Awesome mountain bike

[Gregorian]

This is about the nicest mt. bike I've ever seen. He's taken the best parts there are and put them all together. Like the titanium cluster. There are only a couple of things I would change. But if any of you are into mountain biking, this should make you drool. The frame alone is about three grand. The wheels another grand. So you can get the picture. And check out the welds that Moots pulls off.

http://homepage.mac.com/sjsamaha/PhotoAlbum39.html

[bvar22]

1. Hey G.,

Could you give me some recommends for a Mtn Bike? I'm thinking pure off road dirt wilderness trails.

I'm 56 years old, 215lbs. I'm in pretty good shape. I was riding 600 - 700 miles/month on asphalt trails before my bike was stolen. I ride for pleasure and adventure. I have NO DESIRE to ride or train competively. A couple of pounds frame weight or aerodynamics mean nothing to me.
I'm looking for utility and dependability, nothing more.

Price around $1200.

I value your opinion.

Thanks!

Bob
St Paul.

[Gregorian]

2. I can try.

I have been mountain biking for over 20 years. For me it was a very simple decision. I found the first bike that was totally awesome. It was the best. But I'm dedicated to dirt. I'm 135 pounds.

Having said that, it shouldn't be any different finding a bike for you. I can send you to a forum where you can get the answers.

There are so many ways to go. Last night I just decided to peruse all of the separate bike forums to look at all of the different bikes. I was amazed at what is out there. From Surly, with huge fatty tires, to Moots with the titanium suspension. Or even the single speed bikes. The single speeds are totally pared down and light. I get such a thrill seeing all of the really well made bikes. And the posts of the people who, like us, ride them. I saw a guy with a trailer riding through Australia. In the middle of nowhere.

Your size isn't a problem. The Clydesdale forum has a post right now for a guy who's seven feet tall.

There are two basic bike categories. The mass produced, and the beautiful gems. Basically that translates to Taiwan or USA. But considering the USA frames can be well over your price, alone, that is probably out.

I would suggest full suspension. It's just way more forgiving. Plus, I find that having a cool piece of machinery adds to my desire to go out and play.

To be honest, I would have to do some research to find what the killer deal is right now. Give it some time. I'll keep my eyes open for bike packages in that price. I know it's possible. I have a friend who recently bought a bike for under that price that is supposed to be very nice. And he's Gary Fisher's first employee, with a lot of biking experience. I can ask him.

Mountain bike review is the forum to go to. I've been hanging out there since before 2000.
Here's their product review page-

http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/

Here's the general forum page- I suggest doing what I did last night. Scroll down to the individual bike makes, and search through the posts with pictures. Maybe that won't tell you much. I suppose the review page with pricing might be more informative. But if you like bikes, the "show us your bike" posts are pretty fun.

http://forums.mtbr.com/



Super ninja edit-

OK, here's a full suspension XC (cross country) mountain bike review listing. If it works, I've got it in descending order of price. Check out the Haro xls r5. Not a bad bike for the price. Wee. Fun! I love searching for cool stuff. More, later...

By the way, each bike listed, has all of the individual reviews under it. Click away and see each bike and what people have to say.

http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/xc_full_suspension/index_byprice.shtml

[bvar22]

3. Thanks!!!!

I have about a month before I'll be ready to buy.
Thanks for input.

Later->

[Gregorian]

7. I just found the perfect forum

I didn't know it existed until I searched a bit. It's the forum for asking which bike to buy. And you don't even neeed to post anything if you don't want. By searching this specific forum, you'll most likely find your answers. I already see a post similar to what it is you are asking.

http://forums.mtbr.com/forumdisplay.php?f=48

[Kolesar]

4. Application?

I remember when mountiain bikes were invented (so to speak) and when front shocks were introduced, every manufacturer was serving all the "markets" with the same models of bicycles. The design limits were how much travel they could make in the shocks (and a few other considerations).

By 2006, bicycles are being made to serve as "steep drop" bikes, where the bike is engineered to go over big drops. The shocks have to absorb huge amounts of energy as the bicycle descends. Some of those riders use a ski lift or an automobile as a shuttle.

There are bicycles for races over the most difficult terrain a bicycle can ride. I imagine that is what the Moots is for.

Cyclocross riders put moderate front suspension in the bicycle that is optimized for weight.

I picked up most of this from when I read Bicycling and it's Rodale twin Mountain Bike over the last few years. Do I have it right?

[Gregorian]

5. That bike is a moderate design compared to what is out there.

I'm a cross country rider. The Moots is a cross country bike. Downhill is the kind of "riding" where the shocks are for big drops. The kind that shuttle and ride downhill are not purists, in my book. I love climbing. The thing I love about the Moots design is it's perfect for riding on the street. The rear suspension is inactive until it hits a bump. So pedalling doesn't bob the rear end. To be honest, I ride for fun because I'm retired. But in general, I like to ride for a reason. Transportation. Commuting. In days gone by, I used to commute by mountain bike. It was fantastic.

I was just looking at my old bike up in the loft. I got the very first suspension forks. They simply didn't work. One inch of elastomeric bumpers. And when they got wet, they just stuck in one position. I had the time of my life on my old bike. My old hardtail gave me years of the best fun I've ever had.

It's things like being able to ride in the rain and still have brakes. Discs also work when the rim is out of true. You can still ride home when your wheel is bent. And for long descents you can still hang on to the bars without being in agony. Or having all the bearings being sealed cassette style. Totally waterproof. Bikes have always been about being cool. The neatest stuff. Aluminum. Titanium. There is a website museum for bicycle brakes. It dates back a hundred years.

I would have a very hard time riding the trail in my backyard without suspension. It's all 20% grade and boulders. A good rider doesn't really need suspension per say. But at 50 years old, it sure makes it easier on the old body. And it's a lot more fun. And I'm talking about going uphill. It makes going uphill a lot nicer. And downhill is just plain not as dangerous.

To be honest, I get the feeling from the rest of that guy's website that he might be a total goon. I was really put off by his jet/house/car bs. It just so happens he's built one of the finest bikes ever.

[Kolesar]

6. So that's what XC is all about!

I thought XC meant more moderate, longer rides. IMO, designers solved the "bobbing rear" problem by moving the pivot of the rear suspension up to be in alignment with the chain. Hence, the chain does not pull the rear wheel up during hard pedaling. And heaven knows, an off road cyclist sometimes has to stand up and mash them pedals but good (!).

I have a 1995 hardtail with just the shocks you described. The old elastomers have no response now. I am debating removing the fork and putting on a curved steel or aluminum fork. I still have to figure the geometry so that I get the "trail" right for the head tube angle. I would probably put a stack of spacers on the stem so that I don't have to reach down as far. My bike's eleven years older and so is the rider. I'm gonna sit back.