Mountain Bikes

Hey!

I don't have a rockhopper, but I have an older Stumpjumper. I bought the bike close to 10 years ago, and it's still kicking a$$. Special--Ed bikes are great! I don't offroad anymore, as the bike has cityslickers on it. It's probably one of the lightest bikes built around that time. I think it's under 23lbs. Probably average weight now.

Also check out Kona's. They're really good bikes for the money. My main concern was weight. The lighter the bike, for me, the easier the ride. It makes it more fun, rather than work.

 

Specialized makes great bikes, and they have amazing warranties. The Rockhopper is a good bike, good for cross country and roading around town, it also looks great! I had a 96' Rockhopper until I switched to a P.2

Specialized is good stuff!

 

A Stumpjumper was my first "serious" mtn bike. I've tried a Rockhopper before while mtn biking in HI. IIRC I rode it on the Aiea trail. I was impressed by the responsive yet forgiving ride and the quality of the frame. You can outgrow the components but that frame will grow with you.

Anyway, the Specialized line are awesome, solid mtn bikes. I'm a hardtail guy, and the Big S frames are among the best climbing platforms out there.

 

An '05 FSR XC Comp, A '93 Deja Two tandem & a '02 Vegas dirtjumper. My wife still has her 80-something Rockhopper, & my son is on his second Specialized, a 16" Vegas(he learned on a 12" Fatboy). Ive also owned a carbon Epic, an Enduro, a P.3 & a steel Spec'd road bike. Great bikes. Rockhoppers are not bad at all. Rugrat, I'm in the same boat as you- I've been stay-at-home dadding for 6 years now, & it's really starting to show. I actually rode this morning for the first time in weeks. Keep it up; it's hard to play after a massive heart attack, I hear...

 

Specialized make good bikes. What I would suggest though is the question of off roading! Are you going to be riding on trails or on the street? If you are riding only on the street I would suggest getting a proper road bike.- lighter and easier to ride on the road. If you will be trail riding as well then get a hybrid, and if you will be seriously off roading, then go for the mountain bike... my 2 cents.

Al

 

I ride a hooked up Kona cindercone and it is an absolute blast. i love riding that bike everywhere and Kona makes one tough as nails bike for a good price. its something else to consider besides specialized. my bike was worth every penny for sure.

I ride about 75% on road 25% off road now a days, so having a hardtail bike like the cindercone still gives it enough road manners while i can beat it on the trails with my front suspension(marzocchi makes one heck of a fork).

good luck and happy riding.

 

I've got a Specialized Expedition Elite. Love it. It's more or less a hybrid bike. If I changed the tires and maybe the handlebar it would be much more of a mtn bike, but I'm pretty much a city commuter when it's not winter.

It's stock, but I put some XTR shifters on it last year. What a difference - I will never buy a bike with friggin grips shifters again!

 

OMG, don't start a grip shifter vs rapid fire debate here. It's like a P vs J argument!


I'm a rapid fire guy. With grip shift I tend to change gears after I land a jump.

 

My thoughts exactly. Even in the city going over a curb the things twist and change gears.

and I'm a P guy for sure

 

You can't go wrong with Specialized. Try a few others just to see if the fit is right. I like my old Fisher mountain bike because it has a longer reach than most which works with my short legs and long torso.

An added bonus to biking as form of exercise is that I have found that the price/quality of bikes is pretty close to the price/quality of basses with the exception of lower cost (<$300) basses are a better deal than cheap bikes.

And as you have found, the gear discussions can be just as passionate. And the GAS is very similar. Fortunately, my brother-in-law has bike GAS real bad and he gave me his old dual-suspended bike when he moved on to the new next best thing.

 

A hybrid has flat bars and wide gearing like a mountain bike but a taller frame and tires that are midway between a fat mountain bike tire and a skinny road tire.

Like any compromise, it is adequate for either but you really don't want to ride in group of mountain bikers on a hybrid or a group of roadies - both will leave you in the dust unless you Lance Armstrong in which case you could tear up either on a single speed cruiser from the '60's.

With that budget - I would try to stick as close to $500-600 and get a decent mountain bike. Remember to get and wear your helmet and the shorts and shoes are worth the money in increased comfort.

Then, if the road beckons, get a used road bike for $300-$400. There are plenty out there because, bikers chase the latest and greatest at least as much as bassists.

 

I would stay away from hybrids. As the previous poster said, they are neither fish nor fowl and they will hold you back as you become a better rider.

I guess you are now at a crossroads. Road or Mtn? Both are fun and offer a lot of good times and adventure (and a nice farmer's tan). Both have a bit of danger. Road from rude drivers and mtn from natural obstacles and wild animals. IMO, mtn biking gives you more variations of exercise. You are constantly speeding up and slowing down and the ups and downs require so many body positions so your strength and flexibility are improved. Then of course there is the aerobic component which I think is what you are after?

Your brother is right about disc brakes, don't get them unless they're hydraulic. They erase arm and hand fatigue from extended braking sessions (like 22 mile downhills). But remember that disc brakes add weight. Also IIRC, hydros don't appear on bikes until a bit past your budget. If they do appear on a sub $1000 bike then the maker cut corners somewhere. I would take better overall componentry at this price point. Shimano Deore level at the minimum.

Gary Fisher, Specialized, Trek, Cannondale (the MIM Fender of the bike world), Giant, Kona and many others make nice bikes to meet your budget. Visit www.mtbr.com if you have the time. Lots of info there on bikes and gear.

Anyway, keep the rubber side down and good luck.

 

+1

I can't find anyplace to ride here (too many cars) but when I visit California, I ride a Specialized which is outstanding. Their prices seem to be quite good as well.

 

Naw, you can always tell the DUI cyclist type- they're riding their teenage kid's POS Wal-Mart wonder- usually a smallish pink or purple girls bike to boot. BTW, I rode 3 times in the past week- pretty much a whole years worth for me. I think my arse fell off...