Lamabb

So I really have been wanting to try out mountain biking, but I'm a roadie. I don't have the money to invest in a real mountain bike right now, and I wanted to give it a shot before even considering buying one.

My friend has a few good mountain bike tires and I have a good giant hybrid with front suspension. I want to attach the tires and take it to blue mountain in Westchester NY (if any of you know the place) and give mountain biking a whirl.

Do you guys think it's a good idea?

I don't want to even think about getting a good mountain bike without first trying it out. I don't know much about mountain bikes, but other than the suspension and wheels, i don't see too much of a difference. far as I know, you don't clip in becuase you need your legs for balance and emergency stops, (I have a friend to clips & mountain bikes, I don't think this is the norm). I know the basics though, and my mountain biking friend is going to be teaching me the basics.

C_Heath

let it rip man. It will be ok.

urbanknight

Unless you're doing some seriously rough terrain with huge ruts and drops, your bike should handle it just fine.

By the way, clipless pedals are common in mountain biking. Clips and straps, not so much.

wongjonsilver

+1

clipless ftw... not so much when you can't clip in and you're already down some heavy terrain = p

samburger

Your bike should definitely be fine, especially with the front suspension. I've taken my Schwinn hybrid on some pretty rough stuff & it's making do just fine for now, even without any suspension. Just some off road tires & strong wrists.

Also, can anyone tell me why pedals with clips are called clipless pedals? I've have some "clipless pedals" for 10 years now, since my BMX days, & could never get a good answer as to why something with clips would be called "clipless". It goes against everything I learned about prefixes in English.

edbikebabe

Because there used to be pedals & toe clips. Then, when the cleat attached directly to the pedal, there was no more toe clip - hence clipless.

pong_perez

My advice: why not try cyclocross? It gives you the feel of riding both road and mountain bike. I tell you, this will improve your riding skills...just remember to use mountain clipless when going off-road...

junkyard

Your advice sucks. The guy is a roadie who wants to try mountain biking. He is not looking to buy a new bike just yet. I would imagine if he had a cyclocross bike, he'd have chosen that to ride over the hybrid. Your advice is not even relevant to the question that he asked.

urbanknight

You've been here 5 years. This can't surprise you.

pong_perez

All right then, just take junkyard's advice..jeez man, relax.... I'm just new here, alright, so take it easy...

I do respect your 5 years here...

junkyard

It's okay. Just don't be stupid.

2manybikes

If you have what most bike companies call a hybrid, you have 700c wheels. If he has a real mountain bike he has 26" wheels. The tires are not interchangeable. If you take it easy and ride on relatively smooth stuff a hybrid can be fine. Very rough fast riding needs a Mountain bike. It's really up to you. I can't imagine your friend will start you off on any terrain that really needs a Mountain bike.

WorldIRC

Easy on the newb

Regards,
An 8 Year Member and Retired Mod

junkyard

I haven't even broken a sweat yet.

Glidedon

I converted My Giant Cypress DX Hybrid to ride trails around here, works great! and it's a 29'r.

urbanknight

Do they have a good pension plan?

BurnNotice

His aka is "JERK"yard! What would one expect except sarcasm! But then again, he is right but not your fault for not knowing if your new to the scene. Some people just have a different way of saying your wrong in your statement.

Welcome aboard and don't let him scare you off.

Daspydyr 

If you can mount the tires and you already have front suspension, try a few rides. BEWARE, I wouldn't try to many rides off road. You will start loving it and try something that HYBRID frame won't like. Welded frames are ugly, but so am I.

I bet you will love the dirt!

Covalent Jello

Ohh so junkyard does this often (did it to me too) good to know, no wonder

Covalent Jello

5 years doesn't mean much when you're as bitter as him, lmao, don't sweat it

Chris_F

Welded as opposed to what, bubble gum and duct tape? There are hundreds of perfectly good welded mountain bike frames on the market today.

BurnNotice

They have a way to build frames without welding**********?? Damn, new to me!

2manybikes

Uh? what? How old are you? Somehow you missed most of the frames in the world.

You make me feel old.

OK, it's not your fault. I am old.

BurnNotice

Yet to see a unwelded frame bike made of Al; or one of the many steel substrates out there. Link me to them so I can see with me own eyes!

Now I mean a true.......seamless frame that is one solid piece********** I just have never seen one that has not been tig or mig welded from a manufacturer. But anything is possible. Bet I am older than you!

2manybikes

One solid piece? Did you say that before? I'm getting old. !@#$%^&*()_
Too much work for me to go looking. There were bonded into lugs aluminum tubes. I think the Raleigh Technium is one example. I've seen Ti bonded into aluminum lugs (Miyata )Both of those fell apart! Plenty of CF tubes bonded into CF lugs and Aluminum lugs. I say these count as not welded!

Even though it's too obvious to mention, I say lugged steel counts too.

I bet I feel older than you right now! I just pedaled Baileys trike into a strong headwind for around 20 miles. It's about as aerodynamic as my house.