Originally Posted by
neilfein
Untrue - if the bike is the right size. A lot of people have done long rides on mountain bikes, myself included. You can find MRBs used on craigslist inexpensively. I'd stay away from suspension frames.
If you want to buy new, you can check out the Trek Navigator. It's a popular bike, and a good starter bike. You can get last year's model for around $400 if you shop around. Historian, how is the Navigator for off-road?
How off-road is the riding? It's an upright bike designed for gravel and cinder bike paths. That said, we both know an Athena who rode it on the GAP and C & O. It's a good bike, although it's heavier and slower than many others.
I agree the poster is needlessly concerned about the comfort of mountain bikes.