Mountain Biking - Is this a good deal?

Hello Everybody,

I would like to get a mountain bike. I have a Windsor road bike and some Trek bikes but I don't know anything about Mountain bikes. I'm 40 and am never going to be competing in anything I just want to ride a few easy trails and use the bike as a commuter. A LBS that sells Schwinn has this bike for $169. Here are the specs.
Bike Specs (http://www.schwinnbike.com/products/bikes_detail.php?id=396)

It has an aluminum frame which is something the Trek 820 doesn't have. I haven't test ridden it yet. If I don't get this I will probably go to my normal LBS and get a low end Trek Aluminum frame Mountain bike (3500 ,3700 or 4100) unless I get lucky and find a good used one on the floor. What is really weak about this Schwinn? I know know much about equipment so the specs don't help me out very much.

The most challening thing I will do with this bike is probably ride this trail which is close to where I live and ride the streets to work.
Trail Review (http://content.mtbr.com/pscTrails/United,States,Trails/Illinois/,Panther,Creek,Jim,Edgar/PRD_167822_4545crx.aspx)

Thanks a lot.

Okay, First of all: once you get into this sport, it's addictive. You'll want to check out other trails and epic rides, and then you'll want a new bike. This particular bike really
isn't set up to ride any real or technical singletrack with. Gripshifts can be a little dangerous, too. You're riding along and come to a steep climb, sit on the nose of the saddle and start torquing on the bars. Pulling back, in true climbing style. SNAP, there's goes the deraileur or chain because the gripshifts accidently changed gears.

For true singletrack, I recommend no less than Deore' components. The fork probably won't hold up, either.
I'd say: Save your money a little longer and spend about $450-500 on a hardtail that will last a while.

Okay, First of all: once you get into this sport, it's addictive. You'll want to check out other trails and epic rides, and then you'll want a new bike. This particular bike really
isn't set up to ride any real or technical singletrack with. Gripshifts can be a little dangerous, too. You're riding along and come to a steep climb, sit on the nose of the saddle and start torquing on the bars. Pulling back, in true climbing style. SNAP, there's goes the deraileur or chain because the gripshifts accidently changed gears.

For true singletrack, I recommend no less than Deore' components. The fork probably won't hold up, either.
I'd say: Save your money a little longer and spend about $450-500 on a hardtail that will last a while.

Agree entirely. The spec on this bike is too low to give you any real pleasure out of riding it. You will find the forks will not last, expensive to replace, drivetrain will wear out quickly. being 7 speed I would not mind betting it is a screw on freehub that will not last, and--- I could keep going on, if you want.
Your lbs, will be able to give you a better bike for a little bit more, but one that will be better to ride, cost you less in maintenance, and get you away from those skinny tyres. You are already a cyclist, so don't get a poor quality bike that will put you off mountain biking forever.

I just want to ride a few easy trails and use the bike as a commuter

If your just going to take it out on easy trails and paved path it seems like a good deal. However, you may wanna look at other brands then schwinn. In case of warrenty, you may have some trouble so i recommend you to stcik with another brand.

The issue with Schwinn, is that several years ago, GT and Schwinn were going bankrupt and were eventually purchased by Pacific Cycle Corp. (don't remember ACTUAL Name, but it is Pacific). Pacific is the largest retailer of bicycles in the US. Unfortunately, 90% of their bikes are "X-Mart" type bikes costing less than $250.00.

Pacific decided to use the popularity of the Schwinn name and make cheap bicycles (on the same level as Huffy, Murray...etc.) with a Schwinn name. They decided to keep GT as a shop quality bike.

Personally, I think this has paid for THEM (the corp.), but not for US (the consumer). Too many ignorant people walk into an "X-Mart", see the Schwinn name, remember the reputation, and buy an inferior bike.

I will add however, that of most of the "X-Mart" bikes available, the Schwinn is one of the better ones out there. (Best of the Worst - so to speak).

L8R

Thanks for all the replies so far. Since this is a bike shop bike I thought maybe it might be OK but, you usually get what you pay for. Right now I am leaning toward buying one of these Schwinn Froniters in a 13 or 15 inch frame size for my boy. He needs a bigger bike and he was with me in the store and really liked the Schwinn. The $169 price looked really good for a Bike shop bike. The cheapest bike the LBS I normally go to is Trek. The Trek Mountain bikes I think think start at about $250 for a steel frame bike. I thought the bike shop Schwinns were made in different factories than the Department Store Schwinns. I wonder if this is still true?

I have been going off road a little bit on some cinder and dirt horse trails with my 7500 I was a little surprised by what the hybrid would do. I think I will really enjoy a mountain bike and wouldn't be happy with this Schwinn very long. There is a mountain bike race in June and I have been looking at the completion times from last year for the 40 and over beginner class and I have been thinking 'hey I can do that' so I am leaning toward a better bike. The wife thinks its a mid life crisis thing.

The fork worries me because I've seen the cost of some replacement forks and they were expensive. The derailleurs and crankset are all Shimano and Suntour on this Schwinn. These are the brands of components are what's on my Windsor and Treks and I've had good luck with them but I don't know the difference in the various models of Shimano and Suntour components. I know my 7500 has Deore and its probably my cheapest made bike. I know very very little about gear that's why I came here. The bike shop made it sound like an OK deal but I don't know them. They have been around quite a while but I've always went to another store. I never needed to know anything about gear before because the shop I normally go to takes care of everything and has done a good job of keeping me out of trouble.

Thanks again.