Bike Recommendations? Back in the saddle again
 

Howdy folks. I've been out of the new bike scene for many a year. I bought a Novara Arriba from REI way back in the day, abused the hell out of it, then put too many thousands of miles on it. Since then I've been in the US Army, got out, met a girl, married said girl, had a kid. Nearly 15 years later, replacing nearly everything except the frame, I finally get to buy a few bike.

I'm no longer a spy 18 year old doing 10 ft drops. Instead I'm 30, 6'2", and sitting heavy at 225lbs. I'm not huge, but I have a mildly aggressive ride style and if there is a curb to bunny hop, a dirt mound to jump, or a log to claw over, I probably will.

What out there in the way of bikes would suit my road, single track off trail, and riding with the kids, while staying under $1000? I've looked at the Kona Hoss, Novara Ponerosa, Canondale 29'r 4, Trek 6500, Specialized Rockhopper, and Marin Palisades. I'd like to get the most for my money of course; Hydraulic instead of cable disc brakes, LX instead of Deore or lower, ...

Any recommendations in particular?

I think the Specialized Hardrock is the unofficial 'Clyde bike'. It gets mentioned a lot during "which bike should I get" threads.

Check out the Felt Q720. It should be exactly what your looking for. A whole lot of bike for the money.

http://www.feltracing.com/08/product...,1516&pid=8762

I love my Hoss Deluxe, yes it's a hevy bike but it's virtually bombproof. The don't make the Deluxe this year but the 2008 Hoss is about the same spec with a bit lighter fork, i think.

An advantage of a Specialized Hardrock or RockHopper is the ease of re-sale if you decide to upgrade. I sold a used Specialized after two years of use at the same price I purchased. Of course I'm talking used, but these seem to be the acknowledged swiss army knifes of MTBs.

Hi

My personal preference in mixed use bikes.

700c, drop bar, disc brake bikes that could be used for racing, training, commuting, touring, cyclocross, etc.

trek portland - http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes...land/portland/

cannondale cross xr7 - http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/08/c...del-8XR7C.html

Brodie Ronin '08 - http://www.brodiebikes.com/2008/2008_bikes/ronin.php
Brodie romax '07 - http://www.brodiebikes.com/2007/2007_bikes/romax.php
brodie ronin '07 - http://www.brodiebikes.com/2007/2007_bikes/ronin.php

lemond poprad disc - http://www.lemondbikes.com/bikes/cross/poprad_disc.php

rocky mountain sherpa - http://www.bikes.com/bikes/2007/TOURING/sherpa-10.aspx

kona sutra - http://www.konaworld.com/08_sutra_w.htm

orbea diem drop disc - http://www.orbea.com/ingles/interior...ilia=6&gama=13

focus cross disc - http://www.focusbikesuk.com/focuscyc...cross_disc.php

devinci caribou2 - http://www.devinci.com/10479_an.html

raleighusa sojourn - http://www.raleighusa.com/items.asp?deptid=5&itemid=427

rei novara element - http://www.rei.com/product/744808

co-motion mazama - http://www.co-motion.com/mazama.html

rocky mountain Solo CXD - http://bikes.com/2008_preview/2008_preview.html

rotwild rs1cx - http://www.rotwild.de/en/ (street bikes section)

fixie inc. pureblood - http://www.cycles-for-heroes.com/200...pureblood.html

maxx roadmaxx custom (you choose the color and parts at the LBS and the factory puts it together, i.e., not a custom frame) - http://www.maxx.de/frmain_bikes.htm (road - roadmaxx custom)

Salsa la Cruz - http://www.salsacycles.com/laCruzComp08.html