Originally Posted by
Honest Bill
Thanks, Sportster2009.
Follow-up questions:
1) gearing with a GF hybrid won't be a problem for me? we do have some pretty steep hills where I live ... Eureka Springs in the Ozark Mountains of NW Arkansas ... Fayetteville, where my son lives and will be riding most of the time, is more rolling and flater
2) the wheels on the GF hybrids are larger than what are on the Trek true mountain bikes, like the 4300? if so, that makes it easier for speed on pavement? however, I don't see speed being really improtant to me
3) "trek dc's"?
As far as off-road, most of mine will be on county gravel roads and bike trails (not paved and through the woods) in our parks ... though you can get agressive on our bike trails (big rocks, trees, downhill), that's not what I'll be doing ... mostly staying on the trails, which can get sloppy at times but are typical of mountain trails for the most part.
Thanks,
Bill
It's important to realize that the gears on a bike can be easily - and quite cheaply! - changed. Don't sweat this too much. But when in doubt get the widest ratio you can, and pay more attention to hill climbing power than top speed.
Don't listen to the person who thinks larger wheels are faster on the road - 17" wheel Moultons are banned from the Tour De France as unfair competition! Well, I'm sure that he means well, but if larger wheels were faster than racing cars would look like old penny farthing bikes..
Finally, re a suspension fork: consider getting a bike without one. Cheap suspension forks are nasty objects and exist most to make a bike look a certain way - just like some children's bicycles used to have motorcycle style fuel tanks. You'll do better with fatter and higher quality lower pressure tyres instead.
Imo you'd both be fine with good 1990 issue mountain bikes bought off ebay. Say $200 a piece and as much fix-up money. The frame quality would probably be higher than anything you could get today for less than $1500 too. But buying a modern bike is easier.
My tips:
- Ask the store about options for changing gear ratios on any bike you like - a good one will be very helpful and offer to deduct the cost of the chainrings or cassette you are discarding from the price of fitting a new one.
- The bike's fit to your anatomy is key; make sure you buy the right size bike. Think about how upright or crouched over you want to be.
- Consider bikes with no suspension forks and fitted with high quality "balloon" tyres. They'll be ultra comfortable, quite fast, and more reliable. But I always say this, and people who have bought bikes with cheap suspension forks (i.e. ones that cost less than a round what you want to pay for a bike) hate hearing it.
- Phone around stores looking for last years models of suitable bikes: you should get a big discount if you find something suitable.