Mountain Biking - newbie here has some questions =]

i used to be really into mtn biking a few years ago but when it was time for me to drive, i got into car tuning. now i am done with my car modifications and am looking to go back to mtn biking, which is a relatively cheaper hobby.

after doing a search i have found some info i was looking for, but i still have many questions... here goes:

i own a 96 giant boulder which i know is a very entry level bike. being only a middleschool student at the time it was all i could afford. i basically am wondering if i should keep this bike or get a new one?

the frame is chromoly steel and the bike is pretty heavy. after riding my friend's new rockhopper a1 i know my giant is too heavy and components aren't good enough

my goal is to get as light a bike as possible, with pretty good components but not hardcore. what is a realistic overall weight of a bike i can aim towards? i'm hoping for under 26-27 lbs.

as of right now, i am looking towards building a bike (upgrading from my giant boulder, or getting a new frame altogether). people say that steel frame is a better ride, but i feel it might be too heavy. also, what is a good price for a pretty lightweight hardtail frame? i am mostly lookin at aluminum frame...

so right now my debate is if i should work with the giant boulder steel frame or get a new al frame? how light/durable can i make my giant (i think it might be 30-32 lbs right now) if i switch the components (headbar, handle bar, wheels, gearing, shifting components, brakes, pedals, but also putting on front suspension fork)? roughly how much $$$ will i be putting into the hole if i switch out basically everything except the frame?

sorry for the long post... but i feel very lost right now in terms of the market right now for mtn bike. i went to a local bike shop and they couldn't tell me much. if i could get a good lightweight al frame for very cheap then i rather do that than build onto my boulder frame... but is it even worth it to build off such an entrylevel frame?

thanks in advance

The steel Boulder is a mixture of Chromoly and Hi-Tensile steel, is a perfectly serviceable utility/town bike and will cope with light trails fine, but it sounds like you're needing more from the bike than it was designed for. You could replace the steel handlebar with aluminium, get a decent set of lighter wheels, replace the bottom bracket and chainset and you will save a few grams (the rear derailleur and shifters are composite and fairly light anyway) but when you add a suspension fork it will swallow up your weight savings, and for the price of these upgrades you can probably get close to a better new bike. I don't know what your budget is but something like the Giant Ranier might suit you. Don't throw away the Boulder, stick a rack on it and it'll make a good bike for hauling stuff round town.

Richard

You can try Giant Xtc se3. It's aluminium with reasonably good parts and price.

Originally posted by Richard D
The steel Boulder is a mixture of Chromoly and Hi-Tensile steel, is a perfectly serviceable utility/town bike and will cope with light trails fine, but it sounds like you're needing more from the bike than it was designed for. You could replace the steel handlebar with aluminium, get a decent set of lighter wheels, replace the bottom bracket and chainset and you will save a few grams (the rear derailleur and shifters are composite and fairly light anyway) but when you add a suspension fork it will swallow up your weight savings, and for the price of these upgrades you can probably get close to a better new bike. I don't know what your budget is but something like the Giant Ranier might suit you. Don't throw away the Boulder, stick a rack on it and it'll make a good bike for hauling stuff round town.

Richard

yeah i figure it might be like that... but the chromoly frame isn't that much heavier than an Al frame, is it? the weight difference is probably about a lb or 1.5lbs at most right? is there a website where i can look up prices on components, etc? are there sites (or groupbuy sites) or even classifieds where i can pick up parts for cheap (i look for cheap/used parts for my car when modding it)?? i am really not looking to spend that much $$$ at all... basically i am taking a break from my car because my next series of modifications will be more costly, but if i am unable to build up my bike for pretty cheap... say around 200bucks for some components... then another 100 or so for some simple suspension fork... i don't know, i am not hardcore at all... but i do know that my boulder is very heavy.

Originally posted by unrelated
You can try Giant Xtc se3. It's aluminium with reasonably good parts and price.

never heard of it... how much do frames cost these days? i thought i found some in mountain biking magazines a few months ago for like 3.something lb Al frame for 50-150 dollars? is that even possible? because the dude at the shop said a lightweight Al frame will run me at least 200 dollars??

how much is the giant xtc? alright im going to search more... thanks for the replies guys

tFunk, for what you would spend to upgrade your bike to make it lighter or to buy a frame, you can spend that money on a sub 25-28lb bike for about $500 - $800.

I suggest a Giant Iguana, Specialized Rockhopper, or a Gary Fisher Hoo-Koo-E-Koo.

Check out www.nashbar.com I was looking at their new flyer, and they've got an aluminum frame for like 169, and a new steel frame for only $69.00.

You can't beat that price! I'm sure you can get a deal on a closeout fork as well for around $150.00.

Good Luck.
L8R

I am in the same boat as you. My dilemma:

I have a 95 Trek 6500, has bottom line Alevio (sp?) components most places.

And a '98 beast, outfitted like this:

Pro-Flex Beast (http://www.bikepro.com/directions/a97_proflex/beast.html)

And I don't know if my money would be best spent:
1) Fixing up the Trek
2) Upgrading the Beast
3) Starting over with a new ride.

I do not do hardcore DH, but I do ride offroad quite aggresively when I have the opportunity. Any input would be appreciated.

Also, more details are in a thread below, but no replies. Thanks.

[/hijak]

hey guys i really appreciate you guys taking time to post suggestions/advice.

the main thing is that i really do not have space for another bike, and if i was to buy a new bike i would need to sell my giant, and i know that i can't get too much for it probably since it's so entry level and i paid like 250 for it in 96 but now with 250 you can get a much nicer bike.

sub 25lbs is really my goal.. i think i will keep the chromoly frame and fork, then change everything else... like headbar, handle bar, seat, pedals/components, brake levers (think it's ok to use my cantilever brakes right now? its an entry level shimano...), new shifter(whatever you call it, the whole works), but i think i will keep my wheels and gearing. can i shave off 5-7lbs off my bike by just swapping those parts over? what other weight reduction mods are there?

i am almost certain that this is the route i will go, but i would love to ride a rockhopper or gary fisher... i just dont have that kind of money for a new bike. as for swapping the components/parts on my bike, i will look for lightweight as main priority, and i know some lightweight parts are relatively cheap compared to the rest of the market that's maybe a little more cosmetic or hardcore oriented.

should i keep my wheels/tires? will i save weight if i swap those out? i am really concerned with my brakes.. are cantilever brakes heavier or lighter than v brakes? is it worth the swap now that most bikes out there have v brakes? i can't wait to get my bike set up.

if there is any reason i should not do such to my bike, please tell me the logic of why not, etc, because i really am just a newbie. i kno for the money i will spend it's better to get a new bike, but that's not an option =]

thanks