DatGuyAsh

Hello all.
Some advice needed not been on a bicycle for around 6-7 years now, yeah put on a bit of weight which I am looking to lose while bike riding.

I was thinking of buying this bike, not sure if it's worth the price?
Looking for someone who has been bike riding for a while and knows a bit about bikes.

- SPECIALIZED Pitch Sport 2015 :: £500.00 :: Mountain Bikes :: Trail ::

I will be bike riding on pathways around my town.
Nice looking bike in my opinion, the white version of this bike looks awesome.. you wont see many scratches and dints on it ?

First time bike riding for years should I be carrying a water bottle with me in case I get dehydrated? I know it some stupid, just needed advice.
Thank you.

EDIT:

Here is a video of this bike listed above.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtu_rkTTswg

FLJeepGuy

When you say riding on pathways around your town, are we talking, hard packed dirt, sand, gravel, or paved? The bike you're looking at is one up from the entry level in Specialized's line of hardtail mountain bikes. The Shimano Altus/Acera equipment are also their entry level mountain bike groupsets. So, you're looking at a good entry level bike, with decent components, that will handle pretty much anything an entry level fitness rider will throw at it.

The question is, how much time will you spend off-road versus on? It's 2" wide off-road tires will not provide a good on-road ride and the suspension fork, while including a lockout mechanism, will still add a good bit of weight to the bike. You really need to evaluate (and be truthful with yourself) what kind of riding you're going to be doing. If you end up thinking that the percentage of on-road and around town riding is a bit higher, you might want to look towards something like the Crosstrail or Sirrus which would have a bit better road manners than the Pitch.

I'm a bit biased, but I absolutely love my Crosstrail Disc and have no issue on single track or other non-technical off-road rides, and it's on-road manners are fantastic. I know that a lot of folks are turned off on the Specialized brand, but Specialized still produces some top notch hardware.

DatGuyAsh

Paved paths, I'll be off road all the time. Dislike peddling on roads etc.
Basically just going for bike rides nothing mad, no mountains etc, maybe a few hills here and there and that's all.

I really like this bike I posted but yeah seems to be more for mountains etc? Will it still benefit me riding on paved pathways?
Maybe sometimes if I feel like I'll go on dirt pathways not many were I live though.

Or even this one, same bike but not a sport edition.
It's also has a black colour as well. - https://www.harryhallcycles.co.uk/m21...ZED-Pitch-2015

Thanks dude.

FLJeepGuy

Thanks for the additional info. First up, the term "mountain bike" really refers to a bike that's set up for off-road riding, basically un-paved areas, dirt, gravel, mud, jumping logs and rocks, etc. Therefore "mountain" bikes generally have heavier frames, suspension, lower gearing, and larger, knobbier tires for grip in softer surfaces. Since most of your riding is on pavement, a "mountain" bike is really not going to give you the best experience.

In your price range, take a look at the Crosstrail (SPECIALIZED Crosstrail Disc 2015) or Sirrus (SPECIALIZED Sirrus Sport 2015). The Crosstrail has taller, narrower tires with more of a road tread, but still retains the front suspension and will easily handle dirt paths and roads. The Sirrus is a bit more road oriented, losing the suspension and going to an even narrower tire, however it's not as off-road friendly as the Crosstrail. Both of these bikes have higher gearing and will require much less effort to ride on the pavement than the Pitch and allow for higher speeds.

There are equivalent bikes from other manufacturers, but as I stated earlier, I couldn't be happier with my Crosstrail.

Oh, on the subject of hydration... don't leave home without it!

Lone

don't get it. it is too much bike and too much money. it looks too expensive, and people will want to steal it. people might make fun of you for going on casual rides and having an expensive bicycle.

dbbspider

I think it's too much bike for what you are going to use it for, but it doesn't matter what I or anyone thinks. I
f u really like that bike and how it fits you, then buy and enjoy it. That's all that really matters. I agree, the bike looks pretty cool.

DatGuyAsh

Still debating to buy this bike or not.
I want a nice looking frame, tires etc.

This bike would only work out in a forest were I live it's massive, hills etc.
This bike is awesome love the look of it but I am guessing the bike would be too heavy for paved paths etc?

Thanks.

10 Wheels

Nice bike....Go get it..

FLJeepGuy

Not too heavy, but the others should be lighter. If you do go with the Pitch, you might want to look into switching out the tires to something with a more road-oriented tread pattern. That would give you less rolling resistance and a much smoother ride.

The Pitch is still a great bike, and if you like the looks, just swap the tires and go!

DatGuyAsh

Seen this also guys.

- Trek 3500 Disc 2015 - Red
It's £150 cheaper than the one I posted above and still has a nice look to it.

Would this be worth getting? Once again.. be riding on pathways maybe a few hills here and there.
Are those wheels/tired to big for pathways? Bigger the better more grip right or am I wrong?

Thanks once again.

Little Darwin

Another voice to add to the chorus, that the Pitch is optimized for more rugged terrain than you will be riding. Another bike might be faster and lighter for you. Honestly, if you are only going to go on paved paths, that is absolutely the wrong bike for most riders.

Lighter is a factor that will help you climb hills easier, and also allows you to pick the bike up more easily (for storage, transport or whatever),

But, with that said, I see absolutely nothing wrong with riding a bike that is the one you truly want.

I do suggest that you don't concern yourself too much with how it looks, because when you are riding it you aren't looking at it. Go test ride the bike, along with others mentioned here, or those that the local shop might suggest, and see which one speaks to you while you are riding it... You will really know what you want when you ride it.

DatGuyAsh

Can't decide between a trail bike and a commuter? Get both, in one bike. 3 Series gives you upright confidence, control, and road-to-trail versatility, wherever you ride.

• Light, tough frame
  Trail-ready Alpha Aluminium frame is rack and mudguard ready for daily practicality.
• Perfect fit
  Our extended size range guarantees a better fit, so you get a better ride.
• Quality components
  Shimano drivetrains and Bontrager components mean smooth gear shifting and performance you can count on over the long haul.
• Limited lifetime warranty
  These bikes are built to last, and backed by Trek's limited lifetime warranty.

That's the features of lightness etc, not too sure maybe I should give the bike a test ride first before buying it.

Little Darwin

Wider tires can provide better grip on soil, mud and rocks... narrow tires provide plenty of grip on pavement. The amateur and professional racers ride on ridiculously narrow tires and go around sharp corners faster than I ride on straights...

Wide tires can also give you more cushion while you are riding to make the ride smoother, even though they will usually make you a bit slower. But, that would (to me) mean a change of tires to one with less tread, because the constant hum of mountain bike tires on pavement could drive one mad.

The Trek 3500 will be somewhat heavier based on the components, but it seems reasonable... depending on what you like.

DatGuyAsh

Would I get decent amount of speed out of this bike?
It has - Shimano Altus EF51, 7 speed

FLJeepGuy

I'm in total agreement here...

@DatGuyAsh, I owned a 2005 Trek 3500 and put many miles on it. It was a very nice riding, enjoyable bike; one which I ended up selling to a coworker who is now using it as a commuter. Again, tires will make a huge difference, and you should try to use tires appropriate to the surfaces you're riding on. You can stick with the larger tires, but should switch to one with a smoother, more road oriented tread for riding on pavement. You'll have more grip, less rolling resistance, less noise, and less vibration. Just find a bike you like and go from there.

The points we were trying to make is that while a mountain bike is perfectly fine for pavement riding, there are others that are more suitable that will provide a better experience.

As far as speed is concerned, 10-15 mph on a mountain bike on pavement is doable, maybe more (mostly dependent on the amount of work you put into it), but again, you'll get much more speed for less work out of the appropriate bike.

DatGuyAsh

I guess my best bet is to go to the shop and give the bike a test ride and see what it feels like.
That's all I can do really and get my own opinion if I like the feel of it or not.

GamblerGORD53

+1. This bike is way too one trick pony for an only bike, but it is what LBS guys love to sell to newbies.
Find one more road hybrid/ commuter/ utility friendly.

onfloat

Yes! go give it a test ride and ride the others that strike your fancy. There is nothing worse than buying a bike and never riding it because you don't like the way it feels. You want a bike that calls to you to ride it.

The most expensive bike you will ever buy is the one you don't ride.

Homebrew01

A "hybrid" sounds more appropriate for your type of riding, for the reasons already stated by several posters. If you insist on a mountain bike, and buy it from a shop, see if they will replace the big knobby tires with tires more suitable for paved paths. If they swap tires while the tires are new, I would not expect much difference in price, if any.

Alfster 

My first bike was going to be my only bike. I ended up getting a Trek 6700 disc ... and I LOVE it!!! I bought it to commute to work mostly on paved path/road, but had a 5km path of pack dirt/chips. What I found was that as I got into better shape I wanted to do more with the bike. I eventually started riding on some single tracks (which is narrow dirt trails) ... which was a blast! I would have ended up selling a hybrid bicycle if I had bought one, so I'm glad I started out with the 6700 ... which is essentially what you're looking at in your two links. More specifically they're called a hard-tail mountain bike. You can likely lock-out the front shocks for when you're riding on smooth pavement, then unlock them when you're on a rougher trail. You can also look at replacing the knobbly tires that come with a mountain bike, and put more road-friendly ones on (narrower and smoother). If you decide to try trail riding, you can always put the original tires back on.

As you can tell, my vote is to go with a bike similar to the links you provided above.

Most importantly, get a proper fitting done ... which is more than a sales guy tweaking things for 5 minutes. They should spend at least 1/2 hour or more going over the settings on the bike to ensure you are fitted properly to the frame and cranks.

Good luck, and have fun!!!

fietsbob

Trek FX series is a Hybrid without a suspension Fork (thyeyre not Nessisary at all , + those forks weigh a Lot .

If the shop You like Best sells Only Specialized , They would also Have a Model like that.

A 700c 35 wide tire rolls lighter, than the fat MTB one (particularly if the knobbies are left on).


With Drop rather than straight bars they are called Cross Bikes ,, another category all Brands will have competing Products in.