I picked up a new Giant Talon 5 last week. I wanted to try the 27.5 wheel size. So far I think I like it.

Hi everyone!

I returned to biking after 20 years away recently as part of a diet and life change. At 48 years old, I had burnt the candle at both ends long enough. I am happy to say I lost 75 pounds in 11 months. One year and one month ahead of schedule (wanted to be fit by 50) Biking played a huge part in my success.

I started with a basic Schwinn Sierra 21 comfort bike and quickly learned it was just not up to the trails I found. After a few broken axles, and countless shifting issues I gave it to my kid and went back to get a better bike. Still, I lost almost 30 pounds with it, so I cant complain.



My LBS had a deal on a 2013 Fuji Nevada 29 1.9 D. I was getting into some local single track by this time and thought this might hold up better. Once again I found it was just not ready for the real world. It had a Free Wheel design and I was bending axles every week. I bent the big gear ring in the rear and the LBS mechanic would sigh every time I came in. No Good!!



Finally found these forums and got some direction. Learned about free hubs and better components...etc.



This is my third bike in just 6 days short of a year!

Just traded up to a new 2014 GT Karakoram Elite!

Pic before it even got in the house!


Just got back from my first ride, and I am a happy camper so far! Cant wait to do my trail and complete it without a single break down / chain off / Wheel rub problem!!!

Thanks to all who help people on this forum!
Remember, we all had to start somewhere.

congrats! keep it up.

Dinky old bike with fresh rubber...

Untitled by ctjr, on Flickr

I got to Demo a few different Giant 27.5 bikes last weekend and I do like the tire size a lot, that'll be a fun bike!

I just replaced my Raleigh Talus 29 Sport with this Trek X Caliber 8 that arrived yesterday at my LBS. Just ordered it one week ago, I don't know why more shops don't stock the blue version, I quite like it. By dumb luck my bottle cages on the old bike were Bontragers in the same color so I kept them for this bike.

This is my Giant Talon 27.5 1. Bought it in March. Trails (northern Ohio) are still to wet to get it off road!

Bought this last fall and used it on a few occasions during the winter. Planning to use it more now to explore the river valley parks

You missed a good ride yesterday... took the Blizzard for a spin in the valley.

Good times

I finished rebuilding and upgrading my Motobecane recently. I put on Deore XT front and rear derailleurs,Rhyno Lite wheels with XTR hubs, On One Midge bar with 9 speed dura ace bar cons and shimano R400 brake levers. I repainted the whole bike and replaced the front suspension fork with a rigid fork. She's a blast to ride! I need to change out the cables tho. I tried to get away with reusing the originals and they're too short.

My rig - and first MTB: A pre-walmart 1998 Mongoose NX 7.5 Pro. Better than NOS, she's been upgraded to a 9spd drivetrain 12-36t cassette, new chain, shifters, cables, WTB Moto 2.3" tires, Shimano SPD's... I <3 her.

looks good, you need to shorten that chain though

Thanks! Didn't realized I was cross chained sm/sm.

Lots of daydreaming material in here. Hope to add one to it in the near future.

Ride along the river this evening.

Just bought a 2012 Orbea Alma H70 29er. It was (shockingly) still brand new in the bike shop and had an excellent price tag on it.

This has all the components I was looking for except I would have preferred the thinner wheels of a Hybrid Bike. Otherwise the frame/components are very similar to those of the Giant Roam series and/or the Trek DS series.



The only thing I'm considering changing about it is the wheels, might put some hybrid wheels on it eventually because I was originally looking for a hybrid bicycle.

Happy cycling!

You shouldn't need to buy new wheels to get a thinner tire...just buy a thinner tire. You could get a hybrid style tire in 1.5" - 1.75" and they would still fit the wheels...its a lot cheaper option than buying wheels and tires.

This is my Craigslist find that I fell in love with. Put about 80 miles on it in the last couple weeks. It's a 1989 Reflex ALX Carbon...........

1989 bicycle?
Perfect hairstyle match.
1000 bonus points to you sir!

Not sure whether I posted mine before. I probably did, but...

Brand New:









Two Weeks Ago:

Had this frame kicking around... built it up this morning and then went for a romp in the valley.



Might be a keeper.

I'll use it to commute the long way around. Looks good without the fenders and rack. Looking forward to the commutes on this one.

My genuine authentic cheap china frame I gets me around ok.

Love how deep that blue is. Did the bottle cage come with the bike cause it matches absolutely flawless with it.