Message #15470

[bushwacka]

Jim,

thanks for the thoughts, the GT bike just popped up for sale and I did check the Mountain Bike reviews for it. I've done the shop checks, test rides, and rode some used bikes in local test rides, came close to a purchase a couple of times. Funny, but the one I should have bought was the first I rode, but, I was not knowledgeable at that time. I will not pursue this GT.

My needs in a MTN bike are very minimal as local terrain is not interesting and very limited, especially in the summer season.  It's just been a fun thing checking them out. I may ride a Trek Fuel 98 on Monday.

I am alittle late to the party but yeah the GT is junk. Has nothing to do with the weight but more of the shitty component spec on it. Especially when working with a budget weight is the last thing you want to think about. There are 30 lb bike that will out climb 25lb bikes just due to superior design of the suspension.

I dont know which you want to get and really dont want to sway you anyway, but will say that the philly area has some really cool under appreciated riding, and Pa as a whole probably has more singletrack than any other state in the union.

Some generally thoughts on Mountain bikes

most Hardtails ride rough, steel, carbon and Ti ride smoother than Aluminum , but most hardtails are AL and AL hardtail absolutely suck from a smoothness and roughness stand point. Quite frankly they ride like jack hammers.

rear suspension is great if the design is good and currently there are only handful of designs that work well. Most of the big name bike companies dont make it though. Giant, GT, Turner, Ibis, Niner, Santa Cruz,Haro(Sonix series) and intense are some companies with suspension that works well. alot of big names make some pretty bad designs that they try to mask with lock out, two of the worst offenders are Special Ed and Trek.

29er can be great as long there arent alot of tight turns. They roll faster and better over most stuff you find on your typical XC style trails but can be slow to accelerate and weigh more than a 26er. They can work for alot of people.

For the record I ride a Single Speed Steel hardtail 29er most but do not thing it is to answer to everyone's riding desire.  Although I would recommend most newer ride to a 26er with about 5 inches of travel front and rear.


Lastly tubeless tires are IMO the biggest improvement you can do from a performance stand point to any off road bike. They save weight. cut down on flats,and let you run a grippier,softer and faster, lower pressure.