Hey folks!

I just bought a 2014 Specialized Hard Rock a few months ago. Honestly, I am not that comfortable on it. I decided I think its makes more sense to get a comfort bike than a mountain bike at this point. Question, is it possible to modify the Hard Rock to turn it into a comfort bike? I don't want to lean over the handlebars anymore, it kills my neck to look up while leaning, over. Does it make sense to mod this bike or just sell it and get a comfort bike? I hate to get hit with the huge depreciation on a bike that's a few months old.

Any suggestions?

If I should get a comfort bike and sell this thing, which bike to get? I need something very large (xl) I am 6'5" and want to ride for hours without my neck or arms aching.

Thanks!

Hard to say. A new stem and handlebars might make your bike perfect but maybe not. I'd personally try to find a suitable comfort bike that feels right then see if it's feasible to get the Hard Rock adjusted to feel the same. I suspect that you might just be better off taking the financial hit, selling or trading in your bike, and getting a whole new (perfect) bike though.

If you do decide to sell it you may as well ride it for a while longer and see if it starts to feel better.

Comfort bikes are generally not very comfortable over long distances. You might wanna think about going to your LBS, making your bike fit as well as possible, putting some street tires on it, and then HTFU and ride. If after making the bike fit, and at least 500 miles of riding, you are still uncomfortable, look into something else. Comfort road bikes and touring bikes are all better suited to long distances than so called comfort bikes.

I ALWAYS modify. Truth be said, I might ride just enough so that I can justify modifying more bikes.

What is it about the Hot Rock that you don't like? A 3" stem riser may be all that it takes to put the handlebar into your "sweet" zone. If you decide that you don't like it, you can always take it off.

Also, unless you do quite a bit of serious riding on dirt trails, swap those knobby tires out for some slicks.

probably time for that Recumbent .. kick back and enjoy the view.

Talk to the LBS where you bought it and explain what you don't like about the current fit. You can swap stems, bars, seatposts, etc. if you need something that is a bit beyond the available range of adjustment. I modified a rigid MTB to make a fitness/cruiser for my wife. She also likes a more upright riding position so here is a list of what I did:

- Shorter stem with a few degrees more rise
- Handlebar with about an inch and a half rise and a few degrees of sweep
- Moved seat a cm or so forward
- Changed to a women specific comfort seat (at her insistence against my advice)
- 1.5" semi-slick road and trail tires

Whenever you make changes, give yourself some time to adapt before deciding if you likes something or not. Sometimes things feel strange just because they are different and your body takes a while to get used to it.

+1 on NOT getting a "comfort" bike

I have mountain bikes that I have tweaked for rail trail comfort biking, and they work pretty well.

If you raise the bars you may need to also replace cable and housing, but I never know until after I raise them. I would say that more than half the time there is enough slack in the cables and routing to let me make the mods without increasing cable length.

My suggestions of things to consider are raising the bar, getting a bar with some sweep (and rise) to it, and in addition, I have become quite a fan of Ergon (or similar) grips. And of course, whatever tires make sensse for your riding, I prefer semi-slick with some tread due to the gravel/crushed stone rail trails in my area.

PS. don't forget, when you start raising stems and changing handlebars you'll probably have to change your cables you'll need longer ones,, just a thought....hopefully you can do all that yourself, if not,,, more for the LBS, which is not a bad thing thats how they stay alive.....

How about trying a cheaper solution first? Get long bar ends and adjust them to a comfortable angle, see if that helps.

The advantage of trying to modify your current bike is you'll be able to get a better idea of what works for you and what doesn't. Buying a new bike now might mean buying another bike that doesn't work for you.