Mountain Biking - lightweight downhill/freeride/allmountain/whatever

Hi all,
Im looking for a full suspension bike, for every day 7 km ride to school. But I want the bike to serve primarily for downhill every other weekend, this would be its main purpose. Any suggestions for such a combination? Suitable for road use and downhill?

Oy. Simple answer is to get 2 bikes. A cheaper one to flog to school and back and then blow your budget on a bike you really want to use downhill. Dragging a DH bike to school (where it WILL get stolen) is a waste. There's no such thing as "suitable for road AND DH" XC maybe but not DH the frame geometry will be absolute **** on road

i agree with raiyn. buy some cheap old beater for the commute to school and back. and get a nice dh bike for your weekend warrior excursions. if not, then just whatever dh bike you want, cause like raiyn said, no dh bike is really suitabe for road use... i can be done, but don't expect to have an easy time pedalling that sucker here and there, or up any hills on the way. and buy some heavy duty locks... or a guard dog that you can strap to your bike while you're in class.

A friend of mine knew a guy that threw darts 6 hours a day. If he missed a day then he did 9 hours the next day. He was semi pro and was good because he did it all the time. I know a guy at the local bike store and he rides a BMX I think from morning to night all over the place. He is an incredible rider.
I think if you got a bike and rode it 9 hours a day every day, you would be quite good on it. I have a hard tail, a full suspension , and use of my wifes hardtail when I want but I continue to use my FS to go to school every day and on the trails on the weekend and some evenings. The more I use my bike the more it feels part of me.
I think if you want to get a bike that does all sorts of things then consider a Brodie Awl
http://brodiebikes.com/2005/light/marathon/awl/index.php
I can not say that I have rode this bike but I can say that next year, this is what I plan to get.
I went for a 2 day, 200Km ride with the local bike store gang and of all the bikes the owner could have he has an Awl.
Besides the fact he is a former expert class mountain biker, none of us could even stay close to him on the hills. The others that work for him that have rode it say it is one sweet bike.
I talked to him about it and he said it was well worth it.
Steep price for me so I think I will ask to demo his before I put my cash on the table.
I too want a bike that does it all. I want to ride road, pavement, hills, trails, swamps, what ever comes my way. I want 1 bike to do it Awl and I want to be as use it everyday

Oh, and if any of you can find me one, I need a vehicle that does the following:

Truck bed
4wd w/2 ft of clearance
0-60 in 5.5 seconds
35 mpg
seats 7 adults
can tow 6000lbs

oh yeah, it has to msrp for around $20,000!

I guess what I'm saying is you just can't have everything. That said, get an inexpensive commuter or road bike an a separate downhill. Your loucky that you can have your wish in only two bikes. Mine take about 4 bikes but I don't have them all.....yet.

Oh, and if any of you can find me one, I need a vehicle that does the following:

Truck bed
4wd w/2 ft of clearance
0-60 in 5.5 seconds
35 mpg
seats 7 adults
can tow 6000lbs

oh yeah, it has to msrp for around $20,000!

I guess what I'm saying is you just can't have everything. That said, get an inexpensive commuter or road bike an a separate downhill. Your loucky that you can have your wish in only two bikes. Mine take about 4 bikes but I don't have them all.....yet.

Aren't those the new federal guidelines for SUVs? ;)

In my shop, I have a hand saw, a circular saw, and a table saw. They all cut wood but they each do some things better than the other.

In the same fashion, I have three bikes, a hardtail, Dual Suspension, and a road bike. I use the right tool for the job.

Hey guys Im looking for a DH/Road bike that can climb like a 5.9, and descend through rock gardens like no other. My budget is $500.

:rolleyes:

Oh, and if any of you can find me one, I need a vehicle that does the following:

Truck bed
4wd w/2 ft of clearance
0-60 in 5.5 seconds
35 mpg
seats 7 adults
can tow 6000lbs

oh yeah, it has to msrp for around $20,000!

I guess what I'm saying is you just can't have everything. That said, get an inexpensive commuter or road bike an a separate downhill. Your loucky that you can have your wish in only two bikes. Mine take about 4 bikes but I don't have them all.....yet.

UNIMOG with an engine swap should get ya close :D

Oh, and if any of you can find me one, I need a vehicle that does the following:

Truck bed
4wd w/2 ft of clearance
0-60 in 5.5 seconds
35 mpg
seats 7 adults
can tow 6000lbs

oh yeah, it has to msrp for around $20,000!
.I'd want it to pull a G on the skidpad too. :lol:

I think Frankiee has the right idea. Honestly, if you buy the biggest rig you want or can find and ride it everywhere, you will have better abilities than most you ride with and the rest of these guys that have 3 purpose built bikes. Imagine, legs like tree trunks, the ability to climb or power out of a knarly situation, and being extremely healthy and mentally alert for your classes.

Take the most difficult line to and from class (the guard dog is not a bad idea), then find the cleanest line on the weekend. Look at the V-10 (http://www.santacruzbicycles.com/bicycles/v11.php) from Santa Cruz and then put a Viper car alarm it.