Mountain Biking - New rims worth the money on cheap bike?

Im a newbie. My favorite bike is my cheap Ross Mt Rushmore, I like it more then my Raleigh M50DX. I bought the Ross at my lbs and they had the larger 20" frame size that was sure better then the one size "fits all" bikes from Target and Wal-Mart, so while a cheap bike, at least they made it in different sizes. I put 26x1.5 slicks on the Ross and the bike has a weird geometry like a cross between a roadbike and a mountain bike? I dont like the Raleigh because I dont like the feel of the stiff frame. The wheels on the Ross are kinda cheap and would like to know what I would gain with feel as to better wheels. Im asking because my brother who is a roadie has ridden the Ross and said the only thing wrong with the bike are the cheap wheels.

Im asking because my brother who is a roadie has ridden the Ross and said the only thing wrong with the bike are the cheap wheels.

Forget the wheels - what you really need is a new brother.

Sorry, the bike is not worth upgrading. New wheels may help, but I'd bet you would then find other areas of the bike that are lacking. Right now, the big, heavy wheels are hiding all the other componentry's lack of performance (cranks, BB, pedals, cassette, fork, etc.)

Uprgrades should compliment other components - not single them out and laugh at them.

I really don't know what a Ross is.

What I do know though, is that my MTB started life as a fairly cheap model - $400-$500 if that.

But I've had it from new for 10 years now, and it has gradually been upgraded - it is now such a lot of fun and great on the trails. I think the main reason is that the frame and forks are very strong, and while the original components were pretty basic, the XT gruppo that's on now really compliments them.

I guess what I'm saying is work out what's the good part of your bike. If that's your frame, yeah, spend the money. If not, don't bother wasting your time and effort.

I love my MTB so much because it's fun and unbreakable. If it wasn't, I'd have traded it in long ago.

Can you post a link to the Ross? I'm not familiar with it.

Wheels are likely the least of your problems with lower-end/hybrid bikes. Although there are exceptions, other components may wear out/break faster, and the shocks may be down-right dangerous on anything but pavement. And the frame doesn't sound like it's build to withstand off-road riding.

Some lower priced bikes and even some "hybrids" can have strange requirements for parts as well, so upgrading important components isn't always possible.

If you don't like your Raleigh, why not just use those wheels?

Those Raleigh are known as good budget entry level bikes. I'd suggest getting used to the Raleigh- maybe work on the shocks, get a shock-seatpost, work on your style of riding, etc. While you are riding and having fun, you can save up for a full suspension bike.

Forget the wheels - what you really need is a new brother.

Sorry, the bike is not worth upgrading. New wheels may help, but I'd bet you would then find other areas of the bike that are lacking. Right now, the big, heavy wheels are hiding all the other componentry's lack of performance (cranks, BB, pedals, cassette, fork, etc.)

Uprgrades should compliment other components - not single them out and laugh at them.

Will agree that a cheap bike is not worth upgrading, but wheels can be changed from bike to bike. A lighter set of wheels will probably improve this bike, but will also be worth putting on your next new bike aswell.

[QUOTE=Matt Gaunt]I really don't know what a Ross is.

I thought Ross was a British Company.my bad
I also thought Ross usually came with a better than Xmart component package, even for the sub $500 group, at least mine did. if it can be traded from bike to bike as stated before ,go for it. you can get some decent wheels online real cheap. JensonUSA has some for under $70 a set. they are machine built, but, this will give you a chance to learn how to true a wheel or develop a relationship with a good LBS, as they will more than likely be out of true, but like mine were, not much and easily trueable(is that a word?)

Ross was a bicycle manufacturer from Bethlehem Pennsylvania. Ross went under 15 years ago if I remember. Ross's were decent bikes, not great, but nowhere near the worst either. If you still have it, hang onto it, and don't sell it.