!:D

mantis

Thanks guys,

I plan on a helmet today allday. I'm 2 old to be running like I did when I was 15.The shoes and pedals I plan on after I get into it. I'm not using those damn straps yet.

I'm also picking up a odometer. I have to take the bike back in after 200 miles for a free tune up. Guys bikes have a good staff and I was pleased in the service. I'm going to look around today and I feel I will come home with the Rock Climber

They already fit me into a 19 inch frame. They call it a large. The 18 inch was a bit small. I have no idea but thats what the experts suggested I use.

Dan

brettw22

I have a Trek Fuel 80 and love that thing. Granted, I haven't ridden it in a while but I decided to go full suspension from the beginning.

Gary Fischer is Trek's off brand (i belive) so you might find a deal that route.

With the way you are with your audio equipment, don't you know that it's better to buy more now than to have to replace in order to upgrade later?

mantis

Originally posted by brettw22
I have a Trek Fuel 80 and love that thing. Granted, I haven't ridden it in a while but I decided to go full suspension from the beginning.

Gary Fischer is Trek's off brand (i belive) so you might find a deal that route.

With the way you are with your audio equipment, don't you know that it's better to buy more now than to have to replace in order to upgrade later?

Yes I'm that way with every damn thing I do. I can't see buying the Cheap one and have to replace it later.

BUT.. I have been out of the game for awhile and need to get my Demo on and figure this whole cool **** thing out.

I just talked to a local guy and he suggests I check out the GT Avalanche 2.0 . It's in the same class as the Trek 4500 and the Specialized RockHopper

Man I just want one

Dan

brettw22

Are you deadset on getting a hardtail?

For pure comfort, you owe yourself a ride on a full suspension....though I guess it all depends on what you're planning on using it for (concrete trail, mountain trails, etc).

mantis

No I'm open for anything that rides good.

Full suspension was was told to stay away from by a biker friend of mine. I didn't ask why but i wonder why I wouldn't look at one.

I plan on all kinds of riding. Oncec I get going, I'm game for everything

Dan

nadams

I've got a Giant Yukon SE. It's 5 or 6 years old now...

I had a problem with a bad crankset, but the shop I bought it from got it all taken care of under warranty. It's a 19" frame with front Rock Shox suspension.

I've ridden full suspension bikes, and I personally don't like them. It's really up to you what you like or don't like. You can ride competitively on whatever you want as long as it works for you. Full suspension bikes just feel too soft and "SUVish" to me

My Giant has over 1500mi on it, but the odo hasn't worked in a while. Here's a shot from Giants website, and it's even in my colors

brettw22

Personally, I hated the feel of a hardtail. I don't know the reasoning of your friend with regard to FS.....they're great.....though a bit pricier.

If I'm gonna be bouncing up and down mountains with rocks, I want something that's gonna cushion my ****.....period.

Granted, I've mostly done just the park trails, but I don't ever want to go home with numb nether-regions because of not having the full suspension......

mantis

Thats a really nice bike man.

I haven't tried a full suspension bike but I will today. After I'm finished my workout, I'm in the shower and on the road to find my bike.....

Thanks for everything guys,

Dan

brettw22

One other thing is stew on it for a few days......ride a few today and get the feel of them, then go back next weekend to pull the trigger.

Don't just rush into it for the sake of buying it....(not that you need to be told this, but still..)

nadams

brett- I guess it really is personal preference. On rocky trails, I'm usually out of the saddle to balance myself anyway, especially on downhills.

mantis- as brett said, ride some, think about it, and don't rush out to buy one and then find out you don't like it. Also, FYI- I paid $400 for my bike, on April 6th, 2000 (just found the receipt). Anything that's adjustable on it has a quickrelease, and all the shifters are Shimano click-shift. Also has cantilever brakes, which'll put you over the handlebars in an instant if you're not careful.

Only problem I had with the rear deraillure is when I caught a stick in the spokes and it came up and bent the thing all to hell. Not the deraillures fault at all. It was pretty cheap to replace, too, as I remember it.

mantis

Killed it....

http://www.gtbicycles.com/mountain/catalog/detail.php?id=831&country=usa&brand=moun

I couldn't wait anymore. I just had to have one. I didn't want to wait for the Trek or the Specialized.. I got the GT. It's a really nice bike and is loaded very much like the Trek and Specialized. I love the Index shifting, thats very cool and useful.

I did 18 miles today and my butt feels it. I was told this is normal. Man I still would like a better seat. My bike has some kind of GEL seat but I don't think it works...LOL

I also got up to 28 .8 miles an hour and it felt like I was flying.Man do I feel like a kid again.

I plan on using the bike for another form of working out as well as friend and family fun. I bunch of my buddies ride so now I can go with them. My one friend and myself went on the 18 mile ride. He normally does 30 to 40 miles so he took it easy on me....waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Dan

nadams

Nice

Was that 18 miles fairly flat? that's pretty long for the first time out in a while. I haven't done any riding since fall . It's bound to hurt the next time I go out...

My annual milage has dropped off a lot since I turned 16 and could start driving. Over the past 3 years, it's dropped to almost nothing. I'd love to get out on some nice singletrack again.

mantis

Yeah,
there where some uphill battles that I thought my heart was going to explode but I did it. I battled and made it.

Some was off road in some very cool **** trails. They where up and down.If my partner didn't have to go home and cook dinner, I would have road more.

By the way I'm 35. I used to ride when I was young and like you lost intrest after getting my first car.

I had some really nice BMX bikes. I worked at a local shop and built most of my bikes my way. My favorite bike was my GT PRo series and my Haro Freestyle.

Dan

michael_w

I personally like hardtails myself but then I'm also into trial stuff instead of downhill... Although full suspension bikes are pretty cool too. My friend had a Norco VPS that was pretty fun to ride but felt a little too big and out of control for me. (also the frame was a little bigger)

nadams

mantis- we should get together for a ride some time. You're in the phila area, right? I get down that way every occasionally.

MacLeod

This is weird! Ive been wanting a bike very bad for a couple years now and have decided to get one hopefully in the next month or so. I was just thinking about posting on here to see if anybody was a mtb enthusiast!

Ive also been looking seriously at that Specialized Rockhopper although that may be a little pricey for me. Im looking at the $300 range.

Im a pretty big guy and have very strong legs so I can generate a lot of torque so Im more concerned with a strong drivetrain than anything else specifically the derailleurs. I would like to have Shimano Deore at least but those are hard to come by in anything less than $500.

Ive always like Fuji too. I dated a girl in Austin a few years ago that was huge into cycling. She had 2 $2000 Fujis and they were damn nice bikes.

mantis

nadams,
That would be cool.

MacLeod,
I 2 have been thinking of one for awhile now. Last year I looked at a few and didn't jump on the bike I liked. I had other things I wanted to do so the bike got cut off the short list.
This year I decided it's time. The kids want to go riding and after a killer walk around Taylor state park, I wanted to make my move.
Spend the extra money if you want a good bike. 500.00 is a common amount and gets you into a nice bike. The Specialized RockHopper is what I would own if I didn't get the GT Avalance 2.0. It's a really nice bike. If I didn't have to wait, I would own it today.

Dan

hotwheelman

I did ride quite a bit back in the late 80's, had a 18 inch nishiki colorado black with a white speck paint. I think it was either an 18 or 21 speed but I do remember that it was the shimano deore rapid shift, the frame was chromolly steel and was light as feather.

Man I miss that bike and wish that I had never sold it. I had about 1000 invested after I had all of the other goodies installed.

I have been thinking of finding something used to ride again but my budget is just not gonna let that happen right now. Hopfully I can at some point later this summer. Enjoy that bike dan.:D

goingganzo

about 10-12 years ago i got my treck 820 it was about 350. it is good and strong. i have spent 400 on the bike sence in repars on things i broke. wheels bent a front foark bent. tune ups.

ohskigod

just broke out my old Trek 850 i got in 1995 (400 ish). hard tail, no front shock. have a seat with springs on the back with a gel cover and my **** and "taint" still kill after a ride!!! havent ridden in a while and am getting back into it very slowly. also need to find my helmet.

best upgrade to the bike was the SHimano Deore XT rear deraillure i put on many moons ago. shifts like buttah!!

billbillw

I've been riding a Schwinn Moab 2 since Spring of 2002. Its been a great bike. I like the hardtails myself. I find them easier to climb hills. I'm not sure if Schwinn still makes a decent mtn bike or not, but the Moab compared very well to Specialized and Trek at the time. Gary Fisher and Cannondale were outta my price range.

mantis,
be prepared to take some spills, especially when you go to the clipless pedals/shoes. It takes some getting used to, but it makes for much better efficiency when you start climbing big hills.

I agree with others here on spending a little more to get a bike that will actually be able to handle a real mtn bike trail without breaking the first time. $500 minimum to get a serious mtn bike. Anything less is going to cost you more in replacement parts.

nadams

billbill- not sure that I totally agree w/ you there. While $500 is not much to spend on a mountain bike, you can still find serious bikes for less. While my Yukon was not meant to be a professional competition quality bike, I've still put some serious miles on it on some pretty gnarly trails. I did have some issues with it early on, but it was a manufacturing defect with the front cassette, and as I said before, it was replaced for free.

But yeah... $500 isn't that much to drop on a mtn bike, but you don't _have_ to spend that much

billbillw

Originally posted by nadams
billbill- not sure that I totally agree w/ you there. While $500 is not much to spend on a mountain bike, you can still find serious bikes for less. While my Yukon was not meant to be a professional competition quality bike, I've still put some serious miles on it on some pretty gnarly trails. I did have some issues with it early on, but it was a manufacturing defect with the front cassette, and as I said before, it was replaced for free.

But yeah... $500 isn't that much to drop on a mtn bike, but you don't _have_ to spend that much

That bike of yours retails for $470 these days. Might as well be a $500 bike w/tax and a few accessories. I was mainly referring to cheapo $200-$300 bikes that claim to be Mtn Bikes. Those will give you more headaches than their worth if you try to take on some real trails.

nadams

They've also added disc brakes to it now. I wish I had those .

I understand what you're saying, tho.

goingganzo

my problem is i ride my moutan bike like a bmx and that is how i broke it takeing big air is fun and i love getting air.

outlander

I have a Gary Fisher Wahoo and love the thing. But now Mantis has me bumed out with 18 miles on the first trip. I ride a loop trail behind my house three days a week after work to get a little exercise and thought I was doing pretty good. The problem is the loop is only ~5miles. Maybe I'll try pushing it to 6 tonight. As far as the bike itself, I looked at a lot of other outfits and thought for the money (~$400) GF had the best product and I liked the way it fit me.
O

mantis

outlander,
Don't be Bro. My buddies are hammerheads like myself. When I do something, I kill it. I also have 12 years of Martial Arts training so my legs are very strong. My butt however is not, man did it hurt after about 8 miles, the rest was pure pain. I tuffed it out and finished the ride.Damn seat Gel doesn't work..... I wanted a new one but I was told thats normal until I get used to it.

If you really want to feel down, my one friend rides road bikes and does 20 to 30 miles 5 days week. Each ride is 20 to 30 miles that is. He just got a brand new Trek road bike and already has 300 miles on it.... sick man sick cat.

I feel I over did it my first time out. I was so excited and my buddy took advantage of that and killed me....LOL

Dan

kingtut

Mantis, get one of those Specialize seats that was designed by a Dr. to prevent (don't laugh) "erectile disfunction". There was actually a study performed re. e.d. due to pro-longed bike riding. Therefore, there are many bike seats designed to prevent this potiential problem. These seats have cut out ridges that run north and south of the bike seat.