Originally Posted by Jax Rhapsody

It's pretty modern; vbrakes, a derailure(its that cheap no name below tourney one I was talking about) that is actually bolted to the frame, adverse to held one by the wheel, 3pc crank, I think iys a 48/38/28, or the next ratio set below that, 1" threaded headset. Roadmasters are actually a real common bike around here, it's modern enough to upgrade, they usually have aluminum double wall wheels, the spokes are bare or galvanised steel, though.

I would go for a hard tail mongoose with an element fork, and heres why; they have the best fork of all walmart suspension bikes, I'd still swap out for a rigid, but until you can: those forks act progressively, they stay fairly stiff, and soften as you ride across bumps, and stiffens as get back on solid ground.

My favorite hardtail- the only one I'd ever pick to ride with a *** to my head is the Research Dynamics Coyote. I had one and it was stolen, it's fork was insanely stiff, and never bottomed out, when it did give, it only had 3" of travel. I'm going to beat the guy who stole it. It was my size too, I stuffed an 8speed wheel on it and trgger shifters. Blah.