Jefffet27

Hello Everyone,

I recently joined bikeforums.net and this is my first post. Before asking my question I would like to say that this forum is filled with such a great number of inspirational people and just reading the posts of others has given me hope that I can succeed in my attempts to drop some weight and better my health.

Ok, here goes:

After spending countless hours reading through posts in the Clydesdales/Athenas forum, I thought that I was going to buy a Specialized Hardrock Sport as my first bike. After going to my LBS today, I'm now more confused than ever. The friendly sales associate recommended that I buy the Rockhopper instead of the Hardrock, said it's a much better bike for a little more money. He emphasized that the fork lockout on the Rockhopper is very important for a guy of my size . I guess what I want to know is, is the Rockhopper a better investment or will the Hardrock serve my needs just fine.

Here's a little information about me to help with your responses:

Height: 6'
Weight: 325
Type of Riding: pavement, hardpack dirt trails, maybe a few exposed roots/small rocks here and there.

Pinyon

I don't know enough about those bikes to have an opinion. Either bike will probably serve you well for a good long while. Which one do you like better? Can you tell the difference that the lockring thing makes on the Rockhopper?

Other guys on here will give you more informed advice.

WhaleOil

You know what? I don't know how I found this place either, but you have found gold here.

When it comes to overweight folks, these people have the answers. They have the numbers and the pictures to prove it!

There are many, many qualified and very smart people here. Use the Search Function and after reading if you still can't find the answer you want, ask.

These folks are great!

Mr. Beanz

Hmmm! Friendly sale guy upselling? That's what they are there for!

Hmmm! Rode my mtb on a paved trail. only 240 but when I hit 20 mph, the front end floated around on the Rockshox front fork so I can see where he's coming from. Kind of like driving a speedboat.

Hmmm! A guy form the other fourm just fell on his face cause he forgot to unlock the suspension. Took a jump or bump thinking it was open. He only bled for a little while!

I had a $250 Trek mtb, no suspension. It served me very well. Low end bike but I had replaced the wheels knowing the stock ones were not very hot. But I took it offroad.

I bet either one would be more than fine. But IMO, I wouldn't use the lockout myslef. I'm that kind of person. Doesn't mean that much to me to have fancy stuff that my hurt me....if I forget!

CACycling

How did they ride? Could you tell the difference? I would think that your weight would be a lot for most suspension forks and the lockout would allow you to ride it like a hard fork which could work better for you. You'll have to ride them both to tell though.

Air

Try out both, see which is better. I'd probably swap out the front suspension fork (making sure it's a hardtail) for a rigid fork though - the suspension will eat energy and power when you start riding (so instead of going forward when you give it extra power it will absorb it and then surge forward). Great for constant offroads, not so good for the kind of riding you'll be doing.

Welcome aboard!

ban guzzi

+1 on the fork advice. I've swapped mine out for a Surly suspension corrected and now VERY happy.

oh yeah...

HI!

idig

At your current weight, you likely won't get crazy with the technical stuff, so either bike would meet your immediate needs. Since you listed pavement, I recommend getting the one with the fork lockout. I'm at 300lbs, and I've been riding a Gary Fisher Big Sur almost exclusively on pavement for the past few years, and I really wish it had a lockout. The suspension really robs your power when standing, so much so that I pretty much only climb in a seated position unless I'm stretching.

neilfein

Hello and welcome! Stop by the introductions forum and say hi sometime.

If you want to see awesome people here on BF, check out the threads I recently started after my accident. There are amazingly supportive people here. I have a tour in three weeks and my bike is dead, and I've gotten offers to borrow for five bikes, even some from people I've never met except for here.

Jefffet27

I appreciate everyone's advice. I've given a lot of thought to it and I think I'm leaning towards buying the Hardrock and replacing the stock frame with a rigid. I think I read somewhere that some LBS may even give credit towards the new part when you swap out pieces on a new bike. Has anyone had any luck doing so?
If so, what would be a fair value?

st0ut

I would stay away from the suspension.
A you dont need it. you are not going to be hitting bushes and stumps that will require a frount suspension.
B. Suspension whghs more
C suspension robs power.

If you needed it for some technical singel rach i would say get.. but the hardrock will fit your need perfectly i think.

Mazama

I have nothing more to add than what the people above suggested. I am 340# myself and rode a Trek 7200 with front suspension for 2 years. When I got my new bike with a rigid fork I could not believe how much energy suspension robbed from me.

bautieri

I'm late to the party again .

Here's a grand idea: Buy the Harddrock sport but budget on spending for the rockhopper. Use the extra budgeted money to buy a ridgid fork, helmet, seat bag, flat repair kit, frame pump, and if you have enough left over, have them build you up a new rear wheel. Some LBS's will let you trade parts out for credit but don't expect a whole lot. I would say 30-40 dollars might be a practical estimate.

Neil_B

Two weeks, Neil. Two weeks.

CACycling

As a new suspension-corrected ridig fork should have less value than the suspension fork, I would try for an even trade. If they want more than $20 or $30, I'd get the new fork and put the suspension fork for sale on eBay or Craig's List (make sure you metion it is a new take-off part in the ad) and you may even come out ahead on the deal.